Bad Barlow
Blackhawk
Battery models suck,Costco rocks.
That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!
Hearing aids...
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That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!
Bad Barlow
Blackhawk
And by the way, Bluetooth is very handy,for the phone and media.
Bad Barlow
Blackhawk
Let me think about it for a minute...
It depends upon the manufacturer and what your settings are. Since I am only a couple of clicks over being legally deaf mine draw a lot of power; plus being the CROS style they suck up a lot of power anyway by the constant bluetooth broadcasting from left to right. I can only get at most 12 hours use out of mine - but my brother-in-law doesn't have as bad for hearing so not as aggressive as my settings, and no CROS for him and he can get 2 days of use on his before he has to recharge.
I get 6 1/2 days on my non-re-chargeable batteries (#312) for my Costco hearing aids; sometimes more. I turn them on mid-mornings and shut them off at 10:30PM. I use none of the bluetooth or other features (which they may, or may not have). I just pop them in my ears and rock on thru the day. I pay about $8.50 for a six month supply of these batteries.
COSTCO ROCKS.... ignorance is bliss,
J.
COSTCO ROCKS.... ignorance is bliss,
J.
Acorn
Hunter
Another behind the ear Costco’s user here.
They were around $1500.
Bluetooth is a godsend to me watching TV. Audio piped right into my ear.
I have to get them adjusted to use with the phone. My old ones worked well but for some reason the new ones aren’t the same.
My daughter stayed over last Christmas with her 2 cats.
I took them out on Christmas Eve and sat them on a table. The next day they were gone. We searched all over the room thinking I’d put them elsewhere.
I struggled without them till the following September, thinking the loss warranty(2 years) was up.
My wife called Costco and they checked and said it was a 3 year loss plan, but, there was a catch, I had to pay 1 cent for the replacements.
About a month later my daughter found the original set. They had fallen into her fabric cat carrier, under some padding.
So now I have 2 sets.
I’ve worn mine under my electronic muffs with no issues.
I charge them overnight and that last all day.
They seem to hold the charge longer when I use the Music program as opposed to the Automatic program.
They were around $1500.
Bluetooth is a godsend to me watching TV. Audio piped right into my ear.
I have to get them adjusted to use with the phone. My old ones worked well but for some reason the new ones aren’t the same.
My daughter stayed over last Christmas with her 2 cats.
I took them out on Christmas Eve and sat them on a table. The next day they were gone. We searched all over the room thinking I’d put them elsewhere.
I struggled without them till the following September, thinking the loss warranty(2 years) was up.
My wife called Costco and they checked and said it was a 3 year loss plan, but, there was a catch, I had to pay 1 cent for the replacements.
About a month later my daughter found the original set. They had fallen into her fabric cat carrier, under some padding.
So now I have 2 sets.
I’ve worn mine under my electronic muffs with no issues.
I charge them overnight and that last all day.
They seem to hold the charge longer when I use the Music program as opposed to the Automatic program.
"My daughter stayed over last Christmas with her 2 cats.
I took them out on Christmas Eve and sat them on a table. The next day they were gone. We searched all over the room thinking I'd put them elsewhere." DAMN.... FOR AWHILE THERE, I THOUGHT YOU LOST THE CATS.....
J.
'Battery models suck,Costco rocks.
That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!'
OK, I won't argue with what works for you BUT personally, I don't like the rechargeable. Understand that I don't wear my aids full time since much of my time is spent doing things that most folks would wear ear protection anyway. So, with battery aids I can put in new batteries once a week and just pick and use the aids anytime I want. If I find the batteries are dead, it only takes a minute replace(and the difference in price would buy a 10 year supply of batteries). My rechargeable aids are literally ALWAYS DEAD. If I need to go to town or even just watch TV in the evening, I need to have an hour of charge time :poop: which SUCKS.
I had to go to a behind the ear model because I couldn't get the features I thought I needed with in the ear style. Turned out the feature I wanted most is worthless. I wanted to connect the aids to my phone which seemed like a good idea BUT after spending a lot of $$, I discovered I still can't hear the phone if there's even a low level of background noise (like when driving or operating equipment). Phone connect feature is worthless. Hearing aid tech says it's not safe to have the external sounds muted while on the phone--OK whatever but still SUCKS.
That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!'
OK, I won't argue with what works for you BUT personally, I don't like the rechargeable. Understand that I don't wear my aids full time since much of my time is spent doing things that most folks would wear ear protection anyway. So, with battery aids I can put in new batteries once a week and just pick and use the aids anytime I want. If I find the batteries are dead, it only takes a minute replace(and the difference in price would buy a 10 year supply of batteries). My rechargeable aids are literally ALWAYS DEAD. If I need to go to town or even just watch TV in the evening, I need to have an hour of charge time :poop: which SUCKS.
I had to go to a behind the ear model because I couldn't get the features I thought I needed with in the ear style. Turned out the feature I wanted most is worthless. I wanted to connect the aids to my phone which seemed like a good idea BUT after spending a lot of $$, I discovered I still can't hear the phone if there's even a low level of background noise (like when driving or operating equipment). Phone connect feature is worthless. Hearing aid tech says it's not safe to have the external sounds muted while on the phone--OK whatever but still SUCKS.
