My dad is less and less able to look after his Costco hearing aids, and Costco is a long drive from our house. We're considering setting him up with another, closer, provider and getting a new pair of hearing aids, but have also been reading about over the counter options. Any experience with these?
But my hearing is getting progressively worse. I had expensive (thousands of dollars) hearing aids partially paid by insurance and professionally fitted.
However, the implements required for cleaning them were so tiny and hard for me to manipulate ....a real frustration. I even broke one aide trying to clean it.
I tried a much less expensive all-in-the-ear type, highly advertised on TV and elsewhere. The sound was better, though a bit "tinny".
They take some practice to use because the volume control is on the aide itself, in the ear, where it isn't visible. And I could hear the speaker to my left and to my right, but anyone facing me was almost impossible to hear much of the time.
I use the "all in the ear" hearing aides sometimes and rely on "lip-reading" and guess work otherwise. It's not perfect, but fortunately, being retired, my income doesn't depend on my hearing.
I ended up buying Eargos on line. I love them. These are rechargeable and go in the ear.
$1500. I've had them for 2 years. No regrets.
First Medicare pays for annual exams
You can ask the audiologist, based on the exam if dad could benefit. During the lecture the audiologit said it is up to the patiient and that when he (the audiologist) found some, he would test it out on his equipment
My hearing is less than 50% so it would be a no go for me. Costs for me is 5 k for my new ones with Bluetooth
I have Medicare Advantage and if I chose to use thier recommended doctors, there were some discounts.
As far as the OTC, the old adage, you get what you pay for applies, but in some cases they OTC ones may be good enough. From what I understand they are more or less amplifiers.
They are not overly expensive - less than $100 a set.
https://www.amazon.com/Earbyear-Rechargeable-Cancelling-Invisible-Amplification/dp/B0B9N7NMNZ/
Before looking for hearing aids, I booked hubby an appointment with an ENT [ears, nose, throat] doctor for a second opinion. Turned out hubby had impacted wax in that silent ear. After numerous treatments, finally the solid block of wax was soft enough to remove. Hubby has his hearing back. Now, no more excuses he didn't hear me :)
Just food for thought.
other than that, my Dad does not use any other fancy features on his
the audiologist tuned it at the start and he doesnt (and is not able to ) change other features and leaves them be