America Hears

I purchased a pair of hearing aids here over a year ago, for an elderly relative. They cost less than half the price I was offered by a local audiologist and competed only with used aids on Ebay, not the best of choices if one can avoid it. For those unfamiliar with digital hearing aids, they are programmed extensively to provide an exact match for an individual's hearing and can be reprogrammed at any time. Modern digital aids sometimes also allow for a number of different programs too, usually about five, which compensate for noisy environments, open environments and so on. It isn't really necessary to have all the options programmed as the aids will work well in most situations as they are, but clearly it's useful to be able to have them drop the volume in, say, a party or other noisy crowd situation. Aids that can do this are generally at the top end of the market. Other differences between types of aids include choosing between a speaker-in-ear / receiver-in-the-ear (SIE or RITE) type, in which as you may guess, the speaker itself is on the end of a tiny wire which is inserted into the ear; or the type in which the speaker is internal to the aid, and sound is pumped down a tiny tube into the ear. Some models have an internal coil for use with telephony. Also, top models often have a setting which allows them to be used as Bluetooth receivers, a boon if you have a bluetooth phone or audio devices. The AH range of options doesn't include every type of aid, so check it out at http://www.americahears.com/Products/HIMain.shtml and see if it's likely to meet your needs. Lastly and most importantly, good quality modern hearing aids know how to program themselves to adapt to the situations you find yourself in most often. If you spend most of the time in a quiet room, the aids are claimed to recognize this after a while and adjust themselves accordingly. All very clever stuff, given that the entire devices are less than thumbnail sized including the batteries. The model I chose was an SIE aid, which has five programs and a specification equal to many of the top aids I'd read about elsewhere for $2500 or more. At the time, America Hears was offering it for a whisper below $1000, or $2000 a pair. That represented an immediate saving of maybe $3000 over the big-brand models. So the first thing I can report is that the equipment worked fine, and continued to work fine up until very recently, when the aids needed cleaning and some parts renewal, which was done free under warranty. But for me the best part of the deal was that AH supplies customers with the software and hardware to reprogram the aids at home, using a standard Windows XP or Vista PC (not sure if Windows7 is catered for yet). If my relative finds that his hearing is deteriorating a bit or certain frequencies are going fuzzy, I can plug his aids into the PC interface while he's wearing them and run through a whole gamut of tests, without having to pay an audiologist to do it. And that's generally worked out fine. AH will also help you program them over the internet, or of course you can send them back for programming if you can spare them for a week or so. One way or another, it couldn't be easier. Bottom line - a bargain, no quality issues to date, no unexpected expenses, and one very happy senior who can now hear his TV without broadcasting to the entire street. Highly recommended. Plus, at the time of writing (end of September 2009) AH are introducing a new model and clearing stock of the one we bought for only $700. I'd definitely grab a pair if you're in the market and don't have the resources for a top-brand model. If your experience is anything like mine, you won't be disappointed. Finally, phone communications are good (remember this company is on EST, though) and you'll generally always get the same person at the other end of the line. Repairs, when they were needed, were prompt and we had the aids back in a week, as predicted by the company. A very good result all round. [Edit] I forgot to mention they have an unconditional free trial period during which you can return the product if you're unhappy with it.

I was happy with American Hears at first and especially with the ability to touch up the adjustments on my hearing aids myself using their programming box and software. When I first bought the aids, it was easy to get in touch with someone at America Hears, and they were very helpful. However, now I need to send in my hearing aids for repair, and I can't get in touch with anyone. I telephoned, and after waiting on line, I was automatically switched to voice mail, where I left a message. Then I tried email. No response. The Rexton hearing aids I bought at Costco are better and cheaper. However, I miss being able to program them myself, as it is difficult to explain to a hearing aid fitter just what needs to be done. Update: After I wrote this review, I received the long-awaited answer to my email. I responded, and received another email withing hours. I returned the hearing aids for repair and received them back within a week, looking as good as new. They were covered by warranty, so there was no charge. Therefore, I am upgrading my rating from three stars to four.

I've tried analog and digital in the canal aids before and wasn't happy with either set, after spending close to $3000 for each set. It's been 10 years since my last failed attempt at using hearing aids, and I saw the ad in a local paper, and figured for the price, (about 1/2 of the national brands), why not give them a try. I now have behind the ear model's and am totally satisfied with them. I'm hearing sounds I haven't heard for decades, and have been treated first class by my specialists. I highly recommend using this company. You have your hearing to gain and nothing to loose.....Warren

I bought a set of hearing aids from this outfit about 5 or 6 years ago - the price was about half of my previous set, but the thing that really sold me was the ability to program them myself; it seems like I was always at the hearing aid shop to get my previous pair adjusted, & being able to tweak them myself was very appealing. It was harder than I thought to get everything right, but I learned and am very pleased with the ability to change things as my needs evolve. Also, something seems to break about every 3 or 4 years (not bad for something used every day), and they will fix just about anything (including once when I stepped on an aid and crushed it) for about $150. If you are handy and can do the wax cleaning and adjustments yourself, then these are an excellent product. If you want help cleaning and replacing batteries, then go to a local store and pay the higher price.

I recently sent my AmericaHears aids in to be cleaned and to replace one battery holder. They were slow in sericing them and charged me $334. The hearing aids were working fine so there was very little to do. They have apparently changed management or ownership and instituted a very aggressive billing policy. I will not use them again.

