Hearing Aids

Cupie · Guru

Hearing Aids

hako · Guru

I qualified for the Govt program about 2 years ago and fronted up at their designated Audiologist where they performed various hearing tests. Naturally they confirmed that I needed hearing aids and then commenced to promote upmarket units ranging from 4K to 10K+. I was shown the 'free' Govt units which naturally were not as flash looking as the upmarket units and also demonstrated how the upmarket units fitted my hearing loss spectrum much better. I ended up with the 4K units as my medical fund paid the first 3K.
Are they any better than the 'free' ones?.....I'm not sure. If I were to do it all again I would want to try them side by side as people I know with the 'free' ones are quite happy with theirs. I'd also investigate the one designed by Prof Blamey which can be adjusted by yourself to suit your needs.

They are ridiculously expensive, much dearer than solid gold and have little if any resale value. Also they are available overseas much cheaper than identical models in Australia, sometimes 1/3 the cost!
Apparently anyone can call themselves an 'audiologist' with little if any training so I've heard.

I wear mine maybe every 2nd day depending on whether I need them.

Bottom line is "caveat emptor"

Good Luck.

Possum3 · Guru

Cupie,

I am fortunate and still have good hearing, although Child-bride and three Grandkids "Hearing Impaired" We have found that Costco are impossible to beat on Hearing Aids and Audio/Acoustic testing as well.

Batteries (Hearing Aids) are also a fraction of the price of best we have found.

Point to note is that they also have an Optometrist and their Glasses prices cannot be beaten even the Fancy Imported Styles (Gucci, etc). Also supply contacts.

Joining Costco has an annual fee of $60.00 but we save more than that on groceries, meat and fish within a month.

For those that don't know of Costco they sell everything from Tyres to Coffins - We first used them when we were in USA, they were the cheapest and best over there as well their pricing would beat Sears & Roebucks. About the only area they are not into is General Medical Services.

Tony Bev · Guru

Cupie wrote:
After giving in to SWMBO I went to my GP for a hearing test & guess what, I probably need hearing aids.
In my early investigations it seems that there is an Aus Govt Hearing Services Program that has a range of subsidies et al. & I will register for that, if I qualify.
Also it seems that the prices for hearing aids varies right up to & probably past $10k.
I read one report that was presented at an international hearing conference provides 'evidence' that the expensive enhanced feature aids are not significantly superior to the basic models.
Being a skinflint I don't want to waste money despite SWMBO saying, "It's your health, buy the best".

The Question ..
What is your experience ... Which way should I go & can you recommend good providers.

I have done a lot of research on hearing loss in general, because I am now deaf

Here are just some of the things I have found

Hearing loss is due to

Being born deaf
Illness as a child, or later in life
Chemicals
Loud noise
Old age

As I started going deaf before I got old, (loud noise), this was the only topic path, I researched

The experts agree, that they can not agree, what is the threshold of loud noise, which makes a person go deaf
For example, some people in the high noise occupations, never went deaf, until they got really old
While some people in the low noise occupations, went deaf, much earlier

If you can get government hearing aids at no cost, then grab them
If you can get government hearing aids at no cost, then grab them

(Not trying to be sarcastic, I repeated myself in case you did not hear me)

If you get the government to pay for your hearing aids, and then after the hearing test, ask the audiologist if you can pay extra for a better set
If that audiologist is a decent person, (in my opinion), he/she will tell you that the more expensive ones, (for loud noise deafness), have bells and whistles, which you do not really need

Most hearing aid business, are associated with one particular manufacturer, and you will not be offered a choice of brands

If you must buy your own hearing aids, (wife said it is for your health, so buy the best)
There are hearing aid business out there, who actually sell more than one brand, and will give you a free trial of different brands, using a throw away generic ear plug
After you decide which one you are happy with, they will then make a ear mould for your ear

My story is that due to burnt and sometimes clumsy hands, I dropped one of my (self paid for about $4,500 each) hearing aids, and broke it
As it was just over (what they claimed was its useful life), they would not attempt to repair it, perhaps they knew that I could afford new ones

In the previous six years, or thereabouts, I have been buying el cheapo, (much less than $25 each), hearing aids from Ebay

After a lot of trial and error, I found that the in the ear canal (ITC) ones were not powerful enough, so I use the behind the ear (BTE) ones

I found that for my hearing loss the JCEPP X 186 were suitable
They are only a noise amplifier, but a genuine copy of, a genuine copy, of a real hearing aid
Unfortunately these are no longer available, perhaps due to unscrupulousness people, copying these genuine copies

I now purchase AXON F-138 which seem to be good enough for me

My el cheapo hearing aids seem to last about 10 months or so, and for the price I pay for them, I am very happy with them

Not trying to take customers away from the hearing aid people, just showing what is out there

Like everything else in life, you will get what you pay for, but when it comes to high cost hearing aids, perhaps what you have paid for, is not what you are going to get

Hope that this information is useful to you, and others in the future, as quite a lot of us are going deaf, as we get older

Cupie · Guru

Thanks Denis & Collin for the quick replies...

