What did you say ???

[RSV Angel]

Mabey a little late but I'll chime in here. I have the Starkey BTE aids myself.They are nearly invisible and they did okay when I 1st got them. But the "audiologist" where I purchased mine went out of business about 6 mo. after I bought mine.At least I already had mine unlike so many folks I heard about that got stiffed out of their down payments,or had already paid up front and never received anything. I went to a place in Atlanta last year and they adjusted them for me but they are not exactly right.I still put them in but they really amplify too much background noise, and I have to take one out if I am going to be on the phone a lot.I have been looking around for the possibility of getting a new pair but as has been said they are expensive. I paid in the upper 3k for mine and don't want to get another fly by night here today gone tomorrow company to buy from. Mine now basically help at home or somewhere in a quiet type setting where I can hear folks talking without saying huh so much. But once we get into say--a crowded restaurant--they have to come out or the background noise drowns out the conversation. whatever brand you decide on make sure it is a reputable company that wants to help --not just to pad their pocket book. Good luck.

Craig

[FuzzyRSTD]

Mabey a little late but I'll chime in here. I have the Starkey BTE aids myself.They are nearly invisible and they did okay when I 1st got them. But the "audiologist" where I purchased mine went out of business about 6 mo. after I bought mine.At least I already had mine unlike so many folks I heard about that got stiffed out of their down payments,or had already paid up front and never received anything. I went to a place in Atlanta last year and they adjusted them for me but they are not exactly right.I still put them in but they really amplify too much background noise, and I have to take one out if I am going to be on the phone a lot.I have been looking around for the possibility of getting a new pair but as has been said they are expensive. I paid in the upper 3k for mine and don't want to get another fly by night here today gone tomorrow company to buy from. Mine now basically help at home or somewhere in a quiet type setting where I can hear folks talking without saying huh so much. But once we get into say--a crowded restaurant--they have to come out or the background noise drowns out the conversation. whatever brand you decide on make sure it is a reputable company that wants to help --not just to pad their pocket book. Good luck.

Craig

 

Thanks Craig. Appreciate your input.

 

James

[Sailor]

Working on the ships we have many people who have hearing problems from all the noise not to mention those suffering, and dying from asbestos's and , as I am doing ,suffering from knee degeneration from the constant vibration. It is all serious and mostly ignored by the government agencies who are supposed to protect and help us.

[Gray Ghost]

... It is all serious and mostly ignored by the government agencies who are supposed to protect and help us.

Sailor, while the VA does not pay compensation for hearing loss itself, if they found that your hearing loss was service connected, you can get treatment for that from the VA. Contact a veteran's service organization (Disabled American Veterans is one) and see what they can do to assist you. I don't go to the VA for everything I am covered for because of some of the stories that have come out about the treatment here in Georgia, but the folks that work on my ears are great.

[FuzzyRSTD]

Went to the doc today for hearing test. I was diagnosed with above average hearing loss for someone in my age group. The fix would be for hearing aids for both ears. Well not really a fix,but a help. Hearing aids are just what they say,aids. Not like eye glasses that can give you back 20/20 vision. So now I will decide on the hearing aids. The hospital can fix me up on payments. For two of the hearing aids fitted and tuned in the newest Siemens brand water proof (mainly to prevent sweat from entering) $3,400 ... These are the behind the ear small ones. So going to think about this for a while. The doc also explained why I have trouble hearing certain words or sounds, and high pitched women voices. So that helped also.

[RedRider]

MY HEARING PROBLEM IS ISOLATED TO MY WIFE. ATLEAST THAT'S WHAT SHE SAYS! :rotf:

 

 

Good heavens - He's deaf, not blind!!!

 

RR

[Stache]

I'm kinda wondering if I'd spend $3400 in order to hear my wife's voice again...

[Cougar]

I have been going to the ear doc for a year now. (wanting earing aids) I even had tubes put back in. helped a little. but hearing aids will not help me.....he says , as the problem is that the bone structure of my ears are deteriorating to much. way to much loud rock and roll in the

day when there was no decibel level laws.

good luck to you !

Jeff

[Ryana7769]

Good heavens - He's deaf, not blind!!!

 

RR

 

Yes you are correct, BUT, typing in all caps is considered YELLING now days with all the texting and what not.

[FuzzyRSTD]

Good heavens - He's deaf, not blind!!!

 

RR

 

He is typing loud RedRider.

[FuzzyRSTD]

I'm kinda wondering if I'd spend $3400 in order to hear my wife's voice again...

 

Ya, considering that also. Thanks..

[Snaggletooth]

Hey Fuzzy,

 

A couple of thoughts for ya. Yep, it's an investment for sure. A couple of items to pick up to go along with the new aides. Wish I had known about them from the start.

 

They make sweat bands, like small socks that go over the units that ride behind your ear. They repel moisture and help keep the units dry. I have soaked mine and they have kept the units dry very well. I had moisture destroy the first two units within 6 months and I got lucky and the warrenty covered both of them. THEN the audioligist set me up with the bands.

 

The sweat bands also seemed to help a lot with wind noise on the bike. Not gone, but cut it down quite a bit.

 

There is also a drying box available. It looks like a small jewelry box that plugs into the wall and generates a low dry heat. Keep them in that over night and it adds years to the life of the aides. Moisture plays hell with those things.

