I just ordered a new hearing aid to replace the one that died last week. The old one was a state-of-the art GN ReSound digital aid when it came out 6. years ago. The new one is a Unitron Unison. It’s considered an entry-level 2-channel digital aid, but it offers more features than the old one. It’s a power aid (the old one wasn’t) and has a manual volume control (the old one didn’t). Like the old one, it offers directional microphones, multiple listening programs and a telecoil. I was given a loaner aid similar to the new one while it is on order, and I immediately noticed the extra power. In addition, I was told that Unitron aids are generally more reliable than ReSounds.
I said that I wanted to spend as close to $1,000 as possible because that’s how much my insurance covers per ear. I didn’t quite make it under $1,000, but I came close enough. This one cost $1,345, including a new earmold and 2-year supply of batteries. That means it’s just costing $345 out of pocket, or less than the $450 I would have had to pay to get my old aid repaired. We actually had an interesting discussion about prices. I had suggested I try an analog aid if it were cheaper, but I was told analogs are now more expensive, around $2,000, because they’re no longer sold in volume. The other interesting thing I was told is that entry-level digital aids these days have every available feature because they’re the ones that are heavily marketed to new consumers.
My audiologist’s office is affiliated with an international chain, so I assume the price list is fairly standard. He was working from a Canadian price list, but Canadian and American dollars are worth about the same these days. The new aid will arrive in about a week and will come with a 60-day trial.
In the meantime, I’m happy to have the loaner. I just heard lots of birds chirping, which I haven’t heard for a long time. I’m quite happy .
Wordsmith
Categories: Deaf · Hearing Loss · employment
Tagged: audiologist, Hearing aids, Hearing Loss
The baby boomers are coming down with something. More and more people from the psychedelic days of loud music are experiencing a different kind of humming in their heads (and it ain’t the music from their IPods either). They’re straining their eyes to see your lips move but no words are jumping out at them (and they haven’t smoked those funny little cigarettes lately). Hmmm! Could it be a Bush Conspiracy? Could it be their Levi’s are too tight around the waist causing the brain to stop functioning? or, could it be……..nah, or maybe, oh no! It can’t be. All those years of warnings? and now, hearing loss along with the receding hairlines.
Hearing loss is the most serious health issue for baby boomers. More men than women will be affected. Here are some interesting findings from the AARP, Clarity and The Ear Foundation:
- “Almost one-fourth (23%) of these individuals said their hearing loss is affecting their success in the workplace, while 25% said hearing loss is affecting their earning potential. The areas of their work that are most affected are hearing and understanding phone calls and conversations with co-workers.
- 40% of the individuals who reported having a hearing loss said that it has affected their home life in many ways, such as having conversations with loved ones. 65% said they have trouble hearing the television. Watching TV with others and social gatherings are the areas that Boomers with hearing loss avoid most.
- More than half (57%) of those with a hearing loss said they often have difficulty hearing on a cell phone”
The worst news is that over 76 million baby boomers in the U.S. alone will experience some degree of hearing loss. Unfortunately, the study focused on baby boomers and the effect of hearing loss on family and income. So what have all these studies done to help us all have more affordable access to hearing aids?
If one out of every three hearing aids land up in a bedside table never to be worn again, what does this say about hearing aids? or is it the person who has hearing loss’ whose fault it is? or maybe its the Audiologist?
Too many tales of poor fittings, don’t like the sound, don’t like the feel, my ears itch, I don’t look good in them, they make me feel old and on and on and on. There’s no doubt about it, you have to have patience for wearing hearing aids (if u can benefit from one) but the PRICE. What I don’t understand is why people are not returning the hearing aids within the specified time frame? Why aren’t they returning them? This would give evidence to the manufacturers that something is not right. Instead, by hanging onto them never to be worn, manufacturers believe what they want, which is, that hearing aids are doing the job and people are willing to pay the price. When the baby boomers are faced with some sort of acceptance of their hearing loss, we can expect the manufacturers to make some sexy looking hearing aids to attract them and with a price tag that will match.
The baby boomers are coming, the baby boomers are going, hopefully the baby boomers will get rebellious like the good ole days and advocate for a better hearing aid with a price tag thats affordable for all of us.
Categories: Cochlear Implants · Deaf · Hearing Loss
Tagged: audiologist, Hearing aids, Hearing Loss