My rechargeable Oticon last from 6 AM until 12PM or a little longer. (when Traveling I have the charger in the front of the car along with all the rest of the electronics) I like them because I don't have to "dick" with the batteries. Like I said, the charger will recharge them three times before it needs recharging. The "bugger in the ice cream" is if my wife packs for a weekend and forgets to pack the charger. To eliminate the problem, I pack the charger. BTW it takes about an hour and a half to recharge the charger or the aids.
Huskerguy72
Single-Sixer
I went through this with my father who was nearly deaf. He had Oticons from the VA. They couldn’t make it a full day and into the evening if he had them on all day. A little research told me that the more they have to work, the quicker the drawn down of power.
Mine generally get through a long day with rare occasions they start beeping at me late a night.
Chargeable ones aren’t always the best. Like on a trip you have to haul the charger around and risk leaving it somewhere.
Usually people go from in-ear hearing aids to behind-the-ear hearing aids because their ear/s have deteriorated as opposed to cost.
Cost is a legitimate reason, though. I never had that choice.
Personally, I consulted my ear doctor (MD) as opposed to just audiologists (Aud.D.) that Costco will employ (if not just technicians). I would also check out other places than Costco because Kirkland products that I use are lower in quality than name brands, like Phonak. I have used Phonak and found that they are dependable, reliable, and are sold nationwide.
Some insurance covers hearing aids; some doesn't.
HTH
Costco’s Phillips are great units, and at a lower cost than a few years ago.
OP
Update. Cholo, you are correct, Costco no longer sells Phonak. I didn't know why, but my appointment last Friday gave me a chance to ask. Apparently the rechargable hearing aids that Costco was selling as Kirkland several years ago were actually made by Phonak. Phonak put them on the market with an issue in recharging that they supposedly knew about. Costco wanted Phonak to replace all the defective units and Phonak refused. So, the brand is no longer sold by Costco.
Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I went with Philips behind the ear units. I would have gotten battery powered ones, but they were no longer available - I would have had to get last year's model. Why step back? These supposedly are good for 20 hours. They GIVE you the recharger, plus I got 6 months replacement by any brand they have at no additional cost if I decide I don't like them.
I was able to wear a sample pair for about 20 minutes or so around the store. They proved to be clearer than my current in the ear ones, so I think this is going to work OK. Goody for me, I know, I just wanted to thank again all those who offered advice here.
Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I went with Philips behind the ear units. I would have gotten battery powered ones, but they were no longer available - I would have had to get last year's model. Why step back? These supposedly are good for 20 hours. They GIVE you the recharger, plus I got 6 months replacement by any brand they have at no additional cost if I decide I don't like them.
I was able to wear a sample pair for about 20 minutes or so around the store. They proved to be clearer than my current in the ear ones, so I think this is going to work OK. Goody for me, I know, I just wanted to thank again all those who offered advice here.
Have yet to find a single brand where those "background noise filters" work at all. Some you tiny "martian mics" for directionality, but they cut down on hearing where they aren't pointed.
I'm glad you like them!
OP
Not sure if this is the same thing, but these have a button that will shut off the back mic and raise the volume of the front mic so you can converse in a restaurant or other venue where there is a lot of background noise. The person I was working with showed me how much difference that can make. I'm sure it isn't perfect, but I sure could tell the difference.
We also talked a bit about shooting muffs and the like. She knew what I was talking about and said they should be OK to leave in with the muffs on. I was happy to hear that the behind the ear ones allow the shape of you ears to direct sound towards the ear canal, whereas the in the ear ones kind of block that natural effect. They really are clearer, not necessarily better, but clearer than the in the ear ones.
Yup, pretty much the same except you choose direction electronically instead of bending the Martian mic. The point is, they don't "filter out" background noise. They are still cutting down on what you can hear that you may want to hear, such as someone saying your name from behind to get your attention- or a warning sound to which you may have to react quickly.
JohnL
Buckeye
Considering the rubbish spoken by many these days, I am better off without one.
OP
Well I reawaken a dead thread. I have tried and tried to get these behind the ear units to work. I was getting feedback no matter what was tried. Eventually they ended up turning them down to eliminate the feedback, which makes absolutely no sense to me. Something to do with the curve and length of my ear canal. Wouldn't you know it is my fault, heh, heh. I recently hauled out my old hearing aids and am using them. Much better. plus I don't have to worry about the dern things falling out or conflicting with my glasses (daily).
So, upshot is I am going back to in the ear aids. These will be Philips, and they recently came out with a new version that still uses batteries, which I greatly prefer. $500 more, but I think worth it to relieve the hassle of the behind the ear ones and the feedback issue..
So, upshot is I am going back to in the ear aids. These will be Philips, and they recently came out with a new version that still uses batteries, which I greatly prefer. $500 more, but I think worth it to relieve the hassle of the behind the ear ones and the feedback issue..
My wife has been very happy with her Costco hearing aids after 60ish days.
