Hearing Aids

[royjohn]

It was interesting reading my nine year old posts in this thread...I currently am on my third or fourth set of Phonaks...I progressed to the point where I divorced my audiologist over some tasteless comments he made and started to buy my hearing aides off Ebay, used. I have a science background and studied up and took the appropriate used aides to the Hearing Clinic at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to be programmed. This has worked out well and I've gotten several used sets, which are like last year's cars, for $300-$600 per pair. I've now progressed to the point where I've bought the programming software and am about ready to re-program my aides myself. I'm not the greatest at computer stuff, but there is an entire group of people on the hearing forums who self-program who will help, so I'm excited to finally get my aides exactly how I want them without having to spend $150 and up for each adjustment.

I have had the audiologists at the University look at me funny and treat me like a homeless person right after they offered to get me a new set of aides for $4000 and I declined, but I think self-programming is the wave of the future. It makes no sense for the audiologist to guess at how to program for you and then ask you, "how does that sound." If I could tell you that, you'd be living in my head, right? It's presently all about the bucks and the markup, even at the non-profit University Clinic.

I don't propose that everyone do what I'm doing, but for those with the energy, commitment and scientific knowledge, you can save a lot of money and get better service. For others, Costco is a good option at about 50-60% of what the private audiologists charge. There isn't any reason to worry about whether you will like the aides or not, since they are returnable within 30 days if you don't like them...
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royjohn
Trumpets: 1928 Holton Llewellyn Model, 1957 Holton 51LB, 2010 Custom C by Bill Jones, 2011 Custom D/Eb by Bill Jones
Flugels: 1975 Olds Superstar, 1970's Elkhardt, 1970's Getzen 4 valve
Cornet: 1970's Yamaha YCR-233S . . . and others . . .

[jhatpro]

Thanks for checking in. Expecting my new HA's today. As for why I'm typing this at 5:30 in the morning, that's what OG's do, too!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[Seymor B Fudd]

[royjohn]

Hello Seymour,
Yes, that bit about hearing protection is something we seem to have left out of the original thread...my audiologist hit the ceiling when he found out I was mowing the lawn with a gas mower with the HAs in. Since then I take them out and usually wear hearing protection. Even noises around 80 dB can, over time, cause hearing loss, even though there is no pain felt at the time. So, yes, use hearing protection while playing in loud environments. Perhaps in church, with just a quiet organ you will not need it, but in any loud playing environment, you will. Even in the symphony orchestra the violinists will suffer hearing loss because the violin is so loud in a certain high frequency band.

So bottom line is protect your hearing. I guess Universities should cover this in the music program, and require it, but IDK if they do.
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royjohn
Trumpets: 1928 Holton Llewellyn Model, 1957 Holton 51LB, 2010 Custom C by Bill Jones, 2011 Custom D/Eb by Bill Jones
Flugels: 1975 Olds Superstar, 1970's Elkhardt, 1970's Getzen 4 valve
Cornet: 1970's Yamaha YCR-233S . . . and others . . .

[jhatpro]

I'm expecting my new Widex Moment 440's any, uh, moment. They were recommended by thr otolaryngologist (yikes - just try to say that!) and audiologist I saw last week.

I've never considered buying hearing aids online so this will be interesting. The company I bought them from - reformhearing.com - offers four months of "telecare" during which I can have them adjusted. If necessary, I can take them to any audiologist for in person assistance (at extra cost).

So we'll see (and, hopefully hear). My total spent on hearing aids since 2012 is now $12,000. Gee, that would have bought a Monette!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[jhatpro]

Just put in my new Widex Moment 440 hearing aids and wow! -I can hear my wife whispering and my horn sounds like me again!

Got them online from reformhearing.com for $3K for the pair. The price includes four months of “telecare” if you need it, or you can go to any Widex provider if you want in-person adjustments.

