Hearing Aid Confusion

Two years ago I was diagnosed with severe HF hearing loss. Having told my audiologist that I was a high-end audiophile, she prescribed the Starkey Wii hearing aids. These are (i) binaural, and (ii) programmable. I have a speech program, a music program and a "restaurant" program. I cannot speak too highly about these devices--they really work! You have true binaural hearing, the devices are essentially invisible, and the music program restores the high frequencies.

I completely agree with Lloydc. It is for this reason that I am so high on the Starkey Wii. Your audiologist will program in the precise eq curves needed for your specific hearing loss. Each ear is programmed separately (it is actually done wirelessly, and you can see the actual eq curves on the audiologist's computer, which is really cool). The Starkey not only allows three separate programs, but also allows for five separate volume levels, all adjusted by means of either little switches on the hearing aids themselves or a pocket-sized remote control. While its frequency response is limited to about 8k, frequencies above 8k are transposed down to an audible range, so it actually tricks you into believing you are hearing an even greater frequency range than you actually are. Additionally, because they function in a truly binaural fashion (the two hearing aids actually talk to each other), you have the same degree of imagining that you would have with your ears themselves.

Note that I have no financial interest whatever in Starkey. All I can tell you is that these hearing aids are the equal of the finest high-end audio equipment you will ever purchase, and will enable you to appreciate what you were missing by virtue of your hearing loss. They are very expensive in absolute terms, but when you consider the amount of technology which is packed into these things, you can appreciate what you are getting in return.

Good luck.