Hearing Aids in 2023 .. Questions

@vonhelmholtz I’m not sure if they’re still available, but growing up I had fully analog hearing aids. My brother wore them and hung onto analog aids for as long as he possibly could. I’m on digital aids. I’ve worn Phonak aids for the last 15 years or so, upgrading along the way. I actually am still wearing my second-to-newest model because it sounds much more natural than my newest ones, which sound processed and mechanical. I can’t say what works for you, but hopefully your audiologist will let you demo a few types. 

I have Signia brand for a year and a half.  They're not perfect or cheap but do have some great features.  They're app controlled meaning I can adjust volume (per ear), bass and treble.  There's also an AI that offers solutions for my approval and then applies them if I like what I hear.  

Their (optional, same app controlled) TV bluetooth dongle plays TV sound direct, no need for captions!  My iPhone plays direct too for music and conversation (dongle not needed) so another big plus there.

The downside? My audiologist advised that there is a feedback protection circuit that can sound like a "phone ringing" and I do hear it at times.  There's a cure and next visit I'll bring it up.  It may involve an upgrade, not sure.

I had prior reservations about hearing aids but no longer.  They add only what I cannot hear, everything else remains.  Mine are behind the ear with split "tulip" tips that are transparent to the lower frequencies.  It's a win-win for voice and music.  

I have had very loud tinnitus for many years. I have worn aids for about 15 years now. Do the aids help with the tinnitus? Not as far as I know but I can understand speech better and I have a TV unit that feeds my aids. As soon as my insurance carrier offers the new AI version of my aids (Starkey) I will get them. 

$8000 - $12,000??? I don't know where Jerry gets his hearing aids but I've been getting flagship model hearing aids for 20 years, most recently about 3 years ago, and the most I've paid for them for was $6000/pair. 

I’ve been using Signia’s for the past 5 years or so and they’re a game changer. Absolute necessity in the office, and when I take them off for the day, it feels like jabbing a pair of cotton balls in my noggin. Love their flexibility and sound quality, but haven’t experienced the "phone ringing" that @wlutke  mentioned. I’ve got very mild tinnitus and mild high frequency hearing loss, which are probably related, so what I lose while listening to music is the air and ambience. Your application may be different which will affect your use case.

I now wear them all the time to the symphony and theater performances. Even have worn them to amplified concerts without any problem (the aids automatically compensate for loud noises). But the purist in me (coupled with just my mild hearing loss) takes them off while listening to two-channel in the media room - I just turn it up. The day of reckoning will come for sure as my hearing gets work as I get older: I won’t be able to turn up the volume any more without forcing my family out of the home or pissing off my neighbors. 😏