Costco Hearing Aids | The GOOD, The BAD, & The UGLY
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- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- Costco Hearing Aids | The GOOD, The BAD, & The UGLY. Dr. Cliff Olson, Audiologist and Founder of Applied Hearing Solutions, answers the question of "Are Costco Hearing Aids Good?"
Website: www.DrCliffAuD.com
Clinic Website: www.AppliedHearingAZ.com
hearinghealthmatters.org/thea...
There is no question that Costco Hearing Aids are popular, but I keep getting the same question, "Are Costco Hearing Aids Good?", and I always respond by saying, "it depends on how good the Costco hearing care provider is at programming them, and if they follow best practices".
However, we don't have to speculate, I can actually show you how good the Best Costco Hearing Aids are, and if they are programmed well. There are two ways to determine if a hearing aid is programmed correctly.
1. Validation Questionnaires - These questionnaires allow us to obtain a patient's perspective on how they are performing with their hearing aids. I personally like using the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids Questionnaire for individuals who already have hearing aids. Questionnaire Video: • Why Hearing Aid Valida...
2. Real Ear Measurement - This lets us measure the amplification output of the hearing aids to see if they meet a hearing loss prescription to ensure maximum audibility and speech intelligibility. REM Video: • The Most Important HEA...
To illustrate how good some Costco providers are at programming hearing aids, I'll evaluate 3 separate hearing aid fittings of patients who have come into my clinic, and show you the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Costco Hearing Aids.
The first patient scored a 30 out of 35 on the IOI-HA which suggests significant benefit from their current hearing devices. Real Ear Measurement illustrated a decent target match of the amplification to the patients Normal to Moderately-Severe Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Overall, I would consider this a GOOD hearing aid fitting. After some adjustments were made to the programming of their devices, they returned to complete a follow-up IOI-HA which increased from a 30 to 34 out of 35 points which is phenomenal.
The second patient scored a 19 out of 35 points on the IOI-HA which suggest poor benefit from their current Costco Hearing Aids. Real Ear Measurement illustrated a poor prescriptive target match of hearing aid amplification, as none of the prescription was being met for a Mild to Moderately-Severe hearing loss. Overall, I would consider this a BAD hearing aid fitting. Fortunately, this patient was fit with unlocked Costco Hearing Aids so they could be reprogrammed. After reprogramming and the completion of the IOI-HA several weeks later, the patient scored a 32 out of 35 total points.
The third patient scored a 9 our of 35 points on the IOI-HA which indicates almost NO BENEFIT with hearing aids. The Real Ear Measurement was so far off of the prescriptive targets for a Moderate Conductive Hearing Loss that one would have to assume that either the Costco Hearing Aid Provider either didn't perform Real Ear Measurement, or they didn't know what they were doing. This let to over a year of frustration and poor hearing due to a lack of competency. To add insult to injury, this patient was fit with Locked Costco Hearing Aids that do not allow for reprogramming outside of Costco. Fortunately, this patient agreed to be fit with new hearing aids that were properly programmed for their hearing loss. After several weeks, this patient returned to complete the IOI-HA and increase their score from a 9 to a Perfect 35 of 35. Indicating significant benefit from their new hearing aids.
I don't share these case studies to discourage anyone from treating their hearing loss at Costco. I share these case studies to prove that even with good hearing aids, the way those hearing aids are programmed will determine how much benefit you receive. So if you don't have a hearing care provider who can maximize your benefit, I highly recommend you find a provider that can.
This is exactly the sort of quality analysis that people need to make informed decisions!
Wow. This was so well explained. Thank you!
I'm just going to go through most of your videos now! Thank you for this!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT VIDEO! I am looking to replace three year old 'AIDS'. Eargo "s latest model is called nero! with there latest tceh! the biggest drawback from perchacing them is seeing a lot of negative customer replies about there other aids having to be replaced after a short time. could you inform us about this product, cliff. before we might make a 2'500 or more dollor mistake? they are recharbles with a battery charging life of approximately two and a half to three years. thank you cliff olsen...
I want to thank you for posting your CZcams’s information on hearing aids we are going to be in the process of finding a Hearing professional in my area for my husband who has lost a lot of his hearing. Can you recommend any hearing professionals in the Bucks County Pennsylvania area it’s so difficult to find someone that you can trust so if you can reach out to your colleagues I’d appreciate a reply also thank you so much for your very informative CZcams presentations you have Provide me with enough information to start the process thank you again for taking the time and being honest and caring about this important problem that people have especially as we get older
I would say that the comments presented in this video apply to ALL hearing aid centers, and not just Costco. When I initially sought out a hearing aid after consulting an ENT, I settled upon Miracle Ear. My experiences were very poor, as this doctor suggests. I suffered with a poor programming until finally convincing the new specialist to reprogram them. This new specialist reprogrammed, but I felt the experience was even worse. Now that my medical insurance allows for another hearing aid, I visited Costco and had a wonderful visit. The specialist performed another hearing exam, which was more complex than Miracle Ears. They programmed a sample hearing aid on the spot and allowed me to wear it in the store while shopping. The difference was immediately noticeable!! I could hear MUCH better and understand speech so well! So the bottomline, is any hearing aid provider can provide crappy service or programming.
I have been absolutely pleased by the knowledge, service, and wonderful customer service from costco hearing aid department over this last year
Great explanation about matching hearing aids to hearing loss.
I have worn hearing aids since the 1980's. My first pair was prescribed by an audiologist associated with an ENT and worked fine. Due to a geographic relocation, when those aids reached the end of usefulness, I chose an "independent audiologist" for my next pair, which worked fine. Years later, when those began to show their age, I went back to that same "independent audiologist" and found out that "independent audiologist" is the semantic equivalent of "used car salesman". After an unpleasant process of trying to get information about the aids she wanted to sell me, we parted "business company", and I went to Costco. I found the Costco experience to be FAR more professional and knowledgeable that. I had had my hearing curves generated by a second audiologist and took those to Costco. They re-ran the test, checked the two sets of curves, and programmed my aids accordingly. In future, I will see only audiologists associated with ENT's, and continue to buy the aids at Costco.
Have had a mastoidectomy. Lost all three bones needed for proper hearing conduction. Explain …how to get a proper fit and decent sound from severe hearing loss. Most videos talk about moderate to severe loss .
solid advice! and true for any medical professional. Get that 2nd and 3rd opinion. Get informed. Thank you
Dr Cliff for sharing this advice
.
Thank you for this video!
Suggestions for some high-quality brands for small size hearing aids (fit inside the ear as close as possible)?
Another highly informative vid! As an AuD student these are golden!
very helpful, thanks!
Very good information and curious, how much is a test and adjustment to ones hearing aides as it seems by your talk that was much anyone needed for much improvment.
Great video, Cliff. It sure highlights the importance of the provider!
Thanks Jim.
What an eye opener! Thank you. I have two issues in addition to hearing loss: tinnitus and an inner ear dysfunction (ear plugging as if I were under water or had wax in my ear). They are trying to treat that with nose spray or, eventually, cortisone injected into ear. 1. Should I wait until right inner ear dysfunction is resolved, before I am fitted for hearing aid? 2. Are there hearing aids which can address tinnitus issue ?
Hi, what is considered a statistically significant improvement on the subjective questionnaire you are using?
Also is it fair to target a particular clinic? These types of fittings can happen outside of costco as well. I'm sure you see patients from neighboring clinics in your area. Would you consider posting a video about them if they were found to be fitting outside of NAL2?
I just went to the Costco here in Huntsville, AL. I had 2 demos with 2 different devices, and have settled on the ones I wanted to purchase. I am a new hearing aid wearer, I appreciate this site and will report back what I experience. I am glad to learn what it meant by "locked" devices, and will be sure to ask about that when I go in to pick them up.
They won't be locked.
Thank you for the reply!
Hi! I was wondering why you doesn‘t meassure the REUG to fit the Hearing Aid on to the prescripted REIG? Most of the fitting softwares provide the opportunity to implement the individual REUG in the prescripted target amplification. In my opponion this is the biggest benefit of REM.
Furthermore i would like to ask which signal you are using for your REM and which input SPL?
Thank you for the great videos!
Best regards from germany!
Nikolas
Also a great example of why I will never buy a locked hearing aid. Thanks, Dr. Cliff!
How do you know?!!! I never heard of this!
@@kathyb1084 you have to ask if they are locked. Companies like Miracle Ear and Beltone always lock their hearing aids.
Great Video, your production is really great.
Thanks Ryan!
Hey dose getting a bigger earmoles fitting dose it help 2 get loud sounds in 2 the ear..
Quite happy with mine so far, pretty good service, above my expectations. Background noise is my only issue but I turn down the volume in some instances. When I take these off I realize how bad my hearing had become, and how the Kirklands are helping me quite a lot.
Since I am currently having some issues with the hearing staff at the Costco I frequent, I very much appreciated this video. Just not sure how to figure out whether my hearing aids are "tuned" correctly. Do I ask to see the audiograms in relation to my hearing aide tuning? I feel like I need to become and audiologist?
For me the type is tip and the way tip fits in my ear makes a huge difference. I think the the tubes and tips are an under estimated part of the hearing aid satisfaction. Thanks
You are right. The way a hearing aid is coupled to your ear has a huge impact on acoustics.
Another honest survey! Thank you for this information. So... How can we clone you for service around the country?
Thanks John. There are many good hearing care providers throughout the country. The real question should be, "How do I identify a good one?".
@@DrCliffAuD well, how do i indentify a good one? :D I live in Germany so i dont know. On my clinik they use some type of hearing mesurement buts its not the same with your videos. But I always wasnt satysfied with my Hearing Aids Mesurement. Maybe i have the wrong Hearing Aids or mesurement was false?
Can I put in my clone order for non-hearing-aid purposes?! :)
I am an engineer, and was impressed by the equipment Costco used, and attention to detail the provider showed. My improvement was significant, especially on the ear with conductive hearing loss.
How severe is the conductive hearing loss? Is it a mixed loss or purely conductive?
DR. CLiFF, love your video s
Great clip, I enjoy viewing your vids. Two questions: did you charge the CostCo client for reprogramming their CostCo aids? I don't want to know how much, that is your business. Also, what prescription do you typically use/like best? Thanks!
Hi Jason. Yes, I charge for every service I provide in my clinic. For adults I use NAL-NL2. If I worked with young children, I would use DSL v5.
@@DrCliffAuDThanks for your response. I used to do re-programs gratis, in the hopes that I would earn a client later on upon renewal, but I do charge now. I'm a fan of NL-2 as well.
After watching this video I now understand why some people choose not even bother getting hearing aids at all. Navigating through all the "could bes" and "might happens", gives me no confidence that I can make a good decision here. How does one get through this maze of information and things to look out for, to get a properly programmed hearing aid? And how does one decide whether to go through an ENT's own audiologist, who btw can also make a mistake, or to get it at Costco. I'm at a loss. And these hearing aids are a gigantic investment. Audiologists also carry different brands than Costco, so how can I even compare? I'm not confident I can make the right decision here. It's a crap shoot. But, thank you for the great, informative video.
Thanks for another great video, Dr. Cliff. Which Costco hearing aids are "locked?" Many thanks!!!
Kirkland models that were made by ReSound are locked. It seems as though Costco thought better of this practice and has since switched to Sivantos products that are not locked for their Signature models. I will have to check to see if the ReSound Vida is locked. I hope not.
@@DrCliffAuD I have become your huge fan, thanks for the videos. were you able to check if the Resound Vida/Preza (Quattro) are locked or not. Pls share the info, as it'll be helpful for me and others as well.
Can my Rexton M-Core R312 be connected directly to my hearing aids for phone calls and music with my Android S10 I have the App for volume control and phone calls but it doesn't go directly to by hearing aids
Thank you so much
Question? I have a hole in my right eardrum due to radiation to the area to halt cancer. The hole in the eardrum has not been able to be repaired after several tries. There is a mall amount of drainage of fluid from the hole in the ear. I need to clean the drainage at least two times a day. Is this drainage to much for a hearing aid to work?
How about showing the different kinds of hearing aids. I haven't been tested yet but like the aids you cannot see. Can you recommend the best kind & the cost ?
Hi Dr. Cliff...thanks for the informative video. I'm wondering why programming isn't automatic? Isn't it just a matter of reversing the patient's hearing loss curve? Of course I don't know anything about it, so I'm sure I'm missing something. Also, I think when folks ask "are Costco hearing aids any good", they are referring to the actual Costco branded hardware (they sell other brands as well), so the answer to that question is simply yes (though of course the issue of programming is hugely important...so thanks for covering that). I also wonder how Costco's average programming compares to retail outlets? Meaning...is Costco the same/better/worse? Because the worst thing for a consumer is to pay $4000 - $6000 for hearing aids at a retail outlet AND get bad/locked programming...at least with Costco, the prices are much much lower (plus free 6-month trial, free damage/loss insurance, etc). Finally, I've been pretty much a lifetime Costco member...I believe in their quality/prices 100%...plus, they stand behind their products...no questions asked...so worst case scenario, all a person would lose is some of their time.
It would be much easier to have these things automatically program themselves. They can to an extent, but not perfectly to your prescription. Everyone's ear canal size and shape is different which leads to individual variations of programming and perception. Costco does a good job in general if you get lucky enough to find a good provider. This will also depend on the level of aftercare required as a patient. Basically though, I agree with everything you said.
ok Dr Cliff, I dont live anywhere you so do I buy from costco and find someone to adjust them or what? Thank yo
I really appreciate your perspective and showing the amplification guidelines from Costco hearing aids. It shows me that there is a big difference between the Audiology office I work with and Costco. With Costco, it looks like everything drops off after 3k. I've seen patients struggle in background noise with this type of fitting. The graphs look a lot like older technology that is less adaptable and doesn't fit the loss like a glove.... I also have fixed so many mistakes other dispensers have made with conductive loss. Education is the best way to guide a patient into making the best decision. Thank you!
Thank you👏
costco has 2 different devices. there is $1000 dollars difference between the 2. Which device are you testing. A Kirkland device or the high prices ones?
Again. I am amazed at how much more I understand my one and only hearing aid
What do you think of the new Phillips HearLink hearing aids?
I have significant noise exposure damage to my hearing(mostly weapons fire). My right ear is significantly more impaired than my left. About 7 years ago i went to an audiologist with good reviews and who had helped me with custom fitting hearing protectors in the past. My hearing test was reviewed and hearing aids were recommended along with the price.... the price... Man! i could not afford 3 grand apiece!
I did some research on hearing aids and Costco kept coming up as a viable and affordable option. So i scheduled a hearing test with a dispenser at my local Costco. After the hearing test , i was given a copy of the test results. I then pulled out the test results performed by the audiologist and compared the two printouts. They were almost identical.
I figured the Costco dispenser knew how to run the test and at the time a pair of hearing aids was about 2 grand. We tried them on, played with the programming, i bought them and was amazed how much more i could hear in all settings( nice to hear birds again!)
I have been pleased with Costco service over the years and with my dispenser's ability. I have been using my second pair for almost 2 years with good results.
I appreciated Dr. Cliff's video and can see how important a skilled hearing specialist is in optimizing devices. Thanks!
Excellent presentation Right on the button! (Physics teacher)
Thanks David!
Great analysis. I wish I had seen this before I purchased new Kirkland 9.0 aids. I have had them for a month and have had issues. With the Bluetooth and others. Had a Starkey previously, in the ear ones. Liked them but they were growing old. 2013. The providers at Costco aren't much help. Kinda like a factory atmosphere. The sound went up and down, and I was finally told it was a Bluetooth issue. Not much can be done. :-( The newest question I have had, is: Have you had patients that have had a sensitivity to the material in the earpiece?
Great Info!
Thanks Bruce.
On your last example, the 'Ugly" why were you not able to align the device with the prescription at 4,000 Hz? Just curious. Trying to gather a better understanding of all this and I'm not an engineer.
When looking at the phonak software and seeing where the auto line is in comparison. Is real ear measures testing still needed IF given I see that the auto program slope is right on the slope with my RX?
You can't see your actual RX in the Phonak software. Those are just estimates. This is exactly why REMs are needed.
@@DrCliffAuD What are your thought on having one aid on a regular CRT and the other on a Highpower CRT? My left is worse than my right and on the Left aid is on high power CRT.
I have just watched about 5-7 of your hearing loss videos on u-tube. This one kind of nailed my hearing predicament with your last example...I'm told by Miracle-Ear that I have an average 70db loss from about 400 Hz thru 8KHz. I'm not a member of Costco and have never been in this Salem, Oregon outlet so I don't know how good they are. Or which would be the best hearing aids for me. I'm a Veteran and have been receiving my hearing aids from the VA. I'm definitely not satisfied because they don't help me hear my wife when the TV/background noise is interfering and there just is never enough volume when watching anything except commercials some of the time. I wish you could identify a model of hearing air that would be best for me but I suppose that would be like reading tea leaves. I got tested last week from My Hearing center (or something like that) and they recommended some hearing aids that they want about $5850 all together for. If that is what I have to pay maybe it will have to do but I see all these brands advertised for a couple to a thousand dollars or so and can't help but wonder if one of those would do. Can you help? Is my response out of order? Terry
This information is 5 years old so I'm curious to know how do they compare now?
I’m hoping to get advice.
My husband purchased HA at Costco over a year ago and In that time has developed tinnitus in addition to his bad hearing loss.
