My Mom refuses to get hearing aids, and her hearing loss is significant. She is visiting my sister in another city, my sister is bringing her home (my town), and wants to have discussion about hearing aids again. I have beat this horse to death. I already know the what the outcome is going to be, she will say they are too expansive (which they are), and EVERYONE that wears them say they don't work. It seem rather morbid, but people pass away every day, and many people have hearing aids. What happens to them, is there an organization that recycles them? Her hearing loss has gotten so bad, that she is basically alienating everyone she know because it is practically impossible to have a conversation with her. As a result she just talks and talks, and it is very one sided. Anyone have suggestions?
Small independent hearing aid companies offer free trial for a month ,plus they can be purchased on a monthly payment plan.
Stay away from large national companies,They are a rip off. I know from personal experience. They broke my husband's hearing aid and wouldn't admit it.
Start with an audiologist or hearing aid supplier. Get an audiogram ( print it ).
The local Kiwanis Club or Rotary Club will gladly "hear" your case and may offer to purchase the necesssary hearing aids for your mother.
To answer your Q.: Yes, used hearing aids may be adequate. Your local county office of the Dept.of Health may be able to help. Maybe not. I'd go for new hearing aids......so much progress has been achieved with the newer models. It's worth the financing.
the help that amplification provides.
We have audiologists and Hearing Instrument Specialists (HIS), all licensed by their state government and working out of modern offices with more audiometric diagnosistic equipment that we ever had a few decades ago..we used a Beltone console audiometer for testing and an IAC sound treated booth for a controlled environment for the tests... each and every aid went out on trial... there are some folks who can benefit from amplification but, having tried an aid, decide for their own reasons that they will not wear one.
It's always been interesting to me, that audiologists untill the 1970s were frowned upon if they went to work for a hearing aid sales office.. ASHA.. the American Speech and Hearing Association had their rules of conduct, so to speak and audiologists were pretty much located in hospital settings, or speech and hearing sites through out the land... I have no suggestions that might help any one at all..simply comparing the changing times and the high cost of hearing aids..
N.