Loss of one’s hearing is usually incremental and, as it is generally not life threatening, the need to have it remedied is usually left to another day.
For a couple of folk living together hearing loss becomes difficult to manage, especially for the one not affected by the hearing loss. When it gets so bad, the friction of non communication threatens even the most secure relationship.
In 90% of the cases it is those afflicted with hearing loss that makes some endeavour to find a solution solely at the insistence of their better hearing partner.
It is usual that those seeking help do not know where to turn to so they start by looking in the Yellow Pages phone directory from which they make a call list.
The first thing one realizes is the number of companies in the hearing loss business and the obvious duplication of entries because many firms have regional and suburban offices. As well the Hearing Loss companies have staff calling on certain days at various set locations.
If you are at all suspicious of such a burgeoning trade and you are cynical to some degree this is where you start to become defensive. At this stage you know very little about models and pricing or the level of performance. Some-where into this investigation you learn that the Federal Government will make a sizeable amount of money available to those on age, war and disability pensions. There may be similar discounts to other disadvantaged sections of the community.
To qualify you need to get a form (ask at Medicare) and take it to your GP for him or her to sign. This signed form is then sent to Canberra where it is formalized and returned.
With this hearing form to the value of $1500 I went looking for a hearing loss practitioner. Thinking the standard would be the same, no matter where, much like a chemist or a any professional health care one deals with, I sallied forth unwittingly.
I chose one in the commercial centre of my region and went along.
The hearing loss office was in a rundown building; the staff of which consisted of one young female at a reception desk who introduced me to a ʻseniorʻ female where upon I was shown into a small office.
I had to go on a certain day as the office was only open on a casual basis.
Now I must confess I was a very successful salesman in my day so itʼs more often I take a serious interest in the sales person; even more-so than the product or the service being sold.
Introductions over I was asked to take part in some puerile hearing tests that proved I sure did have a hearing loss. Oh and yes, I forgot to say, the consultant had already pocketed the Government form worth $1500. I was shown the most basic hearing devices with no effort to discuss a more advanced device. I could not leave the office quickly enough and disgruntled I returned to my home.
Much further, and later, down this hearing loss track, as part of my learning process, I purchased a similar device on mail order for $50 which told me the same device the hearing consultant would obtain wholesale was really worth no more than $30. I never put the batteries in that device as supplied; nor did I, ever use the hideous device.
In retrospect this amounted to myself handing over a Federal Government cheque for $1500 and in return receiving the offer of a hearing device with a wholesale value of about $30.
I declined this offer and left without the offensive looking, cheap hearing aid device. For this service I left behind $1500 of Commonwealth cash.
After thinking about this horror outcome I got angry one day, two weeks later, and rang the Federal Government Department in Canberra. I spoke to a lady who convinced me she had come up through the hearing ranks and what is more she was sorry I had such a bad experience so, ʻNo problemʼ, she said, ʻI will send you another $1500.00; no trouble at allʼ. Amazing.
I mulled over the problem until I found a friend who had, in recent times, a successful outcome by way of a hearing device that cost a bit over $7000 all up. This device was so good he was still in wonder, he said.
What was more he recommended a Hearing Loss Company in Hobart. He said they were very professional. The bad news was my friend never paid for his hearing loss device as he was a recipient of a free hearing aid by virtue of his work place insurance in retirement; a state government instrumentality on the mainland. Price for my friend was not a consideration though for myself, $7000 plus, was a bit on the high side.
So I made an appointment with this wonder healer in Hobart and indeed it was more professional and they went on with less nonsense than the first place. I handed over the $1500 cheque but only when they asked for it which was not long after I walked through the front door.
They put the money in the till.
These people had another approach in that I received a rundown on the value of the devices and the manufacturers after which they set two devices on the table; no make or model apparent, with the strategy that over three weeks I could try out two different devices from various manufacturers each week for three weeks.
These devices were in line with my informant friendʼs devices in that they fitted in the outer part of the ear canal with a wispy piece of strong nylon thread that held the device in your ear. A huge improvement on the hideous ʻfree hearing aidʼ presented at the first consultantʼs office.
As an aside you often learn of folk who, having obtained a hearing device, wear it for a short time and from then put it in the bedside drawer; never to use it again? This is most likely in the style of the hideous models that sit at the back of the ear and are low cost. Be aware.
