<p>Many audiologists with the MS degree have gone on to get an AuD (there are distance learning programs for upgrading). So one can’t always judge experience by the degrees. And sometimes the younger audiologists have been exposed to better ways of doing things that are more evidence-based, such as verification of having aid output.</p>
<p>And the AuD is not just a couple added courses. It is one full year of courses (full load each semester) and concurrent clinical placements in the field more.</p>
<p>My folks both lost their hearing aids within a month or so of getting them. Costco replaces one pair at NO charge, no questions, no hassle. Beyond that, you need to look to the AmEx card or other source for replacement or repair.</p>
<p>Dad seems to have an easier time putting his hearing aids on and off. He wears them all day nearly every day. Mom took hers off and put it in a napkin or kleenix and lost them. She wears them only rarely. We are hoping this will change, but no guarantees.</p>
<p>Don’t know why they haven’t been reimbursed by insurer for what they paid for their hearing aids and we forgot to ask yesterday, so I’d better call now to follow up.</p>
<p>H just got fitted Friday - he’s 49. He’s got tinnitus in his right ear and it’s only getting worse. It was quite shocking for him to see how bad it was getting, but the fact he actually went told me something. It scared me that there were smoke alarms in the house that can go off that he doesn’t hear.</p>
<p>Plain old amplification does not work with people with ringing in their ears.</p>
<p>He gets a 60 day return policy. Anyone have familiarity with how well these work for people with tinnitus? </p>
<p>The doc also suggested a wave machine in our bedroom at night to help with the ringing at night.</p>
<p>LBowie- the local U’s by me that have the AUD have a program I do not care for. Yes, one extra year… but… no summers and included in the 3 years are credit hours for placement. (No, we went to class, full schedule, all year, and had placements (up to 3 different locations) each semester, which were non-credit. AUD= money maker for U’s and adds an element of credibility to the job— Dr. Just don’t find it all that necessary. One more major jumping on the bandwagon as if grad school were not enough. Add undergrad Audiology courses, which most schools offer so few (2) and you can cut off a year! (By the way, I have my HAD but do not dispense so I am not biased in that regard. </p>
<p>The added “year” or credits does not add extra hearing aid course hrs, I believe. The student recently supervised for one of her placements told me her current hearing aid course was just hearing aid companies coming in and showing their devices, prof didn’t teach at all. She was not happy. I recently worked with an AUD (distance learner and not a recent grad) she is/was the worst practitioner I’ve met yet. Does the basics (and at times opts out of doing that at all).</p>
<p>AUD/Masters, just find someone with experience.</p>
<p>Eyemamom- If your husband can’t sleep, or is disturbed by the tinnitus, try tuning into static on the radio… cheap masking device you already have! Tinnitus is a tough one to treat.</p>
<p>One thought about tinnitis–CAFFEINE worsens it, at least for H. He has found that cutting back on his coffee has made a significant improvement in reduced ringing in his ears. Since he does like the flavor of coffee, am glad he likes decaf, even tho there aren’t nearly as many varieties of that as the regular. Something to consider and try.</p>
<p>My mother could use hearing aids, we got them for her a few years ago and she returned them under the 90 day trial. They were stunned as “no one ever does that” </p>
<p>I honestly don’t know how much she wore them, but she was very conscious of the feeling of them being in her ear. Do they have to have a “tight seal” to prevent feedback? Is there something that is minimum weight or pressure? She is very princess and pea sensitive. Her ears were sore after wearing them, tender the way your head hurts when you take your hair out of a pony tail.</p>
<p>@crazed You can no longer get a Master’s in audiology. Only AuD is awarded these days in the US.</p>
<p>Hearing aids do not have to have a tight seal to prevent feedback. In fact most have a vent or are open fit, but it depends on the hearing loss. Usually with more hearing loss you need a tighter seal. </p>
<p>As for comfort, well that is a very individual issue and how that problem is solved will differ for each patient.</p>
<p>LBowie, I know that new grads must have an AuD to practice. </p>
<p>I do feel that most Audiologists have “specialty” so to speak, depending on where they practice. (Hearing aid practice vs. ENT vs. schools, special needs population, etc. )</p>
<p>LBowie is correct about he fit of the earmold. Those that have more severe losses and need a tight fit from the earmold may need to have the mold altered for comfort. Also, the earmolds can be made from hard material, or nice, soft and pliable. Again, this is why you want to see an experienced Audiologist.</p>