I'll check with my Private Health mob CBHS to see what they will pay & perhaps get a hearing test with one of the Govt approved people. Armed with the details of the test & their recommended products, I will try Costco & others.

We have never been to Costco as it is on the other side of Brisbane, but it might be worth the $60 & a trip if only to have a look.

thanks again .. much appreciated.

Edit ...

Add Tony to the thanks list.

Perhaps I could look at Costco's glasses while I'm at it.

Who'd have guessed that Costco were into this sort of stuff & coffins too. I might be able to get a package deal.

A bit of ebay trawling too. The test first though.

-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 15th of November 2017 04:46:59 PM

-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 15th of November 2017 04:47:25 PM

aussietraveller · Guru

A good decision Cupi I paid around $8000 for mine which are small behind the ear with small clear tube into my ear and they do work well but next time I will also go to Costco as my mate recently did and he got excellent hearing aids for $1800.
There have been several articles about the absolute rip off in the hearing aid industry and I think the Government has a group looking into it at this time.

Good luck and please give us an update once you finally purchase some.

aussie_paul · Guru

My 92 year old Mum and I are about to try these in the next couple of weeks. Feb this year we had our hearing tested as to being suitable BUT they could only be done in Melbourne and Mum reneged. We are part of a free trial.

They can now install them here in Ballarat.

At the moment we both use the Govt ones but Mum with macular degeneration cannot insert them and/of change the batteries. I just take them with me put them in for Mum when we are out.

http://www.victorianhearing.com.au/services/lyric-invisible-hearing-aids/

Aussie Paul. smile

Tony Bev · Guru

hako wrote:
I qualified for the Govt program about 2 years ago and fronted up at their designated Audiologist where they performed various hearing tests. Naturally they confirmed that I needed hearing aids and then commenced to promote upmarket units ranging from 4K to 10K+. I was shown the 'free' Govt units which naturally were not as flash looking as the upmarket units and also demonstrated how the upmarket units fitted my hearing loss spectrum much better. I ended up with the 4K units as my medical fund paid the first 3K.
Are they any better than the 'free' ones?.....I'm not sure. If I were to do it all again I would want to try them side by side as people I know with the 'free' ones are quite happy with theirs. I'd also investigate the one designed by Prof Blamey which can be adjusted by yourself to suit your needs.

They are ridiculously expensive, much dearer than solid gold and have little if any resale value. Also they are available overseas much cheaper than identical models in Australia, sometimes 1/3 the cost!
Apparently anyone can call themselves an 'audiologist' with little if any training so I've heard.

I wear mine maybe every 2nd day depending on whether I need them.

Bottom line is "caveat emptor"

Good Luck.

The main reason that second hand hearing aids have no resale value, is that they have been set to the hearing loss of someone else

I have yet to come across an audiologist, who advertise that they will change the settings, of second hand hearing aids, for your hearing loss
Plus the audiologist tell you that they have a life span, of only so many years

Cupie · Guru

aussie_paul wrote:
My 92 year old Mum and I are about to try these in the next couple of weeks. Feb this year we had our hearing tested as to being suitable BUT they could only be done in Melbourne and Mum reneged. We are part of a free trial.
They can now install them here in Ballarat.
At the moment we both use the Govt ones but Mum with macular degeneration cannot insert them and/of change the batteries. I just take them with me put them in for Mum when we are out.
http://www.victorianhearing.com.au/services/lyric-invisible-hearing-aids/
Aussie Paul.

Gee Paul you are lucky to be on the trial. I saw that they cost $2k to $4k per ear per year. I hope that the trial goes for lots of years. They look fantastic though. Certainly the Rolls Royces of Hearing Aids it seems, at least by price.

