Hearing Aids

[StagLefty]

I'm still in sticker shock. Went today for a long delayed hearing evaluation. They programmed 2 hearing aids after the test to fit my needs.
They were great but the cost was $4-$5K. Hated to give them back but budgetary restrictions just don't allow this luxury.
My insurance book had listed a $360 copay but I was informed today that that was for sending the test results to a hearing aid company that does mail order hearing aids. I was advised against them because there was no face to face patient to Specialist meetings for adjustments or further follow up tests.
So I guess I'm staying with my favorite pastime of saying HUH ?

[Zundfolge]

Maybe buy a set of game ears (http://www.gsmoutdoors.com/shopping/walkers/behind-the-ear.aspx)? Then you have the bonus that they work as hearing protection at the range.

[StagLefty]

Not sure about those-testing today shows specific hearing range needs.

[Zundfolge]

Not sure about those-testing today shows specific hearing range needs.

Yeah, I'm sure they wouldn't work as well as actual hearing aids ... but we're talking about a couple hundred instead of several thousand.

On a side note I wonder if they can make regular hearing aids that do noise canceling so you wouldn't need to take them out for shooting.

[wctriumph]

What?

I said, masturbation makes you hard of hearing.

[StagLefty]

What?

I said, masturbation makes you hard of hearing.

Different test [ROFL2]

[Mtn.man]

HUH?

[hatidua]

Sorry to hear about your hearing aid woes, both my parents have/had them and I'm still amazed how often I read on gun forums: "why suppress rimfire, .22 isn't that loud".

[NFATrustGuy]

Check out Costco. My mom went through the same thing a little over a year ago. She needed hearing aids, but they were not covered by insurance. Original quoted price was 4-$5000. Went to Costco and bought the same thing for right at $2000. They have an audiologist on site and my mom has been very happy with the service and follow-up.

We don't have Costco up north, so my mom went to the one near I-25 and Hwy 7.

Still a fair bit of money, but it's probably inevitable for most of us, I guess.

[ChadAmberg]

While the results may not be great, might as well at least do the mail order version. Don't be afraid to send them back over and over if they don't do it right. Then, you can complain to the insurance company that the mail order system is not meeting your needs, and you need an exception to use the dr you want to use.

[gnihcraes]

Man, I got off cheap. Programmable hearing aid from local center, insurance paid $1000, I paid $300 out of pocket. (United Health Care insurance)

Oticon Ino Pro hearing aid. http://www.oticonusa.com/

They programmed it to only boost what I was missing, Left Ear, 2.5khz (gun fire loss of hearing) I wasn't wearing ear protection when using a ramset device. @%$^@

I get about 7 days on one battery. Hearing center folks, gave me a lot of free stuff, great warranty on the aid, discounts on batteries that last longer than store bought ones.

If you want the local centers number, give me a PM. Great small business over on west side of Lakewood.

[gnihcraes]

Another bit of information... My father has horrible hearing, and refuses to pay for hearing aides. He buys the game ear and then molds some rubber to fit his ear - like they do the ear plugs at the gun show. Problem is, the game ear isn't programmable, and it's constantly boosting "everything" and thus making him miserable to wear it.

Pay to do it right, get the right equipment.

Just amazing how much I quit saying HUH! to everyone, and the things I hear now is amazing. I can't imagine how it would be with more loss in both ears and missing out on some things in the world.

[StagLefty]

Man, I got off cheap. Programmable hearing aid from local center, insurance paid $1000, I paid $300 out of pocket. (United Health Care insurance)

Oticon Ino Pro hearing aid. http://www.oticonusa.com/

They programmed it to only boost what I was missing, Left Ear, 2.5khz (gun fire loss of hearing) I wasn't wearing ear protection when using a ramset device. @%$^@

I get about 7 days on one battery. Hearing center folks, gave me a lot of free stuff, great warranty on the aid, discounts on batteries that last longer than store bought ones.

If you want the local centers number, give me a PM. Great small business over on west side of Lakewood.
I may have to check them out. I have my Medicare through United. Thanks