Good BTE Model

[kimby]

Hi Eldveryone Appreciate some feedback with a little dilemma I am having. I was fitted for Starkey IIC last year although I have severe hearing loss. I questioned the match but it was first time I received aids and as a 30 year old woman the idea of BTE was very hard to grasp. So when the audiologist indicated Starkey's wound provide good sound I didn't question her judgement. My left model recently cracked and as I await replacement I went back to the audiologist office to consider buying a back up model. The original audiologist is no longer with the company so I took the oppportunity to question the original decision to recommend iic. I was basically told that yes BTE would of been the recommended choice for my loss. I should mention that while my enviromental sounds are great I still have trouble hearing people. when loud enough I can understand but getting to that point is difficult and I still spend a great deal of energy hanging on to every word and asking people to repeat themselves. Sometimes I question if there is any help for me. So being told that a BTE would of been better makes me happy that there is room for improvement but also disappointments me that I spent a great deal of money with not the best product. I am now being recommended by the same office (new audiologist) Oticon Ino. I am being offered the basic unit at $1600 piece or $3200. While this doesn't seem outrageous the idea of basic scares me because the last thing I want to do is buy another unit that is not the most ideal for me. If I am going to do this twice in a year I want the best model for my hearing needs. Any feedback if this is a reasonable price/product? Thank you greatly

[DocAudio]

Wait a second....let me get this straight....you purchased hearing aids a year ago and now the same office is telling you that you need a different, brand-new hearing aid???

IMHO, the office should do everything within their power to trade in the Starkey IIC's you purchased to see if they can exchange them for BTE's. You wouldn't be able to switch manufacturers, but the idea of telling someone to spend that much money within a year is ludicrous. If they can't do that, then I think they should give you a hefty discount since their audiologist fit you with a product that was not appropriate for your loss and now you are the one left with a pair of hearing aids that isn't working for you.

I had a patient who had a stroke about 8 months after getting BTE hearing aids and she just couldn't manage them anymore. Phonak accepted them back and issued me ITE's at no additional cost...so it can be done.

[Renovator]

Well, after 22 months of good service my Oticon Hit RITE Pro BTE's with open domes stopped working two days ago, the rocker switch on the left one is not doing anything half the times I press it. The aid also does not indicate when I am back at my midpoint that is set in the aids.

So, both aids are going back to be refurbished, or whatever they do with them. I certainly hope I am not told that these are no good for me, or some other story to try to get me to spend more money, because, as it is now, they are fully-covered under the two-year warranty I have with them (I pay only a $20 copay).