On my journey of discovery, I have spoken to Costco who are not part of the Govt Voucher system but included in your $60/year membership is access to their product that range from $2k to $3.4k and all Audiologist visits free. Free annual & replacement etc too. My CBHS health cover rebates 70% of the cost up to total of $1600. So the financial side is looking good (ish).

I need now to research into the Govt Voucher system to see just how much out of pocket I will be if I go that way. But Costco is looking good at the moment.

iana · Guru

From what I read here, you all have mild hearing loss, the hearing aids are just enhancing the slight loss you have, and any advantages the more expensive ones have will not effect you much. My experience so far with the industry is that most of what is done is a con, from a chart with a couple of dots and lines on it, someone who has no experience of what its like being deaf can set your hearing up like its normal. In my opinion that is rubbish, I have screaming tinnitus, and just working out what tones I supposed to hear, let alone when I hear them is dammed hard.
I am at present with Aust. Hearing and will be trailing an expensive pair next week, I doubt if I will experience much difference, and had also 1st consult for Cochlear implants, but that is a whole new ball game. So good luck Cupie hope you have a winner.

Cupie · Guru

iana wrote:
From what I read here, you all have mild hearing loss, the hearing aids are just enhancing the slight loss you have, and any advantages the more expensive ones have will not effect you much. My experience so far with the industry is that most of what is done is a con, from a chart with a couple of dots and lines on it, someone who has no experience of what its like being deaf can set your hearing up like its normal. In my opinion that is rubbish, I have screaming tinnitus, and just working out what tones I supposed to hear, let alone when I hear them is dammed hard.
I am at present with Aust. Hearing and will be trailing an expensive pair next week, I doubt if I will experience much difference, and had also 1st consult for Cochlear implants, but that is a whole new ball game. So good luck Cupie hope you have a winner.

Yes you are right in my case at least. I do have mild hearing loss & am still undecided if I want to go down the Hearing Aid path at least just yet.

I am extremely empathetic for you with that terrible tinnitus. I had a very mild episode that thankfully lasted only a short time & that was bad enough.

Like you I am extremely suspicious of the Hearing Aid industry. A few years ago on one of those unsolicited offers of free tests for old farts, the tester suggested that I might have a serious brain tumor affecting my right side hearing. So off we went for a series of tests including MRI et al, all with a fair amount of out of pocket expenses, but of course after the big scare we found nothing.

I think that I will just continue to gather data and make the decision in the new year. (Can't get a Costco appt until Feb anyway). I need to see a Cardio Specialist next month to decide on strategy with respect to my severe artery calcification. The Anaesthetist at my recent Colonoscopy was rather outspoken about the need to get a second opinion WRT my calcification score & then on a recent visit to my Urologist, he pointed out that only 2% of Au males die from Colon cancer as opposed to the high rate from strokes & suggested that we just watch my elevated PSI given my vulnerability to stroke. So who knows, we might be more interested in Costco's coffins rather than their hearing aids.

Once again thanks all for the great advice & information.

macka17 · Guru

I'm Deaf near enuff. Driving Draglines.dozers excavators etc.
Which give you very close. Intimate relationships with some Huge.
VERY noisy machinery

I need them when in conversations with ANYbody. and BOTH
when talking to soft spoken ladies\Grandkids.

I have H\Duty fairly big ones. Di has tiny almost not see units.
Mine I tend to forget in shower. Have to dry out. So wear Di's tiny ones.

She don't wear now. (female vanity at $4.500 each side??) Why buy.

I took them over for inside home.
They. ALL can be tuned to quite high levels. Then you go to boosted ones.

I have a pr over 6 yrs old.
When I bought my updates recently (Higher levels)
I handed them in.

What do they do with them?????.

Third world country's, according to the girl behind my desk.

Very nice I thought. Same as glasses.
I change mine every coupla yrs. They go O\S too.
And mine being multi focal.
VERY welcome too.

So they don't usually dump anything unless it sick. They have contracts with third world agencies she said. She gives. They ship out.

Great. Hand 'em ALL back in. OLD glasses ans hearing aids.

and FALSE teeth.

Blues Man · Guru

I brought a pair of hearing aids from an add in the courier mail for about $180 . They have a volume control 0...5 and set at about 2 they are very loud ,they also have on and off switch

For that price ,i thought why not .The first pair i got cost me about $9000.What a rip off .they were the in ear canal type ,i wore them for a few months ,found them uncomfortable furious

That was 12yrs ago and now they are well past their use by date .They seen me coming i reckon but never again.Not a happy camper. furious furious

The el cheapoe's seem to do the job thank you very much.

blissonwheels · Senior Member

Gooday,

Have been down this path also, have been tested by Costco and find them to be very reliable and honest, though not needing them as yet

Know of several people who have used a Melbourne Company called Blamey Saunders, apparently you can do the test on line, as well as have them adjusted on line if you need.. I have no personal experience but I suggest you Google them and check for yourself and work from there. As I said I know several who have been using them very happily for years.

