You don’t have to be facing the person who’s talking to hear them.
I did a lot of lip reading and secondary processing before I got them.
My brain reacts to things constantly in my ear by causing them to itch. (Intruder alert! Implement histamine response)
It reminds me of this every 4 minutes.
Plastic grocery bags make a lot of noise.
Putting a T-shirt on makes noise
I’m old af
Okay so my mom has been losing her hearing and after reading what felt like hundreds of posts here and in related subs, the advice was basically always the same: go to Costco.
So we tried Costco.
And yeah... not great.
I have nothing against Costco in general, but the experience just wasn’t a good fit for her. She has rapidly deteriorating hearing loss and tinnitus that needs specific masking and the fitting felt way too one size fits all for a situation that really doesn’t seem one size fits all.
Maybe we just got unlucky. I honestly don’t know. But there were enough issues that I’m not really comfortable going back and doing the exact same thing again.
The other problem is that the store was about 45 minutes away. My mom is an older boomer and I’m obviously not going to have her driving that far alone every time she needs an adjustment. That makes the whole Costco recommendation a lot less useful when someone has mobility issues, transportation limitations, or just doesn’t live anywhere near a big box store.
So now I’m basically back at square one.
If money wasn’t an issue and there wasn’t a big box store nearby, where would you look for hearing aids? Would you consider hearing aids online? If so, where?
Also interested in specific hearing aid models for rapidly deteriorating hearing loss + tinnitus, especially anything with good tinnitus masking.
Would really appreciate some actual alternatives to “just go to Costco” because clearly that doesn’t work for everyone.
——EDIT—— the AMA is tomorrow, but happy to start answering a few questions as I can today!
Hi Reddit - I spend every day helping people understand their hearing, choose hearing aids, and navigate the challenges that come with hearing loss.
One of the biggest parts of my job is helping people overcome the stigma around hearing aids and realize how much better hearing can improve confidence, and overall quality of life.
Excited to be answering your questions on August 20th @ 10 AM PT/ 1 PM ET!
My Dad is looking at this ad in his local paper from the hearing aid clinic HEAR (in Ontario, Canada). They are advertising a set of hearing aids for $995. In my experience, hearing aid clinics are overpriced, and I have never seen anyone walking out without spending $4000-$7000. I paid this for my first set, but discovered Costco since. This price is even better than Costco. He lives an hour away from Costco, so would prefer a local clinic. Does anyone know if this clinic is legitimately not scamming with this ad?
Im US based and trying to figure out roughly what hearing aids cost nowadays because every time someone asks, the answers are all over the place.
Some people say to go with OTC since those are cheaper and can cost between $200-1500, some people are even saying that you can use Airpods as hearing aids but not sure if that hits my needs. I have been a drummer my whole life and after drumming in a small room im starting to pay the price. It was hard to hear people in noisy environments (concerts..etc) but now its anywhere (grocery store, coffee shop). I am trying to be budget conscious but also open to options that hold up longer term, since I dont want to be paying for cheap stuff only to have to pay that price every few years. Anyone have advice on where I can start?
Well, I gave them a month, and I can't stand them. One-on-one in a quiet environment, they're just fine. But in noisy environments, they are intolerable. In All-Around mode, it's a crapshoot who the hearing aids are going to decide to amplify. "Hear in Noise" is excellent at amplifying the voices of people behind me while doing a lousy job of eliminating ambient noise. I also had them programmed with "Outdoor" and "Music" modes; it turns out that "Music" is probably the least awful because the "AI" chip interferes less.
I _REALLY_ wanted to like these; I wore OTC Jabras for about 3 years before going the prescription route. I liked the Jabra ecosystem (with my Enhance Select OTCs). The devices (the Multi Mic and TV Streamer 2) worked fantastically.
The Multi Mic+ is MUCH worse. There is a lag of just a few milliseconds between what the Multi Mic sends to the HAs, but that lag is just enough to make the mic unusable.
I tried two different Auracast streamers to replace my old TV Streamer 2, and they both suffered the same issue; one channel would (the left) would consistently cut out. That seems like a pattern, not a coincidence.
I've tried these in a bunch of different environments (in my car... a Wrangler, which is not a quiet vehicle); restaurants; concert venues, a couple of comedy shows), and for me, the Jabras are essential unusable in any environment where there is a LOT of ambient noise / competing voices.
What a letdown. I'll be trying the Philips HearLink 9050.
I have been a Jabra fanboi for several years because of the robust Bluetooth / MFI integration, but I would happily give up all Bluetooth functionality for better audio quality. Getting my Slacks read to me is nice; being able to hear well is essential.
Hi all. I am seeking advice.
I've worn hearing aids nearly all my life, having been born with hearing loss. I've seen plenty of audiologists in my 50+ years and know my right ear has some frequencies more difficult than others, and my left ear is essentially un-aidable.
