Costco Connection - August 2009

Advances in hearing aids
are music to the ears
Sound quality
BuyingSmart

Consumer reporter Pat Volchok gives a behind-the-scenes look at Costco products and services. Send your questions about this article to: buyingsmart@ costco.com.

THEY ARE SMALL—some no larger than a bean. Hip—lightweight, ergonomic designs range from tiny, chic triangles to slight, curvy teardrops. Eye-popping—colors are from cobalt blue to crimson red. And cool—way cool. Welcome to the world of stylish, high-tech hearing aids offered at Costco Hearing Aid Centers.

Costco hearing aid buyer Leia Ray shares, “Thanks to wireless communication, such as Bluetooth, having something clasped on your ear is now accepted and even desired.”

Placing eight tiny digital hearing instruments in my palm, Leia continues, “But it’s really more than stylish looks. Advances in

computer technology are improving the clear and concise sound quality of hearing aids as well as our ability to customize and fine-tune instruments to each member’s unique hearing needs.”

And because Costco buyers work directly with major hearing aid manufacturers, Costco can offer these stylish and high-tech beauties for about a third to half (see chart) what is charged by other distributors.

Listening options

Today’s hearing aid options are many and depend on a person’s hearing loss and lifestyle.

For example, there are directional microphones that pinpoint frontal sound, digital noise reducers able to differentiate speech from noise and convenient wireless remote control volume/program adjusters so that you can adjust to different audio environments quickly and easily.

For those with mild to profound hearing loss, styles range from tiny, completely-in-the-canal (CIC) models to behind-the-ear (BTE) instruments. Many BTEs are open-fit, eliminating that uncomfortable “plugged up” feeling.