Is it worth paying the money for more expensive hearing aids?

@prodigyplace: I’m getting the feeling that I shouldn’t be joking around with you. I do, as a matter of fact, find it difficult to believe that the hearing aid industry should be any different from any other medical equipment manufacturers and not provide some sort of “incentives” in return for prescribing a particular maker’s devices.

I do not believe that these incentives trump many audiologists’ professional judgements and recommendations. But I wouldn’t put it past the makers to try (nor would I put it past a certain number of audiologists to take the bait…).

I never judge hearing aids by their reputation, especially there parent company, just the same as we shouldn’t judge folks by their relations…Each of our losses are so different and varied, so what you might love, I might hate, and vice versa… In 30 odd years, I have predominantly used either Phonak or Oticon, there is very little difference quality wise in either, and both are excellent aids, I like both, although I have never used any of their subsidiaries, but Phonak is far better for connectivity, especially all their ALD’s, and to me that’s important, and I believe Oticon BTE UP 675’s haven’t had another iteration for about 4 or 5 years, so I ain’t buying old hat… If Oticon does come out with a new 675 BTE, I would consider them, after due diligence, and a lot of research…Phonak are the largest hearing aid manufacturers world wide, for good reasons, they make exceptionally good aids, their PR stinks though, and I don’t think Oticon fairs much better though? But, the world of the elite hearing aid manufacturers is about to be flipped on its head, and perhaps an overdue rude awakening? Namely OTC aids, not that these are of any use to me, but they will open the hearing aid market, to hopefully a much better, and fairer, with more competition, which may have a positive influence on cheaper aids, from all the hearing aid manufacturers… We shall see? Happy New Year Jim

@kevels55: And likewise to you and Elspeth, from Karen and me, Kev!

Happy New Year

Very well put Kev, always a good read from you
All the best for the new year.

Happy New Year to you, also.

I am originally from Canada (Toronto) but have been here in the US basically since 1980. First for school and then marrying someone local.

Lol

@SpudGunner said:

I felt sooo bad when I saw that gravel-chipped, latte-stained BMW that my local audi was driving.

WH

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My own experience is “best” match is the key & I wouldn’t consider off the shelf, online or self prescribe/adjust, token/budget offerings despite any price temptations. I have come to trust my Audi advice & skill over the years through various challenges & tweaks.

My first attempt led me to an Audio - well more a HA salesman in my opinion than an Audio, oversubscribing me a set of $8500 aids. The “test” if you can call it that, LOL was in an open office with an open window with traffic outside. Thankfully despite the pressure I didn’t part with my money & found my current Audi. They prescribed a set that from memory were around $3500 & lasted me “8” years - my updates I think about $3200 but exponentially better - though mostly in terms of convenience vs actual hearing ability. Though music is outstanding with the new pair in comparison to the first.

Anyway - as said I do think best “match” is the key - not more not less. Blog post by my Audi >> “What I believe might be happening in these worrying, although isolated cases, relates to how the brain works. We understand that brain, like the rest of the body, needs a challenge in order to form or strengthen connections. Too much of a challenge and you tire and might give up as the listening effort is too great. This leads to an inability to understand speech in background noise. Too little of a challenge, making hearing in noise effortless, and the connections dealing with the signal might start disconnecting to conserve energy.”

Quickly and Accurately Find a Hearing Aid that Works Best for You9 of particular interest, parts of " We hear with our brains" & " A new way of choosing the best hearing aid"

CIC hearing aids:

• last much less, since they go completely in the ear canal they are much more exposed to humidity and wax.
• have to be smaller, therefore they won’t have as many features (think bluetooth streaming, for example)
• cannot have two microphones, therefore no directionality (although to be fair, your pina will provide directionality as in natural hearing).

Regarding being “hidden”, nowadays RICs are as “invisible” as CICs.
Since you use the phone and computer a lot, you would benefit greatly from good bluetooth support.
Two years ago, Phonak was the only game in town with standard bluetooth support and that was the reason I bought a set of Marvel M90. Last year the M90 went to my son and I bought the Paradise P90, and bluetooth was very much improved. I use them with anything bluetooth (android and apple phones, computers, radio dongles…) with great satisfaction. I don’t know if in this two years other manufacturers have added standard bluetooth.
Regarding batteries, if you chose changeable batteries I recommend size 13 which will last 9-10 days even with intensive bluetooth streaming. Don’t go with size 312, they only last 3-4 days. When you travel changeable batteries are IMHO adventageous as you don’t have to carry around a charger (and risk forgetting it at home or elsewere).

@prodigyplace said:

The otologist said that hearing aids should correct my mild to profound losses but we could schedule an MRI to research further if I desired.

Okay, this is a bit late and a bit off topic but. . . this is weird to me. Maybe a public vs private pay difference, but “you can have an MRI if you want”? An MRI does not seem to be indicated. Did he mean as part of a cochlear implant assessment? Wouldn’t you do the other, less expensive bits of the assessment first and see if you were even a candidate prior to getting an MRI? If not for that. . . what is he suggesting doing the MRI for? Your asymmetry doesn’t seem that significant, I don’t imagine he’s worrying about a mass (or the MRI wouldn’t have just been offered casually). Maybe I’m missing some relevant information, but I think you’re making the correct decision to not get the MRI.

WRS asymmetry that flags for referral where I am is closer to 40% in the case of a symmetrical audiogram. 15% seems low. Test-retest variability for recorded WRS can be close to 25%. Max WRS is often not reached at ‘most comfortable level’ although clinicians frequenty present at that level. If done with live voice, they might as well not do it at all.

@Neville said:

2023 seems like a wacky futuristic number.

truth! , i cannot unsee that!

Costco monitors this so if you do returns too much in there opinion they will blackball you. I was blackballed and I own a pair from them. Turns out that my hearing loss is such that Costco really wasn’t qualified to handle it but just don’t think you have a blank check.

My mother was born in May 1923. Some years ago I bought her a pack of AA batteries and she was taken aback to see 2023 as the expiration date. She’s still here, sharp in some ways and confused in others.

Until my hearing worsened to where it is now I easily was able to get great assistance thru aids offered by Costco (if you have one near you). My personal opinion is that for most typical hearing loss the skill of the audi/fitter is the most important. They truly can make the difference.