Last year, in August, we bought my Mom her first hearing aids, the kind that fit inside the ear. This was in Sacramento, where she was living at the time. They were pricey, but worth it, and she was thrilled, they changed her life. I also bought the extended warranty. We moved her 400 miles down here to live with us last winter and in the shuffle, one hearing aid (the one that helped least) was lost. In the meantime, the store where we bought it was sold and no longer exists. They did tell us, before they closed the doors, that all the info was in Oticon's computer and should be no problem.
Flash forward, we found a local dealer and explained the situation several times. They seemed to not care much for the idea of taking care of a warranty problem for another dealer, although same product. We paid the deductible and waited. Friday, they called us to pick up Mom's new hearing aid. It was handed to her over the counter, no fitting, no adjustments, just handed to her by the clerk like any other retail item. You guessed it. The new hearing aid works fine except that it has rough edges and hurts her ear. So I am making an appt to take her back there but I just wondered if any of you ever heard of such a thing with a custom-made item like that? I am shocked by the attitude of this place. I suppose they think that because Mom is 89 she is not likely to make another purchase from them in the future but they don't know that. They also don't know if one of us might need their services in the future. Anybody have similar experiences or anything to share?
Judy
Judy & Bud (Judy usually the one talking here)
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Gee, 89? she has 20 years on me and the audiologist (sp?) sez I have somewhat impaired hearing and of course wants to sell me two of them.
off subject a little but I told her that If I got a hearing aid, it would only be in one ear, the worst one. She said that if they fit only one they usually put it in the best ear and bring that up to "par". that makes no sense to me, can anybody explain it? If my hearing is 90% and 70% it seems to me that bringing the 70% ear up to 100% and having a 90% and 100% would be better than having a 100% and a 70%?
what is the rationale? I can see it if the bad ear is beyond bringing it up to normal but???
bumpy
what is the rationale? I can see it if the bad ear is beyond bringing it up to normal but???
bumpy
Bumpy, that was my mom's rationale, too. After all, she had lost most of her hearing in the left ear very suddenly 50+ yrs ago. We were shocked that she actually tested some hearing at all on that side. I'm still not sure if it is a matter of salesmanship or logic, to want to sell two hearing aids.
The hearing aid in her good ear was $1300 and the additional one on her bad side was another $800, plus warranty. The audiologist made a good case that the additional hearing on the left side increased the total effect. It let her hear life in stereo instead of mono. Mom says that is true, too. Actually she tested better with both hearing aids than she did with only the one in the "good" ear. Of course, I had to take his word for this. They've got you by the, er..., shorts in a case like that. We have an appt to see if this place can make any adjustments on the replacement that hurts her ear. I just couldn't believe they would only hand her something like that and send her on her way. I know it needs polishing and maybe some removal of material in one area. She says it even hurts when she chews food. That can't be right. Will report back.
Did the original and newer dealer take wax impressions? Did they do an intensified hearing test? If yes to both, then the 2nd dealer most certainly should have made sure that the new hearing aid not only fit properly but also provide a follow-on hearing test with the new aid in place to insure that the amplification/fit qualities met her expectations.
Hearing, even for an 89 year old, is very important. If you don't believe me, stick some bees wax in your ears for an entire day and see how you like it. Typical hard of hearing people tend to become withdrawn and depressed. If she/you are not satisfied with her present hearing aids, I highly recommend that you take her to a national dealer (Miracle-Ear, Siemans, Beltone...there are many others) and a dealer/installer who is well experienced and has been practicing in the same place for many years and have her tested throughly and get her some high quality digital (programmable) hearing aids. Hearing is probably only 2nd to sight as the most important sense. Take good care of her while you still have her.
Ron
ps...I've been waring hearing aids for over 10 years (loss of hearing a product of the 60's and 70's rock concerts) and even with the very best of aids, my hearing is only around 75%. It is extremely difficult to fit into normal conversations, speak on phones, hear in a crowded environment..ect. However, without them, I would be 90% deaf and alone!
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35
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what is the rationale? I can see it if the bad ear is beyond bringing it up to normal but???
bumpy
Bumpy, that was my mom's rationale, too. After all, she had lost most of her hearing in the left ear very suddenly 50+ yrs ago. We were shocked that she actually tested some hearing at all on that side. I'm still not sure if it is a matter of salesmanship or logic, to want to sell two hearing aids.
