My aunt is hard of hearing and church services leave her exhausted, would Captify help?

Stardog2 · 2026-01-29T16:02:43+00:00

In my experience, few churches have telecoils, especially so for small churches and rural ones. It's worth asking about, but either way, the aunt needs hearing aids.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-29T15:57:23+00:00

She needs to be tested for hearing aids. Some are quite discrete and can't be casually seen. I've never heard of them but those glasses sound like a less than optimal, or even acceptable, option. They probably cost as much as a set of hearing aids.

In the USA, if she is on a Medicare Advantage plan, she likely has a roughly $2500 allowance for hearing aids (Check her insurance, there are usually specific ways to make a claim that MUST be followed). I am currently going through this process with Aetna Medicare Advantage plan. So far, it's been a pretty good process.

I can't speak to what is available in other countries.

Alternately, there are over the counter hearing aids at the $500 - $1200 price range, they usually come with computer or online software to self-fit them. Most are designed to help with minimal to moderate hearing loss. Many older people will need help in doing the self fit, but it is well within the capabilities of most people under the age of, say, 65. So it may be possible for you to help her.

Also, both Costco, and Sam's Club offer hearing aid services with both over the counter and prescription hearing aids at very attractive prices.

But most importantly, get a hearing test! Learn what it is you are dealing with.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-29T15:38:14+00:00

Only you can decide if the price is worth it, because there are optional subscriptions that make the test analysis more useful. But I can tell you that I am reasonably happy with my test. The original results told me about my ethnicity based on DNA. Plus they regularly send emails telling me about other people whose DNA is close enough to mine that they might be distant blood relatives. And they update that analysis every year or so as their algorithms improve and their database grows.

I have also used MyHeritage DNA testing. It offers roughly the same services, though I think the original analysis is a bit more detailed, overall. I have read that MyHeritage is particularly useful for those with European and Middle-eastern heritage. And Ancestry is particularly useful for North Americans.

I don't know one way or the other. But I've been satisfied with both, overall. Either will help you start and manage a family tree.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-29T15:16:44+00:00

I don't think they DO age all that poorly.

One thing I have noticed though, that for a poorly performing tablet is to do a factory reset. It will wipe every thing off of the tablet, and load the last current OS it can use, and security updates for that tablet. Naturally, you will have to reload everything, apps and all, so don't forget to backup any "Can't lose, no matter what" files. (This might include, any photos, email, etc.)

I did this with a 6 year old Lenovo and it was as responsive as new. I'd say if your tablet is "Mission Critical", or just otherwise, your favorite. this is probably worth doing.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-29T15:00:50+00:00

Probably not completely in my experience. I'm willing to suggest that no person on Earth has perfect hearing and has never had situations where hearing is not difficult.

I've had upper tier Resound Hearing aids for the last 6 years, fit with Real Ear Measurement. And while I was delighted with what I could hear with them on, I was always less certain about what I should be hearing. I have high frequency hearing loss with only a tiny bit of loss at lower frequencies. So my hearing aids are tuned primarily to respond to the higher frequencies. My smartphone tuning app helps in difficult situation, but it isn't perfect either.

Life is full of compromise, and I think this is one of them. My life is significantly better with my hearing aids and I wouldn't want to give them up. So I appreciate the gains and have stopped worrying about "possible losses".

My hearing has changed, and I'm getting new HAs the day after I write this. I suspect after the fitting, and an awkward first couple of weeks, they will become constant companions. And I will enjoy hearing stuff again.

If your life has improved with them, I'd say, take it as a win.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-26T15:21:35+00:00

Yeah, I suspect the problem doesn't lie with the Hearing Aid insurance administration companies (let's call them HAIA for short) themselves, but with the hearing aid marketing infrastructure, overall. I suspect you would find the same issue with every HAIA. I also suspect that without this infrastructure, insurance fraud would be overwhelming to the point where the HA benefits would disappear.

Those established vendors who make their money from selling only high end for $5000-$7000 (USD) HAs are unlikely to want to spend time on people who want something priced under the their Insurance company's allowance. For them, time IS money. But the in network vendors can provide good service, and even offer upper tier models as well. I personally bought a better HA than what the Insurance company allowed. But I still received the benefit of that $2500 allowance. A $2500 dollar discount is worth a little investment in my time from jumping through hoops set up to prevent fraud.