 

But just some info on cheap insurance to help care for those expensive lil buggers.

 

And if they offer an extended warrenty on them.... take it! I'm am not a big fan of extended warrenties, but on these things......cover them as long as you can.

 

And make sure they are covered on your home owners insurance policy.

 

 

I've been though about $8,000 worth of aides over the years. The next step for me is going to be in the $75,000 range. At least my medical insurance will cover most of that if and when they stop kicking and screaming.

 

Mike

[FuzzyRSTD]

Thanks to all for the useful tips. Still thinking. I believe I will try some cheap from Wally -World first, just to see if I can and will wear them. I have talked to so many that have them and they are even paid for (free) and they do not wear them.

[ragtop69gs]

And don't forget to take them out before you dive off the boat into the lake! My neighbor got new aids to the tune of $5200 had them 3 days, forgot he was wearing them when he dove in

[ragtop69gs]

Thanks to all for the useful tips. Still thinking. I believe I will try some cheap from Wally -World first, just to see if I can and will wear them. I have talked to so many that have them and they are even paid for (free) and they do not wear them.

 

I only wear mine when I'm going to be in a crowded ? noisy situation like a bar , restaurant, party and the like, thats when I really need them. I don't like them when i'm riding. They really helped when we were at Quaker Steak & Lube with all those deaf old farts yelling at each other

[Snaggletooth]

Hi Fuzzy,

 

Let me put it like this.........

 

A long time ago I wanted to learn how to play guitar. I bought a cheap guitar to learn on and practiced every day, every chance I got. I practiced until my fingers bled, then practice some more. I learned as many songs as I could and kept at it for a long time. Somehow I never felt like I was very good. It never sounded right. I knew all the chords, and knew how the songs were supposed to sound but......... it just didn't cut it. I figured I had no knack for it or worse yet, no talent.

 

Wasted time. I put the guitar away and didn't touch it for over a year.

 

One day I was in a music store with a friend and and got to looking at the finer guitars. There was a Taylor hanging on the wall with a price tag that would have made me walk away if I'd been shopping for one. Way more money than I would have ever considered spending. A real sweet piece though even to look at. I picked it up and sat down with it and hit a few chords. Sweet Jesus it sounded good. Ran a few licks and my buddy looked over with a grin on his face and said, "I thought you didn't play anymore?"

 

After playing though a few songs that sounded like they were supposed to for a change I knew why I had been unhappy with myself and my ability to play. I coughed up the bucks and bought the Taylor that day and went back to playing every day, and kept at it for years after.

 

So my whole problem was the quality of the instrument. The difference is might and day between cheap and not so cheap. It's in what you hear. The spending the money for quality is what gave me back the gift and the will to keep after it.

 

Going to be about the same in the sitaution you are in. Once you hear the difference, it grows on ya.

 

It's your call but consider the advice.

 

Mike

[FuzzyRSTD]

Hi Fuzzy,

 

Let me put it like this.........

 

A long time ago I wanted to learn how to play guitar. I bought a cheap guitar to learn on and practiced every day, every chance I got. I practiced until my fingers bled, then practice some more. I learned as many songs as I could and kept at it for a long time. Somehow I never felt like I was very good. It never sounded right. I knew all the chords, and knew how the songs were supposed to sound but......... it just didn't cut it. I figured I had no knack for it or worse yet, no talent.

 

Wasted time. I put the guitar away and didn't touch it for over a year.

 

One day I was in a music store with a friend and and got to looking at the finer guitars. There was a Taylor hanging on the wall with a price tag that would have made me walk away if I'd been shopping for one. Way more money than I would have ever considered spending. A real sweet piece though even to look at. I picked it up and sat down with it and hit a few chords. Sweet Jesus it sounded good. Ran a few licks and my buddy looked over with a grin on his face and said, "I thought you didn't play anymore?"

 

After playing though a few songs that sounded like they were supposed to for a change I knew why I had been unhappy with myself and my ability to play. I coughed up the bucks and bought the Taylor that day and went back to playing every day, and kept at it for years after.

 

So my whole problem was the quality of the instrument. The difference is might and day between cheap and not so cheap. It's in what you hear. The spending the money for quality is what gave me back the gift and the will to keep after it.

 

Going to be about the same in the sitaution you are in. Once you hear the difference, it grows on ya.

 

It's your call but consider the advice.

 

Mike

 

Ya that Mike. Makes all kind of sense to me. I have had the same problem with the guitar, but and like you say, I have grown older and a bit wiser to difference in the brands and so on. I still pick up a guitar ever now and then and pick The Wild-Wood Flower. C-D&G are all I really ever learned. Yes, would be the same here with the aids. Also why I shopped around for a bike and ended up with the Yamaha. I did a lot of shopping and a lot of internet talking and prying and did the minus/plus this and that, and five yrs later and some money, to finally buy a new Yamaha.

 

James

[TDunc]

I have to agree... You can get a bad taste with the cheaps and may not go forward with getting what you need... Find an audiologists that has some GOOD "loaners". I wore two different "borrowed" sets before I choose the one I wear now. If I had tried the cheaps, probably would still be going "huh?"

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Tom