ANA Discussion Forum

Watch and Wait => For those in the 'watch and wait' status => Topic started by: judyl on November 17, 2021, 08:35:24 pm

Title: Hearing aids with telecoils
Post by: judyl on November 17, 2021, 08:35:24 pm
I commented on the hearing aid post with a question about telecoils, but I thought it best to start a new topic.  I have been on observation (W&W) for the past 4 years with a stable AN. Symptoms are left-sided hearing loss with 80% word discrimination, but it feels like it is greater because I don't have a problem with volume, it's what is being said that I usually miss, often near the end of a sentence.  I was diagnosed due to recurring vertigo but in the past few years, I feel like episodes have lessened. 

Last year I tried a Kirkland 9.0 hearing aid but I didn't like that it had disposable batteries and there was no remote support.  The main reasons I returned it was because I was still misunderstanding what others were saying, and it didn't help me using a land line telephone. Recently, I went for an audiologic evaluation at an audiology office in my insurance network and my audiogram was essentially unhanged from previous tests. I learned the Phonak Paradise has a telecoil option with rechargeable batteries and from what I read, telecoil may be used with a landline phone.  https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearinprivatepractice/2015/program-hearing-aids-t-coil-use/  I asked the audiologist about this and she told me it works with ho magnet up to the phone, but I cannot find this anywhere on the Phonak website.  The Paradise can also stream audio with a built in microphone that can pick up your voice when on a Bluetooth connection.  I also watched this review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0uFiHl3UY4

The Costco Kirkland 10.0 hearing aid is said to be the equivalent to the highest level Paradise (P90), also offers remote support, and is rechargeable so I could certainly go there, as they have a much more generous return policy with a full money back guarantee.  However, they are out of my insurance network so I would incur some out of pocket cost. With the audiology office, since I have hit my maximum out of pocket costs, I would not pay any out of pocket costs if I get one this year, but I am only given a 30 day trial with essentially $150.00 fee if I return it within that time and do not select another.  However, that hearing aid is slightly lower in technology than the equivalent that Costco sells.

Also, I'm wondering if I would a better quality service from the audiology office than Costco that uses hearing aid technicians rather than audiologists.

I have an appointment with an ENT to discuss hearing aid options and will ask him about the telecoil use with a telephone.

Has anyone tried the Paradise or used a telecoil with a landline phone?
Title: Re: Hearing aids with telecoils
Post by: Janoffh on November 23, 2021, 04:38:46 pm
I got my hearing aids from Costco and highly recommend them.  Not all Hear Specialists are good (but then again, neither are all private audiologists ;)  however, you can certainly talk to them and see how much they include you in the decision process.  I went with the Jabra HA (Same as the Resound One 9) through costco.  I would also recommend Hearing Tracker forums as there is a lot of great info about hearing aids - that's where I learned quite a lot :)
https://www.hearingtracker.com/