More confused than ever. Had h/a appt at Costco today. I’m not sure I had the cream of the crop as far as fitters go, but then again, I’m easily confused.
I had my heart set on the Kirkland 8.0 based on cost and features. She said I would have more growing room in the Resound Vida’s. She had something on the Kirkland turned up to 90% (I have a lot of high frequency loss) and she said the sound on the Vida’s was more crisp. I walked around with both aids in my ears, but honestly, not sure I could really tell a difference, but I think she had them both programmed differently.
From what I understand, there’s more growing room in the Vida’s, there is a find my hearing aid with iphone feature (not available in the kirklands) & more adjusting options in the iphone appt on the Vida’s. Also, the vida’s are available as rechargeable, but is that a lithium battery? I got the impression it wasn’t & I always assumed lithium was the way to go.
Thoughts on whether the difference in the two aids is worth $800? Thoughts on upgrading to rechargeable? And, so I had already used up too much time & she had new customers, but since I’m considering breaking the bank anyway, what aids does costco have that are better than the Resound vida’s and what is the cost?
I’m not sure what she meant by “growing room.” What I would guess is that the aids would still be suitable if your hearing worsened. However, that’s more dependent the receiver chosen rather than the hearing aid.
The KS8s would likely suit you fine and assuming you’re in the US, are $1599. The $800 more you mention (I would have guessed more like $1000) gets you Resound’s much greater experience with dealing with made for iPhone hearing aids, a better app, better extra cost accessories (MultiMic)
Their other aids are Phonak–great aids, but not made for iPhone, although they do have a version that streams calls to one ear for Android and iPhone, but with compromises.
and Bernafons. Haven’t heard much about them except being nice for music. Everything besides the KS8 is similarly priced to the Resounds.
Unless you have difficulties with vision or dexterity which would make changing batteries difficult, skip the rechargeables. Costco hearing aid batteries are very inexpensive.
My recommendation for a newby is to save your money and go with the KS8s. If for some reason you’re not happy with them, you’ve got 6 months to make up your mind. (I was a newby 2 years ago and went with KS7s and do not regret it.)
I don’t know. It could potentially be handy, but it’s not been an issue for me. You’ll want to have one spot (in the case) that you keep your aids when they’re not in your ears. If you have some missteps and lose them, Costco gives you 2 year replacement against loss or damage. Not worth $1000 to me. And if you found that lack of this feature is a problem, return the KS8s for full refund and get the Resounds.
Whenever I take my HAs out I always put them in the dryer (I use the PerfectDry Lux) that way I always know where they are and the moisture removal feature definitely improves the hearing aid longevity.
I’m assuming you’re saying that I’m saying that the KS8s and the Resounds have the same power? If so, yes. From what I remember, you don’t have that severe of a loss anyway. Both the Resounds and the KS8s have several receivers of different power available. If you mean should the right and left hearing aid have the same power, it depends on your hearing loss.
Both have power receivers that handle hearing loss well into the profound range.
I tried the KS8 and they were good. My pro thought I might be better off with the Phonak so I returned the KS8 and got the Costco Phonak Brio 3. Very happy with these. I’m thinking about my options with the Phonak Marvel out now. I want to hear some reviews and I’ll make a decision whether to keep the Brio 3 in January (but leaning toward keeping). My hearing loss is moderate, sloping to profound.
I know it can be a stressful decision but with Costco you have 180 days to make sure and you can take them back and try another brand. It takes the pressure off and the decision doesn’t have to be perfect up front, but you may end up with the perfect ones on the first try.
I am thinking about moving from my KS5 to KS8 (when will KS9 be available?). My 5s are working fine except my right ear doesn’t hear anywhere near as well as my left ear with and without hearing aids. I have had my earing tested by VA audiologist as well as by Costco and had the aids so adjusted. Should I expect to have both ears nearly equal when hearing aids are in? Not a hijack of thread, if the answer is yes should I expect the KS8 (or even the next generation) to have more “growing room” as noted in the original post? Or asked another way might I expect to be able to get more equal hearing left to right with a more modern hearing aid such as KS8?
KS9 will likely come out next Fall. Having both ears seem equal (balanced) is ideal, but it depends on your hearing. (Having your audiogram posted would give people more information. I don’t think a more modern aid is going to help ears seem equal. I think that’s pretty much related to having adequate gain and how bad the hearing is in the “bad” ear. Curious, if you get audiograms from the VA, why not hearing aids?
Go to the VA. They will have the latest HAs available for your hearing loss and the price is right. The important issue is getting an Audiologist/HA fitter that is competent.
Your hearing aids should be set up to have about equal volume on each side. I mean your perception of the volume should be about the same. If not, the receiver on one side may be weak. A Real Ear Measurement test (REM) would show what’s going on. If you have an accurate hearing test, the hearing aids programmed accurately, and verified with REM, then your perception of the sound would be equal so one of those things is not true.
First, I hope the originator of this thread is also gaining some useful input to his/her question. I did not intend to “hijack” … that said;
I am a veteran who during a visit to the county VA representative in my area of NJ asked me about my hearing aids and “did I apply to the VA?” I said no, and likely have no reason to apply. He said, as I am retirement age I qualify for VA help on a financial needs basis, or on a service related basis without financial restrictions. On further discussion and the fact I served on the Naval Air Force and was subject to a lot of loud noise I may be able to get a service related benefit. He helped me file an application and that resulted in my being tested by the VA audiologist. However, the VA concluded that there was not sufficient evidence that my hearing loss was related to my service. In addition to my active duty I spent two 90 days on active duty in the following years, I was a member of the reserves. In each case I was released absent any noted physical damage from service. In all cases I was released from active service with no medical problems. Happily, my income is too high to qualify for benefits on a financial needs basis. The comment about “lower cost” makes me wonder if I should check back to see if I can get VA prescribed hearing aids at a reduced cost. More than enough, but I answer a question and welcome any advice on VA benefits I may be unaware of.
My recollection is that my KS5 hearing aids which were fitted by a different Costco store than now serves my home area appeared to work well in both ears. Here I note my hearing was so much better I may not have noticed the difference. About 4 years later at my local/new Costco and fitter I was told I suffer from “Profound” hearing loss in my right ear and it can not be improved further. Later I looked up the definition of Profound hearing loss and concluded I do not have that level of loss in my right. I can, for example, hear the TV/Radio with both ears with the volume a bit too high for the normal hearing person. I hear with the left and right ear. I hear listening on headphones in both ears and am mostly unaware of the difference in ears at sufficient and equal volume levels. Thus, I am now concerned that my Costco fitter my not be giving good service. I’m not likely to complain, but wonder, look for confirmation that my goal of getting similar hearing benefits in both ears is possible. I should even be able to get my current KS5 to deliver better hearing.
I am deluged with marketing mail in my postal box from local hearing aid audiologist businesses. I think I can also get tests from my local hospital, but think I will have to pay, not covered by Medicare. I want to avoid a hard sell for the audiologist’s highest profit margin aids. Paying over $2,000 for a pair seems like too much for me. Then, maybe I can ask the VA to test me again, that may be possible without income restrictions.
Bottom line, I remain of the opinion that the Costco KS hearing aids can be a good value and deliver a good quality of service.
My experience with the lady audiologist at the King of Prussia CostCo has been notably good: she spends a lot of time (as in 1-1.5 hours/visit) with me and seems to really know her stuff.
I live in the Kansas City area. I really want to like Costco because of their prices, return policy and warranty. I did go ahead and order the Kirkland 8.0 hearing aid. Figured I could always return it if it doesn’t work out. I’m hopeful it will work great.