Thank-you, Guys! You are doing a good job of broadening and deepening my knowledge before I show up for my Costco appointment.
And yes, I too noticed that the chain clinic audi did NOT offer me a copy of my audigram - I had to go to an online site to get one that I could keep, withOUT paying an “administrative charge”.
I think the only way I’d go to a chain clinic is if I just can’t seem to get what I need at Costco, and before doing even that, I’d escalate the problem at Costco and see if I can get them fix whatever the problem is. I’ll do a lot before moving from a net $1200 solution to a net $5350 solution, especially since the $5350 solution could become a LOT more costly than $5350 if I would also be charged for services that Costco provides free.
I would let Costco set up the hearing aid for you. I would take notes as to any issues you run into as they are happening and bring that in with you to your second appointment.
You might even consider bringing in your wife to your second appointment and have her read out-loud to help fine tune the hearing aid.
Oh, one more thing, I would download one of the Starkey hearing aid troubleshooting guides from their web site under the professional section.
I know at least a handful of you have suggested , BUT:
I don’t have ANY experience at all, so I think DIY on my first HA solution might be an unwise stretch that could delay proper treatment of my hearing issues
I run a Mac, not a Windows computer, and I would be extremely reluctant to buy another Windows computer and relearn Windows (last time I used Windows was many years ago). My understanding is that the software required for DIY HA setup and tuning requires a Windows computer running an Intel chip. So, DIY is out of the picture for that reaosn too
Bradshawspc: Thanks for providing the independent clinic’s price list. That was a real eye opener. At $175 per manhour, that hourly rate is higher than even an exotic car shop.
There are people who buy cars whose oil changes cost $1800 at an authorized dealer, but I am not one of them for at least 2 reasons: I cannot pay those kind of maintenance charges, and I wouldn’t want to pay them even if it was NOT a financial hardship to do so.
I don’t have ANY HA experience at all, so I think DIY on my first HA solution might be an unwise stretch that could delay proper treatment of my hearing issues
For what it’s worth, my first aids were when I first joined this forum. Used Phonak for many years, Oticon was my second choice.
You sound a little like me back then, crazy prices but there was not a Costco back then so I went DIY from the get go. It was a great decision for me.
I don’t have ANY HA experience at all, so I think DIY on my first HA solution might be an unwise stretch that could delay proper treatment of my hearing issues
Yes, at this point in time it’s better to let the clinics do their job, and if things don’t pan out for whatever reason you can try .
My understanding is that the software required for DIY HA setup and tuning requires a Windows computer running an Intel chip. So, DIY is out of the picture for that reaosn too
Not so fast, Mac OS can run the software using bootcamp or any other virtual machine software, so an older MacBook would be fine for any DIY project, it’s only the Noahlink wireless that can’t be used with ARM based laptops which includes windows models
My understanding is that the software required for DIY HA setup and tuning requires a Windows computer running an Intel chip.
It requires Windows. Virtualization software, e.g., Parallels ($) or VirtualBox (free), can be used to run Windows on a Mac. You’ll need a Windows license, and a Noahlink Wireless device to communicate with the . The latter requires an Intel-based Mac because drivers for ARM Macs are not available.
This is not to argue that you should jump into now; just keeping you informed
You shouldn’t be basing your HAs on an App, no matter how good you think it may be
After a two week trial of Resound Omnia aids a while back, I mostly disagree… unless the aid with the poor app is clearly better in other ways. The Resound app is well-worth spending time with.
I have it, I don’t think that much off it, actually I no longer use it! Of course this is because I have my dialled in quite well it’s no longer relevant for me, the buttons work pretty good anyway.
At $175 per manhour, that hourly rate is higher than even an exotic car shop.
This comment interests me. What made you select this comparison rather than comparing to other medical services provided by people with professional degrees?
I imagine the equipment costs for an audiologist might be similar to the exotic car shop, but the years and dollars of schooling seems higher, particularly down in the States.
Fortunately for me and a lot of others, we don’t need all the medical services a doctor of audiology provides.
We just need to have someone program a hearing amplifier. You don’t need to spend 8 years in training and a massive pile of money just to program an amplifier. Costco and some of the manufactures are recognizing that, and are making hearing aids more affordable.
I do encourage folks to see a doctor of audiology or for an initial examination. But once you are told your hearing loss is old age or lack of using hearing protection, you don’t need a doctor of audiology to program an amplifier, and you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars extra.