A month ago we got our second hearing aid after 5 years. Their first device still works fine but the technology has advanced. We really like that this new one connects to my iPhone; it so easy to adjust and take calls. It doesn't even require loading a special app. it is native with the iPhone operating system. Finally my husband can call me when I am out shopping and we don't have to rely on a near-by shopper to tell me my phone is ringing; it comes right in my ear very clearly. They are very reasonably priced but even if you could beat the price their excellent on line support is well worth a premium. We don't understand why some people have had difficulty; they certainly work well and we received excellent support.

Drove 170 miles to America Hears to have a audiology test and my 6 year old working hearing aids cleaned. It was suggested I upgrade to 32 channel models. I decided to keep the aids I had, HOWEVER when I inserted the left aid It was not working. I advised the audiology tester and was told " it was probably on its last leg, and for $250.00 they could fix it. Tried to contact management the next day with no success. There are Many equally good hearing aids out there for far less money.

I've just purchased my third set of America Hears hearing aids. I've been very pleased with their hearing aids and personal support. They offer free adjustments via telephone/software/online connection. When Costco offered what was supposedly "the best" hearing aids at an affordable price, I tried them in the store. The quality was terrible compared to my America Hears aids. The price of America Hears hearing aids are very competitive and basically less expensive than nearly all the ones I've looked at. I will use my older hearing aids as spares as soon as I receive the new ones. This time I ended up getting earmolds to prevent feedback when adding volume to the hearing aids.

I live in Canada and have had hearing aids from America Hears since 2007. I just called today to get my program updated and adjust the hearing aids - the lady Julie was phenomenal. The nice thing about their aids is that you can adjust them online with or without someone's help. Also whenever they bring out new models they discount previous models. Currently I could get an upgraded model for as low as $499. Their service is also fantastic. I used to get my aids at Costco - price was good (not this good) but had to go there for tuning and that was most frustrating. I couldn't recommend America Hears higher!

They say they give you a 30 day trail period then they extend it so you can have more adjustments made on your hearing aids so they work for you. Then when they still do not work for you, they tell you your trial period is over, too bad. I bought hearing aids that are still in the box doing me no good and I have to pay off the card.

I have nothing good to say about America Hears aids. I had to send them back several times the first year for such things as shutting themselves off when there was a loud noise such as a car door slamming or my dog barking. They said they put a filter in the aids. If so, why? If it is a design problem, they should have offered to refund my money. If it was just a problem with my aids, they should have replaced them with good ones. The right one quit working at about fourteen months. I will not pay to have a defective aid worked on. The left one amplifies sounds but it also distorts to the point I cannot understand words. If you decide to try America Hears aids, be sure and not let the trial period slip by. They will keep working with you until the trial period is over then except for adjustments, you are on your own. I would suggest you trial the more expensive aids first then try America Hears. I believe you will then recognize the poor quality of the sound reproduced by America Hears. I did just the opposite. I did not try the better aids until I realized I could not hear clearly with the America Hears aids. The better quality sound is worth the higher cost. My insurance company will pay $1,000 per ear every three years for new aids. One year to go and I will just have to pay the difference and get better aids.

I have had a very positive experience with America Hears (no, I am not being paid to write this review :) After wearing aids for 20 years, I learned of America Hears. As well as the significantly reduced price, I was excited to have the software so I could adjust my hearing aids myself. I did tweak the programs a few times, and also connected to America Hears a couple of times for them to adjust, then I downloaded the program. Also I once went to their tiny office across the railroad tracks in Bristol , PA l for a check. The staff was extremely helpful and gave me the latest copy of the software. I have had these same hearing aids for 9 years, sent them back for repair three times for the cost of ~ $200.00 per aid. Added to the original cost of $2,200 for the pair, that is about $3000 total over the past nine years. Each time they graciously repaired the aids without trying to sell new aids to the tune of $5,000. The disadvantage is that no one else will touch the aids, even for a minor repair and they have to be sent back, so are I am without an aid for 10 days or so. I do have a sense, but cannot put my finger on it, that the company has changed,: the web site is different. But my recent experience was positive.

my wife & I both bought aids from AmericaHears. I got along so-so with mine after a couple trips back for adjustments. Mine were the mid-range product, and my wife needed the highest priced model supposedly because her hearing loss was so severe. She never was satisfied with hers. because we had to drive 16 or so miles from our hme to get service, after many trips back for adjusments, that were never successful, she just gave up.These people are not audiologists, and are totally unprofessional. damn sorry we ever got involved. I have since obtained hearing aids thru the V.A.,which were fitted by a real honest to goodness audiologist, and now hear fine, and and have REAL hearing adis, not some phony Wlker Game Ear imitation.

I've done business with America Hears for 20 years and they were great until the change of ownership. The customer service rep has a hard time explaining what has happened and makes excuses for the changes that have been made. The last time I had one of my aids repaired they were slow to return the hearing aid and blamed the late return of my aid on someone going on vacation. Today, I was asked what I wanted three times and I told them clearly that I had a hearing aid that needed to be repaired. The rep responded each time that my aid was being repaired and would ship soon. I told him that I had not shipped the aid yet. He tried to transfer me to someone else and my call was dropped. I called back and he told me the rep that did repairs must have been busy doing a test. I told him I missed the forms and the FED EX labels they supplied that made repairs much easier. He said they were cutting costs by going paperless. I started looking for a new hearing aid vendor today.

I am on my second set of hearing aids from America hears. My first set lasted about 5 years. When I called to order a second set I was pleased to find out I got a discount because I was a repeat customer. After ordering the second set I was instructed to return the first set. They repaired them free and returned them to me as a spare set in case I had a problem with the second set. I am about to order my third set to keep in my vehicle in case I leave mine at the house. The first set I gave to a missionary friend who serves in Honduras. He still uses them.

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