Hearing tests/aid

[wanderingstray]

I'm arriving CM in a month or so and have a question.

I recently had a hearing test resulting in me needing aids in both ears. The cost will be $3,200 Cdn or about $120/month Cdn on a 3 year lease.

Do any of the forum members know how much they would cost in CM. Some kind of price range would help. I am looking at custom made ones with very small inserts that have a tiny tube attached to a behind the ear device. The audio tech said that I had difficulty hearing high pitched sounds.When asked specifically if that included the wife's voice the answer was in the positive. (So now when she talks at me she cannot say that I'm not listening)

[FolkGuitar]

There is an audiologist in Panthip Plaza that can administer hearing tests, sells a wide range of hearing aids, and can adjust them to your hearing specs. The prices will be a little bit cheaper here, but not much, and the full price must be paid in full. No monthly leasing. This is a reputable shop selling a variety of name brand devices, and run by a competent audiologist.

However...

All hearing aids are different. The devices that you mention have certain 'features.' Depending on the make, model, and price, these features will vary from device to device and affect the prices. It's important to know just what you are paying for. For example:

Is there individual volume control for each ear?

Is there even a volume control?

Can you establish different 'programs' for different sound scenarios (sitting in a crowded restaurant trying to talk with the person across from you while blocking out the people sitting at the tables around you vs listening to a music concert?)

How many different programs can you create?

Do the devices come with a remote control or are the switches on the device itself.

As your hearing changes (and it does over time,) will you be able to make frequency adjustments yourself at home or will you have to pay an audiologist to make them for you as you try to explain what you are hearing.(rather like explaining color to a blind man at times...)

Can you get 'generic' hearing aids or do you have to pay the extra 25%-40% for a brand name model?

Most major brands use the same interior components. This is the same today as with TV's, DVD players, stereos... most electronic devices. One or two manufacturers make the inside parts and sell them to the Big Brand Name companies who assemble the parts into a finished unit and tack on a whole lot of money to have their name on the device. It's possible these days to get the exact same finished hearing aids but WITHOUT the brand names and pay $1,000 less.

The audiologist don't like these companies... but as a long-time hearing-aid user, I do. Over the years I've saved thousands of dollars on hearing aids. I'm able to get the best devices for my hearing loss, with all the different features that I find useful for me and my lifestyle, keep them perfectly adjusted for my hearing needs without having to go back to the shop to have them corrected, and pay $1,000 less for each one. You might want to look into this option. There are several different companies offering generic hearing aids on-line these days . My personal favorite is https://www.hearsource.com/ I've been a satisfied customer of theirs for about 15 years... Same units all these years... broke a volume control know once.... otherwise, no problems.

[northernjohn]

I would go with the audio company in Pantip plaza if I were you. I got my latest up to the minute hearing aids in Canada. Thy are Phonak. I find that there is no service for that brand here in Chiang Mai. These I got a month ago and replaced the earlier model which could do all the things F G talks about. They had discontinued that function as they found it was not needed with the new technology. The one big draw back to it is you can not adjust the audio individually. Also to make adjustments other than volume you need a technician.

I misjudged when I had them set. I was so used to hearing with one ear that I did not set the other one loud enough. Now I will probably have it taken care of when I go to Bangkok. Even with that one disadvantage they are far and away superior to the last model that could do every thing except pick up certain tones. Also I found that over all using the phone setting was best in most situations for that model. I can raise or lower the volume now but it is both ears. I want the volume in one ear raised and the other ear lowered.

I might mention that when I suggested waiting another year to give the technology time to improve I was told it wasn't going to happen in one year this was brand new technology. In five years when I regularly check it out it will be even better.

Best of luck.

[FolkGuitar]

I would go with the audio company in Pantip plaza if I were you. I got my latest up to the minute hearing aids in Canada. Thy are Phonak. I find that there is no service for that brand here in Chiang Mai. These I got a month ago and replaced the earlier model which could do all the things F G talks about. They had discontinued that function as they found it was not needed with the new technology. The one big draw back to it is you can not adjust the audio individually. Also to make adjustments other than volume you need a technician.

NorthernJohn, you've raised my curiosity.....

Can you tell me how the new technology is able to selectively exclude sounds coming from other directions? By this I mean, if I'm in a noisy restaurant, how do the new devices exclude the sounds from the tables that are to the left and right of me, and only allow the sound from in front of me to come in? My hearing aids have two different mics, so I can switch from 'directional' (front only,) or omni (all around me.) But I have to push a button to change this feature. How do the new ones do it on their own?

In the same vein, how do the new devices optimize the (for lack of a better term) 'graphic equalizer' settings for listening to orchestral music to speech at a party or dealing with kitchen chores? Those are very, very different sound qualities. I find that when set for wide-spectrum sounds needed for music, the high frequency 'clank' of ice cubes in a glass is waaay too shrill, and the sounds of spoons and forks hitting plates would drive me up the wall. How do the new devices control this without having different programs, or have they just 'settled' for a 'one setting fits all, but not as well' point, and you just have to get used to it?

I have to admit that my all-time favorite feature is the volume control... With the noise of the latest wave of tourists to hit Chiang Mai, trying to find a quiet restaurant is no longer a chore... I just tune them out! LOL!

[wanderingstray]

Thank you I will follow up on suggestions when I arrive

[uptheos]

The place in Panthip Plaza, either doesn't know or doesn't want to know, if they are not Siemen's.

The guy in there knows very little, you need to find out when the owner will be in town, she has around 20 shops in Thailand.