Cupie · Guru

blissonwheels wrote:
Gooday,
Have been down this path also, have been tested by Costco and find them to be very reliable and honest, though not needing them as yet

Know of several people who have used a Melbourne Company called Blamey Saunders, apparently you can do the test on line, as well as have them adjusted on line if you need.. I have no personal experience but I suggest you Google them and check for yourself and work from there. As I said I know several who have been using them very happily for years.

Thanks for that ..

I spoke to Costco yesterday & was most impressed by their attitude & offers. I think I'll make an appointment (earliest is Feb next year), I can cancel if I change my mind & you can make an appt before becoming a member. But must join up by the appt day.

Current thinking is that if I decide to get Hearing Aids I will at least get a Costco Appt & see where that leads. My out of pocket expenses would be $600 - $800 & very little other costs except batteries & of course their $60 pa membership fee.

I'll have a look at Blamey Saunders too.

In addition I will use the Au Govt Voucher system to have a look at the Fully Subsidised offers & what others they suggest, but will go thru with the Costco option if I decide against the fully subsidised ones.

So there's a plan.

Gaylehere · Guru

I'll add my two bobs worth for others who maybe following this thread. I qualified for the government subsidized aids because I am a spouse of an age pensioner. I was able to choose where I went for my testing etc. The form you need to fill in is "on line" if you want to see what it says. The subsidy is $2,000 if I remember correctly. I got the next ones up which were $800 more which my health insurance fund paid. The only thing I pay is the annual $40 (or there abouts) battery and maintenance fee. I need to change batteries every two weeks approx. I wear mine all day and well into the night. One of mine stopped working once and completely broke once (the bit that went from the behind the ear to the inside ear piece and the repairs were covered. I have had mine just over two years. I too have "ringing in the ears - two different sounds one of which I have had for many a year. I am in the process of being tested for a cochlear implant for one ear and a compatible hearing aid (that you get as a set) for the other ear and they communicate with each other. I think I'm looking at around $7000 for the surgeon, switch on and 3 months follow up. Plus the anesthetist fee and and hospital access which is $500. I'm just saying this to show what price this is to getting expensive hearing aids. A person I was put into contact with said she got her implant for almost nothing but I don't know her situation. Besides the ringing in the ears I have lost/am loosing the high pitch sounds which is needed for word recognition and music. All music sounds terrible to me.

Cupie. I hope all goes well for you and you get satisfaction with whatever you eventually get. Cheers.

Cupie · Guru

Thanks for your good wishes Gaylene. Much appreciated. BTW we were much impressed with your home town when we were up there recently for the Carnival of Flowers. We usually just pass through on our way to somewhere else. It was enlightening to stay there for a few days.

I was an absolutely uninformed novice WRT hearing aids a couple of days ago before I posted here. Now I feel like an expert user & I haven't even seen a real audiologist yet. Of course much more learning to come.

Thanks to all you who assisted in my education.

Landfall · Guru

Have followed all the replies with a lot of interest as this has also been an area of interest.

I recently attended a hearing test at Australian Hearing where they looked up my past history which showed them I had had a earing test seven years ago and it was recommended that I have hearing aids.

At that time the consultant tried their best to steer me into a very expensive set of hearing aids, sensing a scam I walked out and continued life without them. The latest tests at a different branch showed them that my hearing had deteriorated a little more. After a somewhat long consultation the audiologist was honest enough to say he doubted that I would wear them, but they would be of benefit as I also suffer from severe tinnitus.

I went ahead a purchased the more expensive ones that he described as being the equal to a BMW series 5. Tried them for about 16 days, didin't find much improvement even after a couple of adjustments, very uncomfortable and handed them back. Charged $150 fee for them to clean and restock them.

It may be some time before I try again, the industry is going to have to improve their game.

Cupie · Guru

Landfall ...

Try Costco .... Much cheaper & seem genuine to me. Will only cost you $60/year to join.

I'm not proceeding with mine for now. If I change my mind I will go with them. My GP wants to clean out ant wax in my ears before I get a test though.

