I've always used an Audiologist but with today's technology, your hearing aids should be programmable to your specific frequency deficiencies by a tech. My latest ones cost $3123. Over the ear is what I have.

Absolutely NO to OTC. That’s like using cheater / readers for reading instead of having prescription lenses which might be fine if you can see pretty well otherwise. That doesn’t work for hearing aids. A person needs knowledgeable assistance with choosing the best type of aid. Sounds like your hearing test was in conjunction with a physical so I’m assuming that means the test was given to you by an audiologist? Did that person not give you any guidance?

I will say that Costco is indeed a good place to check out. You can buy the same aids from Costco that you can from a hearing aid dispenser. Both will give you another hearing test before recommending a specific aid even though you just had one. The difference that I’m aware of between an aid from Costco and one from a hearing aid dispenser is the return policy. Costco’s was 6 months. The hearing aid dispenser’s was 3 months. Costco’s price is competitive too. I would say make an appointment and check out Costco. Then maybe do some comparison with a visit to a hearing aid dispenser. Both visits should be free but be upfront with the dispenser. I’ve had aids from Costco but my current ones are from the audiologist at my medical provider.

The easiest aids to wear are the rechargeable in the ear aids. The actual aid is a small piece that goes over the top of the ear. If you have short hair there’s sure to be a color with a close match to hair color. This makes them virtually invisible.

I will share here that I have worn a hearing aid since I was 10 years old. I started with one aid for one ear only because I had no hearing in the other until a surgery at 16 gave me good amount (not full) of hearing in the deaf ear. I have worn aids in both ears since my 40’s. I’ve experienced first hand the leaps in technology in hearing aids. The most important practice one must do when a person beigns to wear an aid is to wear it 100% of your waking hours. Not doing this is the single most important cause of failure of the aid to improve a person’s ability to hear. Reason is that the brain has to ’learn’ to translate the new sounds it is hearing. Initially, the newly amplified sound might be too loud or sound unnatural. The brain learns to modulate and process the sound over the first few weeks of hearing the new sounds. I know this because of the surgery I had. Immediately after the surgery there were many sounds I couldn’t tolerate. Even brushing my teeth sounded like a scrubber on my brain. Sirens made me run for cover. I adjusted quickly. We hear of or many of us know of seniors who only wear their aids ’when they go out’. Those people often complain that their aids don’t help or are too loud etc etc. It’s because they never get used to them. Aids should be treated like eyeglasses - wake up, put them on.

DH finally (after literally years of me urging him to fix his obviously failing hearing) went to an audiologist. His new(ish) hearing aids, while not cheap, are extremely good and almost invisible. He can change settings with his phone to suit the environment- loud background noise etc. He's very happy with them and so am I because now he can hear me and we don't have to have the TV blaringly loud.

I JUST got hearing aids last month or so. I went to Costco, bought Phillips Hearlink and am very pleased. The audiologist will recommend the brand/style best for your type of hearing loss. I love that they are very discreet, no one can believe I have them on, they are rechargeable, controllable by a phone app. They have a setting for speech in noisy surrounding, which I find I use a lot. They can't pair with TV without a special accessory, which I bought and returned unused when it dawned on me that I live alone and can turn up the TV volume if I want and not bother anyone.

I was told, like KW wrote, to wear them all the time, even when home alone, but I just can't. The ear pieces are silicone and should be hypoallergenic, but they make my ears itch when in too long. I keep them scrupulously clean, so may have to resort to other things. I read that you can order titanium ear pieces and I know titanium doesn't cause a reaction for me.

I am so happy to be able to hear better; two of my closest friends are quiet talkers, as is my grandson, so it's a pleasure to not have to ask them to repeat things I've missed.

Costco has such a great return policy; that's what steered me there.

I think I will share this with someone I live with who hears"fine".

DH went to Costco for his hearing aids and they worked pretty good for years. However, as his hearing deteriorated, he found he had issues with clarity. So we went to an audiologist associated with our ENT and paid for very expensive hearing aids that were supposed to be super duper. Unfortunately he's still having issues with clarity. But he's also had issues with his eustachian tubes and fluid in his ears, so we're treating him for that and then he'll have a new hearing test and have his aids programmed and given new microphones and hopefully it will improve.

He has the over the ear type with a little thing in the ear... I think they call them open ear. The ones that fill the whole ear are not as good as it's like having your fingers stuck in your ear...all you hear is your own voice and chewing, etc. The open ones are more natural.

Reading these stories reminds me of college and my audiology professor. He would DIE to think of someone getting hearing aids w/o an audiologists assistance. My parents are pretty happy with their Costco aids. The one thing I will urge is that you get a hearing test every year the same way you would get your eyes and glasses checked.

I have two friends that have and had the ones from Costco and were very happy with them. The one friend was very elderly so she had more trouble with them, i.e. losing them, not remembering to charge them. But the thing about Costco is that they will clean them for free while you wait. For my elderly friend, that was a blessing.

For my other friend, who is my age, she can control hers with her phone like others have said. She of course has no issues with recharging them and getting them cleaned regularly.

At least this is happening to you at a good time with this technology. I hope you can find what works great for you.

Well, this is quite timely! I just got my hearing aids today! I was having trouble with a lot of muddled speech, mumbly and incoherent in certain tones. Costco people have full medical certifications, they are salaried by Costco, no commissions. I have Jabra Enhanced, cost $1699, 3 year warranty, the battery is supposed to be for 5 years, but I was told to make a note on the calendar, and bring them in a month or two before the three years, and get a new battery.

