Hearing Aids - how goes it?

[ian in lancs]

I'm 58 and my hearing seems to be getting dull. I can't clearly hear conversation in crowded spaces and need the TV up a notch or two and with some programmes the conversation is muffled although the music is fine. Adverts are OK - sadly! Seems it might be time to get tested. What Im interested in is user experience re hearing aids ...

Do they just amplify everything - background noise too? Are pubs and restaurants tolerable?
How clear are they? Is there white noise?
Is the volume set or adjustable?
What about phones?
How easy are they to adjust to?
Any advice on which devices are better?

How do colleagues react? Do they change how much they communicate? Do they exclude?

How do strangers react? New business contacts? Do they look down or assume stupidity?

Respectful thanks!

Edited by ian in lancs on Saturday 14th October 18:14

[healeyneil]

For me, NHS ones were useless, and the service was not good. I had to go private (expensively! )and that's much better. It doesn't just amplify everything, it is custom tuned to suit your loss - you will have lost a lot of high frequency sound. Also there are different programmes for different situations. Places like pubs are still a problem as there's so much noise rattling around but you will hear folk close to you. Modern aids are close to invisible so most people won't realise you have them.
In rant mode I would say that NEVER EVER use anything from an electric drill upwards without hearing protection.

[TheAngryDog]

I am supposed to wear a hearing aid in my left ear as I am quite deaf in it but I hate wearing it. It is of course an NHS issued one so it's not the best. I hated how it amplified the sound, it just felt like I was wearing a speaker directly in my ear.

[kuro]

My hearing is going the same way and the wife and kids are always going on at me to get something sorted. I always imagined the NHS ones would be st but what about the tiny in ear types? I remember my dad had these and they cost him a couple of grand. Are they a huge improvement over the NHS ones?

[loafer123]

I think you should check out your eyesight too.

You posted this in General Gassing.

[ian in lancs]

Thanks for your replies. I will mention next time i'm at the quacks. Im told a referral to the hospital audiology unit begins the process.

[ian in lancs]

loafer123 said:

I think you should check out your eyesight too.

You posted this in General Gassing.

?

[loafer123]

ian in lancs said:

loafer123 said:

I think you should check out your eyesight too.

You posted this in General Gassing.

?

General Gassing is for chatting about cars.

You probably want The Lounge.

[ian in lancs]

loafer123 said:

ian in lancs said:

loafer123 said:

I think you should check out your eyesight too.

You posted this in General Gassing.

?

General Gassing is for chatting about cars.

You probably want The Lounge.

I'm sure the mods will move it if it's that much of a problem

[DoubleD]

And then they did

[ian in lancs]

and at a whim reduced considerably my chance of responses! Most posts there have very low response rates and I doubt many have 'Health' in their favourites.

Not sure of the appropriateness of having such a folder - most people would want a broad response to a health issue; as i do.

thanks for pedantic interference - please return it back

[loafer123]

[bomb]

I have hearing aids and have used them for about 10 years. In direct response to your questions ......

Do they just amplify everything - background noise too? Are pubs and restaurants tolerable? - If I am in an area with background noise, I simply cannot filter out the conversation around me, and hence this is exactly where I need my aids the most. Huge improvement in my hearing when I wear them in these circumstances.


How clear are they? Is there white noise? - They are 'tuned' to my ears and specific frequencies and hence amplify the noise I cannot hear ( higher pitches). No issues with white noise.

Is the volume set or adjustable? - They are adjustable for volume, and different settings for general or directional hearing.

What about phones? - I dont need to use them when using the phone, but you can use them, with a 'phone setting'.


How easy are they to adjust to? - Very simple. Small adjusters are on the back of the aid.

Any advice on which devices are better? - My first ones were from 'Specsavers' and cost a fortune ! When they needed replacing I went to the NHGS ( on advice from a friend), and my own findings were that they were MUCH better than the Specsavers ones. I got excellent service at the hospital clinic too.

How do colleagues react? Do they change how much they communicate? Do they exclude? - Noone cares ! They fully accepted me having to use them whilst at work ( meetings etc).

How do strangers react? New business contacts? Do they look down or assume stupidity? - Again, nobody cares or mentions them. No negative comments ..................(well I couldn't hear any !!)

I tend to use them when we go out socially, or, if I'm somewhere with backgound noises, or at some type of meetings etc.

I was a bit nervous when I first got them, but now I dont care what people think, and I am sure nobody cares if you wear them.

I'd recommend you get them if you are struggling to hear. Its no big deal.

[ian in lancs]

bomb said:

I have hearing aids and have used them for about 10 years. In direct response to your questions ......

Do they just amplify everything - background noise too? Are pubs and restaurants tolerable? - If I am in an area with background noise, I simply cannot filter out the conversation around me, and hence this is exactly where I need my aids the most. Huge improvement in my hearing when I wear them in these circumstances.


How clear are they? Is there white noise? - They are 'tuned' to my ears and specific frequencies and hence amplify the noise I cannot hear ( higher pitches). No issues with white noise.

Is the volume set or adjustable? - They are adjustable for volume, and different settings for general or directional hearing.

