Re: Hearing aids

[Ludwik Kowalski <KowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

As I read my own message I see that in one place the word
"digital" was used instead of "analogue". The correct sentence
should have been:

> If I recall correctly, the ANALOG full size is about $1000 each.

In reading the description of the inexpensive hearing aids I
saw that for $30 a piece they would send the "do it yourself"
kit to create the molding. Then the $300 or $400 pieces would
be made to fit me exactly. I suppose it is a good option; poor
fitting can create positive feedback effects.

I hoped people would express opinions based on personal
experience. Perhaps the timing was not good; a lot of people
are away.


Ludwik Kowalski wrote:

> A visit to a specialist confirmed that I need at least one hearing
> aid. Why are these devices so expensive (up to $3000 for
> each ear)? It is only a tiny amplifier in the range of rather low
> frequencies (practically 1 to 6 kHz). Before I share what else
> are learned recently let me ask the main question.
>
> There are places which advertise hearing aids for $300 or
> $400 a piece (18 dB or 28 dB). These are solutions for
> losses of hearing due to normal aging. For example,
>
> http://www.excelhearing.com
>
> You order (size 1, 2 or 3), they send one of the two kinds
> to you. Each piece has a manual gain control (including
> reduction of the low frequency gain). There is a 45-days
> money back guarantee. No fitting is required, you stick it
> in at it works "just as good as a more expensive model"
> (they claim). Sounds good to me. But is it a good choice?
>
> There is a corresponding solution for eye glasses in many
> stores and I know that a $10 pair of reading glasses FOR ME
> is just as good for what the optometrist prescribes and which
> costs about ten times more (because my astigmatism defect is
> minimal). This is from experience; I have both kinds.
>
> I suspect that others might also benefit from your experience,
> so please share what you know. In the same spirit let me share
> what I just learned. Then I will ask another questions.
>
> 1) In addition to the "low costs" aids, which was not even
> mentioned to me by the specialist, there three other kinds:
>
> a) All digital (goes up to $3000 each).
> b) Analog with digital adjustments (goes up to $2400 each).
> c) All analog (goes up to $1700 each).
>
> In each of these category there are three sizes:
>
> a) Very small (cic), hardly visible, needs a battery every week.
> b) Not so small (in the canal) needs a battery every two weeks.
> c) Full size (sticks outside).
>
> Here the prices also change by nearly a factor of two (between
> the small, the most expensive, and the large (least expensive).
> If I recall correctly the digital full size is about $1000 each.
> All costs include replacement batteries for the life of the device
> (the specialist sends little packages regularly) plus the regular
> cleaning and adjustments (in his office once or twice a year).
>
> My second question has to do with practical aspects of sizes.
> The "how it looks" is not important to me. What are possible
> advantages and disadvantages of different sizes?
>
> And the third question is rather general; what else is important?
> For example, is the device with two microphones and the remote
> control unit worth having? They claim it helps a lot in the noisy
> environment because one of the microphone if directional.
> Ludwik Kowalski