I was told to wear them all the time, except when sleeping/shower/shampooing/swimming, You brain is the extra processor, and you have to adjust. I have had them in for about 6 hours, and I already feel better. I still sound weird to myself, I know that will change. I am hearing all sorts of noises, ice clinking into the glass from the fridge is like a disaster film with an ice avalanche! The birds were really singing this afternoon! Everything takes a little time, but so far, I am impressed.

If you go anywhere but Costco, be prepared to spend 3 to 4 times as much money.

Another thought about people who need hearing assistance but don’t have it yet or are resisting it. Once you are able to hear what’s going on or being talked about around you your energy level will be higher and your mood will likely be more cheery or lighter. Struggling to hear the world around you takes so much energy and you just don’t realize it. That’s also why many people become reclusive or curtail their social activities - because they can’t hear what’s going on & feel left out or it takes too much energy to be with more than one person at a time. I have a neighbor who lives alone & so doesn’t put her aids in when she wakes up. I’ve told her I will not carry on a conversation with her unless she has them in because I get tired of repeating myself and having to use my energy to raise my voice. It’s so important to be able to hear!

Another thing about hearing loss is you don't know what you can't hear. You notice if food tastes off or if you're in pain, or you can't see as clearly. But you just don't hear what you don't hear and often need someone else to tell you that you aren't hearing things. That's why testing is so important.

Good info. and timely for me, my turn I believe. Will keep following the comments. I remember 10 years ago when my mom got hearing aids, she never got used to them, but did wear them all the time. Continual squeeling.It was a constant maintence of taking her to audiologist for adjustments. Then they were stolen at the senior living by a resident thief. $4000.

Hearing aids have come such a long way since my dad first got them in the 1980's I think it was. He didn't want them, hated using them. They had batteries that only lasted 3 days and then had to be replaced. My dad didn't know that so when they stopped working, he stopped trying. He put them on the dry sink in the dining room. The cat got up there, swiped one and then that was the end of that. Even though we found it under a chair in the living room a long time later, it was too late. My brother-in-law had them, thought they were great. He was easily able to manage the tiny batteries. I don't what was expected of a cranky old man.

Today's of course are rechargeable and much more manageable, even for very elderly people. I'm sure it makes a great difference in so many people's lives now.

KW, your hearing journey is so interesting to me. I'm glad you were able to get the help you needed.

@ladypat1 - Your mom’s bad experience shouldn’t have happened. That ”squeeling” or feedback noise that happens when jaw movement or something gets close to the ear is caused by a poor fitting ear piece and / or the aid programming needing adjustment.

Day 2. So far so good, but it will take my brain a little longer to make it sound "normal". I was taking cellophane wrap off a ream of printer paper, and I never knew it was noisy!

I have no personal experience with these devices but perhaps it's like when getting new glasses or new prescriptions with contacts - the new conditions aren't immediately comfortable, familiar or something that can be ignored.

For new users, patience maybe your best friend.

@sushipup2, DH also finds normal noises extremely loud, as he hasn't heard them for a long time.

Several articles have popped up in my news feed in recent months pointing to studies showing that poor hearing can drive a person down the dementia trail sooner and quicker, as not being able to hear and join in conversations can exacerbate things, as well as the deaf person having reduced new information to commit to short or long term memory.

Another vote for Costco!!

@caflowerluver I hope you come back to give us an update on your experience of being fitted with hearing devices. Hoping your result is a great one as @sushipup2 describes she is having. As @Annie Deighnaugh said, “you don’t know what you can’t hear” - until you hear it!. And, as @colleenoz reminded us, ”…poor hearing can drive a person down the dementia trail sooner and quicker…”. That is a well publicized point that I hear more about often. This point alone should encourage anyone who might be hesitant to do something about their declining ability to hear.

Thank you, everyone for your replies and advice. I will check out Costco in the future. I have to wait till it fits our schedule since I don't drive. I am not completly deaf and hear TV with my TV ears, Avantree, and headphones. It is talking that is hard to hear unless they are facing me and speak clearly.

@caflowerluver I am 99% certain that Costco Hearing Centers require appointments for new hearing aid evaluations so advance planning is necessary anyway. You may already know this but telling you just in case. These hearing centers seem to be really busy - well used which is a nice endorsement too. The hearing test and discussion of the different models / types available will take over an hour and I don’t think you can walk out with new devices. Like ordering glasses you’ll need to come back. During that second appointment, the settings will be tailored to your specific hearing loss ranges in each ear. Maybe @sushipup2 will speak up to correct or add any info that was different with her Costco hearing aid center experience.

Correct. I made an appointment, they were booked up about 2 weeks in advance. There is a form to fill out, but it is available online. You might be able to schedule the appointment either by phone or online, but I am not sure. Then I made an appointment to pick up the new hearing aids, about 10 days later (took me two weeks because I had conflicts in my schedule). and I have another appointment to go back in two of three weeks to make sure.

Yes, the first appointment and testing takes at least an hour or more.

Costco gets 100% recommendation for service.

Today is Day #3, and it gets better every day. But a bag of potato chips is incredibly loud!

https://www.costco.com/f/-/hearing-aid-center

@sushipup2 Your comment about the loud sounds of crunching potato chips makes me laugh. Gaining the sense of hearing is such a remarkable experience. Savor them in these early days. As the days pass, all of these sounds will be ’learned’ by your brain and you’ll forget you’re hearing them because they’re woven into the ambience around you.

Sushi, any chance you went to the Costco in KOP? I need to make an appointment.

No, Montgomeryville.