I wondered if anyone knows about “discount hearing aids of New England” (out of Arlington, MA). I have a quote from them on the Agil mini RITE for $1895 which seems suspiciously low given other sources in this forum and elsewhere that quote anywhere from $2700 to $3100. any thoughts?
thanks
(ps don’t have audiogram results handy right now…
I’m a unilateral guy)
Anyone out here having problems wit hthe Oticon Agil Pro??? I’m literally ready to murder my audiologist even though she is the loveliest person and tries really hard(at least I think so) to help me. But even after so many ‘trials’ of this damn hearing aid, I feel I am missing so much compared to my old/current hearing aids - Oticon ergo! - and not just that; whenever I am in a public place I have absolutely no recognition of any single sound. Everything is mashed into one very terrible! noise!! I have explained to her - she keeps ‘fiddling’ with the programming, and it is still the same. I am just so so tired, and fed up. I have a slight heart problem, and all this stress is not doing me any good, even though she means well. Is there anything else? Why isnt there something like the Ergo! but a one up? why isnt there a hearing aid that at least allows me to do all the hearing I want, and not have loads of stupid little controls ‘picking’ this sound and that sound … Help please!
:(
Hi, how do you find the Bernafon Verites are in noisy environments. I’ve been trialing them and I like them quite a bit except I’d like better speech in noise. Do you think the audi could adjust them to improve the hearing in loud places?
My audiologist in Colorado just ordered my Agil Pro aids for me. I have been wearing demos for three weeks. The price quoted me was $6802.00 for the pair. This price includes the streamer and the TV Connect kit. Seems like a lot of money, but they sure all me to hear sounds that I have been unable to pick up.
I paid US$6,000 for a pair of Oticon Agil Power BTEs plus earmolds and four programming/adjustment appointments but no streamer accessories. I’m nearing the end of my trial period, and I’m inclined to return them because, all considered, I like my old Oticon Syncro BTEs better.
I was influenced to try the Agils based on the Oticon web site (particularly the videos illustrating Agil improved speech recognition and directionality algorithms) and the advice of my HA dispenser. After 3 weeks of trial, two program adjustment sessions, and a second set of earmolds, I’m disappointed.
The main reasons are that the speech recognition and and directionality capabilities (“Spiral Sound 2.0”, “Speech Guard”, …) are barely even detectable by me in most practical situations. Other problems (which are unique to my case) include ear mold discomfort, T-coil buzz everywhere in my home, and cosmetics (very minor; even though the Agil BTEs are very small, the shape of the sound hook makes them ride high on my ears and so they are more visible than larger Syncros).
Perhaps my experience and/or perception is unique to my particular hearing disability. I welcome comments by experts, e.g., if my comments reflect misunderstandings, or any recommendations based on my audiogram below.
SIZE=2 L(dB) R(dB)
250 40 50
500 55 65
1K 55 60
2K 60 60
4K 70 70
8K 90 100
L: 88% SD, 80dB
R: 64% SD, 85dB
L&R stapedectomy
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I have been wearing Resound Air since 2005, they worked, but never like I thought they really should have. This week I got a letter from my audiologist to come in and try the new Octicon Agil Pro’s so I did. Wow is all I can say, they are SO much better than the resounds. The inital price given was 6800 for the pair and another 1k for the streamer. I went back by today and he reduced the price down to 6400 and includes the streamer. The trial pair I have are grey and I want black so they had to order them. Also I have the demo streamer (which is white) and I will be getting a black one. The demo streamer is a “master” so it controls anyones hearing aids within the reach of the signal. This has been fun!!! But thats a story to tell somewhere besides in this thread.
Guess I got lucky here in Florida–east coast. My agile pro mini bte rics will cost me $5,200 including custom molds. No other extras. Don’t know if I’ll keep them though…miss my CICs so much I could cry.
I paid $3,100 each for my Agil Pro miniRITE’s in Northern California. Prices in town varied by a few hundred bucks.
Be thankful that you don’t live in Australia - my new Oticon Agil HA’s cost nearly $9,000.
Here in Greece you can get them nearly 6000$ without the streamer but with free unlimited visits for fitting adjustments.
melissa–I wonder if you kept the oticon agil pro?
I miss mIss my CIC very much .(which i had for 5- 6 years).I had to upgrade,as damage to them/parts wore out.I trialled widex mind-but disappointed.Tried oticon,much clearer sound.
I am wearing oticon agil pro–but I do not like the cosmetic side.The tube is noticeable/and wonder how you are going now.
Perhaps you have found A better CIC.?If so,please do let me know?
I’m in Southern CA. I received two quotes for Oticon Agil Pro miniRITE. One was $6000 for the pair of HA’s; $450 for the Streamer & TV Adapter. The other was $6890 for the pair; $425 for the Streamer & TV Adapter.
Both Audi’s charge $150 each for custom mold. This includes lifetime service and 2 year warranty from both Audi’s.
For comparison the Phonak Audeo Smart IX costs $5280 for the pair of HA’s; $398 for the iCom and TV Link.
I just received my Agil Pros yesterday . I have never worn HA’s before so I have nothing to compare them to, other than the few others I tried out at the store. I can say that they work perfectly as advertised, the streamer connected to my iPhone without a hitch, there is no feedback, they are barely noticeable and very comfortable. I have a 45 day trial period so I will have to write more after I’ve used them for a while. I went with the Agil’s because my audiologist recommended (and wears) them. Also they were one of the brands covered by my EPIC plan. The total price for me was 2599.00 for the pair including the streamer (EPIC covered the price of 1 HA plus the streamer) My Audi said that the regular price would be 6400.00/pair. I tried out several different brands at the store and did a lot of searching on the web, The few that I tried out and did some research on are The Costco Kirkland signature model: a very affordable Seimens Pure 301-501-701? that has bluetooth but is based on a chip that is several years old and is basically a low end unit. Widex is lagging behind in the bluetooth options but has very good voice recognition technology. Starkey has high end units that are comparable to the Agil pros and are aggressive in developing new technology. My Dad lives in Eden Prairie MN and does trials for them, and they are working on some exciting new stuff. It’s all very expensive ad confusing, the manufacturer’s websites are little help and the forums are hit and miss. There is a lot of misleading BS out there! I found this forum to be the best resource for accurate, unbiased information and I really have to thank all the people who post here.
