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Hearing Aids

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DiskoTroop
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10:49a, 6/2/26
I find myself needing hearing aids at 42. High frequency loss (typical of older age) and poor reception quality in noisy environments is what I'm dealing with. I have good insurance and can afford quality…

If anyone has done some research, would you care to let me benefit from what you learned?

What brands should I be looking at?
What functionality should I be looking for?
In ear vs behind the ear?

Etc etc…

Thank you!
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Hoosegow
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11:40a, 6/2/26
I have hearing aids. I hate them. My advice, don't get them. It is selfish but there are a lot of benfits to not being able to hear that well.
  • They are uncomforable. I find after about 30 minutes I want to rip them out. I find contact lenses to be the same way. I can't get used to them.
  • From what my audiologist said, it takes a while to get used to how shrill everything is. The explanation is that your brain is introduced to a new stimuli and it over process it. Little things like a creak from the chair is grating.
  • There is a ton of upkeep on it - in my opinion. Not really, but it always seems like one gets blocked and I can't hear out of it. You end up with one ear receiving shrill noises and the other ear you can't hear out of. Consequently, for example, people stlll have to speak up which makes the shrill even worse.
  • I have found that I don't like hearing everything. I can't hear a squeak from a fan for example. Not a problem. Most conversations is vapid and I have no desire to be part of.
My advice is to go cheap first and cheap doesn't necessarily mean poor quality. I can't get used to them and I never would of paid what I paid for them because of that. I know sevaral people who have just gone to Costco and are perfectly happy with theirs - at, if I remember correctly, half the cost.

I hope your experience is better than mine.
Class of '94
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Absolute
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6:45p, 6/2/26
AG
You can try the AirPod thing to see how it feels on the sound side. My FiLhas gone that route.

I've played with it a little. In my mid 50s. Like the poster above, can't really say I care for the way it works.
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88Warrior
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8:23p, 6/2/26
I had them for a bit but gave them up…just couldn't get use to the "tinny" sound…I'll live with the 24/7 ringing instead …
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12th Man
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5:48a, 6/3/26
AG
Prolonged exposure to jet engines & industria lnoise hit me hard, so I've used them for about 12 years. I find them very helpful and super convenient. I have a pair of Audo I90, and I recommend them.

The thing about hearing loss is that you recognize it after -sometimes long after- others, and few people have patience for it. Most view it as an infirmity, not a disability. If you lost a leg in the service, people give you grace & show consideration and appreciation for your sacrifice. Ask them to repeat something simple because you didn't hear it clearly l and you can almost touch their exasperation. Get the hearing aids.
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DiskoTroop
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In reply to 12th Man • 10:23a, 6/3/26
12th Man said:
Prolonged exposure to jet engines & industria lnoise hit me hard, so I've used them for about 12 years. I find them very helpful and super convenient. I have a pair of Audo I90, and I recommend them.

The thing about hearing loss is that you recognize it after -sometimes long after- others, and few people have patience for it. Most view it as an infirmity, not a disability. If you lost a leg in the service, people give you grace & show consideration and appreciation for your sacrifice. Ask them to repeat something simple because you didn't hear it clearly l and you can almost touch their exasperation. Get the hearing aids.

Thank you for this. Sounds like you and I have similar issues. I'll look into the Audeo I90. Reviews look good on a quick google and they specifically excel at the issue I seem to have.
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IslandAg76
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10:35a, 6/3/26
AG
Wife tried a few different hearing aids and now using Air Pods for a couple months.
likes these the best.... So far.
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12th Man
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In reply to DiskoTroop • 11:31a, 6/3/26
AG
Site won't permit use of "e" with the accent mark over it, but my hearing aids are "Audeo I90" with a ' over the "e". Just clarifying.
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DiskoTroop
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In reply to 12th Man • 12:24a, 6/4/26
12th Man said:
Site won't permit use of "e" with the accent mark over it, but my hearing aids are "Audeo I90" with a ' over the "e". Just clarifying.


Yes sir. Found it. I have an appointment with Miracle Ear Monday. We'll see what that brings.
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Hoosegow
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10:51a, 6/5/26
Okay I bought some elehear hearing aids a month or so back. Dreaded using them and havent hooked them up yet. I just put them on and downloaded the app and everything like that. I can say I like these a lot better. More comfortable and the sound is vastly superior. There is no shrillness.

Thanks OP for the topic. Got me to try again. We will see.

Miracle ear is what I had before and was very disappointed
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DannyDuberstein
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1:40p, 6/5/26
AG
Having helped my dad thru this, I would just say that having a really good audiologist is key. Someone that can help get you into the right pair and then fine-tune them as you use them vs telling you what you'll get used to.

One thing I would say is that I do think hearing is important to keeping your brain health up as you get older. Studies have linked it hearing loss to increased risk of dementia, and it does seem to be a scenario of causation vs correlation because treating the hearing loss has been proven to slow cognitive loss

https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/diagnosis/brain-risks-of-hearing-loss-may-start-early/
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TRD-Ferguson
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8:54p, 6/5/26
AG
I've had hearing aids for about six years. Love mine. Widex Allure is the brand. I had Widex Evoke originally. The Allure is a game changer allowing a more natural sound. Not the amplifier sound most hearing aids deliver where every sound around you is amplified at the same intensity.

I have an app where I can further adjust them for the environment I'm in at the moment. The "universal" sound works perfectly 95% of the time.

I don't notice mine at all.
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MAROON
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7:44p, 6/9/26
AG
I've had hearing aids for about five years. Literally changed my life and probably kept my wife from killing me. I couldn't imaging walking around not being able to hear any longer.

Find a good audiologist. I have Phonak Virgo infinio Titanium that are in my ear canal. But honestly the ones that hang behind your ears work just as well, if not even better and have a ton of functionality.
What do you boys want for breakfast BBQ ?.....OK Chili.
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Retired Principal
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9:08p, 6/9/26
AG
Great thread. I'm 62 and need them. If someone is trying to have a conversation with me and there's background noise, forget it - I'm checked out.
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DiskoTroop
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11:58p, 6/9/26
So yesterday I went to miracle eat and did another assessment. Same results only this time we were in network!

They sent me home with a "solution 5" set to trial for the week. It's been interesting. Quite honestly I don't notice a huge difference which makes me think what they told me at ME is true, that their devices are meant to give a seamless experience. While I'm clearly experiencing better hearing based on my wife's feedback, I don't even seem to notice the fact.

I'm not sure that that makes much sense but I guess it is what it is!

Also found out my insurance company has contract pricing for their solution 3, which are significantly simpler. Anything beyond 3, I pay for the difference 100% out of pocket. At ~$7k for the solution 5, I'm not sure I'll end up with ME.

So far I've been recommended the following:

Phonak audeo I90 - front runner for me
Widex Allure
Resound

I haven't gotten to try any of these yet.
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