Buying Hearing Aids

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#3331849 15-Jan-2025 16:27

I also used Bay Audiology 3 years ago after persisting without hearing aids and hearing in only one ear for the last 20 years. I found them very good and also went with a cros-aid device for my non-hearing ear. Made no difference to my sense of directional sound, but did help enormously when sitting in a meeting and hearing the person on my left. Should have done it years before.

If you end up with a type that needs replaceable batteries, do not buy them from a supermarket. For the ones I use, they are 4 x more expensive than buying a bulk pack from Bay Audiology.

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mckenndk

911 posts

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#3331859 15-Jan-2025 17:03

Fog:
I have been hoping someone who has resound aids would reply. I think that Resonate here in Paraparaumu would be ideal for me, but they appear to be very big, and I don't like the way the connecting cord protrudes above your ear. How have you found these hearing aids.?

Both models I've had have been good.
Both pairs I had to get them sent away once for work before the warranty run out.
Main issue I've had is the receiver in the ear dieing but they usually have them in stock to swap them out. They usually say let's send them away which costs a bit but I just say let's swap the receiver and that fixed it for a lower price.

The wire sitting over the ear has never bothered me it sits on top of the ear and it's pretty discreet.
when I was younger and had hair people did not know I had hearing aids until they saw me taking on my phone or wondering why I was ignoring them while playing music etc.

The app features I've usually used are the ones that help you hear people in front of you in a noisy place and noise filter in noisy places.

Spec savers also do resound now as well.

Not sure on battery V rechargeable yet but always buy the big packs from the hearing companies, way cheaper.

johno1234

2733 posts

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#3331887 15-Jan-2025 18:27

Mine are RIC (receiver in canal) style which unintuitively means the little speaker sits in the ear canal and the rest of it - the microphone, electronics and battery are in a small unit that sits behind the hear, hooked in by the cable that connects the former to the latter. It is basically invisible. Nobody sees it unless it is pointed out.

Receiver In Canal (RIC) | The Hearing ... Receiver In The Ear Hearing Aids | 1800 ...

johno1234

2733 posts

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#3331888 15-Jan-2025 18:29

Jvipers2: If you're using an iphone, probably can have a look at getting the $479 AirPods Pro 2?

Main problem there is the 4 hour battery life. Most would need something that lasts the full waking day.

Fog

372 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3331912 15-Jan-2025 19:03

mckenndk:
Fog:

I have been hoping someone who has resound aids would reply. I think that Resonate here in Paraparaumu would be ideal for me, but they appear to be very big, and I don't like the way the connecting cord protrudes above your ear. How have you found these hearing aids.?

Both models I've had have been good.
Both pairs I had to get them sent away once for work before the warranty run out.
Main issue I've had is the receiver in the ear dieing but they usually have them in stock to swap them out. They usually say let's send them away which costs a bit but I just say let's swap the receiver and that fixed it for a lower price.

The wire sitting over the ear has never bothered me it sits on top of the ear and it's pretty discreet.
when I was younger and had hair people did not know I had hearing aids until they saw me taking on my phone or wondering why I was ignoring them while playing music etc.

The app features I've usually used are the ones that help you hear people in front of you in a noisy place and noise filter in noisy places.

Spec savers also do resound now as well.

Not sure on battery V rechargeable yet but always buy the big packs from the hearing companies, way cheaper.

Fog

372 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3331913 15-Jan-2025 19:07

mckenndk

Thanks for the information which is most helpful.

vexxxboy

4237 posts

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#3332009 15-Jan-2025 22:28

Just remember the rechargeable batteries only last about 4 years on average and then they have to be replaced which i was told around $400, so something to keep in mind as it could be cheaper just to buy batteries.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

idle

175 posts

Master Geek

#3332047 16-Jan-2025 06:54

I had a very awful experience with Bay Audiology some years ago. After having a Bay Audiology audiologist do an assessment, and advise replacement HA's, I was given an appointment in a week's time. When I returned for the appointment to get the new hearing aids, the receptionist denied that I had ever been, and, further, denied I had ever been a customer! This surprised me, as I had been going to Bay Audiology for years. Anyway, I was turned away! Later that day, I returned with my Appointment Card and the Audiologists Quote for new Hearing Aids. I got an apology from Management later, but I never went back!

Jvipers2

203 posts

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#3332791 17-Jan-2025 16:01

johno1234:
Main problem there is the 4 hour battery life. Most would need something that lasts the full waking day.

They do charge quickly...but if they work, they're still cheaper to get 2 than a standalone hearing aid...that way you can do a quick swapsie..

Fog

372 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3332800 17-Jan-2025 16:45

Jvipers2:
johno1234:

Main problem there is the 4 hour battery life. Most would need something that lasts the full waking day.

They do charge quickly...but if they work, they're still cheaper to get 2 than a standalone hearing aid...that way you can do a quick swapsie..

Fog

372 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3332802 17-Jan-2025 16:48

Unfortunately I am using an Android phone so those suggestions would not assist. Interesting though.

mattwnz

20096 posts

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#3332803 17-Jan-2025 16:56

vexxxboy:

Just remember the rechargeable batteries only last about 4 years on average and then they have to be replaced which i was told around $400, so something to keep in mind as it could be cheaper just to buy batteries.

There are pros and cons. Have to replace batteries can be a PITA and those button cells can be dangerous if left around. But IMO they should have easily replaceable rechargeable batteries considering the cost of them.

eracode

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#3332814 17-Jan-2025 17:22

idle:

I had a very awful experience with Bay Audiology some years ago. After having a Bay Audiology audiologist do an assessment, and advise replacement HA's, I was given an appointment in a week's time. When I returned for the appointment to get the new hearing aids, the receptionist denied that I had ever been, and, further, denied I had ever been a customer! This surprised me, as I had been going to Bay Audiology for years. Anyway, I was turned away! Later that day, I returned with my Appointment Card and the Audiologists Quote for new Hearing Aids. I got an apology from Management later, but I never went back!

The receptionist probably misheard your name when you gave it.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

psychrn

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#3332821 17-Jan-2025 18:13

Ive had my hearing aids a couple of years. I went to Audika here in hamilton.

My aids are by Oticon. around the $6500 mark top end. BT. Rechargeable. (Oticon More)

Compatible with android and Apple.

Good app on the phone which you can change profile settings on the fly.

Charging time is 3 hrs to 100%

BTW oticon talk about the technology called Deep Neural Network (DNN) to mimick how the brain processes sound. Yes so far Ive found them very good.

Im 68

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robjg63

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#3332863 18-Jan-2025 08:25

Eva888:

This appeared on my feed [Mod edit: Removed URL for scammy looking website]

I have no idea if they are legit but maybe someone here has used them and can comment.

They will do 'something' - but probably not that well.

Good hearing aids are very customisable. e.g. My lower frequency hearing is apparently quite good. The higher seems to have evaporated.

(often common with aging of course)

So the hearing aids are tuned to boost the higher frequencies only.

Interestingly, in 2023, there was a big change in the USA that was said would greatly impact the hearing aid market.

The FDA established a category of 'over the counter' (OTC) hearing aids that didnt require a medical specialist.

This means that places like Costco/Walmart can start providing 'proper' HAs to people with low to moderate hearing loss.

They will be much cheaper and start selling in bigger volumes and be more easily accessible.

This means world wide there should be more HA manufacturers enter the (larger) market and force prices down.

Sony/Apple have been eyeing this market as it is a natural fit for them.

Dont know when/if we might see any flow on effect - but my HAs were around $6k. People shouldnt have to spend so much to try and keep connected with the world around them.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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