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Hearing Aids - hearing aids--hearing aid companies are not focusing on what most hearing impaired people really wan

CompanyHearing Aids
Product / ServiceHEARING AIDS
Location Houston, Texas
Category Eye and Ear Care
Views1256
 

I have worn over 8 pair of hearing aids over the past 20 years, representing 7 different companies. First, I have found that the hearing tests that audiologists do have not changed much in 20 years and are not that relevant to hearing in the real world. Second, the engineers working at hearing aid companies do not understand something very fundamental: 90% of the time (at least), hearing impaired people mostly want to hear people (and not air conditioning coming out of a vent or regular car noises or keys jingling or dishes and silverware clanking, etc.) I am totally fed up with the whole industry! 2fd4032

 
 
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robert robert
Oct 18, 2012 
They give you a test before you get hearing aids but never give you a test with the hearing aids they have fitted you with. Also, why not give us a program that allows us to minipulate the channels of the hearing aid to our particular circumstances. When hearings aids are paid for by WSIB do they also get charged for every visit while they set the hearing aids. A comp any like apple should manufacture hearing aids. Robert.
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Brandon Brandon
Sep 20, 2012 
Hearing aids are devices that assist you with your hearing. They are not magical devices that can eliminate sounds that you don't like. Hearing sounds like the air conditioner and other ambient noise is a GOOD thing! Speech encompasses a range of thousands of different frequencies so by eliminating sounds that are annoying, you would be eliminating clarity of speech as well. My suggestion is to practice retraining the brain. Your provider should be working with you to help with your adjustment to new sounds. Just because you don't like a sound does not mean you should not hear that sound. your brain depends on those sounds to feed it and stimulate otherwise it's capacity to comprehend sounds will diminish. The success of hearing aids is divided in thirds: 1/3 - is the product in your ears ( the hearing aid does not do all the work) 1/3 is the person helping you (your hearing instrument specialist or audiologist) 1/3 is your own motivation to hear better. Please don't think that the hearing aid will fix all your problems on it's own. It's a team effort. Make sure you are doing your part.
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Danny Danny
May 24, 2012 
I've never had a hearing aide before, I'm looking at the IIC from Starkey or phnoak but don't know the difference or if the ICC is good or not.
i'm so confused, I tried to get reviews on line but can't seem to find anything but from the manufacturer. can somebody send me an email and give me their thoughts. i'm not sure how to get back on here to check so if you could email me to Torebro@aol.com that would be great. and thanks
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Dr. B Dr. B
Mar 18, 2012 
Hi Karen,
I am so sorry that you are having trouble with your hearing. As others have said, hearing aids will ALWAYS pickup sounds such as your air conditionner, keys jingling etc.. These are sounds that people with no hearing loss hear each and every day.

Has anyone ever explained the parts of the hearing test to you? Has anyone ever spoken to you about acclimitization? As I said, the sounds you complain about are sounds that we hear every day. Most patients get accustomed to those sounds once they start wearing hearing aids. You didn't lose your hearing overnight, you lost it but by bit over the years. You are not going to get used to all those sounds overnight, it is going to take time to get used to those sounds again. I usually tell my patients about my own problem: the furnace. When I first turn the furnace on in the fall I just can't sleep at night. It's all I hear. After a few days, my brain gets use to it and starts to ignore it. The same thing happens to you when you use hearing aids.

I know that I may not be of any help right now. I woud suggest that you speak to an audiologist and have them guide you. I suggest one in provate practice. Chances are someone in private practice has worked with MANY people who are having the same problems that you are.

No hearing aid will ever get rid of background noise. All that they can do is make it more comfortable for the the end user. The higher you go in technology, the... Show more
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anita anita
Mar 13, 2012 
I totally agree with Jack the AUdiologist. I have seen hearing aids dispensed by someone who has been in the business for 50 years. When that customer came to me I was shocked to see the precription in her aids. The H.I.S. doing the programming was 80 years old, had no clue where to set the TK point and had them compressed at 3.97. HIS/AUD who are not comfortable programming aids, shouldn't.
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Kristina Kristina
Feb 08, 2012 
Karen,

