The always asked question.. for newbies to HA's

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Batman1usa

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Which hearing aids?
I've been to two Audiologists, one carries Sonic Flip(Otican), the other Audibel(Starkey). I think this is correct. In my very brief searches I have found there are a vast variety of brand names.
I'm in the learning stage with ringing in both ears/high frequency hearing loss.
Kind of excited to get some but all the different brands and technology is giving me a headache.
Any advise on these two brands or something else I might look at? Company is picking up the tab, but I don't need the most expensive, I want what works the best.
I'm pretty sure I want the over the ear kind with the little clear tube.
Tips? Advise? Suggestions?

Thanks
JD
 
Everyone is different. What works very well for you, may not work well for someone else. Both Oticon and Starkey are excellent brands and are great options. What you need to really focus on is the follow up after purchasing the hearing aids. Good follow-up will make all the difference because you will need lots of adjustments and fine tuning. If you have good follow up, your hearing aids will be great no matter if you choose Starkey or Oticon.

For more information on those brands, a good website to check is Hearing Aid Clinic in Burnaby. Invisible Hearing Aids and a Fair Price

Hope this helps!
 
First of all, audiologists often carry a limited number of brands (often only one or two) and are often loyal to only one or two brands. You've apparently already experienced this.

Don't get suckered into thinking you MUST have one of the top 5 brands (Oticon, Starkey, Siemens, etc.) and ONLY from that audiologist. Got a Costco nearby? Check out what they offer. Their "Costco" (Kirkland) brand hearing aids are just as good as the "top 5" and LOTS less expensive. And Costco offers unlimited adjustments and cleaning at no extra charge. Audiologists say they offer "personal service." Costco does as well. Again, in my opinion, your typical audiologist offers aids at very high prices that we do not need to pay. Hearing aid costs are a racket. Why should a hearing aid cost more than a laptop computer (even an Apple)? There are also Internet-based sellers (although there are some scams, too) but using them are a bit more inconvenient (but no more inconvenient than an audiologist telling you they can't see your for one, two, or three weeks).

Yes, there are many decisions you need to make. It can be mind boggling. Pretty much it boils down to how profound your hearing loss is and your lifestyle. If your hearing loss is significant (I've lost at least 40%+ in the upper ranges), then you will want to seriously consider behind-the-ear aids. They are more powerful than the aids that fit solely into the ear and thus are better for greater hearing loss. As to lifestyle, if you spend most of your life in conversation with one or a few people, you don't need to get ones that are programmable. Waste of money in my opinion. BUT if you are often in noisy environments, spend time listening to lots of music, are in lecture halls or restaurants alot where the surrounding noise can be a deteriment to hearing, i.e. in a lot of different environments, you will want to purchase aids with multi-modes. There are also aids which are fortified against wetness made for those with "active" sports-type lifestyles.

I've heard all the arguments pro/con digital vs. analog. I prefer digital because they are more flexible. But if you don't need that flexibility, why pay for digital when analog will work just fine?

In the end, if there isn't a decent trial period offered, you may very well get stuck with aids which don't meet your needs. No matter where you buy your aids, if there isn't a significant trial period, run the other way.
 
Rich forgot to say that with Costco you will get a 90 day trial and 100% of your money back if you return the HA's. Audiologist will only give you 30 days or 45 if mandated by state law and if you return the aids they will keep some of your money for the time they spent on you, this amount is also regulated by some states. If these are your first HA's try several different brands before making a decision. If you talk to an audiologist they will tell you to only go to an audiologist, but I've gone to HIS that were way more knowledgeable that my audiologist when it came to setting up and making adjustments to my hearing aids. good luck!
 
Never get a hearing aid from a franchise like Beltone, Miracle Ear & Audibel. As an independent audiologist, I have accounts with every significant manufacturer and a couple of insignificant manufacturers. I can (and do) pick and choose anytime from different manufacturers depending on variables such as specific features, durability, technology improvements, pricing, technology support, quality control, warranties, etc.... No single manufacturer makes the "best" hearing aids for everyone. In fact, ALL manufacturers have both high and low quality models/circuits at any given time, and pricing is rarely the determining factor. Even the best manufacturers (Siemens, Starkey, and Phonak) produce both good and poor models/circuits, and quality control and technology with all manufacturers is constantly changing... sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. We (audiologists) must have the training, experience, clinical tools, desire, and time to evaluate each manufacturer, each model, and each individual hearing aid on an ongoing basis. One, of many, problems with a franchise place like Audibel is that they will only give their programming software to their own chain/franchise stores. I can open an account and get software, supplies and hearing aids from any major or minor company except Beltone, Miracle Ear, and Audibel. If you get a franchise hearing aid, you are forced to continue to go back to that franchise for all future service. If the franchise guy turns out to be a punk or the place goes out of business, you're screwed. Only another Audibel office can adjust or repair your hearing aid. If you get a "real" name brand hearing aid, you can take it anywhere that has an account with that brand for adjustments, repairs, loss & damage replacements, etc.... I've been fitting hearing aids everyday for 15-years, and I've never even heard of a Flip brand hearing aid. Audibel is a franchise. It looks like you're getting set up to be screwed either way. Start over and;
1. Make sure they're really audiologists (look for M.S., or AuD, and CCC-A certification credentials. Only a desperate audiologist would work for Audibel or fit a Flip (i.e., generic) brand hearing aid.
2. Never, ever get your hearing aids from a franchise
3. Study "real ear" or "probe microphone verification," and make sure they use this technology to actually measure average American speech sound pressure levels at your eardrum. If they don't measure what sound waves are stimulating your auditory system with the hearing aid IN YOUR EAR, they are working blind and ignorant.
4. Try to get a Siemens, Starkey, or Phonak brand hearing aid.
5. (really #1) Pray
PS Hearing aids will neither reduce nor eliminate hearing loss or tinnitus. Hearing aids can amplify sounds to an audible level so you can hear them again, and the amplified sound from a hearing aid usually helps mask or cover up your ringing as long as you're wearing the aid. Once the aid is removed, your hearing loss and ringing will be the same. A poorly trained dispenser can easily over-amplify the ear and actually cause additional hearing loss and exacerbate tinnitus/ringing. This is just one of many reasons why poorly trained hearing aid salesmen should not be permitted to fit hearing aids.
 
Thank for the feedback

Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming.
I should clear up the flip is by sonic "oticon"
Where I live the audiologist is 50-80 miles away. One has an office in town here they visit every other week.
I've read a little about both these brands and they seem comparable.
I'm located in north central Oklahoma.
 
great post

The post from the Audiologist is right on. I have been going to a hearing aid specialist for 7 years and just 8 weeks ago I went to my first Audiologist looking for something to help my tinnitus. What I found was nothing but a sound that would help mask the tinnitus with the hearing aids in. The new "tinnitus" help is nothing but a marketing tool to help sell hearing aids. I ended up with a Phonak Audeo Q90. The Q90 is the top of the line, but its worth every penny. It has Bluetooth built it and with the TVLink I can listen to the TV wirelessly, connect with my ipad or talk on the telephone hands free. That's the fun part, the best part is being able to hear and "understand" in all types of environments. My audiologist set up my aids with only one small adjustment needed, I wanted a little bit more default volume.
 
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