Sorry, I can’t (Edit: change “find” to read") it.
I appreciate all who have responded and the suggestions made. As far as audiograms and price info and other such, I can only say that the hearing in my left ear has been severely impacted in a matter of 4 days. High doses of steroids and multiple costly sessions of 2 atmosphere pure oxygen failed to stop the loss. I know my left ear only slightly perceives sound mostly higher hz and that with significant distortion as experienced when listening to a tweeter connected to a amp that is overdriven. For discussion purposes none of that matters. My question is does anyone have any experience getting Costco cooperation in setting their ks10 as a AmpCROS? Thank you.
OK, it sounds like you’ve had a SSHL and the audiogram and WRS you posted doesn’t likely reflect reality. My only thought is that perhaps specific directions from your ENT MIGHT persuade Costco to set things up differently than their standard approach.
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Well the title says Costco won’t but after reading the thread it sounds more like Costco can’t
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Thank you. My Costco audiologist is actually doing that, (refering) for a dedicated and costly BiCROS instrument. But I have read that it is better to keep the affected ear stimulated hence my hope is to use a pair of KS10s in a AmpCROS config.
The Costco specialist did a great test but then sent me to ENT for BiCROS as he said he couldn’t help me either.
Hubby goes to Costco for his aids but I had to spring for the big bucks.
It can be done, a quick google search shows that Phonak HAs can be set up for AmpCROS, as a few other brands as well, Signia, Starkey.
But reading into this there are a few downsides, possibly of some interest is these.
Good luck
https://m.facebook.com/oregonaudiology/posts/1425924124280183?locale2=ne_NP
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Thanks Tencan. That was good info and a helpful ĺink.
FYI, the ks10 is not locked to Costco. If they can’t/won’t set it up, any audiologist that works with phonak can.
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This is true, but I don’t think OP has had any professional think this is a good idea. I don’t understanded the pluses of minuses of the different approaches (other than the AmpCROS would be a lot cheaper)
Thanks MDB. My view was to get a device that provided some benefit to the bad ear while passing that sound over to the better side. This hopefully might provide beneficial stimulus to the deficient ear instead of letting it and all aural related systems atrophy. From what I understand, a BICROS is mostly a mic that transmits to the better ear. I have decided to take the least costly route and buy a pair of KS10s in spite of Costco’s refusal to set them up as a AmpCROS. Maybe down the road there may be a policy change that will allow it. Thanks again.
Don’t forget that DIY is always a possibility, Phonak target software is available and a Noahlink wireless is easily got from eBay, plenty of people from right here on hearingtracker to help you along if you wanted to go this route.
Good luck
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Sweet! Did not know that was possible. Great tip. Thanks very much tenkan.
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Following this thread with interest. Dealing with fluctuating loss and the idea of being able to transmit sound between the aids during episodes of poor (or poorer hearing) on one side vs the other may be helpful to myself as well. Given the huge cost difference between Costco acquired KS10’s and the relatively same hardware from an independent audiologist, purchasing at Costco and finding someone who will work to program them the way you need seems reasonable. I don’t see a lot of transparency in pricing for audiology services though and I see a huge opportunity for audiology experts who are willing to serve this market. I read elsewhere that some Costco employee’s are Dr.'s of audiology, not sure if finding one of them would make a difference or if it is some company policy not to set the up the way you have described. Good luck!
The hearing aid specialist at Costco did you a service. You shouldn’t feel like you were dissed. If a health care provider tells you that what you want them to do is beyond their level of expertise, and refers you to a specialist, that’s a good thing. Too many clueless providers treat things beyond their level of expertise to make money and the patient suffers.
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Thank you. Going back to Costco on Wed. Will be seeing a different HIS and likely still getting the KS10. At this point I have decided to not press for AmpCROS and see what the KS10 newer technology will accomplish. One big plus will be streaming capability which I didn’t have on my present KS7. I’ll do an update after a bit. Still interested in the Noahlink though, but maybe later. Do you have any direction sensing without you aids? Hope you find a solution.
Does an AmpCROS work no matter what side the speech is coming from?
I always thought the DuoPhone program on Phonaks switched one of the Aid Microphones off.
I’m far from an authority on this but from what I’ve read, the most deficient ear’s HA is selected and feeds sound to both sides. Might be some proportion involved also. Not sure if better side mic is impacted. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will jump in. I wonder if it is possible to use it only when desired as it draws more power when operational.
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I received my KS10s 10/29 and find they are vastly improved over my KS7s. I have reconciled Costco"s refusal to implement any type of AmpCROS setup and am somewhat satisfied with the limited benefit it gives my bad (25%) L ear, (R is 75%).I love the streaming capability and frequently find I get the battery low tones right around bedtime. Not a major negative. The power up volume setting is too high and will be corrected at follow up appt.
Hi there.
I’m an AmpCROS afficionado audiologist and can offer some advice.
The KS10s are capable of doing AmpCROS, but Costco personnel are prohibited by management to do any form of CROS fitting, and that such patients should be referred out to a mainstream audiologist. The reason is that such hearing losses usually involve additional medical considerations, for which most Costco personnel are not trained to handle. While they may have an audiologist on staff that is legally capable of doing it, Costco has a blanket policy prohibiting it in order to keep everything consistent.
This being said, there is no reason why you couldn’t take your KS10s to a local non-Costco audiologist and ask them if they’d be willing to add an AmpCROS program to your hearing aids for you to try out. Note that AmpCROS is a niche within a niche, so many audiologists are completely unaware of how to set it up, or even that it exists. Your best course of action would be the following:
- Call a non-chain, independent audiologist or hearing instrument specialist.
- Ask them if they are willing, for a fee, to adjust your Costco KS10 hearing aids.
- If so, ask them what that fee might be. Usually it’s their billable hour, compensating them for their cost to operate, which is fair.
- Then ask them if they are familiar with AmpCROS and capable of setting up your KS10s to have an AmpCROS program.
- If all seems reasonable, proceed.
There’s no reason why you can’t have multiple professionals assisting you in your hearing healthcare. If you can’t get what you need from your original provider (Costco), it’s perfectly reasonable to obtain it from someone who is capable. Just screen their capabilities as well until you find the right person.
And, as an aside, I’m in Oregon and would be happy to help if you were local to me.
Good luck!