Pardon Me - Can You Speak Up?

Estimates are that about 37 million Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Nearly 30 million of those could benefit from some form of hearing aid or alternative.

Men are twice as likely as women to suffer a noticeable decline in the ability to distinguish words or hear in a noisy environment. Yet, they are less likely to agree to a solution. My wife has worn hearing aids for thirty-five years. I just turn up the television and avoid places that make it hard to listen to the conversation.

Well, that is about to change. I am about to take the plunge and reenter the world of decent hearing. The average age that a man in America finally agrees to help is 70. I turned 74 last month, so it is (past) time.

My radio career meant wearing very loud headphones when I was on the air. It meant going to concerts with the likes of Led Zeppelin and Grand Funk Railroad, playing at ear-splitting volumes for hours at a time. It was not unusual for my ears to ring for a full day or two after such exposure. 

I started experiencing tinnitus a decade ago, but that ringing would always fade away. The male side of my family produces ear wax like world champions. Every 12 months, a doctor is privileged to go digging and give me improved hearing for a while.

But, the obvious decline in my ability to hear soft words, my grandkids' questions at church, or the fact that I have almost maxed out the TV volume led me to the obvious conclusion: I need help.

Hearing aids are expensive. I mean, really pricey. About fifteen years ago, Betty bought a top-of-the-line pair that retailed for $10,000. Amazingly, her health insurance covered that purchase. Maybe not coincidentally; that same company removed the hearing aid benefit one year later.

Her last few pairs have been in the $4-$5,000 range. My Dad purchased a set for almost $7,000 just a few years before his death. Medicare does cover batteries, but not the actual hearing aids.  So usually, that cost is out-of-pocket.

Suddenly, a sea change. Late last year, the Federal government approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids. With quality almost as good as the prescription-grade ones sold by audiologists, the hearing-challenged, like me, could suddenly find a pair for $1,000-$3,000.

Though their big brothers are more customized in fit or function, my research tells me the performance will be entirely acceptable for me. I have been tested, revealing mild to moderate loss in both ears. For someone like me, OTC aids are a viable option.

The pair I am purchasing will be the type with the working parts in small cases that fit behind the ear. A nearly invisible wire is placed in the ear canal, carrying the sound. A smartphone app allows for the customization of the sounds that are amplified or muted. I can boost the sound in the mid-range, where I struggle the most. 

I will be able to use Bluetooth to stream music and TV audio to the hearing aids, as well as answering and responding to phone calls without needing the phone by my side.

There is a 100-day trial period, with a full refund available. Since it takes the brain 2-3 weeks to adjust to the new level of sound entering the ears, having a testing and adjustment period is critical. With a $195 deductible, if the hearing aids are damaged or lost, they will be replaced at no cost within the first three years.

I am expecting my pair next week. That will give me almost three months before our France trip to get used to both the sound and care of the aids. 

This will be a significant adjustment for me, but one that holds the potential for improving the quality of my life and saving the ears of those near our TV.