# Hearing Aid **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 4, 2014, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457 "2014-09-04T08:29:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/1 "2014-09-04T08:29:57Z")
I think I misspelled a three letter word. I’ve been deaf as an anvil in my left ear for more years than than I can remember. I had an extensive hearing test yesterday and the results showed that my left ear was all but dead. I was allowed to wear a demo hearing aid and liked it so well that I bought one just like it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/2 "2014-09-04T11:02:02Z")
They had “demos”? I’ve often thought a loaner would be nice when mine is “in the shop”. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/3 "2014-09-04T11:27:50Z")
When I bought my hearing aid, they gave me a month “trial” (they didn’t call it “demo.”) It was adjusted for me, fitted, etc. and I had a month to decide if I liked it. (For me, my right ear is border-line and I found improvement with the left ear, so I only bought one.) I think it’s pretty standard that they let you test it out before shelling out a zillion dollars. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/4 "2014-09-04T19:40:03Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > When I bought my hearing aid, they gave me a month “trial” (they didn’t call it “demo.”) It was adjusted for me, fitted, etc. and I had a month to decide if I liked it. (For me, my right ear is border-line and I found improvement with the left ear, so I only bought one.) I think it’s pretty standard that they let you test it out before shelling out a zillion dollars. This was my first run through with hearing aids----I thought the demo thing was standard. You’re right about the cost. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/5 "2014-09-04T19:46:43Z")
WHAT?! ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/6 "2014-09-04T21:04:09Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > WHAT?! **He SAID HE WAS LOST!** ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/7 "2014-09-04T23:00:07Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > **He SAID HE WAS LOST!** **HOW MUCH DOES qIT COST??** ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/8 "2014-09-04T23:28:36Z")
**It’s ten after two!** ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/9 "2014-09-05T08:32:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > **HOW MUCH DOES qIT COST??** A zillion dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/10 "2014-09-05T10:26:21Z")
**brazilian what?** ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/11 "2014-09-05T10:30:26Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I think I misspelled a three letter word. > > I’ve been deaf as an anvil in my left ear for more years than than I can remember. I had an extensive hearing test yesterday and the results showed that my left ear was all but dead. I was allowed to wear a demo hearing aid and liked it so well that I bought one just like it. LouisB. Pics or links to your new hearing aid? ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/12 "2014-09-05T10:44:51Z")
I’ve had mine for about a year. It was freaky the things I’d not heard: turn signal also clicks, floor squeaks, my wife talks. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/13 "2014-09-05T10:54:49Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > I’ve had mine for about a year. It was freaky the things I’d not heard: turn signal also clicks, floor squeaks, my wife talks. Pics or links to your new hearing aid? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/14 "2014-09-05T11:46:44Z")
Serious inquiry as to cost, if you don’t mind sharing. I think hubby is a candidate for such a thing, someday very soon, and am curious what the cost might run to. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/15 "2014-09-05T11:53:27Z")
[My hearing aid is the blue one on the right.](http://www.happyhealth.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/in-the-canal-hearing-aids.jpg) Entirely in the canal style, cost was around three thousand. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/16 "2014-09-05T11:54:35Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Serious inquiry as to cost, if you don’t mind sharing. I think hubby is a candidate for such a thing, someday very soon, and am curious what the cost might run to. Agreed elbows. We need pics and links, yes? ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/17 "2014-09-05T12:26:54Z")
> **[Hearing Aids and Solutions | Phonak](https://www.phonak.com/en-int)** > > Phonak is committed to improving the lives of the hearing loss community. Our hearing products and community resources emphasize total wellness through social, emotional, and physical well-being. We believe that hearing well is being well and is... In this line they vary from $3-6K depending on features in the software. Most people don’t notice I am wearing them. My wife knew I was picking them up and asked 24 hours later why I wasn’t wearing them. With this design (and Phonak isn’t the only one with these), most of the unit sits behind the ear and only a small part is actually in the ear. I very quickly got to the point where I forgot they were in. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/18 "2014-09-05T12:33:27Z")
The “software” includes options: 1. Meeting mode (adjusts to the loudest sound, presumably the speaker in a meeting) 2. Restaurant mode (adjusts to the direction you are facing, reducing noice from the side and back) 3. Wind reduction (I don’t have this and being out in the wind can create a lot of extra noise with the hearing aide) I had them program a custom “hockey” mode that essentially turns them off when I’m at an event with loud noises (I could just take them out but …) Mine also has a white noise setting. When I’m home alone and reading, it helps with the ringing in my ears. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/19 "2014-09-05T13:57:44Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > I’ve had mine for about a year. It was freaky the things I’d not heard: turn signal also clicks, floor squeaks, my wife talks. Two out of three’s not bad! ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457/20 "2014-09-05T21:23:49Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Serious inquiry as to cost, if you don’t mind sharing. I think hubby is a candidate for such a thing, someday very soon, and am curious what the cost might run to. My health insurance pays a big part of the cost so my out of pocket might well differ from your final price. My final cost was just above $1250.00. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-aid/697457.md?page=2)