Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Hearing Aids

i went this route,love mine.4 years now. they replaced an ear tube on one free. other than that no problems.great people to deal with.

after 27 years in the oilfield i have mod-severe hearing loss in both ears. this year for my 50th birthday i decided to go ahead and get hearing aids. went to an ENT and had the full hearing test then went to their audiologist for the HA's. She quoted me $6500 for signia Primax Ace 7 hearing aids.
I thought that seemed high and after looking and researching i found a vendor on ebay and bought the same hearing aid with a 3 year warranty and lifetime reprogramming (same as the Audiologist offered) for $2500. they came with everything signia offers (warranty card,batts, domes etc).
Extremely happy with the purchase and performance. 6 different programs (normal, noisy env, phone,tv,music, outdoor sports) all controlled from an app on my phone.

I am on my second set of aids. My first were 5k,

After they got old and crapped out I went back to the ENT at my hospital.

After all the "new" tests he gave me some options .
$2500, $3200, $5000
ReSound brand is what he recommended and was pricing .

The difference is options and power.
The budget price had limited options and limited NlueTooth capabilities.

The top of the line had all kinds of options bells and wistles.
I could adjust tones, set different modes(tv, movies, nature, ) stuff like that., through my phone .

To took the 3200 aids.

The first ones I selected did not work for me,
Fourth from the right.

http://www.resound.com/en-US/hearing-aids

I am outside a lot and these were similar to my old ones and wind was a big problem. Nothing worse than hearing nothing but wind wher sitting in a deer stand or fishing.

He took those back and fitted me with these, six from left.
http://www.resound.com/en-US/hearing-aids

The microphone tucks into the ear and is out of the wind. Bests aids I have ever worn.

Now with my $3200 I got great service, a rebuild on the complete design, total and complete adjustments via computer, adjustments on fit twice, excellent warranty.

With these aids I can Blue Tooth everything through my IPhone either through an app of through Apple .
Answering the phone is now though my aids so I do not have to put the ph e up to my ear and experience squeeling and such
But the best part is the WIND.

If you are going to get new aids, check them in the wind and make sure they BT to your phone.

My current pair cost $4,800 because the audiologist charges as a package including followup visits for adjustments, hearing tests, cleaning, etc. The actual cost for just the hearing aids at retail is 50% of that cost. Unfortunately, I've moved and that audiologist is now 2,500 miles away.

My next pair of hearing aids will be from Costco. Costco is everywhere.

You got [bleep].
My $3200 included 1 full year of adjustments and visits a three year free replacement warranty and after 3 years, a $300 co-pay for damage or loss for 2 more years

Sign up with the VA I have no complaints other then I get a new Doc way to often. Total knee replacement, complete care for my stoke, chiropractor,therapeutic massage, acupuncture, sometimes more care than I think I need. $8.00 per 30 days drug percription , but no hearing aids. And I was only in the USAF for a little over 4 years and no combat. I hear a lot of complaints on the news but at least the Alaska VA is great. --- Mel

I second the VA if you served. The care and the service is the best I have had in my life. The hearing aids they gave me are great and are four years old. I get a new pair every five years and any supplies or tuning is just a phone call away. As me hearing fluctuates all the time from the Meniere's disease I have to see the audiologist and the ENT a couple of times a year.

There is a small copay depending on income and percentage of disability. but even with a large income and no disability they still beat Costco for a darned good hearing aid.

I've suffered from tinnitus for years, and it also was affecting my hearing. The ringing is awful at times, and very aggravating. Finally went to an ENT, he told me the ringing was something I'd just have to learn to live with. He did send me to a hearing specialist, and after some tests, they recommended hearing aids. Cost was $2500, with 3 years worth of checkups, batteries, and maintenance. My insurance covered it, and will pay for a new pair every 3 years. I can't say as they've helped a lot, the ringing is still there, and I have trouble wearing them. I'm outside a lot, working on the farm, and they are bothersome to some degree. I "might" like them better if I wore them every day, but I admit that I don't, and a person needs to wear them most of the time in order for the brain and the hearing to get in sync. Had my insurance not paid for them, I would not consider it worth the price.

