Whoops, should have proof read more. The Adviser that told me about the
Smart Phone App to adjust the aids was from Costco, not Kaiser as I
mis-stated. Sorry. Needless to say, I did not go back to Kaiser for
anything.
On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 11:07 AM Robert O'Brien <
baro at pdx.edu> wrote:
>
I'm glad you asked, John.
>
For decades I've had poor hearing in both ears but my left ear was far
>
worse. This was confirmed every two years or so at Kaiser NW here in
>
Portland. Other than showing me the test results, no action was taken by
>
Kaiser.
>
It had gotten to the point that my wife was constantly asking me to get
>
hearing aids, since I was constantly asking her to repeat things.
>
Finally Covid hit both of us late, about a year ago. Neither was very
>
serious and soon abated. Except for my hearing, which became far worse in
>
my already bad left ear. I looked online and found this to be one of many
>
after effects of Covid.
>
I then went to Kaiser to try to deal with it. I won't talk about the
>
details, which were ridiculous, ultimately culminating with a Kaiser
>
Audiology MD giving me a small Kaiser pamphlet describing the process to
>
purchase hearing aids from Kaiser. He wrote into the pamphlet the
>
estimated costs for each ear. $5,000 for the left, $3,000 for the right.
>
Total $8000.. He did mention I did not have to purchase them from Kaiser
>
(I knew that).. Wow. I asked whether over-the-counter hearing aids would
>
work. He doubted it, given the seriousness of my hearing loss.
>
My next step was Costco, having my hearing tested there, with the same
>
results as Kaiser had gotten. But the outcome was a little bit different.
>
A pair of Costco hearing aids would be $750 each, total $1,500. Naturally
>
I went for that. The Costco person had extensive experience with their
>
hearing aids, although he did not have any real medical training that I
>
knew of. He was very knowledgeable and helpful. Great.
>
When they came in and were 'installed', the hearing in my historically bad
>
left ear was restored within a day. That is, both ears were the same
>
*without* the hearing aids. They remain so. (That after a decade or so
>
of tests at Kaiser with no advice). My hearing was still poor but was
>
nicely restored by the Costco hearing aids. I now could hear high
>
frequencies that I had not heard in decades.
>
I was so amazed by the restoration of my left ear that I tried to schedule
>
another hearing test with Costco to double check the 'miracle in my left
>
ear'. Saw the same Costco person who said that another test was not
>
necessary, since the restoration of my left ear was 'normal'. He was not
>
surprised at all.
>
I'll let the reader draw their own conclusions about Kaiser Audiology down
>
here.
>
It's now been almost a year and the hearing aids continue their excellent
>
performance. I have never even adjusted them.
>
One caveat though. Although I can hear the kinglets now, I can't really
>
determine the direction of their calls. Turning 360 degrees is no help.
>
This, of course, remains a real Birding deficiency that so far I've not
>
tried to correct or deal with.
>
Bob OBrien Portland
>
P.S. My Kaiser covers Portland and Vancouver. Seattle would be a
>
different 'branch'? of Kaiser that I know nothing about. Costco has 3 or
>
so different manufacturers and I followed the advice of the costco adviser,
>
which was not the most expensive. But the pricing is not that much
>
different between them.
>
P.P.S. The Kaiser adviser told me that the hearing aids could be adjusted
>
by cell phone but my ancient Samsung S7 phone was not up to the task. So I
>
purchased an S23, used, online. When I went to download the software for
>
the hearing aid (Phillips) I was required to allow Phillips to listen in to
>
all of my conversations and sell anything and everything to whomever they
>
pleased. Perhaps this is why they were so cheap? Sorta like cheap
>
printers and expensive ink? I skipped the software and have not adjusted
>
for a year, even though there are buttons on the hearing aids so it can be
>
done manually.. I had bought the new (used) phone unnecessarily as my S7
>
worked fine. However the camera on the S23 is far better than the S7, so
>
that was not a total waste of money.
>
>
>
>
On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 9:07 AM jgretten via Tweeters <
>
tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:
>
>>
Hello Tweeters,
>>
>>
I'm starting to look at hearing aids and was wondering if anyone had
>>
advice/experience on brands or types as it relates to hearing birds,
>>
particularly those high-pitched kinglets. Thanks.
>>
>>
John Grettenberger
>>
Olympia. WA
>>
>>
>>
>>
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>>
>>
_______________________________________________
>>
Tweeters mailing list
>>
Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>>
>