I have moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears. I saw the audiologist six or eight months ago and felt I couldn't afford hearing aids.
I am going to go to Costco soon and get hearing aids since I really miss so much. My ENT doc suggested Costco when I told him I couldn't afford the price of the ones I tried at the audiologist's office.
I have one hearing aid I have had since 1992 and it still works but not anything like the newer digital ones.
Usually the augiologist will let you try out the aids for at least a week and sometimes a month.
Update us on what you find out when you see the audiologist.

Mine are older too. Someday I must check into getting one of the smaller ones instead. I have to admit that I don't wear them as often as I should. I found them hard to get used to and since I am no longer working I just jack up the volume of the TV. I do miss a lot that is said though which can be frustrating for my DH. It does lead to some humerous conversations as well. I can hear so much better when I wear them though. The first day I wore them I swore that they were breaking every dish in the restaurant that we were in. Most places will have you try the aids for a while before you decide if you want them. Ask for their policies. Also ask how long the batteries last as replacing them is what I find is expensive. I have had mine for about 9 years.....time to update them I'm sure.

Thanks so much for your replies. I haven't made an appointment yet, but plan to do so within the next week. It is getting embarrassing for me, and, I am sure for those that I am with, when I have to keep asking them to repeat what they said. Heather, I know what you mean by some humerous conversations! I was eating out with my son and family when my granddaughter asked if I had given up on my Atkins. (diet). I told her that I had never had acne! I do have insurance which will pay a small amount toward hearing aids, but I have to go to their specified audiologist. I just hope that they will be able to help me.
Veta

I too have hearing loss and have had hearing aids for about a year. Not happily, but not unhappily either. My ear with the more severe loss does pretty well...the other one, I end up with it in my pocket more often than not. Believe it or not, they are quite successful in crowded places, like meetings. Yes, I need to have them "tuned up" again. I did get mine at Costco and their money back guarantee, which is the same as all purchases, is reassuring as well as the fact that the folks that work there are paid employees....not working for commission.
Using hearing aids, I have come to understand, takes some re-training of ones brain. Mine seems to be a slow learner. Nanny

I'm on my way there! My mother's side of the family has dealt with hearing loss for a long time. All of her 7 sibs wear hearing aids. My mother does, too. I am 46 and I am starting to have a hard time hearing things. My kids especially notice it.

When my mom's mom had hearing aids, it didn't seem to help her hear any better. I remember my mom commenting that she knew her mother was missing out on so much because she couldn't hear everything, even with the aids.

I am seeing the same thing with my mother. She has expensive hearing aids with a remote, but she still misses out on so much.

Sheryl

For years, behind-the-ear devices were all that was available. Almost 20 years ago, a unit worn IN the ear became popular. Now, behind-the ear units use new technology and can accommodate a wider range of hearing loss, so they have made a comeback.

Something else to consider is dexterity. Many people become frustrated because they can't change the batteries or clean the unit.

DH has worn them (on and off until we got married, then ON) since he was 6 (40+ years now). We actually just got him new ones about 3 weeks ago. He wears the CIC I think they're called, COMPLETELY IN THE CANAL. They're about as big as your little fingernail. He has a profound hearing loss. They're still working on fine tuning it. I had to go to the first tuning so that they would be tuned to MY voice, not the audiologist's. He asked is they could make a "wife mute" button and she said no..I just hit him! There is a new hearing aid that fits behind the ear, and is just a little microphone that lies in the ear, doesn't fill the ear cavity like most do, it is for mild to maybe moderate hearing loss I think she said, obviously DH didn't qualify for it. She said most people forget they have it on. It's called an Open Mini BTE (Behind The Ear)
I've attached an article on them. Nicest part is that they don't have to take a mold of your ear, so you don't get the "plugged" feeling, because it isn't.

Now I haven't talked about price. I am a big advocate of hearing aids, and feel about them the same as I do about glasses. I wouldn't skimp on my glasses or not wear them (I am VERY near sighted), and feel the same about DH's ears. I wouldn't wear ugly glasses that made me self conscious or were not what I needed (I need bi-focals, so would not wear single vision) so would not expect him to skimp on his hearing aids. So we planned and saved. Yes we waited 8 years inbetween purchases, so the ones we're replacing are when the CIC were first generation when they came out 8 years ago, and these are a tremendous improvement, their price is actually the same...$2,700 PER EAR. BUT, it only amplifies the sounds he needs amplified, not all. No silverware clinking at resteraunts. When he picks up a phone, it changes to a different amplification (heck if I know how). It even has a program for crowds and TV. He had a choice of 4 different levels for this hearing aid. We chose the 3rd expensive, not quite the top of the line. Audiologist said the top of the line really had more advantages for her programming than his. She didn't push and let us decide. (I was willing to let him buy the Top of the line).

You won't be able to hear everything even with hearing aids, BUT you will be able to hear more. AND there are two things you're checked for. DH didn't lose nuch more of his hearing in 8 years, BUT he lost a good amount of THE ABILITY TO COMPREHEND. I didn't understand how that could happen, but can notice that it has happened.

