Amazing solution for Tom for a year’s long issue…

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Rechargeable batteries are required for these hearing aids, which can be easily recharged in the provided case. They come with a USB plug that easily plugs into the provided adapter, which plugs into any US outlet. For travel, one can use their usual device adapters. Also, the grey case is for charging while traveling. Two instruction booklets are included.

No words can express how excited we were after Tom picked up his hearing aids from Costco and found them working so well. He decided to go with the Philips brand and was thrilled. When he returned from Costco, I couldn’t tell he was wearing them—they are entirely invisible!

They couldn’t be better with the app on his phone to adjust them and the ability to hear incoming and outgoing phone calls. This makes a world of difference to him. But the benefits for me are indescribable. Finally, we can have a conversation without him saying, “What? What? What?”

Often, I’d be in another room and tell or ask him something, and invariably, he’d say, “I can’t hear you!”

You’d think I would have learned and stopped trying to talk to him from another room, but over the years, as his hearing worsened, I didn’t learn. It was frustrating for both of us. General chit-chat was severely impacted when I finally kept my thoughts to myself. Not that he prefers to hear every thought that pops into my mind! I will be considerate and not over-talk.

Many people, especially seniors, have hearing loss for various reasons. Tom’s case was hereditary, with many family members wearing hearing aids at young ages. Still, it was mainly due to working for 42½ years on the railroad with constant blaring noises, including the whistle on the locomotive, the steady sound of the diesel motor, and retarders used to slow down the train cars, often earsplitting. Nothing was soundproofed.

When Tom worked on the railroad, ear protection wasn’t required until the late 90s. By then, the damage had been done. Here are some facts about hearing aids.

The hearing aid package is in a sturdy box that he will save for future reference.

Hearing aids are essential devices for individuals with hearing impairments. Here are some key statistics and information about hearing aids:

  1. Prevalence of Hearing Loss:
    • Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing.
    • About 2-3 out of every 1,000 children in the U.S. are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears.
  2. Hearing Aid Usage:
    • Around 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.
    • Despite this, only about 30% of adults aged 70 and older who could benefit from hearing aids have ever used them.
    • Among adults aged 20 to 69, the percentage drops to about 16%.
  3. Technology and Types:
    • Hearing aids come in various types, including Behind-the-Ear (BTE), In-the-Ear (ITE), and In-the-Canal (ITC) models.
    • Modern hearing aids use digital technology to process sound, which allows for more precise amplification and noise reduction.
  4. Market and Costs:
    • The global hearing aids market size was valued at USD 9.5 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
    • Hearing aids can be expensive, ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 per device. However, the introduction of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids is expected to make them more affordable and accessible.
  5. User Satisfaction:
    • User satisfaction with hearing aids is generally high, and many users report improved communication and quality of life.
    • Factors contributing to satisfaction include the degree of hearing loss, the quality of the hearing aid fitting, and ongoing support from audiologists.
  6. Barriers to Adopting the Use of Hearing Aids:
    • Common barriers to hearing aid adoption include the high cost, social stigma, and a lack of awareness about the benefits and advancements in hearing aid technology.

These statistics highlight the importance of hearing aids for those with hearing impairments and the need for increased accessibility and awareness.

As for the process Tom went through to be fitted for hearing aids at Costco, which may differ from other facilities:

  1.  Make an appointment online or over the phone at your local Costco store.
  2.  During the month before the appointment, have your ears checked for wax build-up at Costco’s hearing aid department. No appointment is necessary.
  3. Return to the store for your scheduled appointment for a hearing test, fitting, and selection of brand and style. As shown above, Tom selected the Philips brand for $100 less than the other. However, he didn’t choose it for the lower cost; instead, he chose it for its ability to be hidden in and behind the ear. At this point, you’ll pay for the hearing aids in full, which will be approximately $1600. We used Costco shop cards and coupons for this price, saving about $200.
  4. Return after a new appointment is made for the final fitting, instructions, and app instructions. Bring your phone so the app can be installed and activated on your smartphone.
  5. Return a few weeks later for a final check to ensure everything works well.

