OMG guys!

ladysolitary85

ladysolitary85

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So I went to another hearing doctor. This guy was soo much better than the Miracle Ear doctor from Sears.

Anyways... I have not had a hearing aid since 94. I have been avoiding the idea of returning to a hearing aid for so long. Finally, swallowing my pride I knew I needed to get one because my depression and hearing loss have been getting worse.

First I went to see Miracle Ears, and while I was impressed at first... the doctor didn't seem to care about what would work out for me. I would of walked right out the door with the hearing aid if I did have a co-signer involved... in a way, I'm glad now I didn't go with that guy.

Today I went to a actual hearing aid place, met a doctor who first looked into my ear and had a tv monitor and what do ya know, I'm viewing my own discovery channel.:lol:

I went through a hearing test, which was different from the usual being "in the box" setting, which was nice because I didn't feel as claustrophobic. After the tests, he said I wasn't limited to any of the hearing aids. Some ranging between $1,500 to $2,500. YIKES! I know, but to my luck, they have a 6 month payment plan that may not require me needing a co-signer due to having no credit. The icing of the cake for me was he's giving me a month trial to try ALL of them to see which is the most comfortable for me.

The brand I'm using right now is Starkley? Starkey? something like that, the behind the ear non-custom mold.This thing is so freakin discrete! Its a bit different than analogs, I'm not exactly sure how to pin point it, but it is. Man, everything is so loud! Quite a lot to adjust to. I went to Walmart right afterwards and I could hear shopping carts, doors shutting, people walking.

I'm wearing the most expensive one right now... I keep trying to remind mysel "I hate it, I hate it" because its freaking $2,500 :laugh2:
 
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Just remember that with the cost of HAs you will get, hopefully, quality care from the person who sells it to you. You can (or at least should be able to) go back for as many appts as you need to get the HAs adjusted w/o additional cost.

Yep, I remember the loudness when getting new aids. You'll adjust to that.
 
Is it the Starkey Davinci? It's what I have. I think it's pretty good.
 
You will also build credit history if you pay it off. That can be good for your future. :)
 
I'm glad that you went and got a second opinion. There are a ton of just bad audis out there who are there to push the merchandise out the door without caring about the paitent at hand. Heres to wishing you luck in decideing which aid to purchase:D
 
Thanks Deaffy :) I'm glad too. I'm still adjusting to it. It's just so weird how everything sounds robotic or like a recording almost.... I guess thats the best way I can describe how I hear right now. I haven't quite figured out how to adjust the volume yet. Very different from analog IMO.

I know it sounds lame but... I got excited when I heard one of my cats sneeze :D
 
That's great!
welcome to the digital journey where you'll see and hear new sounds :)
good luck and bon voyage on the digital journey!
 
Congrats on your new ears!!

The price you paid is pretty much what HA's cost these days. The only 'cheaper' aids I've seen are sold in the Costco hearing aid kiosks. Prices are pretty damned good, however, the audiologists that work there were pretty much plucked from the streets and given a basic 5-minute training program. :roll:

What is really f*cked up is that insurance companies will not cover the cost of a $2500 aid, but will pick up the cost of a $60K CI.

Give it a few weeks, go back and adjust as necessary, and you should be happy with them later.
 
green427 said:
Congrats on your new ears!!

The price you paid is pretty much what HA's cost these days. The only 'cheaper' aids I've seen are sold in the Costco hearing aid kiosks. Prices are pretty damned good, however, the audiologists that work there were pretty much plucked from the streets and given a basic 5-minute training program. :roll:

What is really f*cked up is that insurance companies will not cover the cost of a $2500 aid, but will pick up the cost of a $60K CI.

Give it a few weeks, go back and adjust as necessary, and you should be happy with them later.
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I paid/am paying the same amount as if I getting a hearing aid with my ci as long as I have insurance. Without it would cost me $7000 for a processor. For a trade in would only lower it to $5000. My insurance will pay 80%. Wish they do same for hearing aid because I would get it for my unimplanted ear.

