My Experience and Tips Regarding Hearing Aid Dispensaries

Friday, June 13, 2014 SPORK! 0 Comments

By: Joyce Edmiston 

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Over the years, I've gone through at least 4 pairs of hearing aids. I've always had good experience at the audiologists office, until last week. What we experienced should not happen to anyone. You'll find a tip or two to help you here if you are in the market for new hearing aids, or getting a pair of used ones refurbished for yourself.

I was given a pair of barely used hearing aids from a generous heart who now has a pair of cochlear implants. I was thrilled the day they arrived, happy to move on from my 10 year old aids,  (which were also pre-owned and came to me courtesy of the Coos Bay Lion's Club in Coos Bay, Oregon).

Fabulous Husband made an appointment for me over in Lancaster with an audiologist to get the hearing aids fitted and reprogrammed for my particular hearing loss. When he called and inquired about the fee for reprogramming a pair of hearing aids, they told him it would cost $200.00.

We ran through the standard hearing test, I learned nothing new. However, I did ask if the hearing aids worked. The audiologist told me we would not know until the ear molds were made.

I had to have custom ear molds made with vents to keep the air flowing into my ears. I have chronic ear disease and this is a must. This pair of ear molds cost Fabulous Husband $175.00 on the spot.

When the ear molds were ready, we went back to begin the process of getting the donated hearing aids reprogrammed. We were absolutely ecstatic that I would soon be hearing better than I have been been with my old hearing aids. I have them turned all the way up these days. I desperately need more volume because I'm loosing clarity of sounds. I'm not able to distinguish words or sounds as well as I used to.

When we arrived, we were told that we had been quoted the incorrect fee for reprogramming the hearing aids. It would not be $200.00 for the pair, but $200.00 per hearing aid.  to reprogram both would be $400.00.

I saw a different audiologist at this appointment. He was very kind, and genuinely tried to do everything he could to get the hearing aids working. One did not work at all and would need to be sent in for repairs. That would cost an additional $200.00.

We tried the other hearing aid. It was awful. I could hear myself, it was fuzzy and barely could hear anyone else. The audiologist tried everything he could think of.  He was on the phone with the company helping with downloading the program, but nothing was working. I was beginning to think they just didn't believe me about how bad these were sounding. My old hearing aids were far clearer than this newer one.

The audiologist stepped around from behind the desk and asked if he could listen to one of my old hearing aids. I could tell by the surprised look on his face that he was not expecting such a difference between my old hearing aid and this much newer one. He picked up the phone and told the person from the company that makes these new hearing aids that my "about 15 years old" hearing aids were better than these newer ones...

Read the full article at xpressive handz

http://xpressivehandz.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-experience-and-tips-regarding.html