He has also been super frustrated because the HA don’t seem to be working well for him. Lots of background noise, and just overall still hard to hear.
We are all frustrated as we know hearing loss is rough for everyone involved ❤️
He just went to a new hearing aid center and was given a loaner pair that work GREAT!!!
They are $6,500. We definitely don’t want to have to pay that but I also want my husband to have a great quality of life.
I would LOVE some advice🙏🏻
I’m thinking from what I’ve heard in other videos, Costco didn’t do a good job fitting him?? Or maybe his hearing loss is more advanced??
Ughhhhh
Any advice would be very appreciated 🙏🏻
He has been back and forth with Costco trying to help, but is still having a hard time hearing.
Hi,
I went to Costco and had my ears checked and the girl was very professional almost 2 hours to do the test and she recommended me the ReSound the one I think it's the one that you can have Bluetooth, rechargeable, and it also enables you to have to reach out where they can help you if you have a problem and I live in Canada they will work on Android but I don't know what model because I haven't picked it up yet, but in Canada the cost of them is 2500.00 cdn,
according to my hearing test my hearing is moderate to severe, is that a good hearing aid to buy?
thank you very muc for your informative video, I'm glad I'm doing some research before I will purchase
them.
Thanks for all your information, you are very informative.
Regards,
G. Chow
FYI I got a non-Costco audiologist request of $1000@ to program my old Widex hearing aids (I declined) and another non-Costco audiologist quote of $150 total only to arrive, complete a hearing test and then be told that my Widex Flash aids could not have the programming adjusted for my current needs because they were too old a model. How long can one expect to have programming changes available. For the initial $5000 cost in 2009 I expected a longer life for the devices.
Software can always be obtained for hearing aids. Please refer to my video on Planned Obsolescence. That being said, I would consider hearing aids from 2009 to be really old.
I purchase hearing aids at Costco they could never adjust it right $2000.00 set , bought on e bay siemens hearing aid for $76.99 each work perfect...
So are you using Resound real Ear. And what hearings Aid Manufacture Software do you use to program Cosco Thanks.
I'm using Otometrics REM equipment and NAL-NL2 prescriptions for these patients. Manufacture Software depends on the brand. Different brands use different technology.
I am looking for a great hearing specialist in Idaho . Hope you can help me. I have lost my low tone
So I actually ordered the Philips BTE 9010 not the resound. sorry about my last post. So went to Costco and I was up front and told them I watched this video and about the real ear measurement. I have seen the equipment but it has never once been used when programming my hearing aids, typically the hearing care provider just programs them off my hearing test and talks across a desk asking how they sound, well I have never been happy with my hearing aids and now I know why, Breanna from the Costco in Birmingham, AL was the person who worked with me and she has had three years experience and was trained on the real ear measurement and she also swears by it, so that made me feel good from the start. she did not rush me and spent almost 2 hours with me to make sure we not only tested but retested and retested all the little changes. We had new soft ear molds made and when I go back she has another hour and a half on her schedule for me so we can fine tune my hearing aids with the new molds to insure the new distance is properly programmed. I am actually very happy with the Philips brand so far and it's nice that costco offers 6 months to return so that makes it much easier to test and not feel rushed. so because of this video I had a positive experience.
Dr. Cliff, on the ugly fitting, do you remember what the etiology of the conductive hearing loss was? If it was unknown to the patient at the time of getting the Costco HAs, the patient should have been referred to an ENT physician to investigate it. I suspect the reason the HA output was so low is that the dispenser at that Costco neglected to input the bone conduction thresholds into the fitting and REM software, so the loss was treated as sensory/neural. Real-ear measurements may have been done, but the targets in the REM software were wrongly calculated based on an apparent absence of any air-bone gaps. If that was the case, it's a very troubling story, because it suggests that this dispenser doesn't recognize the significance of conductive hearing loss and may not be making referrals to patients who really need to see an ENT. And really illustrates your point that it's not about the device the patient uses, but who programs it. If this happened at a Costco, I wouldn't want to take that gamble.
Second question: which Costco devices are unlocked?
I had my hearing tested today at Costco. At 3:00 minutes into the video I would like to know *what that black device* is in front of the person because that was not used for me
Hi Doc, we are in the process of joining the hearing aid world for my wife. I did NOT hear or see any comments from you on the Ear Go aids. Can you give me any opinion on them, or are they not on these aids? We are ready to order. Thanks in advance, Al Pivnick
Hi Doc, in your opinion which is better the
Philips HearLink 9030 Premium Rechargeable Hearing Aids or the Costco flagship aids?
As with anybody. It depends on your specific wants and needs. That is the job of your Costco provider to determine based on a thorough investigations of exactly what you want out of your devices.
Do you charge to refit clients that have purchased aids somewhere else other than you? If so, what’s a fair price to charge people to do so?
Our office bills anywhere from $20 (service/cleaning) to $500 for a test and refitting (2 aids) that includes follow-up care.
How can we the average consumer find or know when we have a competent provider?
Search my channel for my Hearing Care Provider Checklist.
Doctor Cliff, AuD
Goshen ny
Doc. You show charts reflecting actual hearing test and compare the tests to the settings or adjustments made by Costco. Doesn't Costco run those same charts? If so, how is it that the settings would be so far off? When we pick up our purchased aids, could we and/or should we ask for a printed chart showing actual loss vs. adjusted settings?
I'm starting to doubt if all Costco providers actually runs these tests (meaning: Real Ear Measurement (REMs)). Programming a hearing loss into a hearing aid does not result in an accurate fitting. It requires the proper utilization of REMs to customize the programming.
You are great presenter and educating me a lot. But I have a question. Can you make a presentation to justify paying $6000 outside vs $1400 at Costco. Thanks
Don't need to make a full presentation. The difference is KNOWING that you are hearing your best VS just THINKING you are. Is that worth an extra $4,600? Depends on the person. It's not up to me to decide.
Where is a good Costco hearings aid provider in Atlanta that will do their job correctly?
Boy by posting a second comment on the same video. This was really informative thanks a lot
I need hearing aids and am feeling a bit I overwhelmed of where to go and who to trust.
I would recommend finding a Best Practice Pro member in your area if you want to find a good provider. Go to my website: www.drcliffaud.com
I know 2 hearing aids are highly recommended and I understand why. But I want only 1 hearing aid, is there any benefit to this at all? Thank you!
Of course there is benefit, but you could pay for it in the long run.
Which gearing aids from Costco wouykld you recommend to a 81 year old woman with build up wax prioblems.
How do I check whether or not if my hearing aid provider (not Cosco) actually did a Real Ear Measurement, or not?
Ask them for a printout of your REM curves that they should have performed at your initial fitting.
Ask them for a printout of your REM curves that they should have performed at your initial fitting.
What should the average hearing aid cost?
La conclusión es válida para costco y para cualquier servicio audiologico, el que lo hace bien, el que lo hace regular y el que lo hace mal pero la diferencia en los precios es significativa, y muchos audiologos particulares no hacen pruebas rem
I have Costco, in the ear bud, hearing aids that are 6 years old now, and one is dead and the other nearly there. I went to 3 different companies who sent me advertising flyers and got tested and quoted 8K, 7K, and 6K for the prices for the behind the ear device with the little tube that goes into the ear. None of the testers were audiologists, but called Hearing Instrument Specialists. Should I go to an audiologist to get tested, then take the results with me to the companies I visit? How important is it to go to a company who fits you using an audiologist? Are these H.I.S. good enough to get the job done right, as Dr. Cliff would do?
Hi Jacquelyn, I'm sure there are good HIS's out there who follow Best Practices. Audiologists are specifically trained in school on Best Practices and some HISs are as well. It all comes down to the providers willingness to provide a high level of care and not cut corners on treatment.
@@DrCliffAuD Thank you so much for answering my question. I understand now.
The guy I got at Costco when I went in to be tested just held a magazine up to his mouth and asked if I could understand him. I could and he told me actual testing wouldn't tell him any more. A few months later I met someone who worked at another Costco and told them the story. I couple days later I got a call from the regional supervisor. I have to give them credit for that. By that time I had gone to another 'real' audiologist who found high end loss which I know was true because at age 50 I got tested for a baseline. I had slight loss then but now it is more. I have been happy with my aids for 3 years.
Now that is funny I would have immediately Walk 😂
Do you know where I can get rechargeable hearing aid batteries as this would save me money, as well as help, protect the environment. Someone told me about a solar recharger for these batteries. Please let me know
Recharegeable batteries typically do not save money. They cost more initially and will eventually need to be replaced which can be expensive. As far as protecting the environment, possibly yes, but only if the old lithium batteries are disposed of correctly. No idea about solar rechargers.
What is opinion of Rexton m core hearing aid from Costo
No opinion.
Xxwhat price range at Costco?
Are their reviews with individual Costco providers?. I hate to find out the hard way, if their good.