The hearing aid in her good ear was $1300 and the additional one on her bad side was another $800, plus warranty. The audiologist made a good case that the additional hearing on the left side increased the total effect. It let her hear life in stereo instead of mono. Mom says that is true, too. Actually she tested better with both hearing aids than she did with only the one in the "good" ear. Of course, I had to take his word for this. They've got you by the, er..., shorts in a case like that. We have an appt to see if this place can make any adjustments on the replacement that hurts her ear. I just couldn't believe they would only hand her something like that and send her on her way. I know it needs polishing and maybe some removal of material in one area. She says it even hurts when she chews food. That can't be right. Will report back.
Yes, she should test better with two hearing aids, and stereo is nice but if hearing is not 100% but still "adequate" in an ear, bringing the other ear up to 100% will still produce stereo.
I'd still rather have 100% and 90% than 70% and 100% myself.
bumpy
Ron, yes to all questions. But when the new replacement hearing aid came in, they did the testing and programming before we picked it up. Since it was made to the wax impression, it was assumed it would fit. That was a little wacky, in my opinion. Just human error in removing the impression could stretch it a bit and that is, apparently, what happened. When we went for the appt today, the tech was going to completely re-do it but decided to first try grinding down the problem area. Mom says it fits fine, now. They did retest and re-program the existing hearing aid and that was interesting. Hung a medallion around Mom's neck and then diddled with a laptop computer to make the changes. How science fiction-like! If only they could do that with our memories, huh? Maybe someday!
Yes, it absolutely changed her life when she got the hearing aid last summer. She has always been a social animal and had taken to staying in bed and not going out much at all. What a horribly isolating affliction, the loss of hearing is. And the "bad" ear, even though she cannot make out conversation when wearing only that one, still adds a lot when she wears both. In addition, it gives her a sense of where sound is coming from that she had not had for more than half a century. I had always assumed Mom had a stroke and lost her hearing (I remember vividly the day it happened) but the audiologist says it was most likely a virus. That's scary. Anyway, thanks for the input. I am glad we got both ears done and I think Mom is probably good for another 10,000 miles.
The problem is that the original hearing aid cost included other fitting services, such as making the impressions and programming. The new audiologist may not be paid for their services if they are provided under warranty.
Our audiologist sends our earmolds (for BTE aids) to us through the mail, and I attach them myself. Of course, this isn't a new audiologist or a new hearing aid. We drop off and pick up hearing aids all the time, but never new ones. Perhaps they thought an experienced hearing aid wearer wouldn't need booth testing for new hearing aids if they are an identical model with her existing programming. We don't do testing when we pick up preprogrammed loaners.
I'm glad to hear your mom has benefited from her hearing aids.
Just like your eyes, your brain develops a better understanding of "pictures and sounds" using dual inputs; either eyes or ears-- the sum is greater than the total of its parts, sort of speak.
"100%" means that your functioning at 100% of your present capabilities -- not that you hear as perfectly as you did when you were a ten-year-old.
You'll put yourself at significant disadvantage if you use only one hearing aid.
This is the best I can recall the audiologist's statements and positions when I asked him similar questions. A relative used to use only one hearing aid but finally realized the value of two when everyone around her got tired of shouting things two or three times.
Just like your eyes, your brain develops a better understanding of "pictures and sounds" using dual inputs; either eyes or ears-- the sum is greater than the total of its parts, sort of speak.
"100%" means that your functioning at 100% of your present capabilities -- not that you hear as perfectly as you did when you were a ten-year-old.
You'll put yourself at significant disadvantage if you use only one hearing aid.
This is the best I can recall the audiologist's statements and positions when I asked him similar questions. A relative used to use only one hearing aid but finally realized the value of two when everyone around her got tired of shouting things two or three times.
OK let me restate it. defining present capabilities as 100%. if my current hearing is 80% and 70% of my optimal for my age and I increase my 70% to 100 of optimal I would have one ear at 80% of optimal and the other at 100% of optimal with one hearing aid in the worst (70% ear) If I put hearing aid in best ear I would have 70% in one ear and 100% in the other. assuming that I consider the 80% of optimal to be satisfactory, and using only one hearing aid, my hearing would be satisfactory? with one aid in my worst ear?
and "You'll put yourself at significant disadvantage if you use only one hearing aid." the amount of disadvantage would depend on how bad the good ear is. If my ears were 99% and 70%, one hearing aid in the bad ear would make me end up with pretty good hearing.
I realize that many of my bodily functions won't be the same as when I was 18 years old, but lets not go there.
bumpy
We are so lucky to have things like hearing aids available today, along with cataract surgery, dentures, etc. When I think of the disabilities our grandparents and great-grandparents took for granted, it's just so sad.
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