NOW HEAR THIS !!
Imagine a hearing problem after 65 or so years of shooting (many of those pre-protection), working in an oil refinery when young, running diesels/race cars/loud motorcycles and being at the front of some loud bands/orchestras.

The family finally cracked down on my "huh"? stuff and wife bought me a pair. Then I started doing the research.

Talked with a guy I knew who ran the hearing science program at a major university, talked turkey with some "audiology" types and went through the paces with one.

Bottom line - individual person problems do vary, but for about 90% of us the high-priced supposedly "adjustable" or "tuneable" aids give no better help than good/solid less expensive models. Background noise in crowded rooms or at noisy games or at events with background music (like a recent wedding reception) are not fixable with these things, and sometimes the aids make that noise more bothersome.

It looks to me like most of the 'audiologist' game (the science seems somewhat simple) is a channel to sell "sophisticated/individually tailored" hearing aids at high prices. These things are - a microphone, an amp, and a speaker - all made mini and with a volume control and maybe some selection for 'conditions". Mine cost $700 through the internet/mail - no exam or fitting - and they work as well as anything else I have tried. Your experience may vary - a bunch - but this is what I know. Brand is "MD".

No disrespect intended but with mine, the noisy room program let's me focus the reciever. I can select on the phone app the direction I want to focus on and as you "tune out" directions you can hear them get quieter in real time while enhancing the direction you want.
It definitely works for me and makes things like dinner out more enjoyable.

My experience as well.

I have the ability to tune out background noise and a whole host of other options.

The guy he was talking to is full if BS.

My Costco aids are made by Resound.

I really appreciate all the responses. I have an appt with Costco in about a week. I was able to try a HA at the Audiologist, so I will be able to compare. I guess Costco will let you walk around their store for a couple hours with theirs to experience them. Everything I've read online, and on the Hearing aid forum, is about 90% positive of Costco.

As far as those that recommended the VA, I was told by the VA I would have to "prove" my hearing loss is service related! I'm not sure how I can prove that, but if any of you Veterans have suggestions I'm all ears.

Yes, my $700 aids have some push-button options for different "conditions" (they don't have a "remote" app feature) and one can choose to downplay some of the distant sounds. I looked into the "tuned direction" feature. It's somewhat like a mic with a cardiod (or other pre-set) receiving/damping pattern. That would seem good if a fellow has his head aimed in a single direction or a while (like watching TV or giving attention to a non-moving source) but hard to imagine that being very effective in a situation where the user and/or sound sources are mobile.

I just wish I didn't need them in order to hear my grandkids and other important soft-speakers.

I never had to prove anything in Seattle to get my hearing aids.

Went to the VA a week ago and filed the application for benefits. I was told that, "you will receive a call within 24-48 hours with your status". A week later, today, I received a letter stating that I was in category 8e or 8g consisting of veterans in higher income groups, and I am not eligible for enrollment at this time! I can't even enroll!! If my status changes i can reapply, how nice of them! I have a brother in law who was dishonorably discharged from the Navy, has been a druggie all his life, has never worked a day in his life, is on welfare, and receives full VA medical benefits!
Welcome to the Liberals new America!

Just go to Costco. I've had theirs for almost 3 years, had one replaced because I lost it at the range, had one replaced because it died and have had about 4 adjustment appointments. Also have stepped in the shower with them on several times and just opened them up and hit em with a hair dryer though I'm sure that's not recommended. Worn them while sweating buckets in the summer and freezing in the winter. $1995 OTD. Went thru the same drill with the audiologist wanting to sell me the $3k/$5k/$6k package and just couldn't do it. My hearing has become more diminished and I need to get another adjustment. Starting to lip read more and more but that ain't the hearing aid's fault.

Are you near Charlotte? Just wondering if you can hear those BLM people with your hearing aids? If so I'm going with a different brand!

I'm about 20 miles north of Charlotte but the effects are felt to a small degree. Last Friday night a local high school football game was cancelled for "safety reasons" another 15 miles north of here. Sad. As far as whether or not I can hear them? I don't intend to get close enough to smell them much less hear them. As I indicated on the General Big Game board my feelings lean more to "Black Bears Matter".