I recently bought a set of Rexton Reach HA at Costco over a month ago. Getting used to them has been more challenging than expected.
My Hearing Aid Specialist, despite her kindness, failed to understand my issues. I visited multiple times for feedback and tried various tips and settings, but nothing worked. Last week, after receiving a call saying I didn’t need an appointment, I got a different Specialist. He replaced my old tips with tulips and reduced all settings to the point of muffled conversations. Defeated, I browsed through the comments and suggestions on this forum. Reading that I wasn’t alone gave me a lot of encouragement.
Yesterday, I met with a new Specialist at Costco. She listened attentively to my concerns, changed a wire on my left HA, adjusted settings, and implemented a program to enhance hearing. She also adjusted my Rexton HA’s for music and video streaming.
Your Hearing Aid Specialist’s expertise greatly impacts your overall hearing experience.
So very true. That goes for audiologist as well.
Thanks for sharing.
I also have the Rexton Reach and after my 2nd Costco visit I started to DIY and believe I have improved my hearing and voice understanding beyond Costco’s fitting. I also use the Rexton Assistant in the app. That also has improved my speech understanding. I have tuned the streaming program to a point that I enjoy listening to my music again. I listen to tv at the same volume as my wife without using a tv streamer.
Yes, the person fitting the hearing aids really does matter. However, there’s also a certain amount of randomness to what might help. Given any complaint, there may be several approaches that may help and it may be impossible to know which one will be most helpful
This i believe is where knowledge and experience pay off. It minimizes the guessing.
I would agree but there’s also the issue of how good a description somebody gives of the problem. Being knowledgeable enough to ask clarifying questions could help a great deal.
You have hit the nail on the head!
There was a Hearing Aid Specialist at my Costco who was “the very best hearing aid person I’ve ever known” and I’ve described her as such on this Forum. Recently she was promoted and I’ve been lost… but she deserves every promotion and advancement they can provide her, she is a wizard.
Her replacement tells me I need a cochlear implant, no hearing aid will work for my loss… despite the Phillips 9030 from Costco 4 years ago working OK, and the ReSound (from another company, also about 4 years ago) also working.
Anyway I agree with your assessment - the person doing the fitting is crucially important.
It was said about your better ear that you should get an implant for that side? Strange.
I have a bit similar hearing loss as yours. I would definitely considered the at least cochlear implant evaluation for your poorer side (as I in the past). That evaluation doesn’t oblige you to go with the CI procedure and you at least would get many useful information about your hearing loss.
Have you ever has measured WRS in quiet?
Yes, very strange.
Not to derail Bellsage’s thread, but your understanding of my situation is correct.
My WRS a year or two ago was 72% at 110dB on “good” side. Bad side has been dead since about 1980, stapedectomy surgery went bad. Specialist my ENT sent me to did not want to talk about CI; wanted to re-do stapedectomy on “good” side, based on bone conduction being better than air conduction.
If they wanted to try CI on my deaf side I’d probably go for it, but apparently not in the cards. And cutting on my “good” side is not in the cards either - once burned, twice shy.
Thanks for your insight.
Obviously, the experience and knowledge of the hearing aid specialist or audiologist will make a huge difference in the experience that you will have at any hearing aid provider. Also, being able to describe your problem to that person is also important. This requires being articulate describing what you are actually hearing. Because Costco is the largest private purveyor of hearing aids in North America, the quality and professionalism of the person who tests and fits your hearing aids makes a big difference in your satisfaction. This same problem occurs when choosing any medical professional.
It isn’t even below 60% WRS rule, however, the most important fact fo no implant is you feel good with HA in that ear.
Sorry to hear that. It is quite rare complication, although I have one acquaintance with the same and has CI implantation 4 months later. I
However, in 1980 CIs were very imperfect.
Looking at it from strict guidelines, this was probably legitimate, but from the perspective of the bad patient experience, it was a bit cruel.
I think it is worth to ask another Audi/ENT. Guidelines changed. There is Facebook profile:
You were very persistent and it paid off. Thanks for posting this. Even with the same specialist it pays to go back until it is right. This is helpful for me since I just ordered hearing aids from Costco.
You are right about being able to ask the right questions helps. It took me years to be able to describe what sounds I was missing.
Your description about dealing with your fitter is so very true. How to talk to your fitter to help them help you.
This is one of the many things why this forum is so helpful. Years of experience are shared here every day helping the new to hearing aids members. The forum also helps those who have had aids for many years. New technology and how to use it.
A great place to learn about your hearing loss and hearing aids.
Yeah not easy, but Phonak has the sound wheel (How Phonak Engineers are ‘sound connoisseurs’ | Audiology Blog) which has been shared around on the forum for a while now, quite helpful, it can be downloaded from here.
Download your version of the sound wheel in high resolution
Despite my experience, I could still have problems with what I should say to inform my HIS. It is also because of my rare participation in social gatherings.
The problem is partially solved through DIY, during which I have ample time to listen to particular sound samples and adjust my fitting.
I hated my Rexton Reaches for many reasons. In the end I HAD to return them. I now have the Sennheiser Sonite R and theye are MUCH nicer. They work well with my older android phone too. TV streaming works well. The sound is ‘SMOOTH’.