Any experience with Costco audiologists?

Hearing Aids
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#26

Sorry, my life got nuts for a bit and I did not have a chance to check back in here. I had to put my purchase of hearing aids on hold because of a possible job change, which is now a definite, and in the end I may have most/all of them paid for by my new company, which is a good thing.

I went back to the ENT audiologist I had originally talked to, when I tried out the Phonak V70/90, and we tried those again, in addition to the Signia Primax 7 and one other brand I can’t recall. I found that for me I actually heard voices much more naturally with the Primax than with the Phonak, and I liked the “ocean wave” tinnitus sound - seems more soothing than the white noises I had heard. The other brand I tried sounded too tinny and just not realistic for me. I told the lady that I had started talking to Costco for price reasons, and she encouraged me to do so. She recommended that I focus on the Phonak and Rexton, and did not recommend the KS6 (please do not take me to task about this - it was her recommendation, and as someone with 30 years in the business, I am inclined to trust her). She said that given that I liked the Signia better, I was also likely to prefer the Rexton, but to try both. I also asked if there was anything she could do on price, and she said she’d talk to her rep, and we’d talk again once I went to Costco.

I did end up going to a different Costco from the one I first went into, and had a much better experience with the person there. I tried the Brio and the Trax 42 in the store, and the other audi was right. I heard everything I wanted to hear with both aids, and fairly well, but I heard all sorts of things I really did NOT need to hear with the Brio. I told the tech at Costco that, and he said that the noise reduction on the Trax is more aggressive out of the box, and that it could be adjusted on the Brio, but overall I just felt the Trax had a more natural sound. We set an appointment for a fitting about 10 days out, but I told him I was still talking to the other place, and he said he’d be amazed if they came down that much.

I got a call back from the other place, and wow, they really did manage to get a lower price. The Trax42 is $2600 at Costco, including a SmartConnect. The price they offered on the Primax 7 at the other place, including the easyTek (which I gather is the same hardware but possibly slightly updated firmware, though I’m not sure about that) and a TV transmitter, is $3600. Their original price just for the units had been $6200. Between the fact that it is newer technology, it includes the tinnitus sounds (which I may or may not need in the end once I start using them, but if I don’t have them then by definition I can’t use them), and that there is simply no way Costco can provide the same service and level of experience I can get from the other place, it is worth the extra $1k to me, so I am going with them. I need to wait until June 1 when I change over to the new benefits, and I am counting the days!

All that said, I would happily have bought from Costco had the other place not come down so much on price. I would say I had a positive experience with them, and would likely have been happy with the Trax42, but since I could go with newer tech for a price I could live with, it just made sense to go that route.

I’ll post my audiogram soon - I don’t have it with me at the moment. It is fairly straightforward high-frequency hearing loss, with the low point firmly in the “moderate to severe” range, nearly identical in both ears.

#27

rmingee, GREAT choice!

Mainly because it’s what YOU found works best for you. As many on this forum that do not push particular brands have said, a choice in HAs is very subjective.

I have the Phonak Naida v90s because they performed better for ME in the environments that I live.

Also, in my opinion, your purchasing them from an audiologist that you have faith in is a big plus. I could go the VA route, but also choose to use a local audiologist because he understands and is responsive to MY needs.

DD will chastise you for your choice, but I’m with you 100%.

RodeoGeorge

#28
#29

Well said, RodeoGeorge!

#30

This is my first post being I just signed up today. I have had a hearing problem in both ears since I was born. I started wearing HA’s since I was around 30 (I will be 65 soon). My current HA is a Phonak Nadia BTE due to my hearing loss is labeled severe. What brands/models will Costco have for my hearing loss? I am not a member of Costco and the closest one is an hour drive away. It sounds like getting a membership just for the HA is a good deal. I have only worn one HA being I needed the other ear for the phone and work. I am retired now, so this is not an issue.

#31

Severe loss these days can be address by any brands RIC type aid. This is a fairly recent event. I wear the KS6 – house brand. Other here like the Bernafon and Siemens Trax42. All good aids. I particularly like the KS6 for it iPhone and the excellent phone clip + that streams to Bluetooth devices including Android phones.

I’d suggest the premium membership at $110 over the $55 membership. This gets you a 2% rebate annually from Costco. With your purchase around $2000 or so, you a $40 leg up on getting a nice year end rebate. Make an appointment now as there will be a lead time based on how busy they are with new accounts. The first appointment runs about 1.5 hours. Followups are easy to get set up as they are about 10 minutes or so and they can usually get you in within a couple of days.