Remember too, if you cannot afford H.A. Talk to your local Lion's club, see if they can give you some financial help to purchase them.

Okay I'll get off my soap box now.

Vickey-MN

Here is a link that might be useful: Open mini BTE

Just get to an audiologist. Hearing loss can be helped. I had mine tested, and I've lost some high frequency pitch. Thay told me that's normal at age 50. I have trouble understanding foreign accents and my DH. I think he mumbles on purpose!

Ha! I wear hearing aids but my hearing loss is very severe and they don't help much. They are over the ear and the pair of them were $5,000. When I have them out and napping in my lift chair, the cleaning lady can come in here with a vaccum and I don't hear her at all. If someone is talking to me across the room they'd better be speaking slowly and loudly. When we get together for the holidays it is very sad, as I rarely know what anyone is talking or laughing about. I always understood that the tiny in the ear models weren't very successful for severe hearing loss.

That said, if I didn't have them I would hear nothing. I began to lose my hearing in my 50s. My mother was deaf in one ear and now one of my daughters is having hearing loss. She is in her 50s.

One thing I will advise, get hearing aids that you can turn off with a switch. My current brand does not do that, I have to pull the battery compartment out a little, which is very annoying. I have Oticon hearing aids and they may have changed that feature. My previous hearing aids were Phonak. When I am wearing a winter hat that you pull over your ears, they whistle. I didn't realize that, but my daughter could hear them.

Sorry,could you repeat that??? (yeah, a little.I hear some funny stuff on tv that I think is being said)

I have a serious hearing loss and finally broke down and went to get aids. They actually work pretty good and I have a high frequency loss so it isn't easy to fix. You are supposed to wear them all the time and you get used to having them in your ear but I only wear them when we go out so they bug me most often but if I want to hear what is being said, I need them...and yes they do work. Good ones are very expensive but if you want to hear to the best of your ability they are worth it. They are like little computers attached to your ear. Mine even pick up a signal from the telephone and switch to another frequency so I can hear better...also they have different settings...that are manipulated by a little button on the aid. mine are behind the ear with a little clear tube that goes into my ear with a custom fitted piece ....

Here is an example of what happens to me...at my last chemo session, the nurse was getting ready to take the IV's out and clear the lines etc and she said to me...Do you have a dress on....and I said...no I have on pants...she started laughing and all of a sudden I realized that she actually said...Do you have a Grashong...that's the IV line that is permanently inserted in my chest while I am getting chemo. We both laughed pretty good about that one.

I had in the ear ones years ago. They jiggled in my ears, which gave me goose bumps. Worse than that..every sound was amplified, not just the voice of someone I was talking with. I couldn't handle the loudness of all the background noises.
Cannot afford them now, though from what was said they have improved them.
And yes...I crack my family up with misunderstood conversations.
Di

I have noticed that my DH's hearing has really declined over the last year to the point I have to repeat everything I say to him and almost shout. I wonder how he gets along at work. He has to turn the TV way up to the point that it bothers DS and me. I would love for him to see an audiologist but he absolutely refuses. He feels 56 is too young to need a hearing aid but I really think he does need one. I would get one if I needed it. I hate the minor loss I have suffered already.
Clare

I have had hearing aids for about 35 years. I wear them all the time. I hear most of the talking but some tones I don't know what they are saying. I just recently had hearing checked again. They told me wasn't much they could do about that problem. So i guess I am just better on the PC where I can hear as good as the next one.LOL

Eric has moderate, genetic hearing loss. He has had horrible luck with hearing aids because he sweats so much- now that we are out of Atlanta, we are hoping the sweating will get better!

Anyway, he is testing out the LYRIC brand in the canal aids. He got them in early Dec and so far so good (knock on wood). He can take a shower in them and they still work so sweating may work out. Problem is, they cost about 3,500 per year. Terrible price since insurance doesn't cover them. He has had two more traditional pair- the in the ear kind and each lasted less than two years. They were 2,000-4,000 per pair. If the LYRICs work for him, they will not be all that much worse than the others since the others didn't last that long anyway.

We are trying to find a retailer near our home- he got these while we were in Atlanta. They are a free trial so it didn't matter that we would be returning to WV. The closest retailer we have found is in NY or NJ.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Janie, who has been explaining to Eric that yes, the cats really are THAT loud!

Thanks for all the advice and for sharing your experiences with hearing loss and aids. I am thinking I would like to find out more about the in-the-ear aids, but the mini behind-the-ear kind sound good, too. Do you all know if any 30-day trial periods are given, so if one type doesn't work, you could try another type? Or isn't even a 30-day trial long enough to know if they are going to help or be the right ones? It's a big step, and a big expense. But I agree that one should get the best they can afford.
Veta

With all of the baby boomers getting older, we'll probably see more and more people wearing hearing aids. All of that Led Zepplin cranked up too loud!