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I would like experiences and opinions from members over 80 about buying new hearing aids

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My last pair are OPN1s (have them for 8 years) and am considering the Sphere I90s. Health is good for my age. I assume that my will follow me into this post, but mod to severe hearing loss. High frequency and female voices are my greatest challenge. Word discrimination is very poor in right ear.

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As others have said, Costco is a good place to start. However, you mentioned the Phonak I90 which is really helpful if speech in noise is a major concern. Unfortunately Costco does not have the equivalent of the Phonak Infinio 90 Sphere. For that aid I would seek a local audiologist through ZipHearing. (check their website)
Ray. (Age 86)
Phonak Infinio 90 Sphere wearer
ZipHearing customer

I rent mine (Phonaks) at 82 as I don’t know what the future will bring. The contract can be ended by returning the aids so simple for the family.
Cost is about a cup of coffee a day and I have all maintenance included. They are replaced each 3 years.
Euan

I’m only 72, but I’ve helped 2 friends over age 80 get first time hearing aids, and both have done very well with them. One bought Jabra at Costco and the other bought Phonaks at an clinic. You do have to wear them all day for them to be really effective.

In reply to @steve_b

@steve_b said:

Thanks. Yes, Costco does not have the equivalent of the I90s. I believe that I will require such technology. Will carefully determine that as I proceed.

Other than the hearing in noise advantage, I believe that the technology available at Costco is as good as you will get from an audiologist. The Costco brands are the same as the premium brands available from an audiologist, just rebranded for sale at Costco. I would not put a lot of emphasis on audiologists just because they work at an clinic. The audiologist at my ENT office works there part time while the audiologist I use also works part time at an ENT clinic, but I see her at her own office.

@steve_b said:

At 83 my exposure to high noise situations is very low.

Lifestyle has a big impact on which aids are best for you. From your comment the Phonak Spheres nay not be needed.
Good luck with your new aids.

In reply to @steve_b

@steve_b said:

I will strongly consider your information. At 83 my exposure to high noise situations is very low.

Primary advantage in my case is that I can hear my table mates in noisy restaurants and other social occuasions.

I’m almost 81. My Jabra EP 10s are almost 2.5 years old. Next January, my insurance coverage will kick in again. I believe hearing-in-noise technology has improved greatly in the last few years, and I’m really hopeful that new aids will give me noticeable improvements.

IMO, better hearing is worth investing in no matter what one’s age is, so I strongly recommend checking out new aids. If they make your life better, they’ll be a good purchase, if you can afford them.

I can’t justify buying a new bike, since my current, 52 year old bike is still a much better bike than I am a rider, and I’m pretty sure I don;t have another 50 years of riding left. But new are a good investment if they give me the ability to hear better than I do now, even if I can’t use them for long.

i am in New Zealand so I can’t comment about other places.
We have two sources, one is a company owned by
phonak {& rents only phonak} and the other rents only Resound at 2/3rds the cost.

Euan

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