Unless you work in the industry you should do more reseach. The price a dealer or hearing aid seller gets at cost is of course marked up in order to pay for the follow up care and services. Most places offer this for free, if you can tell me when you go to the doctor for one thing everyother appointment realated to that first problem is free, then you have a valid point. DME, durable medical equipment is usally sold with no follow up care where as hearing aid are. If you are an uneducated consumer then the best idea would be to find the HHP or AUD that works best with your situtation. In response to the fact that AUD are just out to sell hearing aids, again if you researched more you would realize that its the opposite audiologists do not have a reputation for being the best sellers of hearing aids because they are more foucused on the test and underlying problems, no offense AUD's, but they are doctors of audiology no hearing aid dispensers, thought they may be allowed to sell hearing aids.
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Kristina Kristina
Feb 08, 2012 
Richard and others. It is hard to understand what those with hearing losses go through when you yourself does not have a loss. What is easy to understand about hearing loss is that it is not simple. Richard hit the nail onthe head that the sounds you hear when you wear hearing aids are what people with no loss hear all day, its just that their brains have become acclimated with those sounds and have learned to tune them out. You cannot make a hearing aid differentiate between those sounds it take time, patience, persistence, and lost of follow up care. Switching hearing aids every year or few years cannot help the matter because you just start yourself from ground zero all over again. The best advice I can say is to hang in there and find a provider who works best with you just like you would an MD. I wish you the best of luck but expecting miracles jsut like getting a heart transplant and thinking you can run a mile the next day, is setting yourself up for failure. :sigh
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Grandma Aids 40 years Grandma Aids 40 years
Feb 01, 2012 
Ron, the most informative article I've ever read about hearing aids/hearing loss. The 9 yr old hearing the toilet flush brought tears. I've worn aids for 40 yrs. It's time for another pair. After research & trying several aids, I completely sympathize with the other comments also. From my perspective as long time wearer, Jack the Audiologist "hit the nail on the head". His comment actually brought tears also because trying to find new aids that my ears/brain can handle makes me feel totally helpless in my search. My hearing is compounded by loud tinnitus. There are many manufacturers of HA, but all want to make aids so hi tech & invisable that I'm of the opinion they are forgetting about the consumer hearing well & being able to afford them.
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Brenda - Marie Brenda - Marie
Mar 04  from Vancouver, British Columbia
Dear Grandma, thank you!
I know this is a dated listing ~ but I hope you can tell me what Jack the Audiologist said on this web page please... With much appreciation...
I am *Completely new to hearing aids = on my first set testing! Very Costly too!!

Brenda - Marie :-(
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AlsipMagistrate AlsipMagistrate
Jan 17, 2012 
First of all, let me dismiss the myth that Audiologist are interested in anything but selling hearing aids. If they have a license to dispense hearing aids, or if they offer hearing aids for purchase, then they are primarily interested in selling hearing aids.
Beware of those who pretend otherwise.
The real money in anything connected with audiology is selling hearing aids.

The typical cost of a hearing aid, when provided in a bundeled manner, meaning that there is a flat fee for all services included in the sale of a hearing aid, or two hearing aids, is usually 20%.
In other words, if the price asked for a hearing aid is $5,000 then usually the hearing aid cost $1,000, $900,$800,$700,$600,$500,$400,$300, or some other percentage.
The usual mark-up is 4 or 5 times.
That is why even medical doctors are selling hearing aids.
There is more profit in hearing aid sales than in surgery.
Buyer Beware

For more information call David A.Thorpe
(800) 432-7114
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Ron Ron
Dec 18, 2011 
Karen,

I get the feeling you may not understand the primary purpose of a hearing test. Please allow me to explain:

1. The hearing test is a “medical” evaluation: I feel bad that you think the test is primarily for the determination of a hearing aid (the hearing aid is the last thing that is considered when you are evaluated by an audiologist). . The fist thing the audiologist wants to make sure is that you do not have an acoustic neuroma (a tumor in the brainstem). Then he/she wants to make sure you do not have middle ear pathology, etc. The audiologist needs to insure the health of your auditory system. The audiologist is not testing you in a real world environment. Who ever told you that a hearing test, in a sound treated room is in anyway a simulation of the real world?

It is very upsetting to me when a powerful public venue (the internet) is used in this way to express incorrect information. Unfortunately, untreated hearing impaired people hear and read such negative comments. This is a major reason why they never seek any help. Untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation, depression, lack of potential job income, problems with family and friends and recently a long term study out of Johns Hopkins Hospital determined that hearing loss is associated and a factor in developing dementia.

2. The audiological test results, if performed by a certified/licensed audiologist will be the same results... Show more
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Richard Richard
Dec 01, 2011 
Well Karen, people with normal hearing hear those sounds as well, it wouldn't be natural to remove those sounds completely.Hearing aids can only compress, or lower background sounds to a more comfortable level, provided you have noise reduction capabilities on your hearing aids. It's a noisey world we live in, I suggest going to a hearing health care professional who understands the technology, and can make these particular adjustments for you.....
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Jack the Audiologist Jack the Audiologist
Dec 01, 2011 
It really isn't the hearing aid company's fault..the problem is that technology changes and few programmers know how to make it right , especially in long time wearers
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