Hearing Aid - ?

[HeinrichManouvre]

Being told I needed hearing aids was a bit of a downer for me.

Using them was a pleasant surprise- like being 20 years younger!

It's nice having the option of taking them out sometimes @ebikeerwidnes

I was rather pleased to have it confirmed that my hearing loss was real. I'm looking forward to getting my hearing aids - hopefully in March.

I've been waiting long enough.

 

[All uphill]

I was rather pleased to have it confirmed that my hearing loss was real. I'm looking forward to getting my hearing aids - hopefully in March.

I've been waiting long enough.

You may already have been told that your brain will have to relearn how to use the new inputs. It took about six months regular use for me to get the full benefit.

An example - I sat outside a cafe with Ms AU chatting and suddenly a blur of noise behind me became the conversation of people at the next table. My brain had worked out how to convert the sounds into information.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[PaulSB]

@simongt a few years ago I went to Boots for a hearing test. It was decided I needed hearing aids. Then came the kick. Boots don't do NHS work, I assumed they did. I was offered aids priced between £1500 - 3000. They were brilliant.
I couldn't afford these though. I went to Specsavers, great service, a decent set of aids on the NHS which do all I need. Not cutting edge though.

One of the pairs Boots offered me had an automatic setting for driving. Two microphones on each aid. In the right aid the forward facing microphone was noise cancelling, the rear facing tuned into the offside rear passenger. On the left aid the forward microphone tuned to the front seat passenger and the rear to the nearside backseat passenger.

Incredibly clever but did I need it? £3000? Nope!

 

[simongt]

I think that one point is that I now tend avoid high pitched noises; sirens, screaming bairns, yapping dogs when possible, but otherwise I don't appear to have any particular issue hearing everyday sound from most sources. I can hear conversation, films, radio etc. without any problem as far as I can make out and only rarely does anyone have to repeat themselves, although that's usually because of some background noise overriding what they've said, or I'm out of their earshot anyway.

 

[ColinJ]

I have NHS hearing aids. I haven't started using them yet, but the time is approaching when I will need to.

I am fine if people speak clearly but when they are very softly spoken or mumble, I can struggle to make out what they are saying, especially in a noisy environment.

I had a bit of a misunderstanding in a bike shop yesterday...

Bike Shop Guy: Is that a Sora crank?

Me: No, it's a 105.

BSG: A SORA!

Me: A 1-0-5!

BSG: A FOUR I!!!

[It is a 105 crank fitted with a 4iiii power meter...]

Me: Oops, sorry - my hearing is a bit iffy!!

 

[PaulSB]

I have NHS hearing aids. I haven't started using them yet, but the time is approaching when I will need to.

I am fine if people speak clearly but when they are very softly spoken or mumble, I can struggle to make out what they are saying, especially in a noisy environment.

I had a bit of a misunderstanding in a bike shop yesterday...

Bike Shop Guy: Is that a Sora crank?

Me: No, it's a 105.

BSG: A SORA!

Me: A 1-0-5!

BSG: A FOUR I!!!

[It is a 105 crank fitted with a 4iiii power meter...]

Me: Oops, sorry - my hearing is a bit iffy!!

Yep, this is my hearing as well.

 

[PaulSB]

This is really interesting to me, it feels a bit like taking that next step in life's journey if you see what I mean. I recently purchased a pair of Apple airpod pro's which have a hearing aid function, though the hearing test function has not been enabled for the UK yet. I was going to have a play around with those first and see if they make a difference in a noisy environment which is where I usually struggle.

This is where I struggle. Generally I only wear my aids in these situations, a busy restaurant, the club quiz night, theatre, cinema. I find it means I clearly hear conversation around me from other tables. I don't feel much benefit from those at the same table. A friend told me the difference in my hearing with the aids is very noticeable. I asked how she new. "We don't have to spend half the evening repeating ourselves!"

This fits with my wife's view that I'm in denial about hearing loss and simply don't know I can't hear!

The other thing I struggle with quickly spoken accents on TV. In particular when the character has a strong, quickly spoken New York or east coast accent.