Santa · Guru

Ant Wax confuse confuse confuse confuse confuse

2weis · Senior Member

any wax ( T and Y side by side on keyboard)

Cupie · Guru

If you were my kids I'd say 'smart arse' & in the old days give you a clip under the lug. .... LOL

Tony Bev · Guru

iana wrote:
From what I read here, you all have mild hearing loss, the hearing aids are just enhancing the slight loss you have, and any advantages the more expensive ones have will not effect you much. My experience so far with the industry is that most of what is done is a con, from a chart with a couple of dots and lines on it, someone who has no experience of what its like being deaf can set your hearing up like its normal. In my opinion that is rubbish, I have screaming tinnitus, and just working out what tones I supposed to hear, let alone when I hear them is dammed hard.
I am at present with Aust. Hearing and will be trailing an expensive pair next week, I doubt if I will experience much difference, and had also 1st consult for Cochlear implants, but that is a whole new ball game. So good luck Cupie hope you have a winner.

All the best with your new hearing aids, next week, Ian
I have read that some hearing aids will help the tinnitus, but as yet, no one has actually told me that their hearing aids, help their tinnitus

Could you let us all know how you got on, in regards to new hearing aids and tinnitus

Perhaps it is not the right thing to do, but I try and ignore my tinnitus, which means I sometimes ignore other noises, such as people talking to me

I can assure you that I have one ear, which hears nothing to write home about, and if I remove the hearing aid from my good ear, I do not hear very much

Landfall · Guru

Tony Bev wrote:

Perhaps it is not the right thing to do, but I try and ignore my tinnitus, which means I sometimes ignore other noises, such as people talking to me

biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin Works for me.

iana · Guru

Had the trial pair of hearing aids for half a day, can hear noises I hadn't heard for so long I'd forgotten about them, like I can hear my head move against the back of my chair, and I think, why do I want to hear that for?, I can't seem to hear my foot steps, or the motor in the tug while driving. Directional mics work with the two programs I have, and the controller I have around my neck works OK for volume and programs, I still have to pair up my phone.
I am going to have to do something completely in-Australian, and read the instructions, to get everything set up and working. My old aids are being sent away to be assessed for repair, they were top of the range and I found the receipt $9,900 plus the controller at $550. The ones I had before them I think were even more expensive.

Bottom line is, I can hear, just can't understand, still can't hear the TV, conversation is still hard. The ear moulds are very tight, to the point my ears are beginning to get sore, so may have to get another set and ease that tighteness.

So far I am inclined to keep using my old aids, and save $5-7,000, even with the gov't subsidy and my piddly $500 back from med insurance.

As the Audologist said, the lower power aids have more features, whereas the hi-power aids are more basic, concentrating on pumping that noise into your head.

These aids have a Tinnitus white noise feature, but it is too early to tell if it makes any difference.

So that's it for the moment.

Tony Bev · Guru

Thanks for the feedback, Ian

I sincerely hope that you will eventually find something, which is suitable for you

Snip
The ear moulds are very tight

This seems strange, both my sets of expensive hearing aids, were not tight
Are you saying that they have attached off the shelf ear moulds, so that you can evaluate the hearing aids

aussie_paul · Guru

Mum and I are having the Lyric system inserted mid January.

I see Connect Hearing are still asking for volunteers to try this system.

Aussie Paul. smile

Tony Bev · Guru

aussie_paul wrote:
Mum and I are having the Lyric system inserted mid January.
I see Connect Hearing are still asking for volunteers to try this system.
Aussie Paul.

Is there any chance of a link to this, Paul

We have a Connect Hearing in my town, but nothing on their website about it

aussie_paul · Guru

Tony Bev wrote:
Is there any chance of a link to this, Paul
We have a Connect Hearing in my town, but nothing on their website about it

Try their FB page Tony. Or this.

http://browardsinusdoctors.com/lyric-invisible-hearing-aids-offer/

Aussie Paul. smile

-- Edited by aussie_paul on Thursday 23rd of November 2017 02:46:59 PM

Tony Bev · Guru

aussie_paul wrote:
Tony Bev wrote:
Is there any chance of a link to this, Paul
We have a Connect Hearing in my town, but nothing on their website about it
Try their FB page Tony. Or this.
http://browardsinusdoctors.com/lyric-invisible-hearing-aids-offer/
Aussie Paul.

-- Edited by aussie_paul on Thursday 23rd of November 2017 02:46:59 PM

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