Does anyone have experience with high-end hearing aids?

[kskiska]

My sister just told me about her new hearing aids - Oticon Delta - they cost $6,000 for both ears. She said they're wonderful and she can hear everything. My hearing problems are more severe than hers, but I'm wondering whether these would be beneficial to me. I'm receiving an inheritance that would allow me to purchase these, if suitable for me. I have great difficulty on the telephone, especially. These aids have multi-directional microphones and you'd be able to filter out undesirable background sounds, etc. I do hesitate, though, to spend that amount of money.

[jealoucy]

1. Sorry this reply comes so late...

I do have the Deltas. I think the main advantage is that the open-air design allows natural sounds to come into the ear canal while correcting lost frequencies. Personally, I feel that they are more comfortable to wear and they definitely produce sounds much more natural than my old CICs.

It does have some limitations according to my ENT specialist, so you will have to check with yours. The device may not have great correction on higher and lower frequencies (Please, don't quote me on that.) I have a cookie-pattern hearing loss that made me a good candidate for the device.

As far as phone use, you will still get a little feedback every time you use the phone, but it's just a matter of quick adjustment to get rid of the feedback. It's much better than my CICs, though.

Please do talk to your ENT Specialist. The Deltas do not require moulding of your ear canal, so you may be able to get a demo. That would let you know if it's worth it for you.

Good luck!

[kskiska]

2. Thank you for your info

I've opted for Phonak Ambra ITC/Canal aids. The improvement over what I had is amazing. They are very comfortable and I can now talk on my cell phone, which I previously used only for texting. I also have a TVLink that wirelessly connects the aids to TV and other devices. I'm now able to watch TV without closed captioning. It's amazing what's available if you have the resources. My father died so I used my inheritance to improve my hearing, since I'm in my 60s and have struggled with it for years. It would be wonderful if this technology were available to all who need it.

[aiannas]

3. Spam deleted by Behind the Aegis (MIR Team)