 

[Drago]

I have NHS hearing aids. I haven't started using them yet, but the time is approaching when I will need to.

I am fine if people speak clearly but when they are very softly spoken or mumble, I can struggle to make out what they are saying, especially in a noisy environment.

I had a bit of a misunderstanding in a bike shop yesterday...

Bike Shop Guy: Is that a Sora crank?

Me: No, it's a 105.

BSG: A SORA!

Me: A 1-0-5!

BSG: A FOUR I!!!

[It is a 105 crank fitted with a 4iiii power meter...]

Me: Oops, sorry - my hearing is a bit iffy!!

Different cause, but that misunderstanding recalls to mind a job I went to at a garage. One of the mechanics had a bad stammer, and one day a customer with a bad stammer wandered in. Each thought the other was taking the piss and they ended up having a cracking fight.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Old Joke

Pardon?

Didn’t see thst coming

 

[Alex321]

If you do go ahead with hearing aids privately be careful about what brand you go for. My experience was lots with my Mum's hearing aids - she was private and had Phonak ones. I issues we had big problems with were that they didn't comply with most hearing aid standards. To get better hearing using the phone you had to buy Phonak telephones (and forget using mobile phones even though they support hearing aids, they don't support proprietary ones). Inductive loops things at bank counters ... no help.

In the end we got her some NHS ones but by then she'd got so used to getting the Phonak ones in and out (and being in her 90's) the switch was too much. Would have been better if we'd have got the NHS ones far earlier.

I'd be very wary of a company insisting you really need something to solve something that isn't a problem for you. To many companies out there trying to separate you t your money. Sounds like you have had a 2nd opinion and that is"no need". Also it's not £1700 rather it's 1700 now plus annual checkups and recalibration (with Mum that meant non-invasive special devices round neck, test equipment ... with a bill at the end).

These private companies exist to make a profit and tying you in to their range of products helps them in that aim.

Maybe if your need isn't urgent see if you can get on the NHS route. May be long waits but if not urgent. Maybe try another test making it clear to the tester (before testing) you wont be buying and hearing aids but want their assessment

Ian

I have Phonak ones that I have had since February - previously had a set of Specsavers ones.

The Phonak ones really are streets ahead in performance, and have quite a few nice features above the actual improvement of hearing.

 

[oldwheels]

The head of the hearing aid dept at Oban Hospital gets very annoyed with people who only use them when it suits. He takes the view that you should put them in first thing in the morning and keep them there for the rest of the day unless doing something like swimming.

 

[PaulSB]

The head of the hearing aid dept at Oban Hospital gets very annoyed with people who only use them when it suits. He takes the view that you should put them in first thing in the morning and keep them there for the rest of the day unless doing something like swimming.

I can understand that but for me it's a question of comfort. When I first got aids I tried to wear them all day. I just couldn't get used to it.

If I ever need them permanently I would go private to get something I could wear all day.

 

[oldwheels]

I can understand that but for me it's a question of comfort. When I first got aids I tried to wear them all day. I just couldn't get used to it.

If I ever need them permanently I would go private to get something I could wear all day.

I only have one in my right ear and it did take a bit of getting used to but now I can wear it all day with no problems. Standard NHS one.

Edit to add I also get regular checks by a technician used to be every 6 months but now extended to 12 months.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I was rather pleased to have it confirmed that my hearing loss was real. I'm looking forward to getting my hearing aids - hopefully in March.

I've been waiting long enough.

I’m always mentioning this but as you’re new and might not already know about it, I’ve cut and pasted some useful info below:

A reminder to all who use hearing aids that you are eligible for a disabled person’s railcard, giving you (and your companion!) 1/3rd of all rail travel. There are no peak/off-peak restrictions. Costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years.

Buy it here https://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/

 

[PaulSB]

For anyone wanting to apply for the disabled railcard be aware you need documentary evidence of your need for aids.

I've found it very difficult to get this. I eventually gave up. Probably a good idea to ask when you're next tested.