I got my Costco hearing aids!
The Fitting appointment took about an hour as the Dr. programed my new hearing aids and showed me how to operate the accessories.
I am soooo glad I sprung for the three accessories they really enhance the experience.
First I am no longer asking my wife to repeat what she says, however I still cannot hear crickets.* (see edit)
My wife is pleased with the looks and says from the front and back she cannot see them and at one angle from the side back she can if she is looking for them - they are dark blue and blend in with my glasses behind the ear and the clear thread thickness tube is practically invisible. This color is not the typical hearing aid color and is probable mistaken for a cell phone accessory.
They have really improved the hearing aids in the last 15 years. My last pair back then were returned after the trial period because the background sound were just too abnormal.
While I was being fitted the Dr. moved some paper around and when it creased it sounded like loud pops, I told her and she reprogramed them and then paper sounded normal.
She did fit me for ear molds but they hurt going in and felt large in my ear, The Dr. tried to grind them to fit better but I still did not like the feel, She took off the molds and put dome ends on the hearing aid and they felt much better more like ear plugs but smaller. They will try to make another pair of molds but if I don't like them that part will be refunded in full.
Review of the accessories:
1. ComPilot hangs around my neck and looks like some sort of cell phone accessory or, as I tell my wife, a I've fallen down and can't get up button. It can be worn under the shirt and control buttons can be operated through your shirt if you feel funny about the look.
The ComPilot is the device that allows streaming and bluetooth to the hearing aids. It also controls the volume and programs. (the tiny button on the hearing aids also control volume only) I have three programs 1. automatic 2. crowd/restaurant and 3. car. they all work excelent and with the push of the large button in the middle of the ComPilot I can change programs. I really like the car mode it cancels out road noise and allows voice to be heard clearly.
The middle button also turns on and off TV streaming and answerers phone calls.
The ComPilot is paired to you cell phone and you answer and hand up you cell phone with the push of the middle button. The phone call is streamed to your hearing aids in stereo clarity. When a phone call comes in the ComPilot will announce the number calling (caller ID). This thing works great. I have an older flip phone and it can stay in my pocket the whole time, the ComPilot has a receiver in it that picks up your voice (and streams it to your phone) and my mother said that I sound so clear on it.
2. Remote Mike a.k.a. wife mike is a small wireless clip on mike that my wife can wear, it clips on the collar or blouse. The range is about 30 feet. It works good in the grocery store where I can be ahead of her and she can talk in a regular voice and I can hear here perfectly. This mike makes me think of the little mics the secrete service wears on their lapels. The only problem is that when I talk bak my wife cannot hear me - (now she knows how I felt). If the mic had a ear plug for her that would be another accessory worth the money. When the mike is on, the hearing aids pick up sound only from the mike but a push of the button on the ComPilot mutes the mike and the hearing aids go to normal mode.
3. TV Streaming This little device plugs into your TV and gives perfect wireless stereo sound from your TV. The range is 90 feet. The device also acts as a recharging doc for the ComPilot. When a phone call comes in the TV is muted and you hear the phone ringing in your hearing aids and the hearing aids announce the number calling and you can push the middle button to answer. While you are listening to TV the TV over rides people talking and you have to hit the ComPilot center button to hear the other person talk.
There is really no benefit to wearing the hearing aids while doing chores outside when no one is around unless you are waiting for an important call.
I received 20 batteries and a cleaning kit with the hearing aids. They came with 3 cases (2 hard one soft). It did not come with any drying box the Dr. said to leave the battery compartment open at night and clean the Hearing aids with the kit. She said If they get wet take out the batteries, throw the batteries away and put the hearing aids in a bag of rice overnight.
I am wearing these at least 8 hours a day as recommended for the break-in period and so far it looks like these will be a keeper. I go back for a follow-up visit in 3 weeks to see if the new molds will be useable and also to make any modifications to the program.
My hearing aids are the Phonak Brio R model 312T