Hearing Aid advice

[jlgurr]

Has anyone ever used or heard of the Perfect Choice HD Personal Sound Amplifiers? They are $599 per ear but there are only five reviews on their site. Not enough to keep me looking at them without hearing (no pun intended) from others. What is the difference between a hearing aid and an amplifier. To my uneducated mind they seem to be the same???

 

[pacerron]

A sound amplifier is like turning up the volume on your radio, it amplifies all frequencies by an equal amount.

A hearing aid is designed so that various frequency ranges can be amplified while others are not or are subdued according to the hearing test you are given before being fitted.
These can be adjusted later as needed when your hearing changes. Men usually lose more in the higher frequencies, like women's voices.

You used to be able to get little amplifiers for about $20 at radio shak. maybe still can.

 

[jcummins]

jlgurr do yourself a favor and go to Costco.

I am amazed at what I wasn't hearing.

 

[KubotainNH]

You can get an amplifier version from Amazon for 40 bucks. That's the one with decent ratings. When you pay in the thousands you get one customizable and with a proper earmold.

 

[jerrybob]

jlgurr do yourself a favor and go to Costco.

I am amazed at what I wasn't hearing.

Agree......I got my Costco aids about 8 months ago.....what a difference. Great product. They ain't cheap but worth it. mine were $2500. Same ones at the audio doctor was $6000. Say what?

 

[jlgurr]

A sound amplifier is like turning up the volume on your radio, it amplifies all frequencies by an equal amount. A hearing aid is designed so that various frequency ranges can be amplified while others are not or are subdued according to the hearing test you are given before being fitted. These can be adjusted later as needed when your hearing changes. Men usually lose more in the higher frequencies, like women's voices. You used to be able to get little amplifiers for about $20 at radio shak. maybe still can.

Wow, great explanation! Thank you. Don't need an amplifier here, some noises are already too loud.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[txdon]

It is all about the suppression of background noise, but they do also amplify the sounds your ears are missing - mine was high frequency sounds. My custom Costco hearing aids have 3 programs for different environments (car, crowd, reg.) The remote is a must to shift between programs and volume control, for me the little buttons on the hearing aids are too small for my fingers.
It has been a year since I got mine and I noticed that sometime the amplification part would fade. I took them back to Costco and they have a new pair ready for me to pick-up, less than a week - free. Good service. I also noticed the same people are working there in the hearing aid dept. - stability.

Be sure to check with your insurance co. to see what they will pay and if you have to go to their places, and then compare the Costco price.

 

[milkman]

Today I got an appt at the audiologist for Thursday. My aids are seven or eight yrs old so although they've been good, I know they're outdated. My right one quit working about a week ago so I'm afraid I'm looking at buying new. I'm not a member at Costco and there's only one within 75 miles, but from some of the posts here, I will be dropping by there if I need new. I really hate to put out the money now, but I miss too much without them. I've looked at some online for around $700 each, but I think I'd be afraid to go that route especially if they had problems. decisions, decisions.

 

[jcummins]

Today I got an appt at the audiologist for Thursday. My aids are seven or eight yrs old so although they've been good, I know they're outdated. My right one quit working about a week ago so I'm afraid I'm looking at buying new. I'm not a member at Costco and there's only one within 75 miles, but from some of the posts here, I will be dropping by there if I need new. I really hate to put out the money now, but I miss too much without them. I've looked at some online for around $700 each, but I think I'd be afraid to go that route especially if they had problems. decisions, decisions.

I waited, waited, and waited. Cost was just too much. Finally we had some family company...and the discussion the whole week was hearing aids. Seems everyone needed them, with me the worst. Everyone was getting tired of repeating everything for me. Costco for me is 130 miles one way. Kind of makes me sad...and mad....that I took so long to get them. It's worth it.

 

[milkman]

I waited, waited, and waited. Cost was just too much. Finally we had some family company...and the discussion the whole week was hearing aids. Seems everyone needed them, with me the worst. Everyone was getting tired of repeating everything for me. Costco for me is 130 miles one way. Kind of makes me sad...and mad....that I took so long to get them. It's worth it.

I am convinced that they are worth it, just have to scrape up the money I guess.