Hearing Aids - What to Expect?

[Dev]

Evening all!

 

It didn't seem right posting this in the general forum, so I gave us a space to discuss health-related things.  As the topic hints, I'm getting at least one hearing aid, possibly two, tomorrow - they didn't say how many they ordered when they called to set up the fitting.  I have about 50% hearing loss in my left ear and about 30% loss in my right.

 

So I've heard vaguely through third- and fourth-hand accounts that people have had to go back for refittings repeatedly, and that the settings don't always stay consistent volume-wise.  I wanted to see if anyone here has had personal experience with this sort of thing so I know what I have to look forward to after tomorrow morning.

 

Bonus points to me if I remember to turn the car radio down before I get back in it with a hearing aid on...

[tracy_j]

I have no personal experience, but my partner has worn one hearing aid for a number of years. She started with an analogue one, but has been using digital for some years now. By and large she has had no real problems as far as I have seen. There may have been the odd re-fitting, but if so, I don't remember any. Very very occasionally she has had to return for a professional clean but, except for me noticing a feedback squeak when she has taken it out and forgotton to turn it off, it is very reliable. Her's was provided by our NHS.

 

Tracy

[VickySGV]

I have a stereo set up here in front of me that I am getting ready to put in, my loss is 35% in one ear and 40% in the other and while I am happy with mine in general, there are some things I have had to learn about them.  I have had two sets by now, one which was totally "in the ear" and did take a special mold and fitting for my ears alone.  The second has the "electronics" up on top of my ear with an "ear bud" type thing in the ear canal itself.  I like the second ones better because the ear insert is soft silicone rubber and is more comfortable than the hard plastic of the other fitted type.

 

Caution #1 -- The aids will amplify ALL the noise where you are, and not just the noise you want to hear.  With your hearing loss, you have learned to compensate without knowing it and you will have to overcome the compensation for some "noises" such as your friends or spouse talking to you.  I still (after 17 years) have to see a person's face to identify what they are contributing to the general noise. (My compensation was lip reading but until I got my aids I did not know it.)  You may also need to put them on the lowest setting while you drive for a while, because there you have also compensated by sight and some other means, and a car merely revving its engine will make you automatically turn to the curb because it sorta sounds like siren.

 

Caution #2 -- You will have to tell people to quit shouting at you, that raising their voice will not help you hear and in fact will make it harder to understand them.  You need them to speak a little more slowly and distinctly but not louder.  A guy I meet at the hearing aid shop when I get mine cleaned every couple of months told me why he got his aids.  He was having trouble hearing and understanding what his friends were saying to him.  He had wondered if it was his hearing or possibly how the friends were talking.  He definitely did need the aids for a hearing loss, but once they were in, it turned out that that he had a whole bunch of mush mouthed friends that he had to teach to speak to him.  I had to agree with him AFTER I got off the floor from laughing.  (My daughter and ex-wife are still the worst with me that way.) 

 

Caution #3 -- Dropped keys, people crushing aluminum cans or plastic cups or bottles, closing door latches and the like are going to raise your adrenaline for a while.  People cracking their knuckles are inciting you to riot along with the table top pen tappers you get near.  The last bunch will sound like pile drivers.  Your own dangley earrings may be a thing of your past.  In church, you will want to sit as far away from the couple with the young toddler with a temper as you can.

 

The good side is that in a support group or even a musical or live theater show you will enjoy it more.  It will depend on the quality of the aids that you get (more money better quality) as to how you can fine tune them (mine have general sound, face to face directional sound, and "concert sound") to each situation you are in. 

 

I can add more, but let me think about it for a bit.

[VickySGV]

Quick add to this --- you will have to adjust your settings to adapt to the environment.  They have volume controls and maybe a directional hearing button on them.  The ear insert on my aids is a soft silicone petticoat that adapts to the ear canal. I had to get a larger one for one ear to keep from getting feed back, but no problem  You will need to keep your ear wax under control or it can make the harder ear pieces very uncomfortable, especially during dinner when you are chewing.  

[Guest]

I happened to write some ad copy recently for a practitioner who sells and fits hearing aids.

 

His pitch touted the benefit of having the aids fitted and adjusted in your own home.  That supposedly avoids the need for repeated office visits because you're tuning them right away to the sound environment in which you spend most of your time.

[Dev]

Thank you all for the information!  I just got home from the fitting with my shiny new hearing aids, and holy cow I had no clue just how much hearing loss I have.  The difference is like night and day.

 

I will have to get used to hearing things like my clothes rustling when I move, but as I sit here in the quiet I can hear the rain falling outside.  I haven't been able to hear that even with windows wide open for at least two years now.  These things are amazing.

 

I'm beginning to suspect the issues I've heard about third-hand are from people who got started on analog aids as Tracy suggested, because the ones I have fit so comfortably I don't even know they're there.

 

And as a final note, I don't get the bonus points.  I forgot to turn the car radio down before I went in, so it blew me back against the seat the second I started my car to leave.

[Jani]

I'm glad you did this.  We often let ourselves take the back seat when it comes to our health.  My epiphany was when I got glasses (just readers really) when I was 45.  I couldn't believe how bad my eyes were.  

 

The world will open back up for you now that you can hear the subtleties of life!

 

Jani  

[tracy_j]

You raise some good points Vicki, that perhaps I had not appreciated enough. My partner is always commenting that I am mumbling and that she is not hearing what I am saying when the TV is on as she cannot cope with sound on several fronts. I am learning steadily but it is good to hear a clear explanation.

 

I used to hate glasses Jani since I started wearing them at 14. I still remember though, the first time I went out with them and was amazed when I could see each blade of grass as I walked along. I even remember where I was at the time! It was very strange though and I had to steady myself as I misjudged things. These days I am more resigned, but one advantage is that I love getting new feminine frames.

 

Tracy

[Dev]

To give y'all an insight into my family's sense of humor, my mother has threatened to start mumbling when she talks to me now that I have the hearing aids, just to mess with my mind.

 

Next time she gets in my car I might let her find brochures for nursing homes...  

[Jani]

Good one!  You what they say about payback.

[Charlize]

Thank you for this thread and your description of the results.  I've grown used to glasses and they are now part of my life especially for reading.  having worked construction for a long time after a youth of early amplified rock and roll i'm sure my hearing has and will continue to fade.  I do wear hearing protection now as i run machinery on the farm but hearing aids are definitely a possibility in the long term.  Knowing that the new type function well is a blessing.  My father always complained about his and refused to wear them even though years of artillery in WW2 had caused major damage.  I don't want to go into that mindset of complaint.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize