What? What? WHAT?
OK, I admit it. I do not
hear everything anymore. (Not that I always heard everything - I never did -
but that is beside the point.)
Age works against our ears.
30 percent of adults 65-74 experience some level of hearing loss. 47 percent of
seniors 75 and older suffer a certain degree of hearing loss.
I am not yet 65 and already
a statistic.
Last week I walked into a
classroom and sat down. A woman strolled in and took a seat in front of me,
next to the instructor. She asked if I minded, and mentioned she recently purchased
new hearing aids, were still adjusting them, and strained at times to hear what
was going on.
Of course I did not mind.
I am her.
I realize hearing aids will
not completely solve my hearing problems.
Hearing aids will not correct the fact that I am tone deaf. I still will be unable to sing one
note correctly or hear music the way ‘normal’ people experience the sounds.
I will probably continue to
get so engrossed in certain activities – reading, writing, watching TV, daydreaming, that everything else is tuned out and I do not hear people approach
and talk to me.
My ‘selective hearing’, a
problem that can probably be traced to childhood, will persist. It happens occasionally
when asked to do something I am not motivated to do immediately. The words do
not register or make it to the brain.
I do not yet have new
hearing aids. I am thinking about it. Reading about devices. Planning the acquisition.
Examining my checkbook. Everything but actually making a purchase.
The average price in the U.S. for digital hearing aids is $1,500; top-of-the-line devices can set a
buyer back $3,000 to $5,000.
That is marginally more than
coffee money. OK, it is a whole lot more than lots of Starbucks latte ventis.
The idea of spending so much
money hurts.
Is there any way to dull the
pain?
I am searching for
cheap/reasonably priced hearing aids. Nowadays less expensive (less
than $1,500) ones can be purchased online. Costco sells hearing aids. Are
they comparable to more expensive ones or is the quality inferior? The data is unclear.
AARP even has a consumer guide to hearing aids.
I am working on an
alternative, looking for a foreign country to enjoy a great
vacation and buy quality hearing aids at a reasonable price.
Travel for medical procedures is not unusual. India and other
Asian countries are known for orthopedic work and bypass surgery. Costa Rica and
Hungary are destinations for dental work. Hungary has more dentists per capita
than any other country in the world. Brazil is well-known worldwide for
cosmetic surgery. Other countries foreigners travel to for medical treatment
include Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, and Mexico. Most of
these countries have Western-trained doctors fluent in English.
I have not yet found a place for hearing aids. But I am not ready to give up
and head for my nearest Costco.
My quest for workable,
reasonably priced, quality devices continues.
And so does what what WHAT?
4 comments:
Art and I will have our hearing checked this spring. I think we are both ready. I'll be following your blog with interest to find out what kind of hearing aids you choose.
Good Luck. We have a gal in the complex that has the ones from Cosco and she is very happy with them.
Hearing aids seem to be somewhat cheaper here in Florida--the volume factor, I would say. I had a shock when I went with Mike for his first hearing aid evaluation. I was thinking he just tuned me out, but he really couldn't hear.
One of my ears hears better than the other. I notice that I often turn my head towards the better ear. But I have still not gotten to the point of looking at hearing aids. I look forward to hearing (figuratively) more about your journey. :-)
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