<p>Well…simple one was already mentioned…ear wax. Some folks have middle ear issues that can be treated medically. What if the person had polyps or a tumor somewhere in the ear that affected hearing? All of these things are possible…and need to be ruled out before a hearing aid is purchased.</p>
<p>I should have used the word “choosing” instead of “fitting”. When I think of a person getting a hearing aid, I think of them being “fitted” for one (speech pathologist here).</p>
<p>@thumper1 - an audiologist will be able to look in the ear canal and see if there is wax. This is the first thing they do before proceeding with a hearing test! He or she can do quick immitance measurements to confirm if the wax is blocking the canal, or if there is a problem with the middle ear past the eardrum. It’s what audiologists are trained to do. They are also trained to choose the best style hearing aid given a patient’s hearing loss configuration (and ear canal shape), much more so than an ENT. Upon finding an abnormal growth on the outside of the ear or in the ear canal, he or she would refer to an ENT or dermatologist. Those with middle ear problems would also be sent to an ENT, and this is exactly why an ENT wants to see a hearing evaluation FIRST. In older people, of the number who come in to complain of slowly worsening hearing, it is very often sensorineural hearing loss, for which the only treatment is hearing aids at this time, unless the hearing loss is severe enough to consider a cochlear implant.</p>
<p>Bowie, it can go either way. Doctor first, or doctor second. But if there is an issue, one should be involved. </p>
<p>Dstark…the BEST hearing aid is what works for THAT person. There is a lot of personal preference involved. My stepmom had a type of aid she loved…used it every day. When my dad needed one, he insisted on the same one. He hates it and it is sitting in a drawer.</p>
<p>Another key thing…the person actually has to WANT hearing aids. My mom really needed them, but flatly refused to get them. When we urged her to finally do so, she reluctantly agreed…but only wore them when we were there, or she was here (she told us this). Oddly, when queried, she said the aids DID help…but she didn’t want them…so she didn’t wear them.</p>
<p>A good hearing aid dealer (whether an audiologist…which I would suggest, or a dealer only) will help the person in the selection process. They will listen to what their needs are. They will look at the audiogram, and find an aid that addresses the areas of hearing loss AND the person’s lifestyle.</p>
<p>I don’t think I ever said an ENT should be choosing the type of hearing aid, or doing a hearing test. That is completely out of their scope of practice. And they are not licensed to dispense hearing aids.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, I mis-typed. My mother has Medicare, not Medicaid. She also has a Medigap policy. </p>
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<p>Sorry, but the Medicare manual clearly states that she DOES. That means that she would have to visit a doctor just to get the referral, then visit the ENT, then visit the audiologist, then pay a lot more for the hearing aids in comparison to Costco.</p>
<p>As I said above, she can afford it, and I’d be happy to see her do it. But she won’t. So right now I’m happy she’s at least going to Costco. The hearing test is free, and there is no obligation. It’s a step.</p>
<p>I am of mixed minds about CostCo. Most audiologists I know sneer at the idea of getting hearing aids at CostCo, but I get my eyeglass prescription from an optometrist who practices out of CostCo, so who am I to say? I am curious how thorough the testing is at CostCo, and how they handle referral, if needed. One of these days I’m going to stop in and just chat with the dispenser or audiologist there. Just tell your mom NOT to get the CostCo brand aids. They are probably made by someone else and just labeled Kirkland, but if she needs to go elsewhere to have them programmed, other places might not be able to do anything with them because they won’t have the software. She should get one of the other name brands offered there if this is the route she is going to go. As I mentioned previously, the ReSound brand is probably the most widely used of the 3 name brands.</p>
<p>Anyone have luck with any particular brand hearing amplifier (vs. hearing aid)? My mom just isn’t able to get out otherwise I’d drag her to an audiologist–she finds it hard to get to her oncologist as it is. She does okay with just her and dad in the room or close up conversation (like around the table) but when other family is around and we’re spread out more in the room she misses much of the conversation and it is frustrating to her. It’s frustrating for us to speak so much louder than normal also. I think she’d buy into use of a hearing amplifier for those occasions if I could get a decent one to start.</p>
<p>Pocket Talker is a personal amplifier that many find useful. Not practical for group situations but good one on one.</p>
<p>My mother has her CostCo hearing test tomorrow morning. I’ve passed on the advice about brands, etc. I’ll let you know how it turns out.</p>
<p>How it goes well, Consolation. Please do keep us posted.</p>
<p>Well, she hated the guy who did the test/recommendation. She called him a “■■■■■■■.” :D</p>
<p>It sounds like she was a royal PITA herself, so I have some sympathy for him! My mother is as stubborn as a mule. She told him upfront that she didn’t like anything hanging on her or constricting her, and ruled out all of the aids that are placed in the canal. She objected to other ones that she told me looked like organs! :D</p>
