@cvkemp: That is perhaps true, but it doesn’t help the OP decide on what to spend on HAs, I’m afraid.
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You brought it up and throw it in my face I had to respond.
But how many if those would actually pay a living?
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Looking for the Thumbs Down reaction.
My first real job paid $30 dollars a week for 66 hours of hard work.
I think you have to shop some. When I decided to move on from Costco so I could get an experienced audiologist, I choose a hearing aid firm that is owned by one of the bigger manufacturers. Of course they said I needed their brand (highest technology level) for $7,800 but if I purchased by the end of the month with their “BOGO” sale, the price would be $5,850. I signed up but because of blue tooth connectivity issues I took them back and exchanged them for HAs not manufactured by their parent company for $6,075. Of course, this included lifetime cleanings and adjustments. At 84 I am not sure how much lifetime cleaning and supplies is worth. Only then did I begin to do a little research. I visited a local audi that was listed in Dr. Cliff’s Up hearing web page and he quoted me $5,600 for the same aids and a lifetime of supplies and cleanings. I then searched this site and found a vendor who sells online but with a local audiologist (they had several you could choose from) who quoted $4,598 for the two aids. Of course this only included one year of fittings and audi visits. (BTW, the audi is very impressive and has been in business for a long time) Who knows, maybe I could have found these highest level aids even cheaper if I had searched. My point is that the first quote is not always the best quote.
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One other point in favor of Costco. They have an unheard of 180 day refund policy. You can buy and return within 6 months if dissatisfied.
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From what I’ve seen you say here about your profession, you have a highly sought after and highly paid skill set for which you obviously have the aptitude. Many ppl don’t. And when ppl work full time jobs, sometimes two full time jobs and can still barely make it financially then we need to look at our economic, social and political systems not just blame individuals. It’s more complicated than poor policies or individual laziness. Somebody’s got to do society’s crap work but they need to be paid enough to manage their needs when they do.
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How much is that $30 in today’s dollars? Just curious. Many people’s first jobs pay little, so I suspect that might be the case here too. But many have to do those jobs all their life. Anyway, it’s off topic so I won’t say anything else about it.
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A well-trained audiologist is worth their weight in gold. Find one that Carrie’s more than one brand. And he/she will. Help you fine tune it so it works well. You will be amazed at the improvement.
There should be a trial period for the one he/she recommends.
Sure you can go to Costco and get a cheaper version. It might be good enough for you.
I prefer getting the very best and having a very well trained person assisting me.
Great list. I’d add one more criteria…find one that carries more than one brand. This ensures he/she will find the best product for your your needs.
@ellenb18: Yes - I agree. Finding an audiologist that carries more than one brand is one criterion that I shouldn’t have missed. That’s one of the major faults with Connect Hearing. They only shill for 2 Sonova brands, that are essentially carbon copies of one another.
[Unitron is one of the two brands that Connect shills for, and it’s scarcely mentioned, here on the Forum.
My experience with Connect Hearing and my Unitron North Moxi 800 Fit devices was so dismal, I gave up on audiologists and hearing aids for six years, even though 
VAC would have updated me to new hearing aids after 4 years.
I wish I had known about this Forum back then.]
Perhaps but I believe you will likely get the best outcome by choosing the brand that is most familiar to the audiologist. Most of them gravitate towards a single brand that they fit most often.
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It’s all so frustrating….I understand!
Don’t beat yourself up for what was. Keep looking ahead and advocate for yourself.
I don’t necessarily agree with that and it hasn’t been my experience. They should be familiar w more than one brand if they’re dispensing according to a patients’ needs.
In my experience, a professional Matt sell many brands but is most familiar and skilled with one or 2. I know my new audiologist carries 3 brands but next month, if I need new aids, her experience will weigh on my brand choice.
I wonder which maker has the nicest Caribbean vacation spa?
[Each box of new Phornicon HAs has stickers inside. The audiologist peels them off and sticks them into their 2023 Phornicon Holiday Passport book.]
(This must seem quite obnoxious and disingenuous to the very fine audiologists who frequent this Forum. To these gentlemen (ladies?) and true professionals, I offer sincere apologies, for "ye and thy brethren be not, all of thee, created equal ".)
@ellenb18: Sonova and their captive shills were quite unresponsive to my vigorous self-advocacy, at the time.
I suspect she is salaried and dies not wor on commission. Duke Health unbundled their services from the cost of hearing aids.
The fitting software for all major brand hearing aids has similarities but are a little different. I can see a fitter being more comfortable with one brand over another.
It’s like any profession, the more a person works with something the better they are with it.
I have done self fitting with Phonak for a bunch of years. Also had the Oticon software. I liked both these brands but went with Phonak due to reliability. This decision was many years ago.
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