All of the above appointments are included in the total cost. Tom was delighted with the service and the process, and now, much to his delight, he can listen to his podcasts and the streamed shows without using a portable Bluetooth speaker. Plus, conversations with family members and friends will be easy to hear going forward.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 6, 2014:

Mardi Gras costumes from centuries ago on a visit to Musee de Quai Branly, in Paris, built in 2006, an architecturally exciting museum with a wealth of treasures from around the world. For more photos, please click here.

Tom’s recent change…He’s a new man…Dinner with cruise friends from 2022…

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Nancy and Bill, whom we met on our last cruise in 2022 and happen to live in The Villages. It was fun to see them again.

After spending 42½ working on the railroad and constantly exposed to loud sounds, Tom’s hearing was impacted to such a degree that over the past decade, it’s diminished to the point of my having to talk very loud for him to hear me. He often misses out on group conversation, although he’s very good at reading lips.

Some of our friends and family members have noticed this and encouraged him to get hearing aids. Still, he adamantly opposed paying $3000 to $6000 for the devices, often easily visible and clunky looking. Over the years, we’ve done a lot of research on hearing aids and discovered that the high prices were totally unnecessary, and hearing aid companies have been getting rich, charging such high fees.

Tom decided to wait and see if technology would eventually result in reasonably priced hearing aids, inspiring him to try it finally. That happened in the past few weeks when we discovered a company, MD Hearing, that possibly could fill the bill.

This was my steak salad. The meat was tough but had a good flavor.

He ordered the hearing aids and began wearing them a few days ago. There was a day or so adjustment period for him to get comfortable with the tiny devices in each ear and adjust the sound to suit the differences in each ear. So far, so good.

Last night for the first time since he started wearing the devices, we were with another couple, Nancy and Bill, whom we met on our last cruise in 2022. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, we had dinner with them the night before we both tested positive for Omicron in April, with only two days left on the cruise. We were very concerned that Nancy and Bill got Covid from dining with us on that last evening.

Nancy only ate a quarter of her pizza and took the remainder home in a styrofoam container.

When they so kindly invited us to happy hour at their home late yesterday afternoon, the first question we asked was if they got Covid from us that night. They did not. We were so relieved to know this.

It was delightful spending time with Nancy and Bill last evening. Nancy had put out a lovely spread of snacks which we thoroughly enjoyed. As a reader of our posts, Nancy was aware of my way of eating and had some items that worked for me, nuts and cheese. That was so thoughtful.

This was Bill’s wiener schnitzel with red cabbage and spaetzel.. They had lived in Germany at one time, and this was a pleasant reminder for him.

After a lively conversation at their beautiful home in The Villages, a 20-minute golf cart ride from here, the four of us headed to their local golf club, Mallory Hill Country Club Restaurant, for a delicious, affordable dinner. My one glass of wine was only $4.50, and Tom’s beer was $3.50, a steal for drinks in the US. Our total dinner bill was $44.54. I had a steak salad, and Tom had a Reuben sandwich with fries.

But, besides the delightful time we spent with Nancy and Bill, the special treat of the evening was seeing Tom able to hear the conversation among the four of us, the waiter, and voice directions from Maps on his phone when we made our way to their home.

When looking straight at Tom, you don’t see the hearing aids.
They are neatly placed in the ear and barely noticeable.

It’s a new day when I don’t have to constantly have to speak loud, listen to loud streamed shows, and frequently have to repeat myself. It opens up a new avenue to easier conversation between us and when we are with others. It will take him a week or two to get used to the feel of the tiny buds in his ears, but I have no doubt he will accomplish this in no time.

That’s all for today. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Photo from ten years ago today, June 14, 2013:

There’s Tom, happy as a clam as we made our way in a lifeboat to the shore of Dubrovnik, Croatia. For more photos, please click here.