Does medicare cover hearing aids? I know they will cover CI processor. Even cover replacements and repairs.
 
Also, there is a huge difference between a hearing aid dealer and an audiologist! Make sure you are seeing an audiologist!
 
deafgal001 said:
I paid/am paying the same amount as if I getting a hearing aid with my ci as long as I have insurance. Without it would cost me $7000 for a processor. For a trade in would only lower it to $5000. My insurance will pay 80%. Wish they do same for hearing aid because I would get it for my unimplanted ear.

Does medicare cover hearing aids? I know they will cover CI processor. Even cover replacements and repairs.
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I know Medicare will cover the cost of CI's, but you pay 20% up to a certain amount (not sure of the details).

I got mine through my company's insurance planback in '03, it was an HMO plan at the time, so it was covered 100%.

Second one will be covered through my current PPO plan, 100% covered after the family deductible is met ($4000).

I know that MedicAID will cover 100% of the cost of CI's, though.
 
My out of pocket for my CI was near $1400 after insurance paid for the surgery and part of the processor's ( 2 ) processors. Pretty cheap if u ask me!
 
So my first over all day experience.... at first, wonderful... until I went to work today. Ohhhh man did my ear hurt!!! I felt like people were screaming right next to my ear left and right, sounds were sounding as if I was right next to them! Horrible headache! I plan on going back tomorrow and getting adjusted to another volume.

Though this isn't my hearing aid yet... I'm still under the trial period. I'm going to be trying a few different types til my trial is over and I decide which I'm blowing my money at.

Not giving up though!

I am curious to see what insurance (particularly in California) that would help cover a CI. That is definitely my next step. But for now I'm just focusing on the good ear.
 
ladysolitary85 said:
So my first over all day experience.... at first, wonderful... until I went to work today. Ohhhh man did my ear hurt!!! I felt like people were screaming right next to my ear left and right, sounds were sounding as if I was right next to them! Horrible headache! I plan on going back tomorrow and getting adjusted to another volume.

.
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I get headache after about 6-8 hours of wearing mine, it used to be only four hours, so it is improving. :aw:
 
SimonJ said:
I get headache after about 6-8 hours of wearing mine, it used to be only four hours, so it is improving. :aw:
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It can't always be like that though right? I took the hearing aid out to give my ear a break from today.... my ear is still ringing. Ack!
 
ladysolitary85 said:
It can't always be like that though right? I took the hearing aid out to give my ear a break from today.... my ear is still ringing. Ack!
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I have been told to expect it to stop "when an ordinary noise becomes a background noise". My Ex-Audi tells me that I am still hearing a noise that I should be ignoring. My current Audi tells me it is due to lip-reading and concentrating so hard on trying to hear. Everyone is different though, you may find you adjust really quickly. I hope you do :eek3:
 
SimonJ said:
I have been told to expect it to stop "when an ordinary noise becomes a background noise". My Ex-Audi tells me that I am still hearing a noise that I should be ignoring. My current Audi tells me it is due to lip-reading and concentrating so hard on trying to hear. Everyone is different though, you may find you adjust really quickly. I hope you do :eek3:
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I was told the same thing about the ringing noise. That it never really goes away, the hearing aid can only mask it... though I believe this... if your hearing aid isn't beyond loud lol.
 
ladysolitary85 said:
So my first over all day experience.... at first, wonderful... until I went to work today. Ohhhh man did my ear hurt!!! I felt like people were screaming right next to my ear left and right, sounds were sounding as if I was right next to them! Horrible headache! I plan on going back tomorrow and getting adjusted to another volume.

Though this isn't my hearing aid yet... I'm still under the trial period. I'm going to be trying a few different types til my trial is over and I decide which I'm blowing my money at.

Not giving up though!

I am curious to see what insurance (particularly in California) that would help cover a CI. That is definitely my next step. But for now I'm just focusing on the good ear.
Click to expand...

If it doesn't improve you probably have recruitment
 
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