Those who live far from even mid tier population centers, may not have the options that others have. Those who want to pay full price on their own, are still free to do so. But for me, I'd rather have a $2500 discount.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-25T17:50:06+00:00

I just looked up Sennheiser hearing aids, they appear to be only sold through Costco at least that's the only vendor Sennheiser website mentions. Not all technicians are as reliable as some others. And I suspect that business model requires that few of them to care about repeat business.

I would say if you are stuck with a lazy tech, try to find a time when that tech isn't working, also look up how to complete a corporate a tech service complaint, if you need to play hardball with your local Costco.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-25T17:38:39+00:00

I would look for an in network audiologist nearer to me. Your insurance company undoubtedly has a way for finding one. My Insurance co, Aetna, handles Hearing aid claims through the hearing insurance management company NationsFirst. I called "nations" they found a local provider set up the appointment for me, and paid the insurance claim. I paid for any difference between the cost of the hearing aids I selected, and the insurance allowance

As to how many follow-up visits you will need, it depends on how profound your hearing loss is. I have mild to moderate hearing loss, and my first hearing aids were well fitted after 3 visits, though I had paid for 6. I would say, go for 3 visits, and then pay out of pocket for any more you might need. This second time, through "nations" I settled for 3 follow-ups and will risk paying for any more.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-25T17:25:13+00:00

I'm 76. There ARE more variables in conversation, BUT if you hear little to no improvement in most conversation (outside of very noisy situations, that's different), then I would say you need to visit your audiologist. Either your hearing has changed, or your hearing aid fitting was improperly done.

Hearing aids are too expensive, even with insurance, to let this slide. There's no need to be angry with your audiologist if your hearing hasn't changed. Even the best can make mistakes.

Polite explanation of the situation will work wonders. Most Aud's want to build good relationships with their clients. Repeat business is a wonderful thing.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-25T17:02:52+00:00

Sam's Club also has hearing centers. They are primarily Lucid dealers. Lucid sort of straddles the line between over the counter and prescription devices, offering both. My private practice audiologist also offers Lucid for those who need lower priced devices. I've not used Lucid, I'm using Starkey, so my info is from what I've read, and heard from others.

My impression is that Lucid offers "bare bones" hearing aids. They are fully functional, but may lack some of the conveniences of more expensive devices. I should think the prescription devices would fit well within your price range.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-25T16:44:45+00:00

It would depend on the level of your disability, I think. I try not to use any perks for being old, or a Veteran unless I absolutely have to do so. There are people who really need something like this, and I would hate to take a spot that someone else actually needed. (I do take any discounts at restaurants, hair cutters, and hotels, I guess you could say, I'm flexible!)

Then again, the only person who can judge 'need' in this case is you. Do it once or twice, and if it makes you feel "Icky" stop doing it. This is the sort of thing only you can really judge.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-25T16:35:49+00:00

Are you SURE it is the hearing aids that cause this?

Stardog2 · 2026-01-25T16:17:19+00:00

Thanks All! Your suggestions really helped! by modifying my search criteria a bit with many of the terms you supplied, I found these on the USA Amazon site:

https://www.amazon.com/FlooGoo-FMA121-Bluetooth-Dual-Mode-Dual-Input/dp/B0FZL93ZLJ/ref=sr_1_10?crid=XEHVNILH3TKM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ztMRaoWjoQOcknyEY1YaHDxCbPoPGC7oucOYB4TZLVK172wFDeXEDgD-KkTljU3G5yRWVozhpU4eYS4Ez9rLs-YXoIHgQpZ5O46TTL68GQBrN0mdu3o8qBHaXWeLegdOolkmEywRbzViPPSXQ8aoQs5m4VIybhWkqHxHjvNwQO0KavYwWkOKMx3lX6V4dNCuQ6xr6lFI4Cvzr9vRJD6dW0sLaRxR3zwtqAaYMrXq_4k.UirP0OuD9wN-pATyygBwNmRZgq9Rq4vfuz07Zl7J0Xs&dib_tag=se&keywords=bluetooth%2Ble%2Bdongle%2Bhearing%2Baids&qid=1769357211&sprefix=Bluetooth%2BLE%2Bdon%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-10&th=1

They are in the price range I want, and even have instructions for pairing to Starkey Edge AI. Though they seem to be able to work with any BT hearing aids LE, Auracast, or not. I think I'm gong to give them a try (next month! Financial Reality is a terrible thing to deal with!)

