Sherrie Newman fills January’s
consumer reporter slot with
this behind-the-scenes look at
a Costco program. Send your
questions about this article to:
buyingsmart@costco.com.
BuyingSmart
inside costco
By Sherrie Newman
WHO KNEW THAT a simple test could change
someone’s life?
Hearing loss can be a devastating experience for
both the people losing touch with sound and those
around them. Costco’s Hearing Aid Centers can
help members seeking to address their hearing loss,
and it starts with a free test.
Do you hear what I hear?
Some providers may charge more than $100 for
hearing tests. Costco o;ers members a free but thorough battery of seven tests using the latest in sophisticated audiometric testing equipment to determine
if a member’s hearing loss can be helped by hearing
aids. ;ese include a pure-tone hearing assessment
(to see what pitches and loudness one can hear),
speech testing and an otoscopic examination. ;e
resulting individualized audiogram shows what type
of technology and which style of hearing aid would
best bene;t that particular member, and Costco’s
hearing aid dispensers can help select the best one to
;t the member’s lifestyle and hearing needs.
Soris Parajon-Pena, U.S. buyer for Costco’s
Hearing Aid Division and a state-licensed hearing
aid dispenser, tells me, “It makes sense for anyone
who might be concerned to take the complimentary
hearing test Costco o;ers, as research indicates that
the longer one is deprived of sound—even small
amounts—the harder it is for the brain to recapture
it. In other words, the longer you wait to seek help,
the longer it may take your brain to acclimate to
hearing again.”
Volume leader
Costco is one of the largest hearing aid retailers
in the United States, with more than 500 locations
servicing members worldwide. Hearing Aid Centers
are located in most Costco warehouses and are open
at least ;ve days a week, so scheduling your appointment in conjunction with a Costco shopping trip
can be an e;ective use of time.
Costco collaborates with three of the top suppli-
ers in the world to provide a wide variety of hearing
aid styles (in-the-ear, in-the-canal, completely-in-
the-canal, behind-the-ear) to its members. GN
ReSound in Denmark, Siemens Rexton in Germany
and Bernafon in Switzerland are among the best
manufacturers in the industry. Tina Papke, vice pres-
ident of key accounts for GN ReSound U.S., tells me,
“We are at the forefront of developing leading high-
technology solutions for the hearing impaired. We
work together with Costco to ensure that their mem-
bers are satis;ed with the performance and support
provided for their hearing instrument purchases,
and are really looking forward to partnering with
Costco as they continue their global expansion.”
Costco’s latest innovation is the Kirkland
Signature™ 5.0 Premium Hearing Aid, which has the
hearing aid teams quite excited. Small, sleek and
comfortable, it has a sophisticated open-ear design
developed using the latest industry technology.
Additionally, the hearing aid o;ers a unique set of
features and accessories to provide crisp, clear digital
sound and is bundled with a handy remote control.
“We are proud to have our private Kirkland
SHUTTERSTOCK
I can hear you now
Costco Hearing Aid
Centers can help
members reconnect
