The LiNX[sup]2[/sup] is going to be a tough sell to anyone paying out-of-pocket with a substantially equivalent LiNX model available at Costco.
Hey man,
I’ve just read this long and interesting thread. Thank you for coming and sharing your insight.
I’ve been wearing HA 25 years, from some very crappy Starkey ITC in the early 90s to some CIC Rextons that I really loved and lately Oticon ITC- which is what my audi really wanted to sell me. The Oticons were $5500 in 2012, about $2K more than the Rextons had been many years before.
I completely smashed one of the Oticons last week, so now I’m limping by with one of the Starkeys. (The Rexton for that ear won’t come back to life.)
I live 5 minutes from a Costco and am pretty sure that’s where I’ll purchase, even though I have an appointment with my audi this Thursday. I have an appointment at Costco next Tuesday.
I’ve had a great relationship with my audi but I think we’re about to break up.
What I’m used to is this:
After the purchase and initial adjustment, a follow up appointment a week later to make some tweaks. The last aids were good at that point but I want the chance to come back 2-3 more times if needed. I tend to be very patient when adjusting any kind of audio processing, and HAs are no different.
Then my audi has had me coming back every 3 months or so for a cleaning. I’m not sure how necessary that is- maybe it’s just to maintain the relationship.
Now that I’ve written this down it frankly doesn’t seem like much, but I have to ask- will my Costco give me similar service?
yes Costco will give you the same service you have had.
Then I’m not sure why there seemed to be so much vitriol toward fuhgettaboutit.
Or maybe actually I do understand it…
If your Oticon aid isn’t smashed beyond repair, your audiologist may be able to have it recased. Probably around $250 to $300 for a recase
My left and right ear are about the same.
250 - 20:25
500-750 - 30:30
1000: 45:45
2000: 40:45
4000: 40:50
8000: 45:45
Discrimination in Quiet: 100 ® 90 (L)
MCL: 65 ® 65 (L)
Going to talk with Costco Augio today - Audio spoke to me about a Rexton over the phone. Private Audio’s who did hearing tests spoke to me about the Phonak Audeo V70.
Any suggestion re which manufacturer/style would be best for my hearing issue?
Most disturbing noise is an ambulance or car with loud muffler. Hearing normally miss the endings of some words, if person is speaking softly or walking away from me.
Thanks for guidance.
That’s an interesting bit of news. My issue is that I was the victim of random violence- someone playing “the knockout game”. Took a hit directly in my left ear from behind. The HA shattered in my ear. I pulled out several pieces of the shell on site. Two more pieces were removed by an ENT specialist.
When we found the electronics in the grass and picked it up- it went into feedback! The HA was still working, even with practically nothing left of the shell.
But when I took it back to the audi in a baggie, she told me she sent photos of it to Oticon, and was told it was too far gone to be repaired.
Do you think that was BS?
If the circuit was feeding back it could be reshellled. Even if it wasn’t by Oticon.
Very excited to begin fitting the KS6!!! Hopefully it is a #13 battery as speculated on this forum. Previous LinX (KS6) w/ #312s had atrocious battery life.
Where else could I go for that?
You’d need to google it, but you’d probably get a recommendation from the board. Start a new thread on it. The people who would do that for me in the UK are a Starkey spinoff.
My info is below…What type/style/brand/particular settings/features etc should work best for me? I’m having bad luck with cic digital aids and really liked my Lyric demo. Hearing on the phone(both cell and land for work) and hearing the TV are of high importance.
Thanks!!
Mark
125…250…500…1000…2000…4000…8000
L: 45…50…50…55…40…15…0
R: 40…55…50…50…45…10…0
-I have tinnitus in both ears 24/7, typically worse in the left ear
-SRT db R: 40 L: 45
-MCL db R: 65 L: 70
-%wrs R: 65db 96 L: 70db 92
I am self-fitting (two Oticon Chili SP9), and I have a question for specialists. I cannot make choice between two “identities” (for about a 2 years) - Dynamic or Active. Oticon Genie fitting software recommend me a Gradual identity, but all sounds with it become “dead”. Most “live” but too sharp and sometimes too loud sounds are in Dynamic identity, and speech intelligibility is highest, especially in noise. When in Active identity, all sounds are most natural, comfortable, but speech intelligibility is not too high, and half of speech in noise is not audible at all. I had to make a two different programs - first with Dynamic for speech and second with Active for comfort. But it is not an ideal.
How to combine all advantages of two different identities in one program, or how to make choice between these identities and fine tune it?
fuhgettaboutit:
Now that the KS6 is officially announced, could you provide a more detailed review of the pros and cons of KS5 versus KS6? Thanks.
I made an appointment today at Costco…my appointment date is June 12th. Sales are going crazy at Costco. Phonak is making more money in volume sales than they did at higher prices is my guess.
i have been trying to buy from a small dispenser for service but since the ones i have seen want double to triple what costco charges and the couple of fittings i tried were not impressive, i finally broke down and scheduled a costco appointment next wednesday.
Out of curiosity, why is it that you “broke down” ?
I believe that he was pretty clear that it was expense and unimpressive service from smaller dispensers he tried that led to his choosing to try Costco.
Haha I understand that. I meant why does he describe it as “break down”.
I’m helping my wife with her next Hearing Aid. She bought Bernafon Verite 5 years ago at Costco, and has generally been pleased with them. The Costco staff has been incredible to work with. The only dissatisfaction is that despite meticulous care, she has had to have the Receiver replaced fairly often.
We are now looking at the KS6, and have a couple of questions:
-
fuhgettaboutit has touted the importance of REM (Real Ear Measurements, apparently). Are these done routinely by Costco staff as a part of the fitting process? If not, is it something that is within their level of training and competence to do accurately?
-
We’ll most likely get her the Phone Clip + to facilitate managing volumes and such, possible hands-free phone calls with her Android phone, etc. This seems to be a fairly pricey item - $300 or more when I look for it online. What is Costco’s pricing on this item, and is there a less costly way of getting one? It seems odd to have this accessory cost a little over 16% of the cost of both hearing aids!
Thanks.
Don