@MDB The jury’s still out for me on Costco as I’ve yet to be fitted there, but it’s certainly been my experience that some kinds of hearing loss are tougher to fit and some independent audiologists are better at it than others.
Not good ways I know of to find a good fitter other than trial and error. Maybe now that so many hearing aids are capable of remote tuning, a grapevine or recommendation service will develop so you can find fitters anywhere in the world who are good at working with a particular type of hearing loss. Assuming fitters would be willing. If part of the price you pay to an indy for hearing aids is long-term service that model may have to go by the wayside though and that might not fly.
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)!
Look at Dr. Cliff’s best practices. Whether it is an AuD audiologist or a hearing aid dispenser if they use best practices it is a good step in the right direction. A good dispenser will do just as good a job and an audiologist the key word is “good” regardless of which you go to.
I find some of the opinions regarding Real Ear interesting and wonder on what solid information those opinions are based on. As a hearing professional with 46 years in the industry and 35 using Real Ear, I find it a very valuable tool. Unless you know what is happening at the ear drum you are really only guessing on the prescription. Granted not everyone will like the prescription developed using Real Ear, but that is where the true professionalism comes into play. The provider can take the patient response and make the appropriate adjustments. The Real Ear gives a known starting point to modify from.
You can’t. I just got my Costco Rexton hearing aids last week, after wearing a pair for the last five years that I bought from a private Aud/Clinic that I paid a small fortune for. So far, I love my new Costco aids, better than my previous very expensive set. If this changes over the next few months, I will take them back and get my full refund. I think it’s definately worth trying Costco to find out if they will meet your needs. The service was outstanding at my local Costco as well.
Thank you @DaveL for the kind words… I would defo use Costco if they where slightly nearer hand…But, around a 440 miles round trip, doesn’t fill me full of delight, its a long drive with my arthritic hips, and knee, plus Planter Fasciitis (aka Policeman’s Heel) usually rears its symptoms on a long drive, and when it does its painful to walk any distance… I for one, am a great admirer of Costco, they provide a wonderful service at a knockdown price! Cheers Kev
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.