<p>No tight seal needed. In fact, I couldn’t stand “closed domes”. My domes are “open”, meaning they have holes in them. The dome is the piece that goes into your ear canal. They also have to be the right size. With closed domes, I felt I couldn’t hear my own voice well. The tube that leads from the dome to the piece behind your hear (sorry, but don’t know the name) has to be the right length and the right shape. I also had problems with this initially. The piece behind my ear is only 1" x 1/2" x 1/4" and sits comfortably behind the top quadrant of my ear. They have to be programmed right so you don’t get any feedback. Now you know why the person “fitting” the aids is so important. With some adjustments, I can now say I forget I’m even wearing them. I am so happy my Costco rep was experienced!</p>
<p>We have a familial hearing loss, and my dad wore hearing aids for twenty-five years. One thing I was shocked to find out after I had to get them was how much cheaper batteries were at Costco than at the drugstore. I wish I’d known that while he was still alive; I would have gotten cards of them and sent them to him. The grocery/drugstore prices are terrible.</p>
<p>I’ve been to an ENT, and got told, go get hearing aids. The hospital-affiliated audiologist was meh. In the end it turned out my insurance coverage only provides coverage if I used their captive provider, who cuts deals with local hearing aid shops (EPIC). In the end, I think my mini-RITE (Oticon) turned out to be about the same price to me with insurance coverage as buying a similar product at Costco would have been without insurance. (I effectively have no out-of-network coverage given the deductible.)</p>
<p>I looked, and the person who fitted me at the hearing aid shop EPIC required has a BC-HIS qualification. She was ok, but despite being in a similar age group to me, didn’t seem to be very aware of how hearing aids would/wouldn’t work with cell phones, home phones, wireless loops and other technology services. Her answer to almost everything seemed to be to purchase some special device marketed to the hearing impaired. No, really I don’t want some huge plastic thingy dangling down like a necklace, or a $400 home phone, or…</p>
<p>What I have found useful are apps/products that aren’t specifically marketed to the hearing impaired population: visual voicemail, skype/google hangouts so I can see someone while we’re talking, DragonDictate, and I’m getting ready to try fitbit instead of an alarm clock.</p>
<p>@toledo some people will need a tight seal and no vent, but this is usually people with more severe hearing losses. And also depending on the anatomy/geometry of the ear canal, some people may find the generic open fit receiver and dome very uncomfortable. For them, a custom earmold usually solves the problem.</p>
<p>Hearing aids can help with tinnitus simply by providing sound input. A lot of people say they help even if they don’t use the fancy masking algorithms many hearing aids now have especially for tinnitus sufferers.</p>
<p>@arabrab the streamers that couple the hearing aid to the cell phone are actually pretty nice for people who use their cell phone a lot, but I agree it is an extra expense. It is nicer than having to hold the phone to your ear and you get the other person’s voice in both ears. But for a person that does not use their phone a lot, it is not worth it.</p>
<p>It is a struggle to get my mom to put the hearing aid on properly and and wear it properly. She seems to have an amazingly difficult time even remembering what part goes into the ear and what part hangs behind the ear (though just looking at it, you can see the difference in size). Dad is good about wearing his hearing aid but mom honestly has some difficulty figuring it out for reasons that are beyond me. She’s fine with inserting it in her left ear but her right ear baffles her.</p>
<p>It can be hard for people with poor dexterity or weak tactile sense in the hands to put in hearing aids. (And it certainly doesn’t help that the batteries are tiny!) Sometimes a one piece in-the-ear design works better. You don’t have to worry about two pieces. It goes in in a single motion.</p>
<p>Hubby just got his yesterday because of his tinnitus. He’s not quite sure what to think about it. He says it definitely helps with the tinnitus, but it makes other things sound tinny. He said he doesn’t hear the inflections as much in voices. </p>
<p>Also - be warned, he said you cannot eat with one in - it really amplifies the chewing. </p>
<p>He said he has an appointment for a re-check in 2 weeks and he’s going to give it an honest try before he decides if the benefits are worth the new annoyances.</p>
<p>I can tell he hears better. We’re going to a party tonight so he’ll get to see how it works in a crowded room, he usually has trouble following conversations at a party.</p>
<p>Oh and a side effect that I like … he usually is really loud, talks loud, slams doors, listens to the tv loud, etc. It’s been a lot quieter around here the last two days.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about tinnitus, but adjustments can get rid of the “tinny” sounds.
Open domes eliminated the “chewing” problem for me. As far as crowded rooms, hearing aids aren’t perfect. When you’re speaking with someone in a crowded room, or choosing a seat in a restaurant, my audi told me to face away from the crowd.</p>
<p>My mother use rexton-hearing-aids.Rexton hearing aids are really popular and it is easy to understand why since we are in front of a manufacturer that has been in business for over 50 years now. </p>