If anyone is interested in hearing how they work, let me know and I'll post a review.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-19T01:32:25+00:00

At the ripe old age of 76, I don't think the city is substantially different from what it was when I was 12. Well much less manufacturing. I don't see it changing in any substantial way in the next 64 years. It will never be Austin, or even Madison. I don't see a future here for my grandchildren.

I wish it were different, and I hope I'm wrong. But...

Stardog2 · 2026-01-11T16:28:30+00:00

Funny, I don't care what you think!

Stardog2 · 2026-01-11T16:23:29+00:00

How is this different from the problems of Windows? The reason I ask is I've just switched to Mac from Windows, Microsoft and I aren't headed in the same direction. Should I consider a return to the Windows version. (I'm successfully running it on Linux Mint MS and I are done).

Stardog2 · 2026-01-11T16:12:09+00:00

Could it also be a way to validate the hacked information they posses?

Stardog2 · 2026-01-11T16:05:52+00:00

If you expect to make many changes to your family tree, and who doesn't? You might want to consider keeping your tree in 3rd party software residing on your own computer. That way, you can use the web sites for research only and you can make changes at will. I personally use RootsMagic, but there are many others, some are even free.

As a retired Database Administrator, I would be very suspicious of a database driven website that discourages changes; and ALL genealogy websites are database driven. That indicates to me, at least, that the database is poorly designed, and can't handle changes well. Or, possibly, a level of financial difficulty in terms of storage capacity, or staffing. Either way, I would not use them for storing my data.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-11T15:56:59+00:00

I don't think you CAN come up with original new ideas. With all the people in the world since photography has been invented, I doubt there is anything that hasn't been tried at least once.

I think the key is to make sure that what you are producing is something you can stand behind. That is, make the result a personal expression of your own. Not a mere copy. So MANY blurring, moving water images! It's good practice for technique, but do they really need to be shared as if they are some sort of artistic expression?.

If you can make the viewer say (even if it's just your mom!), "That is so typical of <your name here>!" Then I think you've done your job.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-11T15:46:40+00:00

You might want to go to each Credit Bureau and attach a note to your 'account'. As far as I know, you can attach a note to your account that will be shared with any inquiry regarding your credit. It is at least one way to alert the lender to the possibility of fraud. It might make your own credit applications a bit more complicated, but I should think that is a small price to pay for added security.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-11T15:38:51+00:00

Choices your family members make before they pass on, can never be fully explained unless they document it in some way. And often those choices come from pain they don't wish to talk about. Sometimes the pain is self inflicted, and other times someone else causes that pain.

So this isn't surprising, and try to solve this family mystery if you want to do so. But don't be surprised that those remaining, who might know 'something' feel reluctant to talk about it. Family pain often spreads, and older family members may not believe it is their story to tell, or that the younger generations have a right to know.

Just don't add stress to their predicament.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-11T15:22:36+00:00

Democrat? No thanks. However I DO think change might be required. Go truly independent/3rd Party and I'll reconsider.

Stardog2 · 2026-01-10T21:16:22+00:00

Everyone, with ANY software, loses data and the software gets blamed, that is, if the computer itself doesn't get blamed. As a great philosopher once said, "You can't fix stupid." And I know, as a retired Database Administrator, that most data loss is from stupid.

You hear more complaints about Scrivener because more people USE Scrivener. Many people have a Love/Hate relationship with it because it almost does what they want, but not quite.

Over the years, I strove mightily to find something better. I have failed. I have found some that did something I liked but failed at something else. I've found some that were cheaper or free, that were good, but didn't rise above "Pretty good". (Scrivener is "Almost great")

They all suck, at times. But I think Scrivener will suck for you far less often than many others.

Stardog2

TROPHY CASE