<b>It sounds kind of like what the VA is doing with HA buy in quantity, but they have their audiologist program and do adjustments to save money</b>. The insurance co. is also buying in quantity but then they are sending the person the HA and having them do their own adjustments. Sounds like one way to cut cost for the vast majority of wearers, but I could see problems for people with severe or tricky losses that even the audi has problems getting dialed in.
Did you actually read the above quote? Did you try to explain what is silly about seb’s opinion? No it’s just another “professional” knee jerk reaction to competition. I’ve no experience with the VA HA programs, but seb states that
the VA has their own audiologists do the necessary adjustments to the HAs and they accrue savings by buying HAs in bulk. Finally seb does not equate VA policies with UHC/hiHI but merely notes similarities that are designed to save money.
I own a pair of the hiHI BTE with telecoils and have been using them for over half a year. I am very happy to finally have hearing assistance to deal with hearing loss that had been diagnosed close to 20 years ago by a professional audiologist. If I remember correctly it was a home visit by a Belltone rep. I wanted to do something about my hearing loss then but the price for even one for my left ear was WAY out of my range. I had never heard of any kind of hearing assistance device that was remotely affordable (other than the kind of thing you see in ads that say “not available in store” or “Order now and we’ll send you two of these great devices”.)
Given that I had 70 days to try these out and if I decided to send them back I’d get all my money refunded, it seemed like a more than worthwhile “experiment.”
I am personally offended by those who denigrate the idea that anyone other than a professional can deal with a hearing loss. Advances in technology improves many things. Why should hearing aids be any different. DIYers in any field like auto repair, appliance repair, home improvement, and so on always face the objection from those professionals whose livelihood is linked to keeping people in the dark about the service that they, the professionals, provide.
I (and my family) dealt with my hearing loss for those twenty or so years and I can only tell you that being able to reduce the TV volume from “21” to 13-15 when I’m in the room is a boon to all of us.
kbrowne