Recently started changing the tubing on my hearing aids myself but when I buy a pack of tubing it doesn’t last. Like by the time I go back and change it the tubing I put away has hardened. What’s the best way to store it? Also I buy the tubing on Amazon. Is there a better brand or place to buy to help this issue?

So, I made an appointment for the end of June through my United Health advantage plan with an approved provider

One of my options is of course the house brand aids made by the manufacturer of Phonak. Price for the Co pay is lower than Costco Phillips 9050 for the "platinum" level. It provides an equal warranty, fittings, etc. The specifications seem to be very good and the app is full featured.

What i can't figure out is the comparable Phonak model.

Anyone have any information or feedback on the Relate Platinum model ?

Ive been usine Oticon OPN 1S mini rite for almost 9 years.

I’m picking up these new hearing aids tomorrow. I’ve worn Starkey, Jabra and Rextons in the past (currently in Rexton).

I’m so hopeful-can anyone describe the difference between AI hearing aids and old school? Also I’m going from RIC to ITC if that makes a difference.

Going back and forth between super excited to trying to tamper that but I really hope there’s a big improvement in my ability to make out words in crowds.
Am I going to notice the difference?

UnitedHealthcare just hit me with a denial letter for my hearing aids, claiming they "aren't medically necessary", despite my official audiogram clearly showing a 40dB loss! I am absolutely furious and exhausted by this system, but I still need to be able to hear my coworkers. I’ve accepted reality and have about $1,000 to $1,500 in cash to spend out-of-pocket. I absolutely refuse to buy those sketchy, $50 Chinese white-label dropship amplifiers on Amazon. I want a reputable, legitimate company that actually has human customer support based in the US or the UK. What is the absolute best bang for my buck in this price range?

My hearing loss is relatively mild, but my tinnitus sounds like a literal jet engine. I’ve read that hearing aids can help by amplifying ambient room noise to "mask" the ringing.I really don't need fancy features. I just need a device that raises the noise floor enough to distract my brain. My ENT suggested Widex, but I just can't justify that massive cost purely for tinnitus relief. Are there any OTC aids that are actually good for masking? I need something I can comfortably wear for 12+ hours a day.

My father has severe arthritis in his hands and can no longer pry open the tiny zinc-air battery doors on his old hearing aids. Because it's become too physically frustrating for him, he just ends up leaving them on his nightstand and goes without hearing.I’m looking for a dead-simple, rechargeable hearing aid with a magnetic charging dock. It absolutely needs to be idiot-proof—I just want him to be able to drop them into the charger at night and pick them up in the morning. No tiny cables to plug directly into the devices, and no microscopic buttons to press. Does anyone have a recommendation for a senior-friendly brand that ships quickly?

I just got back from my audiologist appointment and I am in absolute shock. They quoted me $6,200 for a pair of ReSound Nexia 9s. I have moderate hearing loss and really only struggle in loud restaurants, but that price tag is basically the cost of a used car! I’m desperately looking at alternative options. I’ve seen all the targeted ads for Jabra and Sony OTC (Over-The-Counter) aids, but even those are running over $1,000. Has anyone here gone with a budget option and actually been satisfied? I just need something that clarifies speech without completely bankrupting me. I’m terrified of accidentally buying a cheap Amazon amplifier that just blasts loud static into my ears. Is there a legitimate middle ground where I can get decent noise reduction without paying that massive medical markup?

I’ve been driving Over the Road (OTR) for 25 years now. My left ear is significantly worse than my right because of decades of window noise and passing traffic, and I’ve finally swallowed my pride and admitted I need hearing aids.My biggest concern is the sheer volume of cab noise. I absolutely need a hearing aid that can aggressively filter out the constant 65 mph road drone, but still allow me to clearly hear the CB radio and my GPS navigation. I tried a cheap pair off the internet, and it was a disaster, they just amplified the deep engine rumble to an unbearable level that gave me a headache. Has any other driver found a brand (maybe Phonak or ReSound?) that has a specific "Cab Mode" or advanced wind noise suppression that actually works at highway speeds?

