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Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
I have some questions about my husband. We have known for a few years that he has mild hearing loss. He has functioned okay without hearing aids but I am losing my patience with some aspects of the hearing loss. He wanted to go to Audiology Communication Services in Commack because it is close to home. I was knew that the place is a mill but I decided that if he is willing to finally go, I have to keep my mouth shut. But then we went and I guess they did not realize that i have no hearing loss because they were sweet as pie to my face but I literally overhead them laughing about the issues I told them I am having with my husband not hearing me. Sorry if anyone from here works there but they were a bunch of jerks in the office and we will not be going back. At any raite, they are light on their offerings for people with mild hearing loss. Their selection is limited. I do not know where to turn. I am wondering if a hospital might be a better place. I just found Huntington Hearing and Speech Center online and it has an A+ BBB rating. Is it going to be the same type of place as Audiology Communcation Services or should we try it? This is going to be a tremendous expense and I expect good service.
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Posted 7/9/11 4:14 PM  |
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marymob
Member since 5/11 1368 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Hon, that was inexcusable behavior on their part!!!! I don't have much advice. I think I would make an appt. first with an otolaryngologist/ear, nose, throat Dr.  Mary
Here are some other articles you might find helpful.
Improving Mild Hearing loss
Hearing Loss Asssociation
About.com; Mild hearing loss
Message edited 7/9/2011 4:51:10 PM.
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| Posted 7/9/11 4:50 PM |
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Thanks, Mary. I am really hurt about having overheard their remarks. I guess that they figured that I was complaining a bit too much considering that my husband's hearing loss is not severe. I know that it could be much worse but it still has an impact on our lives. I'm actually not sure why they thought my complaints were funny. In spite of their remarks, they sure were willing to sell my husand a set $6,000 hearing aids plus additional fees for some of the accessories to go with it. I noticed that the place we went to has no Better Business Bureau reports but many other local hearing aid places do and 2 of them have A+ ratings. We may as well try one of those places. For once I tried not to overdo it on researching something that we need but now I regret that decision and I will do my research. Thanks for the links!
PS......He sees an ENT on a regular basis and they said to see an audiologist b/c his ENT does not sell the hearing aids. I may have him call the ENT for a recommendation to someone specific.
Message edited 7/9/2011 9:22:20 PM.
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| Posted 7/9/11 9:19 PM |
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marymob
Member since 5/11 1368 total posts
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Posted by Kerie-is-so-very
Thanks, Mary. I am really hurt about having overheard their remarks. I guess that they figured that I was complaining a bit too much considering that my husband's hearing loss is not severe. I know that it could be much worse but it still has an impact on our lives. I'm actually not sure why they thought my complaints were funny. In spite of their remarks, they sure were willing to sell my husand a set $6,000 hearing aids plus additional fees for some of the accessories to go with it. I noticed that the place we went to has no Better Business Bureau reports but many other local hearing aid places do and 2 of them have A+ ratings. We may as well try one of those places. For once I tried not to overdo it on researching something that we need but now I regret that decision and I will do my research. Thanks for the links!
PS......He sees an ENT on a regular basis and they said to see an audiologist b/c his ENT does not sell the hearing aids. I may have him call the ENT for a recommendation to someone specific.
 I'm sorry you were hurt, hon!!!! You didn't deserve that!!!!! Please let me know how you guys make out. I have had ear issues since childhood, along with difficulty hearing when my eustachian tubes are clogged, due to allergies. So, I am very empathetic to those with any hearing problems. And, I know it must be frustraing for their loved ones. Prayers that you will find the right help!!!! Mary
Message edited 7/9/2011 10:06:24 PM.
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| Posted 7/9/11 10:05 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Kerry, mom just went to Costco in Commack and was very happy. They are also very reasonably priced.
She has mild loss in one ear and severe in the other. I hope this is not the same place.
Absolutely inexcuseable.
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| Posted 7/11/11 10:55 AM |
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Posted by Blu-ize
Kerry, mom just went to Costco in Commack and was very happy. They are also very reasonably priced.
She has mild loss in one ear and severe in the other. I hope this is not the same place.
Absolutely inexcuseable.
Thanks. I hadn't thought of Costco at all because we aren't Costco regulars so I never know what they have. We do have a membership card but we never go. We should probably try it. I will talk to DH. I think that the place we went to is affiliated with one of the manufacturers. They only carry one brand. That was part of the problem. The other problem was the attitude . It makes me want to give up on the whole hearing aid thing, as if I have a lot of nerve for wanting my husband to actually hear me when I speak. Sometimes he tries to fill in the blanks and it only comes out days later that he misinterpreted something I said. By then it could have caused all sorts of weird issues because we never got on the same page.
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| Posted 7/11/11 1:05 PM |
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4ForMe
:)
Member since 11/05 5666 total posts
Name:
Barbara
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
2 of my children wear hearing aids and we have been using Huntington Hearing & Speech for years. I'm sending you FM.
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| Posted 7/12/11 12:29 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Posted by Kerie-is-so-very
Posted by Blu-ize
Kerry, mom just went to Costco in Commack and was very happy. They are also very reasonably priced.
She has mild loss in one ear and severe in the other. I hope this is not the same place.