My son was given Octicon Agil demos. Looooong story, but he lost one and the streamer. Now the ENT is charging me $3200 for the lost aid and $200 for the lost streamer! Anyone else had this problem? Any ideas what I should do about it? I am more than willing to pay for their cost of replacing (if there IS a cost…don’t they get demos for free?) but I don’t think it’s right to charge me full retail!
They gave you demo models and let you leave the store with them? That seems unusual. Did you buy them, sign a contract, did money change hands?
Here are some issues: They may get demos free but surely they don’t just get as many as they want free. There has to be a limit, like two pairs of a new model, maybe. Maybe he doesn’t think he should have to burn one of his demo models over something that was not his fault. Or maybe he has received all the free ones he can for this model.
OK, so if he thinks you should pay for it, here is another problem: He doesn’t want you to know what he pays for them so he can’t just bill you for his wholesale cost. He bundles services into his price, plus profit, so now if he suddenly says something like, OK, just pay me the $1400 cost then you are going to want to pay that price for the ones you eventually buy. So while it doesn’t sound fair to pay the retail, bundled services price, he has a genuine dilemma here. He might rather lose you as a client than reveal his markup.
Could you find them somewhere else cheaper, maybe over the Internet, that would not have bundled services included in the price, and give that one to him as a replacement? I don’t know if that would work, just a thought.
Unless he can order a free replacement without hurting himself I would say you have a responsibility to replace what you borrowed and lost.
On the other hand, he may pressure you to buy from him with the loss warranty and then “lose” one right off so he replaces it under warranty. First he demands you pay him $3200 for the lost one, then he might come up with the scheme for you to buy two for your son, then pretend to lose one, and he turns it in under warranty. If he does that then you will know what you are dealing with.
My Audi allowed me to borrow her old pair of demo aids. I had to sign an agreement with her though that stated if they were lost or broken I’d pay for the her the full value of the aid(s).
The Audi MAY have gotten (and they may have to pay for their demos, I don’t kow) the original Demos for free, but one of them now has to be replaced. I would HIGHLY doubt that Oticon would continue to send out free ‘demo’ aids due an Audi’s client/patient losing one.
I think it’s perfectly reasonable that your Audi is charging you for the full retail cost of the aid.
I have trialed these (Oticon Agil Pro BTE) and like them, but price is $5,000 plus in Australia. Discount Hearing Aids of America is advertising them for around $2400 USD. Has anyone used this outlet? Are they reputable? Also how would I go with warranty etc - applicable overseas?
I am visiting the USA next month (Oct. 2011) and could buy them while there, very good price. Any and all advice gratefully accepted.
Graham D.
I can’t advise one way or the other on the reputation of the company you’re asking about, or the warranty question, but one thing you didn’t make clear in your post:
Is that $5,000 price for the Agil Pros in Australia for a pair of Agil Pros?
The price you’re seeing on the DHAA website is “per instrument” or per ear, which really isn’t that much cheaper if the Australian price you’re quoting is for a pair of aids. It is harder to get a dealer to support aids he didn’t sell, so I wouldn’t recommend buying by mail if you didn’t save a lot of money doing this.
In the states, buying retail, you might have to pay sales tax which could add close to 10% to the price. A few states have no sales tax, and some states have no sales tax or a significantly smaller one (say: 1%) on hearing aids or other medical devices. If you order from a website and have it shipped to a different state, the dealer usually doesn’t charge sales tax in the US. You’re usually supposed to fill out a tax form in the state to which it was shipped and report it and pay that state’s sales tax, but most people don’t, and if you’re leaving, there wouldn’t be much they could do about it. Similarly, importing the aids into Australia could incur significant duties, but Australian Customs probably wouldn’t realize you didn’t have the aids in your ears when you left Australia unless they had a way of tracing the money that changed hands in the states.
If the Australian price quote is per instrument and you’re still interested, you’d have a better chance of getting an answer to your question about the reputation of Discount Hearing Aids of America by starting a new thread with “Discount Hearing Aids of America?” as the subject title. Then somebody might see your question who has dealt with the company. The chances of someone who knows them seeing it in this thread are not good, because only some people interested in Agil Pros will even read this thread. Similarly, you might start a new thread with the subject title: “Are Oticon hearing aid warranties honored in a different country?” to improve your chances of getting an answer to that question.
I just did a couple of minutes of research on this question, and here’s what I found: Click this:
and click on page 26. That’s the warranty for Agils sold in the US. It’s pretty simple language as warranties go. It says it’s an “International Warranty” and covers only manufacturing defects and only covers those for 12 months from the date of purchase. There’s nothing in there to exclude buying aids in the US and getting warranty service in Australia, but there’s no further information on how that would work if you needed it which might make it practically difficult or impossible, as you might have to go through the dealer where it was purchased. Really, only Oticon can answer that question, and there’s no guarantee they will follow through post-purchase on what they tell you pre-purchase.
The price in Australia is over $5,000 (AUD) for a SINGLE aid (I only have hearing in one ear, the other is completely deaf). I will do as you suggest and try a new thread re the seller, because it does represent a huge saving for me.
Graham Daniell