New KS10 hearing aids, have issues

Hearing Aids
#42

Jabras proprietary formula is based on a NAL-2 platform. It’s actually a major problem inside Costco, because we measure to a non-standard NAL-2 target to adjust the aids more accurately, but it somehow makes REM measurements super wonky. I’ve seen many Jabra fittings with a ton of extra gain because they aren’t designed to measure well with Costco’s REM guidelines in all cases. If you have a smart specialist, they’ll know when the measurements are unethically giving too much gain and they’ll reset the fitting to manufacturer recommended levels before letting you leave post REM. But like my comment above, I would solidly guarantee 50% don’t understand what REM really is and are bought into REM is king. Jabra knows this is an issue and is going to start implementing its own AutoREM in Costco to hopefully fix this issue and work around Costco guidelines, but I personally think Costco needs to back off of REM or only measure REM in a manual REM program instead of adjusting Automatic settings.

Philips should be set to NAL-2. The formula is available to the specialist in the software. If they are fitting to Fit4 formulas, they aren’t following protocol. I actually love Philips aids. REM measurements are near perfect most of the time, they sound the best personally post acclimation adjustments, and I take the fewest returns because they allow so many more adjustments to gain lines/frequency bands. Very good hearing aids for first time users with great streaming quality if adjusted.

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#43

Ok thanks for taking the time to reply, always good to get an insider’s view on this.

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#44

Got my Noah wireless on Amazon for $150 last October.

#45

No need to lurk … you can come out into the daylight! I was just going to ask about experience with the latest Costco HAs that are made by Phonak. My Phonak Brio 3 RC are now 4 years old and I am thinking of replacing them with TRUE Bluetooth compatible HAs. I bought the Phonak gizmo that transmits directly to the HAs, but adjusting the volume is a super PIA plus use of the gizmo OR the aging HAs eat batteries.

I do have some advice specifically for you … if you live convenient to another Costco, go there before you give up on the HAs! Make an appointment for the top person and explain the issue. Sounds to me that the rear microphones need to be turned down a bit without affecting the overall front volume. This CAN be done! The store where I bought mine did NOT have ANYONE knowledgable about the adjustment software for my generation of Phonak HAs EVEN THOUGH THEY SOLD THE MODEL. After 6 or 8 attempts at adjustment, the Hearing Aid Dispenser, who is now the MANAGER of the hearing dept at that Costco, suggested that we do a factory reset and start over! I went to a different Costco hearing dept, found someone knowledgable and after ONE x 15 minute session had them adjusted to my needs!

#46

I just returned my Costco Jabra’s because after 3 adjustments they just couldn’t do adequate adjustments (2 different HIS tried).
Here is the real stupid thing I ran into at Costco. When I called another Costco, they just defered to the one I am having issues with and said they would just follow their lead? WTH?
Okay, so I call another Costco and tell them I have zero confidence with the Costco people I am seeing and asked if they would start over and fit me from scratch. Nope. The only way would be for me to return my Jabra’s to the store I purchased from, then make an appointment at their Costco store, then have a new hearing test done (I have a Kaiser and Costco audiogram both less than 2 months old that match), then I would have to repurchase the Jabra’s, wait for delivery, then they will fit me. I gave up. Costco is pitiful in my experience. But I knew that already and still got sucked into a membership, all for nothing. Use Costco at your own risk…

#47

Wow. So I’ve had KS7’s for 5 years. My first experience with HA’s. I dunno…they seem fine. I never had huge expectations for HA’s to begin with.
Now I’m in the market for an upgrade. I find it VERY difficult to justify the enormous cost at a private (or I suppose corporate owned) clinic. $1800CDN is a FAR cry from 5-6K. Even though the other might be from a real audiologist and not just a fitter. It’s just too much.
But if it turns out to be unreasonable then I just might. We’ll see.
I’m intending to get the DIY doodad anyway and have dabbled with DIY with my KS7’s. So we’ll see how it all unfolds from the fitter.
I appreciate your report of your experience.

#48

Another issue I ran into was my recent upgrade to Android 12. After that update, the Jabra’s streaming went from bad to worse. Never both aids streaming at once. If they stream into my bad ear, I can’t hear what I’m streaming. The sound quality is horrible while streaming. I called Jabra and they admitted the the 12 upgrade threw a wrench in their app and it will take months to correct. They said they had the same issue when Apple upgraded to new OS. I would have just self programmed the Jabra’s but not paying for BT that doesn’t work. And not spending another grand on a new Apple phone like Jabra suggests, because they admitted next upgrade with cause issues again. I am just going to wait until the technology catches up, as soon BT LE releases, I think we will see a huge improvement in BT streaming. Right now, BT in aids is way behind the curve

#49

I do believe Costco will gladly return your membership costs also.

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#50

Doesn’t seem unreasonable to me. I would have asked the for another hearing test. Just to make sure I was getting the most treatment I deserve. I wouldn’t want to take previous hearing tests either. Who knows if they are correct.

#51

I work in Healthcare. 10-12 hours a day for the last 18 months. I don’t have time to duck around with Costco, mostly because so far my experience has been poor so no expectation anything would be different.
And I have yearly audiograms with 2 from different places that match so I know my testing and audiograms are fine. I am an experienced aid user and in comparison, Costco is lame, in my experience. Yours may be different and that’s fine.

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#52

Costco changes brands year to year based on economics, Your KS7 may be from a different manufacturer than the new KS10 (Phonak).

#53

Yes I know. Rexton. Under Signia at the time.

#54

I just purchased the Phillips HearLink 9030 minRite at Costco. I love them and the technology. I am no expert. I have worn hearing aids for several years and had Phonak Brio before. The Phillips just seem so much better blocking out the background noise. Also work flawlessly with my iPhone.

1 Like
#55

Welcome to the forum @gwilson0108, glad to hear you are doing so well with the Philips, tis excellent that they work for you :grin: :wink:

#56

I recently upgraded my phone to Android 12. I have not had any problems with BT streaming to my KS10’s.

1 Like
#57

Just need to say that the Costco K10 is NOT the same as the Phonak Paradise. I have that info directly from Sonoma, mfr. of both Phonak and Kirkland10. Also, told myPhonak app cannot be used with the K10. Further, I was interested in Phonak “Roger” accessories to help me hear better. Can’t do. However, I was told that an “outside” audiologist can make the necessary adjustments to allow my K10s to be configured with the “Roger” accessories … but at what cost if even someone could be found to work on hearing aids purchased at Costco rather than from them!

#58

@ggreenone

You make no sense!

What you’re writing on this forum about the KS10 is NOT true.

Do some research from this forum and learn from You Tube!

I could post links and do all the research and correct information for you but I’m not going too as it’ll take you only a few minutes to actually come out with the correct information and you can do that yourself.

You can pay $$$ for someone to set up your Roger but it’s not needed but it’s up to you if you want to waste money.

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#59

I’ve never seen a brand new member post as much disinformation in the first 11 posts as we’ve seen today.

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#60

Very true!

If this person is so unhappy with the KS10, this person just needs to return the KS10 and buy the Phonak P90 and not hand out such incorrect information.

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#61

Thanks for all your “feedback”.