It is unlikely that you will be able to research specific Costco hearing care providers.
I've seen Costco go through a number of dispensers. Sam's Club, too. I've heard that numbers are tracked and dispensers work under high pressure. Costco has a good return policy. That's not a good thing. People are treating it like a commodity and not a sophisticated medical device.
greeat job
I would say there are good and bad practitioners in every modality of healthcare.. I'd gamble to say Costco far surpasses any retailer out there for adhering to the "gold standard" of REM fittings. Costco also provides state of the art fitting equipment to ensure REM has accuracy. My advise to anyone wondering out there would be to get your hearing aids at Costco and if you're not happy there's a 6 month trial with 100% money back guarantee.. nobody offers that in the industry.. so if the result isn't ideal try another REM adjustment or pick another Costco and/or specialist.. if it's good, well you just saved yourself $3-4,000 dollars vs dropping $6,000-$8,000 with an audiologist clinic or retailer.. just go to Costco and give it a try for yourself.. period..
Agree. I have returned two sets of hearing aids to Costco, exchanged after four months, full refund, purchased a newer model, REM and excellent results
Connect Hearing was terrible, Costco 5 stars in comparison
That's what helped sell me (4 month trial in Canada). The test was thorough, the consultation took enough time and I've been quite happy with the Kirkland 10.0.
I've been to two audiologists last week in South Jersey. Well known companies with lots of commercials on TV.
Sales people, that's all they are, with none to very little concern for the predicament their customer is in. It's disgusting.
IOI-HA Publication Journal of American Academy of Audiology Vol 14. No 8. 2003 Page 403-413 Author Robyn M Cox et al showed 8 categories with a total score of 40. My question is why you are using only 7 categories with maximum score of 35?
Because the IOI-HA is a 7 category questionnaire. The 8th item was added by the researchers to develop two different sets of norms for unaided subjective problems.
Using Oticon Opn S3, from one month. Still words are not clear to me. I'm really frustrated. No hope at all😭🤔
Did you hearing care professional follow Best Practices?
@@DrCliffAuD actually, all audiologists are not like you. They just encouraged you to buy new one but the results can’t be satisfied. I mean they don’t program the hearing aid for various situation like for group communication, sound in noise, in phone calls etc....😔 simply they turn up the volume to high.
My question is the internet is full of people selling hearing aids and they say you do not have to get a hearing test that is garbage. That mean all they do is turn the volume up. Beware of the internet net
If you perform REM and set the HAs to Target and the patient is complaining about the Amplification being to loud you turn the HAs down so the Patient is comfortable especially if counseling is not working if the patient can not hear properly it may be because they never returned for F/U you need more context before you can claim a provider went astray
Raz iel What is HA, and F/U?
HA = Hearing Aid, F/U = Follow Up
Just starting my quest so really appreciate the education provided by your videos. This would be a much simpler process if you would just move to South Florida. Dr. Cliff, it's lovely this time of the year. Well, maybe not this time of the year but MOST of the year. Wait a minute, you are in Arizona, what's the difference?? And we have water! Beaches! Girls in thongs!! Come on over!!! I'll be your first patient. :)
I am in Australia and have been to 2 different Costcos, visiting with 4 audiologists over the years. In each case I was shown the graphs of my hearing loss and the hearing aid responses and they looked pretty good against each other. Don't the US Costcos do that? Don't US customers ask to see it? My Costco aids work well but I do not use them all the time because I do not like the molds in my ears, and I have never liked ear plugs either, but the hearing improvement is very noticeable when I wear them. Methinks this is not a totally unbiased 'report' since there are probably dodgy 'independent' audiologists also, although it states the hearing aid is only as good as the 'fitting'.
Wearing hearing aids not only helps you hear better... It also keeps the hair cells in your cochlea active which in many cases freezes the hearing loss. Hearing aids are expensive. Consider using them for the full value. When your mind is flipping between no aids and aids, your brain will never fully adjust and you won't reach your full potential. Want to understand the most in background noise? Wear them when you aren't sleeping.
Seem like you aids are fairly good
I was tested recently at the local Costco in the U.S.A My experience included the review of the printout graphs of my hearing loss as well as the other tests conducted.
Having used cheep hearing amplifiers off and on for several years, I find that the biggest problem is the background noise that becomes over overwhelming,
mostly in cars in restaurants. So I am looking for something a little more sophisticated and your video presentation was real informative.
Yet in your evaluation you do not address background noise at all, why?
You need to check out my Background Noise videos.