<p>Anyway, he had her try an aid that he said would restore 97% of normal hearing. She hated it , and said she wouldn’t wear it. She told me it was too loud and she could hear her voice echoing, in addition to generally not liking it. He showed her an aid that he said would bring her hearing up to 80% of normal. She liked it and said that she would use it. He told her that for the first 30 days she should wear the aids 8 hrs per day. She said that that would be fine with the 80% aid, but not the other. </p>
<p>The total cost would be about $2600 for both ears. So now she has to make up her mind to go back and get something. Oy veh.</p>
<p>If she hated the guy, I wouldn’t take her back there. Try Sam’s Club or another audi that has a longer money-back guarantee. You may not even have to join Sam’s Club in order to have a consultation. You’ve got to get her onboard with the idea or she will never be happy.</p>
<p>I would not go back to that guy. He is making false claims. That business about 97% or 80% restoration of hearing makes absolutely no audiological sense and he should not be in practice if he makes false claims like that as no hearing aid restores normal-like hearing. He likely does not understand what hearing aids can or can’t do, nor does he understand how the impaired auditory system works. I would be concerned about his competence in adjusting/programming any hearing aid for a patient.</p>
<p>In a quiet environment there should be no difference in performance between a low end and high end hearing aid from the same manufacturer. (In noise the high end might perform better.)</p>
<p>As I expressed in an earlier post, if the person fitting and selling you hearing aids is not a licensed audiologist with a CCC-A and AuD. after their name, BEWARE. I agree with LBowie’s comments about the false claims. Also, if she hears her voice echoing in her ears it sounds like the aids were set too high. You can actually damage the residual hearing you have left if your aids are not fitted properly.</p>
<p>Ok, at the risk of being totally embarrassed at my stupidity, I’m posting what I did. I have had gradual hearing loss for several years. I just turned 60. I went to Costco, where I was tested by a woman who wore hearing aids and seemed to me to have a severe hearing loss. I could be wrong, but she had to be facing me to hear my response and her speech indicated severe hearing loss to me. She said I could use hearing aids, but my hearing loss was moderate. This was a couple of years ago. Two weeks ago I went to a recommended Audiologist, with an independent boutique style practice. She was wonderful and I purchased AGXO miniRITE model H 160. It goes behind your ear and into the canal. I love it. It took me about a day to adjust. That’s it. My insurance should pay almost half of the cost. The embarrassing part is that I know I paid way too much. But it’s similar to going to a boutique style physician. You know you are paying more than you have to, but is the service and personal attention worth it? Well, it’s done now. And I love the hearing aids. So that’s my story!</p>
<p>Oh, and my daughter was going to get married at the end of the week, which is why I rushed into it. But I’m still glad I did.</p>
<p>Well, she could go to another CostCo that is farther away. As I said, I’d be happy to have her go to an audiologist in independent practice, and she can well afford it, but persuading her to do so is another matter. As for “taking” her…firstly, I live about 4 1/2 hours away, and secondly, no one takes my mother anywhere she doesn’t want to go! :D</p>
<p>At least she is now on board with the idea that she has to wear the aids for 8 hours a day for the first month. That’s something.</p>
<p>Well perhaps the 8 hours a day prescription is the silver lining. I would go further to say all waking hours, but 8 hours a day is s good start.</p>
<p>It is actually common to have an echo sensation when first fit with hearing aids. Tell her to read aloud to herself if she has trouble getting used to it. It is also possible they are not adjusted correctly. Hard to know.</p>
<p>Apparently the man she doesn’t like has the BC-HIS qualification. He recommended two aids, based on her needs and preferences. The aid that she liked was a Rexton Quintra. The one that she didn’t like was some model by Bernafon. The guy seemed to think that the latter would improve her hearing slightly more, but she didn’t find it comfortable so that’s out.</p>
<p>Now I’m torn between urging her to just go and get the ones she likes, or going to an audiologist. I guess I will just try to get her to do one or the other.</p>
<p>I must say, there seem to be plenty of people who go to audiologists and spend $5K and up on hearing aids that they ultimately don’t like and don’t wear. Feedback seems to be a big problem. Or at least it seemed to be a problem for people I know 5 or 10 years ago. Has that improved?</p>
<p>Good for you for taking the step, Threekids! Many of us have some hearing loss and have a very hard time deciding when to break down and do something. It’s good to know it is working well for you.</p>
<p>Yes, feedback has improved a lot. The new hearing aids have much better feedback cancellation.</p>
<p>Great advise by LBowie and NYMom3- Does not need to have the AUD distinction. A Master’s level audiologist likely has more experience (as the AUD is a newer degree with just a couple of added courses). Experience matters. Whether the Audiologist is at a free standing business or at Costco/Sam’s make sure the person has been doing this for quite some time. </p>
<p>You can predict when an aid will not provide benefit (those are the ones you don’t fit), but that 80 or 98% prediction is crazy. </p>
<p>I also like Oticon, Phonak, Seimens, Widex…</p>
<p>PM me if you want any info (or some of the others here). Where do you live? Maybe one of us can direct you to someone we know is reputable.</p>