Hearing Aides

[Methuselah]

Just curious, but there have to be more out there than just me not wanting to spend the big bucks on hearing aides that have turned to OTC "hearing amplifiers".

Here's mine ... 



They aren't very useful in crowded places (not directional), but there were others I was considering before settling on these. They had higher ratings for the price-point of about $95 when I got them last year. What I'm wanting to know is if you're in the same boat, what are you using or considering on the OTC market? If you're using OTC amplifiers already and have had prescription hearing aides before, how do they compare?

[farrlarr]

The OTC "hearing aids" are designed and approved for people with mild to very moderate hearing loss and, for the most part, are really nothing more than personal amplifiers.  They are not and cannot be (except for certain fairly expensive models) tuned to your specific hearing loss (And who would determine what your loss is and adjust them appropriately even if they were capable of adjustment?) so they may well amplify sounds you can already hear well to the point of discomfort or even pain.  In my opinion, even calling these OTC things hearing aids is a gross misstatement because it implies that they can compensate for specific hearing loss when that is not the case.  I cannot imagine anyone who had prescription aids who would have gone for these things, although there may well be some people who have done so.  I would be interested to hear from those folks. 

This comes from my more than 30 years of wearing prescription hearing aids and doing a fair amount of research into them.

[tennx]

Read an interesting article about folks using game ear hearing aids ….that maybe why the OTC was developed…partial loss in left ear….probably  next thing on my to get list…..good luck

[Blowpipe Sam]

I started using a Reizen Loud Ear 120 db personal amp two years ago to hunt with.  I have mild hearing loss and I find it helpful (and kinda fun) to use when I'm sitting in a blind or on a stand.  It's quasi-directional and I got it for turkey hunting.  No good for moving around though.  The headset is awkward and the cord is a pain when moving through thick brush.  It will amplify the sound of the unit itself rubbing against your clothing and brush while walking.  Turn the gain up too high and there is an audible hiss.  I haven't tested the batteries for duration but they're good for at least four hours.  I've also used it for listening to bird calls and I think it would be useful for predator hunting at night.  Volume and gain adjustments are easy and the unit will fit in a shirt pocket.  It looks susceptible to water damage (not waterproof!) so I keep it in a drybag until needed.

I use the headset it came with.  I don't care for the ear buds.  For hunting or listening to wildlife I think it's a good deal.  As a substitute for a hearing aid I think I've illustrated it's shortcomings.   

[Airspace]

For what it's worth, I wear prescription aids I purchased though the local Costco hearing center. I've had this pair for about 7 years and am quite happy with them. Recently I took them in for a adjustment, I was given another hearing test, my current aids were adjusted to my hearing as of now and all is good. All the follow up is at no charge. I paid about 1500.00$, my niece got hearing aids last year and paid over 7000.00 dollars. When we compared them she says she got cheated. The OTC aids are mostly rip off amplifiers that will die in a year or two. They can't and don't address the hearing problems.

[Bicycleman]

If you have health insurance, be sure to check with them.  Some companies cover prescription hear aids, and others don't.  The company I had at the time, paid 100% of the cost of the hearing aids.  I had the tax to pay.  $3,300 is what the insurance company paid.  I think that was in 2013.  I am wearing those same one as I type this post.

[Novagun]

I have worn hearing aids for many years. One fancy pair cost 11K nz   they were a bothersome set . No better than my current 4K set. I am well servedby the supplier who always wants me to upgrade . Getting money out of me that I do not want to part with is like trying to poke butter up ---gets too daring from here on.

[farrlarr]

We have already drifted pretty far away from the OP's questions about OTC "hearing aids".  Maybe we ought to get back to them.

[Oldgringo]

For what it's worth, I wear prescription aids I purchased though the local Costco hearing center. I've had this pair for about 7 years and am quite happy with them. Recently I took them in for a adjustment, I was given another hearing test, my current aids were adjusted to my hearing as of now and all is good. All the follow up is at no charge. I paid about 1500.00$, my niece got hearing aids last year and paid over 7000.00 dollars. When we compared them she says she got cheated. The OTC aids are mostly rip off amplifiers that will die in a year or two. They can't and don't address the hearing problems.

I have my second pair of COSTCO hearing aids and they serve me well.  BTW, if you pay for them with your COSTCO credit card, the warranty period is doubled.

[Bicycleman]

We have already drifted pretty far away from the OP's questions about OTC "hearing aids".  Maybe we ought to get back to them.

Larry you are correct - and I apologize to the OP.
I have been tempted to get an inexpensive pair of the amplifiers for hunting, and save the prescribed one of other outings.  But then I realized that using the prescribed hearing aids is more important than risking possible additional hearing damage with the over-the-counter items.  YMMV

[jimbo]

I think that I'm about due for hearing aids and hear more people saying that Costco is the way to go.

[avator]

I kinda like my selective hearing the way it is. 
Actually my last test showed I had 17% hearing loss.

[farrlarr]

I kinda like my selective hearing the way it is. 
Actually my last test showed I had 17% hearing loss.

Okay, I'll tell you that my hearing loss is 95% in the right ear and 85% in the left, on which I have had stapedectomy surgery.  But this still doesn't address the OP's questions about OTC "hearing aids".  Doesn't anybody read full threads before responding to them or do they just read the last one or two posts?

[Methuselah]

I kinda like my selective hearing the way it is. 
Actually my last test showed I had 17% hearing loss.

Okay, I'll tell you that my hearing loss is 95% in the right ear and 85% in the left, on which I have had stapedectomy surgery.  But this still doesn't address the OP's questions about OTC "hearing aids".  Doesn't anybody read full threads before responding to them or do they just read the last one or two posts?

It's all good 

All of what's mentioned is what gets weighed in the process, and others will come along and find this thread with similar concerns ... lots of stuff I may not have given much or any thought to might be helpful.

My dad used to say his favorite hearing aide feature was the off switch 

Mine squeal if not real carful taking them out, same if too slow inserting. Now I notice it's not as loud when it does. Probably more damage I reckon, but who knows if that wouldn't have  happened regardless. I know my insurance doesn't cover real ones though.

[farrlarr]

My dad used to say his favorite hearing aide feature was the off switch 

Mine squeal if not real carful taking them out, same if too slow inserting. Now I notice it's not as loud when it does. Probably more damage I reckon, but who knows if that wouldn't have  happened regardless. I know my insurance doesn't cover real ones though.

Your hearing aids squeal when putting them in or taking them out because they are turned on/up when you do so.  As soon as you break the seal between the ear mold and the ear, amplified sound leaks around the ear mold and right back into the hearing aid, producing the feedback squeal.  The same thing happens if you have an ear mold that isn't properly fitted so leakage/feedback occurs when you turn your heal, chew, etc.  Either turn the hearing aid off or turn the volume control all the way down before inserting or removing and you won't have that problem. 

[avator]

Yeah, I got nuthin.   
Good luck Steve.