What about phones? - I dont need to use them when using the phone, but you can use them, with a 'phone setting'.


How easy are they to adjust to? - Very simple. Small adjusters are on the back of the aid.

Any advice on which devices are better? - My first ones were from 'Specsavers' and cost a fortune ! When they needed replacing I went to the NHGS ( on advice from a friend), and my own findings were that they were MUCH better than the Specsavers ones. I got excellent service at the hospital clinic too.

How do colleagues react? Do they change how much they communicate? Do they exclude? - Noone cares ! They fully accepted me having to use them whilst at work ( meetings etc).

How do strangers react? New business contacts? Do they look down or assume stupidity? - Again, nobody cares or mentions them. No negative comments ..................(well I couldn't hear any !!)

I tend to use them when we go out socially, or, if I'm somewhere with backgound noises, or at some type of meetings etc.

I was a bit nervous when I first got them, but now I dont care what people think, and I am sure nobody cares if you wear them.

I'd recommend you get them if you are struggling to hear. Its no big deal.

thanks very much

[ninja-lewis]

ian in lancs said:

I'm 58 and my hearing seems to be getting dull. I can't clearly hear conversation in crowded spaces and need the TV up a notch or two and with some programmes the conversation is muffled although the music is fine. Adverts are OK - sadly! Seems it might be time to get tested. What Im interested in is user experience re hearing aids ...

Do they just amplify everything - background noise too? Are pubs and restaurants tolerable?
How clear are they? Is there white noise?
Is the volume set or adjustable?
What about phones?
How easy are they to adjust to?
Any advice on which devices are better?

How do colleagues react? Do they change how much they communicate? Do they exclude?

How do strangers react? New business contacts? Do they look down or assume stupidity?

Respectful thanks!

Edited by ian in lancs on Saturday 14th October 18:14

A few points to go with what others have mentioned:

1. They are aids - they help but they do not 'correct' your hearing like spectacles do with vision. You will still have a degree of hearing loss in some (many) situations. They work best in conjunction with other coping strategies like lip-reading and placing yourself in the best position to hear others). That's not to say they are not worthwhile. Simply don't set high expectations of perfect hearing again.

2. You need to wear them all the time to get used to them. A lot of people don't get on with them because they treat them like reading glasses and only wear them when they think they need them Then they wonder why they don't get on with them and abandon them in a drawer.

3. Phones work fine with them these days. There are even models with bluetooth that can be used with a phone (just remember you still need to speak into the microphone on the phone!) and even be controlled through an app on the phone.

4. Look for a qualified audiologist, not just sales person selling hearing aids, and definitely avoid the kind you see in newspaper adverts!

5. Remember it's your hearing. If something doesn't sound right to you, talk to the audiologist and ask for the programme to be adjusted. If you a programme that you don't have to mess around with that's fine. If you want to be able to control different programmes that's fine too.

Edited by ninja-lewis on Saturday 14th October 23:44

[ian in lancs]

thanks

[Riley Blue]

I don't think there's a stigma attached to wearing hearing aids these days. Both my brothers in law wear two and when I asked them both, neither mentioned being treating differently by people they met. I have a friend who has been profoundly deaf since childhood and who has a cochlear implant. She often replaces the battery when she's out but no one takes any notice, same as when I occasionally use a walking stick.

[FocusRS3]

Riley Blue said:

I don't think there's a stigma attached to wearing hearing aids these days. Both my brothers in law wear two and when I asked them both, neither mentioned being treating differently by people they met. I have a friend who has been profoundly deaf since childhood and who has a cochlear implant. She often replaces the battery when she's out but no one takes any notice, same as when I occasionally use a walking stick.

Quite agree and no reason there should be any reason to feel conscious . A mate of mine regularly stabs himself with his insulin pen when we're out and no one says anything . Life's too short to worry fuk it

[Watchman]

Mine is't quite the same issue as yours but I wondered if an alternative approach might help.

I have a problem listening to conversations in busy/noisy environments. I believe it's quite common but it takes the joy away from those occasions to the point where I just don't go anymore. I noticed if I left my little ear defenders in (little foam earplugs - I used to drive a Caterham - it was LOUD), they shut out the background noise and made the conversations much easier to hear. So rather than amplify, I did the opposite. This only works in places where people have to shout to be heard. Their shouting was uncomfortable and made my ears actually hurt before.

I buy flesh-coloured ones so they don't stand out. People thought the flouro-yellow ones were a bit much.


TV is a problem too but I think it's partly to do with the way producers mix their audio tracks. I have a Sonos Playbar - the software allows for you to add filters that promote the vocal range and cut the extreme bass noises (they call that last one "night mode"), and it's revolutionised how I hear TV now. I still like it a notch louder than others might but without the bass booming, the sound doesn't travel through the house like it used to.

[motco]

bomb said:

When they needed replacing I went to the NHGS ( on advice from a friend), and my own findings were that they were MUCH better than the Specsavers ones. I got excellent service at the hospital clinic too.

Is 'NHGS' a typo for NHS? Thanks.