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I work as a doctor of audiology fitting adults with hearing aids. My advice, avoid franchises like Miracle Ear and Beltone at all costs. If you go to Beltone, you're going to get a Beltone hearing aid even if Siemens, Phonak, Starkey, Unitron or some other quality manufacturer has better technology, better quality control, and better prices. Audiologists have studied hearing aids for at least 4 years in graduate school. Beltone ane Miracle ear salesmen are only required to have a high school "equivalency" or GED. Today's sophisticated hearing aids are too easy to mess up if the dispenser is ignorant. Just because it helps you hear better doesn't mean it's right. 127ddf1  Comments (50) |
| 1. Written by 3 Putt on April 18, 2011 from lufkin, texas, US Over the years, which have many, I have been to 3, perhaps 4 audiologist. Not one of them have tried to "Sell" me anything. On the other hand, and I admit I have was naive', Beltone and Audibel distributors have taken me for quite a bit of money. Fortunately I went back to an audiologist who once again did not try to sell me anything only to help me deal with what I had, due to an unethical "distributor". Never again folks, I am the anti christ of Beltone and Audibel. |
| 2. Written by okthen on April 3, 2011 from atlanta, georgia, US to: dmf/nj collage degree on the wall what's that? |
| 3. Written by 3 Putt on April 3, 2011 from lufkin, texas, US dmf/nj And just what brings you to this website????????? |
| 4. Written by dmf/nj on March 27, 2011 from newtown, pennsylvania, US the audiology degree does not make a better fitter, in new jersey an aud. takes the exact same test as a hearing aid dispenser.My husband is a dispenser for15 years and is qualified to care for his patients because he also is an intelligent, caring person who cares about keeping his patients happy!he has several offices in pa. and nj. and 3 who are in an ear,nose and throat doctor. the best experience is hands on, not a collage degree on the wall.he gets alot of satisfaction from helping people,therefore he is good at what he does!maybe some of you have seen the wrong people.The products are similar, but the service, follow up care are just as important. |
| 5. Written by 3 Putt on February 22, 2011 from lufkin, texas, US Agree wholeheartedly with you Gouligo, SEE AN AUDIOLOGIST........... |
| 6. Written by Gouligo on February 16, 2011 from -, -, US Everyone is wrong on this blog...... The best way to get a hearing aid is to go to an Ear, Nose And Throat doctor for an exam. Then to see his or her Audiologist. Another level of professional control... No one knows more about ears and hearing than a Real Doctor... MD or DO. |
| 7. Written by 3 Putt on February 15, 2011 from lufkin, texas, US All you HA dispensers who dislike Audiologist need to get a grip. I have been to 3 audiologist and none of them have even offered to sell me anything. Unlike their dispenser brethren who will do anything to sell you their top of the line of their product, bait and switch ads notwithstanding, I have found that the Audiologist I have been to honest and with a great deal of integrity. Can't say the same for the dispensers. Sorry, stay away from Audibel, a division of Starkey and Beltone. |
| 8. Written by 3 Putt on February 1, 2011 from lufkin, texas, US My 2 cents" from a lowly HIS, Just what state do you practice in? |
| 9. Written by "My 2 cents" from a lowly HIS on January 31, 2011 from scranton, pennsylvania, US As a Hearing Instrument Specialist and proprietor of a "chain", I have to say a few things. You will not find a Doctor or an Audiologist who cares more for their patients or their trade than I do. I employ both HIS and AUD level clinicians and can tell with certainty that when it comes to compassion, inegrity and talent you cannot look to their education as an indicator. These are issues of charactor and God given ability, neither of which are bestowed by a university. In my state, Audiologists and dispensors sit at the same table to take the same exact examination in an effort to become licensed to fit hearing aids. Audiologists fail it as often as dispensors. There is value in an Aud degree and I am thankfull for having them on staff. In terms of diagnostic know-how they are great. They are also competent at fitting hearing aids but do require the same training, once hired, as an HIS. The truth is that they are NOT taught how to fit hearing aids in school. They are taught basics and theory but if my mother needed aids and I could choose between an Aud 2 years of school and an HIS with 5 years experience, it is a no brainer. She would go to the HIS. My real point here is that the degree does not make the person. There are good people out there fitting hearing aids for the right reasons with a high degree of skill who are both Aud and HIS. It is imature and simplistic to assume that an individual is trustworthy and professional because they have a 4 year degree. I have fired numerous HIS employees for issues ranging from incomepetence to charactor issues... I have fired just as many Audiologists for the same things. As an employer of both, there is no distinction between them when it comes to charactor and integrity! |
| 10. Written by lobewiper on December 28, 2010 from alsip, illinois, US Hello All, I've had experience with a couple of Costco hearing aid dispenser guys at two different stores. I went to the most recent person because he was much closer and sounded (from his description by his secretary) more experienced than my first person. Anyway, this recent guy made a point of telling me his years of experience, etc. and sounded like he was going to give me some good fatherly advice. He reviewed my audiological graphs, said I had a mild hi freq. loss, and then advised the more expensive (1200 each) Resound Vivid model (Costco carries just two Resound behind the ear aids). When I asked him why I needed the more expensive aid, he told me it was the difference between a Chevrolet and a Mercedes--better circuitry, more features, etc., and handed me a Resound Vivid brochure that described the features shared by both the lower and higher priced) models in glowing terms. The brochure made no distinction between the two Vivid models. When I then asked about differences between the two models, he said he wasn't sure, and that I could "look them up on the internet." I was very unsettled given that he was quite certain that I should buy the more expensive aid, he could not tell me in terms of specific features WHY it was better. (And remember, I have only a mild loss.) I raised my concern as tactfully as I could and he said that he might not have all the specifics at his fingertips, but that he was always willing to seek outside help (e.g., from a company representative) to fill in any gap in his knowledge. I went to the internet, and even on the company website could not find the differences between the two Costco Resound models described. I finally got a detailed explanation only by calling the company directly. I would advise that you buy an aid that the saleperson is personally familiar with and has fitted others with in the past. I agree totally with the sentiment already posted by others that, YOU ARE NOT JUST BUYING AN AID. You are buying an aid plus fitting, adjusting, and followup. Don't buy from someone who can't tell you why you need a particular instrument and has had direct experience with it. If you've any doubt, get a second opinion. |
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