Neville, I stopped trying to compare medical costs in The U.S. to anything because I personally view U.S. medical costs as very unjustifiably greedily high. A recent news report on CNN said that U.S. medical insurance has an average cost of over $20,000 per family per year. Emplyers pay 3/4 of that on average, and the typical U.S. family pays the remaining $5000 or so PLUS all the deductibles and copays.
Think about what $20,000 per family means and how that compares to the median U.S. family income. That median U.S. family income is apparently about $75,000 per year. So, the U.S. Medical Industry (I use that term deliberately) wants $20,000 / $75,000 = 27% of the GROSS pay of every U.S. family. And Heaven help the retirees (examine carefully how “no cost” hospital stays actually cost, especially after 10 days per year). That’s BEFORE deductibles and copays are added on. Don’t you think that is absurdly ridiculous? Are you aware that the number one cause of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. is medical costs?
A U.S. doctor is no longer primarily a doctor. He is now a businessman earning mid six figures per year. Hospitals are no longer government funded service providers of essential health services. They are now money mills for investers.
Do you consider this to be appropriate and good? I sure don’t.
And, while there is good reason why a hearing test and selection of a suitable HAshould be administered tby a “trained professional” there is no reason that that 'trained professional" needs to be a highly trained DOCTOR. Yes, highly trained doctors should DESIGN the tests and the , but there is no good reason why suitably trained people of far lower credentials cannot actually DO the testing, selecting, fitting, adjusting, and follow-up adjustments.
We need a few professional automotive engineers to design our very complex modern vehicles to be safe, comfortable, and fuel efficient. But we do not need automotive engineers to safely and properly repair our $50,000 cars or $100,000 SUVs and pickups. Trained mechanics are sufficient. And cars and trucks are VERY much more complex than HAs.
We need architects to design comfortable and safe houses. But we do not need professional architects to BUILD those houses. Trained contractors and tradespeople are sufficient.
A highly trained and credentialed hearing professional SHOULD make a high income, but should be doing so at an HA design and manufacturing facility, at a hospital, or at a university, where he or she should be using their high skill and knoweldge levels to do design work or diagnosis that REQUIRES that level of knowledge and skills.
But he or she should not expect that by merely working at a hearing testing and HA dispensing retail location they qualify for the same level of income. THAT would be like the car mechanic thinking he should and can make the same salary as the design engineer of the vehicle who figured out how to build the car in a way that keeps its occupants alive even after a 100 mph crash, and that would be unrealistic. And, he would get very few voluntary customers.
I agree, but I think that those with extreme hearing problems may need these highly trained and credentialed doctors so I’m glad they’re available. I’m very lucky to not be someone with those needs and I can be satisfied by Costco. If individuals without those extreme needs don’t know they will be better served at Costco, they should inform themselves, as they should with every personal decision they make. This forum can help.
Don’t you think that is absurdly ridiculous? Are you aware that the number one cause of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. is medical costs?
I mean, I’m Canadian, so there’s a lot about America that I find a bit jaw dropping, and medical fees are probably at the top. But I’m sure I seem like a wild socialist to you guys in turn.
But re: audiology, on the whole I agree with you. Though I think there are problems at all levels. Up here I was lucky enough to come out of school with $0 debt, but it sounds like down there audiologists are coming out with essentially a second mortgage, so of course they need to pursue a comesurate salary. Something seems wrong with the school system.
For those thinking that this impacts pricing dramatically, however, note that I mentioned above that at least where I am Costco is staffed by audiologists and the compensation package is maybe 20% higher than industry average, so it’s not clinician salaries that are driving the hearing aid price difference.
I also don’t know that we’re great at triaging the difficult vs. easy patients who should see an audiologist versus an . It should perhaps be a stacked model, like the dentist, where you see the audiologist initially and then see an HIS unless new concerns arise. One of the troubles I think we have with triaging right now is that you don’t know what you don’t know–there are situations where unless you are showing specific medical red flags, you’ll report something to an HIS and they will just blink at you rather than suggesting you see an audiologist, particularly if they don’t have those professional connections. Stacked model would resolve this, but then I have a lot of patients who refuse to see anyone but me, but I suppose moving away from that is just growing pains.
So, why not ask your government nationalise your medical provision and remove the ‘profit’ from the equation?
You can also run a separate private sector healthcare to offer additional services for those who want to contribute extra to their health.
Then nobody dies either with or of medical bankruptcy and everyone has access to medication for chronic conditions at collaboratively negotiated prices?
I’m surprised that the most advanced nation on Earth doesn’t have this all worked out tbh.
Texas Hill Country
Wales, UK