Costco wont set up KS10 for AmpCROS

Hearing Aids
#21

Sweet! Did not know that was possible. Great tip. Thanks very much tenkan.

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#22

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 KS10ā€™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 donā€™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 employeeā€™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!

#23

The hearing aid specialist at Costco did you a service. You shouldnā€™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, thatā€™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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#24

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 didnā€™t have on my present KS7. Iā€™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.

#25

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.

#26

Iā€™m far from an authority on this but from what Iā€™ve read, the most deficient earā€™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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#27

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.

#28

Hi there.

Iā€™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 couldnā€™t take your KS10s to a local non-Costco audiologist and ask them if theyā€™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:

  1. Call a non-chain, independent audiologist or hearing instrument specialist.
  2. Ask them if they are willing, for a fee, to adjust your Costco KS10 hearing aids.
  3. If so, ask them what that fee might be. Usually itā€™s their billable hour, compensating them for their cost to operate, which is fair.
  4. Then ask them if they are familiar with AmpCROS and capable of setting up your KS10s to have an AmpCROS program.
  5. If all seems reasonable, proceed.

Thereā€™s no reason why you canā€™t have multiple professionals assisting you in your hearing healthcare. If you canā€™t get what you need from your original provider (Costco), itā€™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, Iā€™m in Oregon and would be happy to help if you were local to me.

Good luck!