Hearing Aids

@ larsman    Sure. HA technology has been improved and the sound of HAs should be better. But still many people think even the best and expensive HAs sound bad in noisy back ground. It’s same to almost HA reviews (Widex, Phonak, etc.) in Ytube. For ex.) Below is few user comments of Widex Allure (current best HA?  $2k~$4k) review.  

Wande55411  9 months ago. Not impressed with these Widex. They don’t adjust in noisy restaurants and crowds.

nram1  I’m glad you mentioned the noisy restaurants and crowds. It has no use in noisy places or even in a minivan.

The electronic sounds can’t be heard well with the natural sound. We shush people in audio show rooms because the audio music can’t be heard well with people talking. We can’t hear even the loud audio sound with leaf blower sound or dog barking (natural sounds) outside.

In current sound technology, the electronic sounds can’t be heard well with the natural sound. Current audio tech sounds still tunnel sound, far away distant mid-range sound, confused, bright, veil, thin sounds, etc. HA’s tiny speakers have same sound characters. Below shows the electronic sound won’t blend well with the natural sound.  Classical - (Natural vs. Un-natural sound)

A solution for HA’s back ground noise problem is HA equips a natural sound speaker like this speaker. Alex/Wavetouch audio

@mihorn - good points, but how easy do people with normal hearing find it to hear conversations in noisy environments? One rating restaurants often receive is the ambient noise inside, and people with all kinds of hearing, good and bad, complain about this. 

No ear plugs,like no Q tips.....if you didn't use headphones for the last 10,20,30,40,50 years your hearing mine not, have gotten so bad. Children today have ear plugs,in at 4 years old....they will be deaf by time their 31.

OP    They (Phonak) were going on 10 years old so maybe it’s time to upgrade those. 

This HA (sale in Audiogon) might be a good upgrade. It’s only $150/pair now.

This HA is a solution to the HA’s background noise problem. Alex/Wavetouch audio

HA105 - Only natural sound Hearing Aid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FWIW, many of the Medicare advantage plans do have a hearing aid benefit. I have such a plan (Devoted Core) that pays for the audiology test and those doctors that are in plan work with an outfit called Truhearing who provide the HA's.

They have a 2 tier deductible that has a $399 co-pay for standard and $699 for premium models. Most of the major brands are available such as Widex, Starkey. Oticon, resound, Phonak and Signia. Don't have all details but am starting my research