#32

If you’re comfortable with your Naída and want the same sound quality, Costco sells a line of Phonak hearing aids called Brio. The Brio P-UP is very similar to Naída Q90-UP.

#33

I have been satisfied with my Nadia, but it is about 8 years old now. Many of its features have been disabled due to issues. My Nadia has a custom ear mold. Will the Brio have this and will Costco be able to do custom ear molds?

#34

The hearing aid fitter at Costco can take impressions of your ear canals for new earmolds. They don’t come with the Brio, but are $40 each.

#35

What is the deciding factor if you get an ear mold or not?

#36

Depends on your ear anatomy and degree of hearing loss. Some people can be fit using off-the-shelf generic silicone domes that don’t require an earmold impression.

#37

Do all of the Costco stores carry the same hearing aid brands/models?

#38

By country, yes.

#39

How would I know if a particular store has a good Audi or not? I am looking at joining Costco mainly for the hearing aid discounts. The closest one to me is about a hour away.

Also what brands would Costco have that will work with severe hearing loss and earmolds? I can’t get into a Costco to check without buying the membership.

#40

The only way to know how good the audiologist is, sadly, trial and error. Your first fitting is normally done by the software followed by REM. At that point, you have your prescriptive fitting. It is only on future visits that the quality becomes apparent. Do they improve your hearing quality? Are you communicating good info for them to do so? So, beside adjusting it is how well you communicate with each other and the quality of the response.

I want to add/edit here:

What aren’t you looking for? A dictator that knows best and doesn’t communicate the reason. You or I make come up with a dumb request – we aren’t experts. If the response is just a negative, you aren’t being served. They aren’t just fitter; they should be educators. Let’s use Doc Jake as an example. He obviously knows aids and fitting them. But his communication skill rival Attila the Hun. He ignores anything that doesn’t serve his view. Run, don’t walk…

#41

Keep in mind that Costco doesn’t actually stock hearing aids in the store; they have to be ordered from the manufacturer upon purchase. So you’ll need more than one trip. If distance is an issue, you might be better served by a local provider.

You can see the brands that Costco sells here:

http://www.costco.com/hearing-aid-styles.html

#42

That is not a problem if they have to ordered them. I will keep wearing what I have now. It still works, but not as good as it used to. Hopefully I can get a pair that will allow me to hear more or less at get-together’s. I hear more noise/chatter than what I want to hear.

#43

I bought my first aids from Costco 4 years ago, Bernafon’s and was never really happy with them, wore them sporadically. Then in March, my grand dog ate one and I had to buy another pair. I again went to Costco, and saw another audiologist. I tried Trax 42’s (my audiologist fitted me with BTE model), and I was not happy after 2 adjustments. I also tried a pair of Phonak Audeo’s from an independent audiologist. The Audeo’s were clearly the best aids for me, and my wife and son told me I would be crazy not to spend the extra money for the Audeo’s. Being a frugal person, I then tried Phonak Brio’s from Costco, but again there was no comparison with the Audeo’s after 2 adjustments. Based on my experience, since the Costco aids are a sizable expenditure, I would suggest trying the later technology from an independent audiologist before you commit to the Costco aids. I am glad I did.

#44

When you say there was no comparison, what specifically was not to your liking with the Costco Brios? The Audeo and Brio and the same thing, the Brio being less a couple features like echo block and tinnitus masker. Sadly, skill varies widely from Costco to Costco. Did either the Costco person or the audiologist stick probe tube mics in your ears to measure and adjust the sound? If not, then they were guessing.

#45

I hardly think Phonak would let Costco sell equal aids at half price that the independent audiologists sell. Anyway, I could tell the difference immediately and my family could tell the difference. For example, my son and I were walking out to the car and he was behind me. He spoke softly as a test and I could hear every word. Another difference is I now ENJOY going to restaurants with my friends, but with Costco aids I avoided. Maybe it was all my Costco audiologist, or maybe me, but I don’t think so. All I am saying is that if you are going to spend that kind of money and you have the money to try the top of the line from an independent audiologist, it is well worth the time and effort to do so, IN MY OPINION. I don’t have a dog in this hunt, just giving my experience and hope it helps someone.