Hearing Aids Online

Question: How can online Tenn. Hearing Planet sell hearing aids sans license in CA w/unlicensed salesmen "audiologists?"? They say they "have our endorsed clinics" in all states, "credentialed and checked out" but sent us to a girl barely out of high school with no education or audiology license/experience. It took months after they had grandma's $7K paid in advance to get anything. What we got were scratched, one aid had a hum out of the box and they blamed us. We're just sick about it.

Answer: Apparently Hearing Planet is doing it! Internet sales can be tricky. Without an office you can go into and talk to someone in person you have to know and trust who you're dealing with. PayPal can eventually reverse a Pay Pal payment if merchandise is defective.

Question: Where can we get help w/used defective hearing aids fr/online Tenn Hearing Planet pd in full,w/fingerpointing? Hearing Planet isn't licensed to do business in our state. Months after grandma pd $7K in full we had to threaten lawsuit to get any hearing aids. When they arrived they had obviously been used, didn't work right but HP blamed us & the local unlicensed "audiologist" they sent us to who never has been licensed or education. We're caught, grandma's out the $$ and we seem to have no way to get her $$ back or complain, since Hearing Planet & "their clinic" aren't licensed.

Answer: If you've tried your local and their local consumer groups, governmental offices and newspaper or news TV shows on consumer problems, depending on how they were paid for you might file a fraud complaint with her bank and try to get the payment reversed. If so, be sure to then mail the hearing aids back to Hearing Planet! Be sure to photograph them and get a note from a trained professional that they have signs of being used and don't work properly. You could also call and complain to the manufacturer of the brand. They might want to know what their dealers are doing. Or they could track them by the serial numbers.

Question: Has anyone dealt with online Hearing Planet - we paid for hearing aids they didn't send then sent used ones!? It's a nightmare and now we find we have no rights. We paid in advance, they aren't licensed in our state, their "clinic" local office only programs them but doesn't stand behind the product. AND the "audiologist" isn't licensed or trained so we have no rights there. Help! Grandma's out $7K!! We wish we'd gone to a reputable doctor and licensed audiologist. What can we do now?

Answer: And that's exactly the reason you need to get a lawyer. $7000 is WAY too much for a pair of hearing aids if they're just for your grandma. They ripped you off big time... and unless you get a lawyer and sue them for misrepresenting services, you're screwed. You always pay in advance for hearing aids and their website does not say that you'll get new hearing aids. You need to return them if you can. Period... and go bring your paperwork to a lawyer. And PLEASE go see a licensed audiologist... ask to see their license, too. She should be able to get a pair of hearing aids for what she needs for $3-4K... not 7. I'm sorry you had to go through this...

Question: why would it inappropriate to ask for an online interview (messenger) if I have trouble hearing on the phone? I was supposed to have 2 phone interviews this morning, but my hearing aid died 5 minutes before the first interview. The companies are in a different state so an "in person" interview is not possible right now. I suggested they interview me using Windows Messenger or something like that. The "headhunter" didn't think it would be appropriate.

Answer: Did you tell them that you have a hearing problem and a hearing aid? If you have a disability they are required to meet your needs. If you lose the interview as a result, report them to the department of labor in your state.

Question: My Mom Can't Hear So Good and needs a hearing aid But Has Money Prolb Where online can I get an Ear Trumpet??? My Mom Can't Hear So Good and needs a hearing aid But Has Money Prolb Where online can I get an Ear Trumpet??? Insurance is a no go cause they wont cover it and its waaaay to expensive something like 1000 per ear... or something like that ..we arnt rich folks like that where can i buy a classic ear trumpet? thanks No i mean an ear trumpet like a ear horn there are all kinds of models they were popular in the 19th century you know like whistlers mother had there is also a pepper box ear trumpet

Answer: I found some on here: http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/ear%20trumpet Click on eartrumpet and it takes you to two eartrumpet links. I clicked the ebay one.

Question: What options are available for people with near total hearing loss to receive and hear phone conversations? My 84-year old grandmother is deaf in one ear and has near-total hearing loss in the other. She wears hearing-aids but relies on lip-reading to assist w/ comprehension. Phone calls can no longer be accepted because of her condition. What appliances can you suggest (bonus: where can I purchase them online) that can assist in this particular situation?

Answer: CapTel is a Telephone that has live, real-time captioning of what the other person is saying, so you can read to enhance the hearing. It isn't supported in all locations just yet... http://www.captionedtelephone.com/index.phtml There are many companies that sell amplified phones to use in conjunction with the hearing aid to make phone conversations more audible. Here are a couple: http://www.soundclarity.com/ http://harriscomm.com/ Many deaf and hearing impaired are using SMS text messages, Instant messaging, and video messaging to their fullest extent! These technologies have been a real benefit to ease communication over distances for them. At 84, she may not be very tech-savvy, but many of these devices are fairly easy to use.

Question: When will these hearing aids stop hurting me? I am new to hearing most all of these sounds as I have been deaf most of my life. Its very scary for me to hear sounds and noises I never heard before in life. One deaf person I know said because my hearing loss in each ear is not the same there will be some kind of unbalance between the two as far as the hearing aids and trying to hear goes. I am not sure if that is true, but I do have profound hearing loss in the left ear and severe in the right and the graph is not identical for each on my latest audio-gram. I read online that is takes 1-2 months to become acclimated to new hearing aids. Is that true? I have also heard that it takes time for the body, brain and ears mostly, to adjust to the new sounds and sound levels. Is that true as well? The pain I get is mostly in my head not my ears! I am not hearing what I hear in my ears, unless I use only one hearing aid at a time, its in the center of my head. Doctors stress me out and stress a lot of times makes my seizure disorder worse by giving me more seizures. I prefer answers from my peers and people on here.

Answer: I am 62 and have worn hearing aids since I was 34. But was deaf in left ear much earlier. It will get better. The sounds are almost too much isn't it? So take a break every once in awhile is good information. Also sometimes the pain from something being in your ear is maddening also. If it gets really sore there is something called "ear genie" that works well from your audiologist. Try turning them down to a much lower level and work up slowly if even you need to turn up. Some of the profound sounds just hurt so bad sometimes. The center of your head thing is a great example of people with hearing loss. Now you hear correctly from both sides and it will take some getting used to for sure. Sometimes takes longer than "2 months". I never knew blowing leaves made noise. I never knew rubbing your hands together made noise. Simple things make a difference. Carry on, and tell people not to yell just because you wear hearing aids!! '-)

Question: What is the best hearing aid for my 90 year old friend? I have a friend who is complaining that her hearing aid is not working well. She can a afford to buy a good hearing aid and that is what I suggested... but I want to ask... What is the best way to go about buying the best hearing aid for her... Should I do it locally, so she can try them out... or should I look online... what are we looking for??? A certain brand or type or what is best? It should work good for her when she uses the telephone, since she is living alone.

Answer: For perfect hearing from the T/V get an Infra light11 Headset System Comes from SarabecLtd.www.sarabec.com Get it through your deaf aid centre and it will be a lot cheaper.