Here’s what appeared about them recently in Bass Magazine. https://bassmagazine.com/gear/widex-releases-new-ai-powered-hearing-aid-for-musicians
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[royjohn]

Hi Jim,
Glad you are happy with your new set of aides...let me also plug the Kirklands from Costco, which come with a 30 day tryout period and good service from most Costcos. I think they are made by Siemens...
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royjohn
Trumpets: 1928 Holton Llewellyn Model, 1957 Holton 51LB, 2010 Custom C by Bill Jones, 2011 Custom D/Eb by Bill Jones
Flugels: 1975 Olds Superstar, 1970's Elkhardt, 1970's Getzen 4 valve
Cornet: 1970's Yamaha YCR-233S . . . and others . . .

[jhatpro]

Yeah, I’ve heard good things about Kirkland/Costco. The thing that I like my new a Widex is the sound is so real because there is only a .05 millisecond signal delay.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[cheiden]

[CalicchioMan]

Great thread. I need them and insurance doesn't cover them...Amazing right?

If you can provide me with further info. I'd truly appreciate it!

Scott
scottwiltfang@gmail.com
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Yamaha 8310ZII
Yamaha 631G Flugelhorn
Mendini Superbone
Pickett Mouthpieces

[jhatpro]

First, Cheiden is correct. The signal delay is 0.5ms, still a lot less than many models.

I'd highly recommend the ones I just got and mentioned in a post earlier in this thread. The Bass Magazine piece is right on from what I've experienced.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[OldHorn]

Another vote for Costco. I got the Kirkland's a month ago. They're made by Phonex (sp?) $1,500. I can't believe I waited so long to get them. I was missing out on so much. These came with a 180 day return window, and if they get damaged or lost, Costco will give me a new pair.

[royjohn]

Hi OldHorn,
That would be Phonak...I've been using Phonaks for about ten years now and I'm very happy with them. Thanks for the info about the Costco warranty. I knew they had one, but didn't know it was that long.
_________________
royjohn
Trumpets: 1928 Holton Llewellyn Model, 1957 Holton 51LB, 2010 Custom C by Bill Jones, 2011 Custom D/Eb by Bill Jones
Flugels: 1975 Olds Superstar, 1970's Elkhardt, 1970's Getzen 4 valve
Cornet: 1970's Yamaha YCR-233S . . . and others . . .

[OldHorn]

[HERMOKIWI]

My understanding is that Costco's Kirkland hearing aids are the Phonak 9 model. Costco charges about $1,500 for a pair. That's about half the cost of buying Phonak 9's from an audiologist's office. The service at Costco is great. You don't compromise service by buying at Costco.

I've had Costco Kirkland hearing aids for a couple of years. They can program multiple channels to suit various situations. One of my channels is programmed specifically for when I play trumpet. It works very well. The only problem I've had is with the volume level. The program pre-sets the volume level but you may have to adjust it manually (the volume level is manually adjustable) depending on the situation. No single volume level has been entirely satisfactory for every situation.
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HERMOKIWI

[jhatpro]

I really like my Widex Moment 440’s. They can adjusted online. So slick. But the best part is my trumpet sounds like me again.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[Seymor B Fudd]

[jhatpro]

They could be right. That worries me too. So what's the solution? How do we get real sound? Without my hearing aids I don't recognize myself, can't hear certain notes, and intonation - forget about it.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[cheiden]

I wouldn't expect everyone to get the same advice from an audiologist. If someone had a significant loss across the spectrum and needed all those frequencies significantly boosted then playing with aids in might risk additional injury. For someone like me who hears moderately well but has a big notch around 2KHz making it hard to discriminate speech, I might benefit from a modest boost in that relatively narrow band. Perhaps it wouldn't be as problematic to play with them in. This is all pure speculation on my part.

FWIW I was intrigued by the Widex demo and it showing how a typical aid's delay can sound tinny and robotic, and how the much shorter delay improves the experience. Pretty compelling. Has anybody else been put off by this effect with other brands?

I also was also intrigued by the Lukather endorsement.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[Seymor B Fudd]