Hearing Aids

aussie_paul · Guru

RE: Hearing Aids

aussie_paul · Guru

aussie_paul wrote:
Tony Bev wrote:

Thanks for that info, Paul
Their American site says that it is a 14 day free trial
I think that I have sent them a message, asking if it is rolled out to Western Australia, but not much good on facebook, so not sure if the message went through
I have also enrolled for their newsletter
Next time I am in town, I shall pop into their shop, and ask the question
Our trial is for 30 days

Here we go. this popped up on my FB feed.

Aussie Paul. smile

Tony Bev · Guru

Thanks for that Paul, it is appreciated

I printed out the attachment and went along to my local Connect Hearing, to get a bit more information

I could not see a technician, but the young lady behind the counter became my go between

Here are the Questions I asked, and their answers

Q How does it work, it says that there is no battery to change?
A The battery is built in, and we service the hearing aid, every four to six months

Q Can it be removed to clean it out?
A It can only be removed when we service it

Q Can it be used by anyone, who has ears which produces wax?
A Yes, wax is not produced that far down the ear (she pointed on my printout, how far down the ear it was fitted)

Q If the hearing aids do not work for me, will it be no cost to me?
A Yes

Q What is the cost, if I decide to purchase them?
A You will have to have a test, to see if the hearing aids are suitable for you

Q On the assumption that they will be suitable for me, I would like to know the cost
A About $4,500 initial cost and then about $4,500 each year

Q Are we talking about E-A-R or Y-E-A-R?
A Year

Q How long will these hearing aids last?
A We replace whatever has to be replaced, each time we service them

Q If I live for another twenty years, then the total cost will be $90,000?
A The young lady went and double checked, below is what she wrote down for me

	One Ear	Two Ears
1 Year	$2,160	$4,320
Every Year After	$2,000	$4,000

Unfortunately as a self funded retiree, these hearing aids are probably not for me, as my medical Fund GMF, recently taken over by HBF, only allows $750 each five years, for hearing aids

On the other hand, next year (between road trips), I just may ask for the free trial, just to see if the modern hearing aids have improved, for my situation

Gaylehere · Guru

Interesting. I don't think any regular retiree can/wants to afford $2000 to $4000 a year forever. And what if you are younger. They say okay in the shower but what about at the beach/in the surf or swimming. Just wondering. Cheers.

Cupie · Guru

Gaylehere wrote:
Interesting. I don't think any regular retiree can/wants to afford $2000 to $4000 a year forever. And what if you are younger. They say okay in the shower but what about at the beach/in the surf or swimming. Just wondering. Cheers.

Makes the Costco option seem attractive.

iana · Guru

As I posted earlier I am trialing a pair of Signia (siemens) hearing aids, together with a remote blue-tooth unit that is worn around the neck. There is also a blue-tooth transmitter, I have had this unit connected to the UHF through the rear speaker connection on the radio. This cuts out the UHF's speakers, but streams transmissions directly to my left ear, much clearer to hear, and does not annoy the others in the vehicle. The mics in the hearing aids remain on, so I can hear whats going on around me, as well as getting much clearer reception from the UHF.

Cupie · Guru

Thanks all for your input on what seems a topical subject.

I have decided to do nothing at the present.

From the feedback that I have received & the subsequent research, for me should I decide to proceed then Costco will be high on the list of options.

BTW .. just got a brochure from SpecSavers or Superstore advising that they are now into hearing aids at a competitive price. The plot thickens.

aussie_paul · Guru

My hearing saga with my Mum has been a disaster. We finally got the Lyric available in Ballarat. On the 15th January my Mum and I went to have the Lyric fitted. I was first and after checking ears and removing wax as well as finding the size for my ears the technician girl fitted mine and turned them on.

Wow. Now Mum's turn. The technician was having difficulty with Mum's ear canal shape. Mum's ear canal was almost a right angle rather than a curve. To have Mum hearing well there was a lot of feedback happening and i8f they were turned down Mum couldn't hear!!!! Not suitable for Mum, I was gutted.