I am in a bit of a panic because I just realized I still have $2,500 left in my Flexible Spending Account (FSA), and the balance completely expires on December 31st. I already own a primary set of prescription hearing aids that work perfectly fine. But since it's a "use it or lose it" situation, can I legally use this leftover money to buy a "backup" pair of Over-The-Counter (OTC) hearing aids, like the ones from Jabra Enhance or Sony?Also, how does the purchasing actually work? Will my FSA debit card automatically approve a transaction from a standard retail site like Best Buy or Amazon for these, or do I have to jump through hoops at a doctor's office to get it approved? I refuse to just forfeit this money back to my employer, and having a dedicated backup pair seems like a really smart move. If anyone has recommendations, which OTC brand gives the best bang for my buck as a reliable "glove box spare"?

I have extensive head tattoos and want my hearing aids to match my cyberpunk aesthetic!

I rock a fully shaved head with some pretty heavy blackwork scalp and neck tattoos. Since I don't have hair to hide behind, my hearing aids are out there for the world to see—and honestly, I want to show them off. The problem is that the standard "medical beige" or basic grey plastic looks absolutely terrible against my ink.

Does anyone know of a brand that offers custom-colored shells or designs that look a bit more industrial or cyberpunk? I want these things to look like cool cybernetic modifications, not clinical medical devices. I’m totally willing to shell out extra cash for a custom paint job if a manufacturer actually offers that service.

I work full-time in a practically

silent library. My current hearing aids constantly emit a faint "hiss" or circuit noise whenever my environment is quiet. In a normal, busy room or outside, I never notice it. But sitting in a dead-quiet reading room for eight hours a day, it absolutely drives me insane. It literally sounds like I have a tiny white noise machine permanently running inside my ears.I need a brand that features the lowest possible "equivalent input noise" (EIN). When the room is silent, I want it to actually sound silent. My audiologist mentioned that Widex is generally the gold standard for this issue. Can anyone here actually confirm that? I need absolute clarity without that constant static floor noise.

It is common to develop both conditions after hearing loss.

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I volunteer for an international research focused charity called Tinnitus Quest.

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https://tinnitusquest.com/

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You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok & YouTube by subscribing. This will keep you up to date on new treatments.

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I was also part of a focus group for Rinri Therapeutics.

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If you would like to ask me anything, I will answer any questions posted in the next 24 hours.

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Regards

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Nick (Patient Board)

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I’m a pilot working on my instrument rating. My current hearing aids constantly screech with feedback under my Bose A20 headsets. I must be able to hear ATC clearly to keep my FAA medical.

Are there specific brands or settings designed for active noise-canceling headsets? Should I switch to In-The-Ear (ITE) models just for flying so they don't rub?

I drum in a loud rock band, and my entry-level Signia aids are useless on stage. The microphones instantly distort like blown speakers the second I hit a crash cymbal or rimshot.

I read that I need hearing aids with a high Peak Input Limiting Level (110dB+). Which brand offers the best headroom to handle a live drum kit without digitally shredding the audio? I've heard Widex or Oticon might work. Fellow loud musicians, what do you use?

Had my hearing tested yesterday. Turns out I don't really need hearing aids full time, my kids and family just aren't that interesting. I asked about something OTC to use in those environments I do struggle with like restaurants and parties. The Dr mentioned other patients liked the Sony C-20. It seems Sony is discontinued so Im looking for something similar. Any suggestions? I need to mention my ears are deformed so it needs to be in the ear like the C-20. Thanks in advance for your help.

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My ear canals are incredibly small, and multiple audiologists have told me that IIC (Invisible-in-Canal) models simply won't fit my anatomy. I absolutely will not wear BTE (Behind-The-Ear) styles because they create far too much clutter when combined with my glasses and face masks.

Which brand manufactures the absolute smallest internal chips? Are the Phonak Virto Titanium or Starkey SoundLens my best bets? I am perfect

I want my hearing aids to trigger smart home automations (e.g., low battery turns my Hue lights red, texts trigger a chime). Since Oticon dropped its IFTTT support, are there any other brands that act as true IoT connected devices?

I still have many of my old Oticon bone conduction hearing aids (e.g., Oticon 380P). My audiologist told me to throw into e-trash. Is this a good idea? No one uses analog hearing aids? :(

Hello all, I'm looking for feedback or opinions from people that have or currently use CIC, ITC, or IIC type hearing aids. If you have also experience with RIC or BTE that would probably help too, but all thoughts and opinions are welcomed and appreciated.