So in other words it's a crap shoot as to whether you get a good dispenser at Costco or any other hearing aid provider for that matter. So only after going to one and purchasing hearing aids and trying them will you know if they know what they're doing or not. Wow, that's not much help doc!
The title is a bit misleading - the hearing aids are fine, the problem is with the person doing the fitting!
If you watched the video. The thumbnail did it's job. The content is what is important. Thanks for confirming that my Thumbnail is doing it's job. 👍
My point is that the video is on the quality of the audiologist not on the quality of the aids. You don't answer the question you pose above "Are Costco Hearing Aids Good?"
@@RVHatcher That's the point. The hearing aid doesn't matter that much. The person fitting you is what matters.
bought Costco aids when I thought my phonak died. BAD MISTAKE paid 1000 dollars for a piece of crap. Very short battery life and "filters" do not last 1-2 days before plugging . Bought from Christian in Costco store in b"ham alabama .THANX for nothing Christain! rex s.
If you're using 312 zinc-air batteries, give the batteries 1-2 minutes after pulling the tabs off before putting them in your hearing aids. When the surface under the tab is exposed to air, it actually charges to full power over a few minutes, so don't just put them right into the hearing aids. Regarding the wax guards, they're in place to protect the receiver from the wax that your ear produces. If they're getting full of wax quickly, it's because your ears are producing wax quickly, and not the fault of the hearing aid.
Regardless, if you spent $1000 for hearing aids, they are probably pretty low quality. But you know the saying "you get what you pay for"
@@Deliriation, ever think that maybe some people can't afford to purchase high end HAs? Maybe they have to use what they can afford rather than nothing at all? In this case, what seems to be lacking is the provider's education of the purchaser. On exactly what they were buying, on what they had to do to make sure that the HAs performed at the highest level possible. Using your comments, education on how to handle the batteries, and on telling them to make sure they monitor the ear wax situation. I bet there are other points as well. Maybe if they had done that the experience would have been a better one. Once again we are back to the lack of quality in the provider and not simply on the user's lack of funds.
@@marineman2298 In my experience as a practitioner, client experience is largely governed by preconceptions, expectations and the clients general attitude towards life. I've had clients where low quality hearing aids and are thankful for what benefit they're finding, and I've had clients wear top-of-the-line and still find something to complain about. Absolutely the skill of the clinician to program the hearing aids and properly educate them on what to expect and how to manage their hearing aids is very important.
But oftentimes a person's demeanor has ultimate control over how they perceive benefit, or don't.
Regarding your comment about what people can afford, I agree there are people who truly cannot afford high quality hearing aids. There are likely financing options available that could work for some people, as well as give-back programs to support those people. In my clinic I give a set of top quality hearing aids to a person in need every month, because I can, and because it matters greatly. A lot of lives can be dramatically altered by the generosity and willingness to give by the clinician to the community.
My comment of "you get what you pay for" is more directed to people who think buying hearing aids is like buying a TV, that the lower quality sets provide near equal benefit to the higher quality sets, when they do not (especially in background noise).
@@Deliriation, my apologies for sounding snippy. Good for you in taking care of someone. We should all do what we can do. I guess I'm sort of fed up with the hearing aid industry in general thanks to some "practitioners" who only practice taking your money. I feel sure you are not one of those people. Education, not only on the HA's themselves but on the person you trust to lead you down the road, is hard to come by. I'm glad I found this site as it appears to give some good honest advice. Again, my apologies.
@@marineman2298 It's completely understandable; when hearing aids don't help in important situations then their value is lost. It can be helped with finding a good clinician or audiologist who has experience and seems genuinely concerned about you getting "back into the conversation". Newer hearing aids (even hearing aids from the last 3 years) are making huge strides with improving speech audibility in background noise, so a combination of the right clinician and the right technology is usually life changing.
On another note, clinics usually (or should always) provide a no-cost trial of hearing aids for at least 2 weeks if not 3. That is always helpful to see if a certain level of technology will make an improvement for you. Cheers
I bet that you could do the SAME thing with other NON Costco providers so ..........
Yep, and I have so......
Nn
chiropractor buddy" yea I can tell dr UKABUO is pissed when he goes for the "buddy" it's the white guy equivalent of "you want sum?". But well pointed, what does a chiropractor know about viruses lol, they can't even prescribe drugs
I don't believe your words show me where is it's
What do you mean?
First question to an audiologist should be.. what's in it for you buddy? Shark infested industry ripping off the elderly en masse.