Savage_99 I believe that the ones shown in your link are the lower cost units for those who are suffering moderate hearing lost.
Like a car lot they advertise the low cost model to get you on the lot. I am pleased with my Costco experience. I am pessimistic at heart and I figure that there are people who will take advantage of others. At the time I was exploring the subject the State busted a couple of hearing aid dispensers for fraud.
On a routine visit to my family doctor I asked about a hearing test. His office was set up to do it, and I was tested that day. The results showed my left ear was not receiving the message.
My insurance does not cover a hearing aid so I needed to make the best financial decision. I did a lot of looking on the net, the yellow pages, and ads. I formed the opinion that most dispensers are selling the same aid, just at different prices or re-branded.
I sought the advice of friends that wear hearing aids.
I made an appointment at Costco and was tested. I was very impressed with the testing procedure. It has changed with technology but the out come was the same as my results at the doctor’s office. But I had a far better understanding of my hearing loss. Unfortunately I was not totally satisfied with the demeanor of the tester.
The tester told me that before I could buy I needed a prescription from an EAR/NOSE Medical Doctor. This is a requirement of State Law. I am in favor of this costly requirement. The Ear/Nose MD I went to does not sell or profit from the sale of hearing aid. The results of the test were the same as Costco.
The lady who administered the test may not have appreciated my rather factual joke.
I ask her if she knew what sound caused the loss of hearing in seventy-five percent of the male population?
She replied, “No’.
I told her it was the sound of their own voice saying, I do!
While I was being tested at Costco, another patient came in for adjustment of her hearing aids. She was in her thirties and had been wearing hearing aids since childhood. She felt that Costco hearing aids were a good deal but she did not like the tester at this location.
I called up the other Costco because I had the option. They needed to re-test me even with the Doctor’s prescription in hand. I understood this because I had asked the doctor about hearing aids and he told me that dispenser of hearing aids would recommend an aid(s) to fit my needs.
I was more then happy with the service from both testers at the other Costco. Because of the complexity of my life style in a busy part-time work environment, and enjoying the woods I need more then a basic hearing aid. The aid I purchased has three functions (1) general environment, (2) isolates background noise, and (3) telephone. A coil designed for telephones is difficult because there are different phone systems. As a user I have no control over the phone system in the work place. I also default to what I buy at the big box store.
A neat feature of the aid I purchased was the data-logging feature. After wearing it for a month I returned to Costco so they could fine-tune it. The first thing the tester did was download my hearing history. Based on my history he fine-tuned the adjustments.
I purchased the Rexton Revera.
http://www.rexton.com/PDF/Revera%20PDF%20FIles/Revera%20Dispenser.pdf“Revera:
The Rexton Revera is a "premier plus wireless" digital hearing aid and is specifically designed for those with an active lifestyle who also demand a cosmetically appealing, state-of-the-art hearing solution.”
I have worn my hearing aid while out hunting, but after pulling some gear off and catching it rolling down my front, I feel it is better to leave behind. My hunting partner lost one while out cutting firewood. He has spent a fair amount of time looking for it without results. He continues to wear his out hunting because he wants to hear the rattlesnake.
My ears were ringing after I shot my buck last year, and my ears did not like the blast of my rifle when I shot this year’s buck. Just one shot each but with a negative impact on my ears.
I just purchased the Walker Game Ear HD. I have not tried it too much yet. I do not like the earplug compared to the custom molded one on my Costco hearing aid. I spent a day doing yard work wearing it. It came out one time. I will follow-up on my thoughts down the road.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_227215&id=0047994228734aThe Doctor asked, Siskiyou why do you think you need a hearing test?
Siskiyou, Because my wife told me I need a hearing test.
Doctor, You will never win that one!