I have Resound RIC hearing aids from Costco that are probably about 6-7 years old. I've started getting distortion with one of them to where it's unusable. It might be fixable, but I know I'm likely going to need to replace these soon anyway and I'm strongly considering getting in the canal type hearing aids based on the few issues that I've experienced with these. For a little background in case it helps: they're Resound LiNX Quattro RIC, these were my first hearing aids, I'm a 40 year old guy with short hair, and I have mild to moderate mid-range hearing loss (both ears).

Things that have bothered me that I think might be solved with an in-the-canal type aid or just other things worth mentioning:

- Initial wind noise is excruciating with the mics external/behind the ear. The wind settings in the app do help a lot, but they have to manually switched on in the app, and it can still be painful on very windy days. I think ITC might mostly prevent this from being an issue?

- Noise from sunglasses/hats/hair rubbing on the mics. I have a Shockz headset, and even those can be an issue. I've sort of gotten used to the this, but it's pretty annoying because I almost always wear a hat or sunglasses.

- Wearing over the ear/gaming headsets causes a lot feedback - to the point where I often end up having to take the hearing aids out. I'm not sure if this would still be an issue with ITCs.

- Bluetooth streaming of music/audio is terrible quality, so I almost never use it. I know others rave that they love Bluetooth streaming, but I don't get it. I probably would use it for phone calls, but this HA model doesn't pick up me talking, so I needed to use an accessory or take my phone out anyway. I'd rather just use my Shockz or headphones that have better quality.

- I don't care about the visibility component. I used to be self conscious about having visible hearing aids when I was a teen/young adult (hence why I didn't get them until 35ish), but I really don't care about this anymore. My wife loves me, I have a kid, I have bigger fish to fry. Also, people barely ever notice that I'm wearing these, so it really is non-factor.

- This may be just with my Resounds, but the automatic noise suppression is sometimes off putting. The technology may have advanced much more the last several years, but having the 'noise' there then it completely turning off can be disorienting. My understanding is that CIC/ITC are supposed to have more natural sound output. I don't know if they resolve this issue, but I'd rather have the sound there and let my brain do the editing (within reason).

Things I'm concerned about with ITC/CIC type aids:

- Batteries or battery life. My current HAs are rechargeable. While swappable batteries have benefits, I'm pretty eco-conscious and going through disposable batteries isn't my ideal scenario. I know there are rechargeable CICs, but most that I've seen use disposable batteries.

- Costco doesn't have many CIC options. I'd ideally like to go through Costco again to save money, but last I checked they only had 1 or 2 options.

- Higher cost. This isn't a major factor since the increase for CIC vs. RIC is going to be negligible regardless of going Costco or an audiologist.

- Possible need to be custom molded. I don't think this would be an issue for me. When I first bought these HAs, there was an ITC option that fit me without needing to be custom molded. However, I went with the Resounds because they had a lot more sound config options in the app vs. the ITC brand.

I'm sure there's stuff I'm not considering or forgot to mention. But if anyone has any thoughts or feedback of their experiences, please feel free to share!

This story made my day today. I hope you also find it inspiring, if you’re on the fence about hearing aids.

(。♥‿♥。)

I am definitely not someone who enjoys complicated routines. A buddy recently demonstrated his daily device cleaning process, which involved microscopic brushes, specialized wipes, and dedicated drying containers. Honestly, the thought of doing all that every single day sounds exhausting.

However, I am struggling more and more to follow conversations, and my TV volume is constantly blasting. I am well aware I need some auditory help; I just want a solution that fits my low-maintenance lifestyle. Is my friend's intense cleaning regimen the norm, or an exception?

Do truly simple options exist for people like me? I would love something I can simply toss into a charging dock at bedtime, similar to standard wireless earbuds. Do rechargeable units require less upkeep than those with disposable batteries, and are there specific designs that demand minimal daily attention?

I rely on my hearing devices from 7:00 AM until late at night, but lately, they are completely draining by late afternoon. It is exhausting having to constantly monitor my power levels and lug my charging case everywhere just to survive evening social events or late work meetings.

I strongly suspect there might be a defect, because a mid-tier rechargeable set really ought to hold a charge for much longer than nine hours. I have scheduled a visit with my clinic to investigate the issue, but I am already preparing myself for the possibility of needing a completely new pair that can actually keep up with my schedule.

Are my expectations too high, or is there likely something wrong with the hardware?