I picked an in-town office I'd never been to for my newest aid, a Phonak with a tiny in-canal receiver and BTE electronics with a teensy tiny little wire. I complained immediately that I thought there would be too much feedback with an open air fit, but this magical new aid has magical super-performing feedback cancellation, which worked -- mostly. Then I broke off the receiver pull tab from daily use. So I pulled on the wire. That eventually broke too, now dangling by the mere copper wire. I put it away and went back to my old Savvio Art with receiver in the aid and a simple tube to a full ear impression fitting that doesn't leak sound (eg feedback).
I paid $3500 for this Phonak two years ago, and unlike in the past, I get charged for every single office visit. It's already out of warranty.
I'm incredibly frustrated. I want to try OTC aids but know my hearing already disqualified me from one of the early companies offering OTC aids. I fail the prequalification tests because my ears are not similar to each other, although I only want one. The test results are "see a professional".
Over the past decades I've only managed to buy a new aid every 6-10 years. They are so expensive that I have to wait until someone dies and leaves me money, or get a very rare bonus, etc. I'm not wealthy, I live paycheck to paycheck.
I loved having bluetooth but hated the battery drain. I loved having recharable aids but hated not being able to go longer than 20 hours without charging as opposed to 4-5 weeks on a size 13 battery. I loved having multiple modes but hated having no physical button on the aid (smartphone app only, which infuriating takes 10-20 seconds to launch as opposed to instantly with a physical button). I hate open air fittings because of feedback, no matter how good the anti-feedback algorithm is, but this audiologist insisted I needed to try it (with no fallback if I didn't like it).
I welcome any ideas and thoughts how to deal with this.
Is $3500 actually reasonable in 2026?
I have otosclerosis,
and I had a failed stapadectomy on my right ear decades ago. I have been wearing a Phonak Naida 90 Phonak cros for 10 years. My recent hearing test shows decline, I am 61.
My longtime ride or die audiologist has retired. My new audiologist is suggesting I try rechargeable aids. My issue is I need to sleep with my aid on or I can’t hear my alarm clock or phone alarm.
Should I try a rechargeable or stick with using size 13 batteries? The 20 hour rechargeable battery time concerns me…
As a singer in a community chorus, a trusted friend recently shared "you're always flat".
I wear my hearing aids while singing (Jabra Enhance Pro 20s, receiver in ear style), and thought I had reasonable understanding of my own pitch, my voice section (Tenor 2), and the blend with the broader chorus, but now I'm doubting myself.
For those other singers with hearing loss, what tips, techniques, or other ideas might you offer that keep you in pitch? Things that work for you?
Thanks!
I see my audiologist next week to get my first set of HAs. I KNOW I want a more natural sound, as my children and husband all play instruments (piano, trumpet, trombone, guitar, cello) and love live music. So this is important to me and I guess as a 40yo I can’t imagine sounds ever sounding any other way.
So I have done a lot of research on Widex allure, and and really thinking of going this route, but heard that Signia Charge and go is the same company and state that Signia can sound more organic.
What’s your take? Personal insights? On both Signia and/or Widex please and thank you.
This past Saturday I just got fitted for my first hearing aids. I went with Rexton Reach Plus from Costco. So far the right side(my better ear) sounds good. I can finally listen to the radio with more clarity! There's definitely some higher frequency sounds that I'll need to get use to again. Somethings sound a little harsh.
However I noticed if I take my right hearing aid I'm not noticing much improvement in my left ear. The sound coming through is very rough sounding, like a static radio station. My left side hearing has been this way quite awhile.
The fitter mentioned that I might need a closed dome on the left but he went ahead used the tulip semi open domes for both ears. Would trying a closed dome help?
Below is my most recent test from Costco, this is pretty my how my hearing has been for 2 years.
Also below is the test from a couple years ago. My hearing was pretty much this way for 10 years.
I'm hoping that I don't have auditory deprivation in my left ear.
My mom got her first and only pair of hearing aids in 2019. As of 2026, they're still working.
After about five years, there was an attitude shift at the store where she bought them. You see, mom took great care of her HAs and wasn't about to buy new ones until necessary. Seeing that they weren't going to be getting a commission from her, the sales/tech people seemed to think cleanings and maintenance were a waste of their time. While not rude, they weren't exactly chipper, either. They'd make comments such as "I'm not sure if we can still get parts, since your model is discontinued. I'll see if I can order them."
My mom's old, arthritic, and lives in a rural area, so getting her to the hearing aid store is difficult. After the warranty expired I fired up YouTube and started doing the maintenance on her HAs myself. I clean them and buy those "hard to get" parts easily and affordably online.
I know this next part sounds dramatic, but I don't know how else to say it: I suspect sabotage by the sales/tech people. It wouldn't be that hard to do. Since hearing aids are an esoteric, expensive purchase, we have to take their word for quite a lot.
I won't cite specifics, and it's possible that the sales/tech people just goofed (repeatedly) during maintenance. But the things they did diminished the functionality of the HAs which might have led less tech-savvy customers to conclude that it was time for new ones. Fortunately, I was able to fix them.
