@rothlev1 : Please explain to us how there can be “off-the-rack settings” for hearing losses that are as individual and unique as one’s fingerprint?
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What I’ve seen is you send them your audiogram and they program it to that. No REM, no adjustments based on sound. Perhaps remote later.
WH
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Actually the markup on this stuff is unreal.
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My worst experience last month just programmed Resound One 9 for the handwritten audiogram from his test and assumed it was ideal. O dmg course I returned the aids.
You have to figure that they make money even when they sell through Costco or through something like the VA or a state contract like the State of Maine.
The markup is astounding. You have to figure a good portion of the price is for fitting when you buy hearing aids. But the price avg on the RIC HAs on the VA sheet shows ~$350. You’d have to roll in a lot of services to make up the difference to me!
WH
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I inherited a pair of KS-5s from my mother, barely worn, and Costco offered to fit them for me for around $250, but I opted to buy new KS-10s instead.
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Fitting and subsequent service. If I end up buying new aids from Duke Health that could be interesting since they do not bundle their services into the price.
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the answer is yes. yes, you can go to the hearing center to reset the hearing aid to the appropriate hearing center or the place where your parents bought it. even the ones you buy on ebay.
Note : but there are several countries where the Hearing Center does not want to help with setting up the tool (program) even though they sell the same tool (with the reason that the tool is not purchased at their shop)
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That’s what I received when I got my HA from Holland. Still needs to be fine-tuned by remote but something went wrong as the Holland side is not able to connect (suspect they sell HA and tells you the connection (remote setting) problem!). Leave you hanging high on your own. Luckily, the local Audi is very helpful and reprogrammed again on her computer (reset everything). Very good service by local Audi but needs help from the master in this forum.
My AuD doesn’t sell/service resound, but she was not negative about the topic. Referred me to another local audiology center, but I opted to self-fit based on her audiogram.
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Hi WH
Just found your link to the SOM HA contract pricing. Excellent information.
Like many others, I have a lot of concerns about the HA selling/fitting business model.
The following are indicators of what I would call an overt deceptive business practices:
- Few real manufactures, but dozens of models…all of which are better than the others…
- Incomprehensible pricing. Any time I can’t figure out a rational price path from manufacturing to distribution to retail…I know I am being taken for a ride…
- A professional who I pay for what is supposed to be an independent objective opinion, then primarily relying on selling me the solution to the problem they identify for their income…
These problems can exist in any profession. I try to avoid them if they have the above attributes…
Thank you!
Ethan Brand
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That is one advantage for Costco. Their hearing professionals are paid a fixed wage with no commission on sales.
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A few phone calls before you buy the aids will answer your question. I’m not about to tell you what an audiologist will or won’t do
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Prodgyplace:
Exactly…Costco/Sams/Ebay are much closer to a rational business model.
I am a (retired) engineer. It is a basic tenant (not always observed) of my profession that I do not overtly make my living from my clients buying a suggested solution from me. My job is to give them independent/objective information…and they should then go out a find a suitable solution…I don’t build bridges or install fire systems. I provided basic information to help a client decide what they might need or want.
In my “perfect” world, an audiologist would never sell HAs.
Obviously this model does not work for all situations. A dentist is a good example. However, I find dentistry to be a healthy competitive business model in most cases. In my small community I have over a dozen dentists. I can all any one of them and ask them how much a basic filling or cleaning might be…answers will be approximate. I trust the ones that are open and honest, and I can readily understand how much and why I am being charged.
Surgeons are difficult…expensive…not always transparent. Solution. 2 or more opinions.
My objection to the HA business model is mostly based on the experience of my elderly parents. My 90 year old mother was very easily deceived. I found that many professionals…including HA folks, readily took advantage of that. I am no ok with that.
In any professional there is a wide spectrum of competency and morality. This forum is one of the best avenues I have found that helps to unwind a very (in my opinion) shady business. The best HA professionals have both competency and transparency. This forum has helped me immensely in sorting this out. For the HA professionals that visit this forum that would never take advantage of my (now deceased) 90 year old mother…thank you! To the rest of you…well…##$$** off.
Ethan Brand
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I am going to Duke University audiology. They unbundle the cost of services after the 60 day refund period. If refunded without replacement they keep $400 for services. If desired, you can get a 1 year service subscription for $1200 or lifetime for $2500. Most customers pay per visit though.
That sounds like a reasonable way to go. Are they transparent about the cost of the HAs?..and completive with real world (ie Costco) pricing? Are they transparent about the actual performance differences among the plethora of largely similar HA models?
Thanks!
Ethan Brand
They are more expensive than Costco but my hope is they are more highly skilled. Since their medical otologist thought properly adjusted hearing aids would relieve my issues, I have that advice to fall back on.
Oticon More 1 before the price increase.
Aids $2820, Services $1045, Total $3865.
Costco does not really sell an equivalent. The Philips aids only have some of the features licensed.
I don’t know if I mentioned this, but my guy on eBay, who is my friend, now can program remotely. I encouraged him to do so. I think that’s important and necessary. A little extra quote “hands-on” makes a huge difference, imo.
Costco gets hearing aids for 10% of what the manufacturers charge private clinics. It’s not fair. I’d rather the government wrangle the manufacturers and provide hearing aids to everyone at one price, perhaps in part or completely covered by universal healthcare, and audiologists just charge for their professional services (perhaps in part or completely covered by universal healthcare). I’d rather manufacturers just make their one best product rather than strip features off the premium for increased affordability. But behold, capitalism. This is what we chose.
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