I was to be fitted with a device (both ears) and sent out for one hour around the town. On return I was fitted with the other device. I was only told they were device one and two; with next week devices three and four. No manufacturer’s names and no costing.
When I came back I was fitted with another device. I must say again, in each case, it was two identical devices; one in each ear.
Before I was let out with these devices for testing, the devices were connected via a USB cable to a large computer running some special software. This seemed very impressive. I was told this was to adjust the devices to my benefit. If the devices, once connected to the computer were being manipulated for my benefit they could just as easily be adjusted not for my benefit. To step out into the street was a magical experience; for a while. I had forgotten what city life was like.
After three separate weeks of this test wearing I was asked to rate the best device … well of course I picked the most expensive.
The cost was $7782 less the Federal Government cheque for $1500; equals $6.268.
When asking what the Government $1500.00 paid for the itemised account was set out as
Service 600! – $128.25.
Service 640 – $513.78.
Service C2 – $435.70.
Service C2 – $435.70.
Total $1513.43.
Starkey 190. (hearing device) – $7,782,57.
Less – $1513.43.
$6268.57 net.
I said I would come back when I thought about it. I never came back though this company contacted me twice later.
The above charade was a play on the thimble and pea trick. No matter which hearing loss aid was selected it would be always the expensive one or, heads I win, tails you lose.
Somewhat shaken by this experience I once again retreated from the quest for better hearing until one day, in the city street, I met a friend, a business man I hold in admiration who quickly said, “Ken you have a hearing problem”? to which I said, “Yes.” after which I recounted my adverse experiences.
In a split second my good friend cocked his head on the side and extracted a very small hearing device from his left ear while saying, “This is what you want.” and directed me to a firm I had not known about.
Going to this Hearing Loss firm in Davey St Hobart unannounced I asked to speak to a senior person; not necessarily a hearing specialist. A meeting with the Managing Director was arranged on the spot. I became more assertive.
How come I said, with modern manufacturing methods, that a quality hearing aid cost up to nine times the price of buying eight or nine iPhones?
I also pointed out the relationship between a first home buyerʼs grant in Tasmania, in 2013, of up to $30,000 and the $1500 subsidy for a hearing device.
The director said, “Good points. I agree” where upon he shortly showed me a range of hearing aid units that were easy to understand; plus the costs. I had previously told the Managing Director to forget about the $1500.00 of Commonwealth subsidy. Not a problem he said and wrote on each device-model the net cost. Mentally I chose a model just under the top price and departed.
A day or two later I rang and arranged an appointment. I do not regret this action; not one bit. I am satisfied with the product I now own. It has changed my life.
Compared with the pea and thimble firm the cost was significantly lower by the thousands of dollars and no was subsidy needed.
The devices I have are manufactured in Switzerland. I get a three year warranty which includes batteries and some other little bits. The product comes with a neat little dehumidifier in case i get them wet in a shower or dive in the pool without thinking.
This cost me $4229 which was $2000 cheaper than the pea and thimble firm. Bloody marvellous.
The hideous thing about this industry is the hearing loss recipients are generally older and hence more vulnerable. The firm I dealt with was a family business. Prices weren’t set. Service was excellent.
Do not be deceived …
Notes on the Author: Ken has spent a considerable part of his working life as a woolclasser and before that, a period as a shearer. Mixd up in that time frame he has tried his hand at more jobs than the average person would get to do in two or three lifetimes. From milkman, boatbuilder, tally clerk on the wharf, salesman, (he once sold a Websters Dictionary to a blind man), wilderness guide, owned and operated The Mood Food (a road house), sold furs through the Hudson Bay Company, and travelled a considerable amount, for example, 17000 km by bicycle in Vietnam. The last 10 years have been spent with intensive travelling, riding his bicycles, windsurfing, canoeing, badminton and bushwalking as well as writing. These yarns are part of an interesting lifestyle. He is the author of Ken’s Quirky Yarns. In the past 10 years “I have made a new life in Woodbridge having immersed myself in community affairs, managing a large garden, writing a successful E-Newsletter titled Crikey Dot Ken for near nine years; devoted to a better outcome for those not skilled in defending themselves against bureaucracy and self interest. I am enjoying life at age 83; come this November.