Now, after all these years it's time for her to get new ones.
Has anyone here had similar experiences?
I currently have Costco Kirkland 10.0 HAs, but my Costco no longer carries their own brand. I need to get new HAs soon and wondered if anyone has the Sennheiser Sonite Rise HAs. What are things you like and dislike about them?
I purchased Jabra hearing aids in Sept 2024 from Costco. They were fine for about 18 months, using tulip eartips. Now I am getting a lot of feedback. I understand why. I tried the power domes, but they were very uncomfortable. I want to try a larger tulip dome. Costco only supplies one size, which is 11mm. Does anyone know where to find larger size tulip ear tips?
I will be going to my first appointment at Costco next week and will be choosing an HA. I have heard/read that some HAs have a slightly tinny sound. I am a music lover and want to get the best hearing aid for listening to music. I rarely get out so I am talking about reproduced music. I do not like loud music and listen mostly to quieter classical music and some jazz. I cherish clear clean sound. Does anyone have any suggestions to guide me on this new adventure?
Hoy fui a un centro auditivo para probar audífono, me hicieron las pruebas de audiometría y logo audiometría me dieron el informe pero no termino de entenderlo, si alguien que entienda me pudiera explicar un poco lo agradeceria,.
Recently I’ve started using my hearing aids again after several year of no use. The main reason of me not using them its because the overall hearing loss is not serious enough (for me) to justify use them in daily life. I would have trouble hearing specific people or social situations, but it would never be that much of a hassle (trash excuse to hide the fact that I hate how noisy life gets). Last semester, had a proff which had speech impediment that caused her speech to be very slow and halting. had trouble hearing her throughout the entire semester but somehow managed to pass the class not relaying on lectures but classmates and info online. New semester start, I had to take TWO courses with her, and in one of them it will be hard to hide the fact that I can't hear her, since there are only three of us in total and the interaction will be more one-on-one. Decided to use hearing aids again to check if its helps to any degree. still hadn’t any lectures with her yet, but so far I’ve been using them on my work. One thing Ive noticed so far is i still have trouble trying to understand or make up what ppl are saying. Yes I hear things louder, but it feels that it doesn’t necessarily make speech more clear for me. ive been trying to eavesdrop (lol) some coworkers to test my hearing improvement, but it feels like although I can “hear” the sound they’re making I can’t really make out every word they say, and every time I tried harder to listen every syllable the less I could understand their convo.
Don’t know if im not processing stuff the way im supposed to or my expectations of how hearing aids works are way off. I’ve been thinking maybe im overwhelmed by all the noise that im suddenly hearing and how loud everything is, but I don’t know if you’re capable to get used to it and “adjust” volume levels (as you’re naturally supposed to).
Idk if anyone have any advice on the matter or there are some stuff I should be doing :(
Just shipped Tinnitus Relief to Google Play. Solo indie project, took a few months.
Why I built it: I've had tinnitus for 19 years. Once used some app that gave me 3 days of complete silence, then lost track of it. Never found it again. So I rebuilt the concept myself.
Tech stack: WebView wrapper around a single HTML file, Web Audio API for the whole DSP side. Notched filtering with Q=8 over generated noise, real-time spectrum analyser on canvas, binary search over log frequency scale for the matching. Kotlin host handles WakeLock, audio focus and Play Billing.
Things that ate the most time:
- AudioContext suspending on Android when screen locks (solved with a watchdog + statechange listener)
- True dB volume scaling — linear sliders are useless when therapy sits at -35dB
- Google's 12 testers x 14 days requirement for new personal accounts
- CORS preflight breaking Apps Script until I switched to text/plain
Monetisation: free app, one-time Pro unlock. Also offering Pro for free in exchange for anonymous research data — curious whether that converts better than the paywall.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appsbyhuman.tinnitusrelief
Happy to answer questions about the audio side or the Play Console gauntlet.
Hoy me hicieron una timpanometria en los oídos, en el oído con buena audición la timpanometria salió bien pero cuando intentaron hacerla en el oído con hipoacusia daba error y no fueron capaces de hacer la timpanometria, me preguntaron si estaba operado del oído al cual dije que no y por más veces que lo intentaron no pudieron a que es debido, puede ser fallo de mi oído medio
——EDIT—— the AMA is tomorrow, but happy to start answering a few questions as I can today!
On Thursday, August 20, Dr. Rachel Artsma will join us for an AMA about hearing loss, hearing aids, and the connection between hearing and brain health.
Dr. Artsma is a Senior Audiologist at hear.com who helps people understand changes in their hearing, explore hearing-aid options, and navigate the stigma and everyday challenges associated with hearing loss.
The AMA will take place at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET*.*
Please note: This is just the announcement—not the official AMA thread. The official thread will be posted separately, so please save your questions for Dr. Artsma until then.
See you there!
