My Sonic Enchant 60 pair is about 4 or 5 years old, and the HIS at HearingLife has been trying for 2 years already to get me to buy a pair of Oticon OPN (with the idea that I’ll hear so-o-o much better in noisy environments). I bought a Costco membership this summer with the thought of getting a pair there. But now I doubt I will do that, after all.
I’ve been pretty happy with the Sonics overall. The KS10 looked like a winner to me. I gather that Oticon and Sonic are probably going to provide sound pretty similarly, whereas Phonak (and KS10) likely will process sound in a different way than what I’m used to, which I might or might not like. That’s a small point in favor of Oticon, in my mind. Costco doesn’t sell Oticon. (But then, they quit carrying the KS10 also… oh well.)
Recently I came across some info about REM. I am quite positive that the HearingLife HIS never did this test. It makes me think, maybe I could have a better experience elsewhere.
Another factor is the thought that it might be nice to have a real doctor of audiology doing the testing and recommending, versus someone with less training. But what would that cost me?
The cost question may have just resolved itself and made my mind up for me. Yesterday I looked at next year’s “silver” plans on the government’s Health Care Marketplace online; lo and behold, I found that I qualify for a plan that has a $50 deductible and a 5% copay after deductible on hearing aids. After the first of the year I’ll check to make sure, but it looks like I can go to a shop with real audis and wind up paying less than at Costco.
As an old acquaintance used to tell me, “Ya can’t beat it, with a stick!”
I’m definitely picking up a new pair sometime this spring, because come summertime I have to go on Medicare (higher cost, and no HA coverage)!