Mum said give up but we talked her into trying an aid that went in without having anything behind the ear that makes it difficult for Mum to insert. They took a mould of Mum's ears and said a couple of weeks. Overnight my left ear began to throb so instead of ringing for an appointment as they said to do I arrived 10 mins before opening and the technician saw me straight away. She decided to leave that one out as my ear was a bit sensitive after the prodding and poking with wax and finding the correct size. So Lyric in one ear and my normal behind the ear aid in the other.

Two days later the other ear began to give me trouble and I had to remove the Lyric with the tool they supply. This tool is for emergency removal and the other end of the tool is a magnet that you stick in your ear a little way to turn the Lyric off. I saw technician after the weekend and she found quite a bit more wax was so she told me to get my GP to remove all wax and she would refit them when Mum's new aids turned up. Silly they cannot do the "squirt the water in" method and remove wax after drops for a few days.

Next was GP appointment and then back to technician for the fitting of Mum's new aids and the refitting of my Lyrics. Mine felt great and hoped Mum could handle hers. The next day I went to Mum's place and she had the right aid in, I was happy she tried. I helped her with the left aid and told her "well done". Next day I rang to see how she was going and she said she could not get them in and was sick of the process and could happily live with the behind the ear ones I fit for her when we have appointments etc. Called my bluff and said NO!!! We, family, have decided Mum is the one that has to be happy and comfortable.

Now back to my Lyric, WOW!!! A little loud for a start so she turned them down at the weekly appointment, and the next week I got her to turn them down one more level. A bit too low now so need to go back up a notch. Have to wear ear putty in the pool and shower. I am extremely happy BUT I cannot afford $4k a year so another 7 days to go back to my old ones which I can handle ok, although nowhere near the quality of the Lyric.

Aussie Paul. smile

-- Edited by aussie_paul on Sunday 11th of March 2018 11:31:23 PM

Cupie · Guru

Aussie-Paul ... Thanks for the update ..... Yep.... It's reports of this sort that persuaded me to do nothing for now.

The 4K per year (or lack thereof) is what put Costco to the top of my list if I ever change my mind.

I reckon that the hearing aid industry is one of the biggest health rip offs in this country & there are many.

(But we do have a great basic health system in comparison to other countries)

hako · Guru

Thanks for the honest report Aussie Paul, the price would kill me too.

I just weighed my Siemens hearing aids which cost $5000 with govt subsidy and they weigh 5 grams for the pair....that's $1000 per gram.
The current price of gold is $42.36 per gram so my hearing aids cost 23 times their weight in solid gold.
We should be mining hearing aids not gold.

Regards

Ron-D · Guru

Iam thinking about buying them but at that price its theft,maybe I will just turn the TV up biggrin

Cupie · Guru

Ron-D wrote:
I am thinking about buying them but at that price its theft,maybe I will just turn the TV up

Try calling Costco. Seem like quality at a reasonable price. Choice of product from 5 international suppliers and 6 hearing aid types. Cheap batteries too & ongoing mtce free loss & damage coverage ... etc etc.

certainly worth a call.

From my file ..

Costco membership $60/year

Aids ... $2K to 3.4K

No Audiologist Fee

Free Annual mtce & clean

Free loss/damage replacement

Cheap Batteries eg $8.94 for 48

For my health society CBHS $600 to $800 out of pocket.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I was fitted with the government type hearing aids, a few years ago, wore them for a while, but I just could not get used to the noises, no matter what I did, or what setting I had them on. It was worse than not hearing everything.

Maybe if I win the lotto I might try some better ones, maybe.

Friend who was extremely deaf had about four different types over a couple of years - none of them worked efficiently for him, only wore them in public, we all knew so just talked lots louder.

Ron-D · Guru

Thanks Cupie Iam not quite ready yet but I will definitely keep them in mind....