First post. I had and hearing test at local Costco, and was told to see an ear specialist or because of Audiometric air - bone gap => 15db @ 500hz, 1000hz, and 2000hz. I had a hearing test at my ENT’s office by a Au.d and my medical doctor. See attached , no air gap. Tried the Jabra 30 today at Costco programed to my ENT,s audiogram. Any how I decided to order these .
Costco did do a retest and agreed their initial test was flawed as to the air gap issue. As a side note I had called Jabra direct about the select 700,s and sent them my audiogram. Jabra called back today and said they could not do a custom fitting base on my audiogram, interesting? Costco did a good job answering my questions and concerns.
I am 79 yrs old, spent 12 yrs on the Air Force Flight line working on various aircraft, rode motorcycles for over 55 yrs, it’s a wonder I can hear at all.
Costco tested me yesterday (also recommending Jabra 30s for me), and they did some basic bone conduction and nerve response tests as well as the tone and speech comprehension tests I’m used to. Did they test your bone conduction and nerve response as well? The hearing consultant testing me explained each test at the time she did it. I passed those tests. My (not updated yet, but fairly similar to my last test) is only slightly better overall than yours.
Costco and I didn’t even need to do more than one 10-minute trial of just the Jabras. We both knew the fit and recommendation were correct. I felt an immediate and major improvement in speech comprehension. A new aid user might benefit from a more extended in-store trial of multiple models.
My old ReSound Quattros are shot, one month short of the six-year mark. At one point, with the sound booth door cracked and wearing the demo Jabra 30s, someone walked by speaking softly, and I understood every word she said. With the old Quattros, I might have recognized that someone was speaking out there, but no way would I have made out any of the words.
You’ve waited a long time for your first hearing aids; you would have benefited from aids at least 20 years ago, I’m guessing. (As do most people, I waited too long too, and I got my first aids in 2009!)
Here’s the thing, though: when you wait too long, sometimes the brain struggles to translate speech. It may hear the sound better but have a hard time making sense of the words; you’ve heard of “Use it or lose it,” I’m sure. If you’re still struggling after you get your first pair of aids, I encourage you to not give up and decide hearing aids aren’t for you, without a fight. (Remember, with Costco, you get six months to make a decision on keeping your aids or getting a full refund.) You may benefit from cognitive re-training. Ask your Costco rep, or on this website about it, if speech comprehension remains an issue after wearing your new aids all day, every day, for a few months.
Also know (your Costco hearing consultant will likely tell you this), that for a first-time hearing aid wearer, it’s very common (and helpful in terms of long-term success) to start you off with the settings dialed back from where they think you’ll eventually need to be. That’s because if they started you off, as they do experienced users like me, at full strength, you might hear running water, crinkling cellophane, a full restaurant, and so on, and say, “Whoa! I hate it. This is way too loud, I’m out!” and take your aids back for an immediate refund. Give your brain time to adjust to the new sounds it’s hearing, and they’ll dial you up.
Assuming you’re a USAF veteran who has had service-related loss, you should have full hearing coverage through the . If money isn’t a factor, you may be happier with Costco anyway.
Thank You for the reply and recommendations. Costco did all those tests as did the Audiology Dr and Dr. During the trial I wandered around the store for about 20 min. Can’t believe how loud the world is. Joked with the specialist that they need to lubricate the wheels on the shopping carts, Ha Ha. I will check about the cognitive re-training. Thanks again for your recommendations.
Also know (your Costco hearing consultant will likely tell you this), that for a first-time hearing aid wearer, it’s very common (and helpful in terms of long-term success) to start you off with the settings dialed back from where they think you’ll eventually need to be. That’s because if they started you off, as they do experienced users like me, at full strength, you might hear running water, crinkling cellophane, a full restaurant, and so on, and say, “Whoa! I hate it. This is way too loud, I’m out!” and take your aids back for an immediate refund. Give your brain time to adjust to the new sounds it’s hearing, and they’ll dial you up.
Well said.
I suggest you print out @hamjor1 ‘s entire post and take it with you for your initial fitting. Ask about custom molds as well (needed for the more powerful receivers you probably need).
It’s going to take months for your brain to adjust to all the sounds you’ve been missing. With my first pair it almost seems like a switch was flipped around the 90 day mark.
I suggest going with the KISS principle and going with only two programs to start: All Around and Hear in Noise. Also be sure the Costco fitter shows you how to click on the “Noise filter” in the phone app. Its a very useful way to tone down the sound levels about 20%. Easy to toggle on and off as well.
The Jabra 30s at Costco are really good hearing aids IMO, but my only experience over 5 sets have been with the Resound brand. (Jabras are rebranded Resound.)
Btw, at my hearing level I still have difficulty understanding some speech, but it’s (much!) better than being effectively deaf.
I was fitted with open dome and 85db receivers during the trial at Costco. The Costco fitter confirmed that if more powerful receivers were needed it would not be a problem to swap them out. I did ask to have all programs turned on, as I want to experiment with outdoor and music programs. I enjoy listening to music and movies thru the air from my sound system. The was 80%L and 88%R on the at the ,s I do think I will be looking into cognitive retraining suggested by Hamjor1. Still thinking about hearing benefits, I retired from the USAF in 1990, I remember having a hearing test during discharge physical and being able to hear around 12K hz if memory serves me right. Looking forward to getting the next Wednesday.
Greer, SC