Absolutely inexcuseable.
Thanks. I hadn't thought of Costco at all because we aren't Costco regulars so I never know what they have. We do have a membership card but we never go. We should probably try it. I will talk to DH. I think that the place we went to is affiliated with one of the manufacturers. They only carry one brand. That was part of the problem. The other problem was the attitude . It makes me want to give up on the whole hearing aid thing, as if I have a lot of nerve for wanting my husband to actually hear me when I speak. Sometimes he tries to fill in the blanks and it only comes out days later that he misinterpreted something I said. By then it could have caused all sorts of weird issues because we never got on the same page.
Hearing loss is very difficult to deal with. My mom wasn't hearing well at all. She had two aids and lost one. They originally got them at Sears. I think their brand was Hearx. She hated them to begin with but likes her new one that replaced the one she lost. Hearing aids are not covered by insurance and they can be very costly. Her original ones were $3K. The new one didn't come close to that at Costco and mom liked the people helping her. They even fixed the other hearing aid she already had for nothing.
Now she tells my father to lower the TV!
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| Posted 7/12/11 3:30 PM |
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AllyCat
Twin Mommy!
Member since 8/09 1346 total posts
Name:
Allyson
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Some insurances do cover or offer discounts on hearing aids, so I'd check with them too! I'm a NYC teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and I know our insurance at least covers some of the cost...
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| Posted 7/14/11 6:58 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Posted by AllyCat
Some insurances do cover or offer discounts on hearing aids, so I'd check with them too! I'm a NYC teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and I know our insurance at least covers some of the cost...
Most states have mandated hearing aid coverage for children who have hearing loss due to another medical condition or birth defect. For adults it's much harder to get coverage and discounts. There are no government mandates for private insurance. Some government plans do offer some coverage but honestly the price of hearing aids is huge and the discounts are small.
For instance, Medicare does not cover hearing aids and only the elite supplement plans cover it partially. Most supplement plans don't cover them at all.
Isn't that a kick in the butt? The largest majority of people needing them probably can't afford them.
Kerri-good luck getting Scott what he needs.
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| Posted 7/15/11 8:46 AM |
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4ForMe
:)
Member since 11/05 5666 total posts
Name:
Barbara
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Posted by Blu-ize
Posted by AllyCat
Some insurances do cover or offer discounts on hearing aids, so I'd check with them too! I'm a NYC teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and I know our insurance at least covers some of the cost...
Most states have mandated hearing aid coverage for children who have hearing loss due to another medical condition or birth defect. For adults it's much harder to get coverage and discounts. There are no government mandates for private insurance. Some government plans do offer some coverage but honestly the price of hearing aids is huge and the discounts are small.
For instance, Medicare does not cover hearing aids and only the elite supplement plans cover it partially. Most supplement plans don't cover them at all.
Isn't that a kick in the butt? The largest majority of people needing them probably can't afford them.
Kerri-good luck getting Scott what he needs.
2 of my children wear hearing aids and we had to purchase new ones last year. I think our insurance covered about $900 out of $6,000 per set -- if even that much (I have to ask DH).
For their first hearing aids, my daughter was diagnosed at age 4 so we had to purchase her a set. My son was diagnosed at age 2, so we got them for free through early intervention.
The whole thing is ridiculous to me. It is a medical necessity for my children, not a luxury. Without them they would not develop socially, academically, etc. The fact that they are barely covered by insurance companies is a complete disgrace -- for adults and children.
Message edited 7/15/2011 3:22:51 PM.
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| Posted 7/15/11 3:13 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Is anyone here an audiologist or an adult with a hearing aid who can give me some advice
Posted by 4ForMe
Posted by Blu-ize
Posted by AllyCat
Some insurances do cover or offer discounts on hearing aids, so I'd check with them too! I'm a NYC teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and I know our insurance at least covers some of the cost...
Most states have mandated hearing aid coverage for children who have hearing loss due to another medical condition or birth defect. For adults it's much harder to get coverage and discounts. There are no government mandates for private insurance. Some government plans do offer some coverage but honestly the price of hearing aids is huge and the discounts are small.
For instance, Medicare does not cover hearing aids and only the elite supplement plans cover it partially. Most supplement plans don't cover them at all.
Isn't that a kick in the butt? The largest majority of people needing them probably can't afford them.
Kerri-good luck getting Scott what he needs.
2 of my children wear hearing aids and we had to purchase new ones last year. I think our insurance covered about $900 out of $6,000 per set -- if even that much (I have to ask DH).
For their first hearing aids, my daughter was diagnosed at age 4 so we had to purchase her a set. My son was diagnosed at age 2, so we got them for free through early intervention.
The whole thing is ridiculous to me. It is a medical necessity for my children, not a luxury. Without them they would not develop socially, academically, etc. The fact that they are barely covered by insurance companies is a complete disgrace -- for adults and children.
Totally agree.
Mom's hearing aids were $3K. She lost one. Had to replace for $900. No coverage with medicare or the supplement plan.
My friend just had to get hearing aids for both ears. $7K. Insurance didn't cover anything except the hearing evaluation.
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| Posted 7/15/11 4:40 PM |
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