In praise of hearing aids

[All uphill]

A while ago, after years of not being able to follow the TV, guessing what people are saying and a bit of lip reading, I accepted that I had lost some hearing.

My GP referred me the the local NHS audiology service, who delegated testing and fitting to Vision Express.

Two appointments later I found my self with hearing aids. I was shocked to be told that I was not hearing much over 4khz, and that I was classified as being on the border between moderate and severe hearing loss.

The aids are a revelation; I can hear the world around me again! I hear birds in the garden again, I'm not confusing similar sounding words, and no longer have to ask people to repeat things.

One of the best things, though, is being able to take them out when I'm in a noisy environment.

I'd recommend anyone who finds themselves missing things in conversation to think about hearing aids. If you go through the NHS they are free.

What are your experiences with hearing?

 

[fossyant]

I can hear OK, but suffer tinnitus for all my life. I find it difficult to participate/hear conversations in loud places - worse was recently at out local Italian Restaurant - we were fairly central and the level of noise and tinnitus meant I couldn't really participate in any conversation.

 

[Drago]

Mrs D wears them and the difference is procound she tells me. The downside is they sometimes make hear ears ache, are a pain with glasses, etc.

 

[All uphill]

I can hear OK, but suffer tinnitus for all my life. I find it difficult to participate/hear conversations in loud places - worse was recently at out local Italian Restaurant - we were fairly central and the level of noise and tinnitus meant I couldn't really participate in any conversation.

I sympathise.

Everything else sounds quieter as the years pass, but tinnitus just goes on and on.

 

[Alex321]

A while ago, after years of not being able to follow the TV, guessing what people are saying and a bit of lip reading, I accepted that I had lost some hearing.

My GP referred me the the local NHS audiology service, who delegated testing and fitting to Vision Express.

Two appointments later I found my self with hearing aids. I was shocked to be told that I was not hearing much over 4khz, and that I was classified as being on the border between moderate and severe hearing loss.

The aids are a revelation; I can hear the world around me again! I hear birds in the garden again, I'm not confusing similar sounding words, and no longer have to ask people to repeat things.

One of the best things, though, is being able to take them out when I'm in a noisy environment.

I'd recommend anyone who finds themselves missing things in conversation to think about hearing aids. If you go through the NHS they are free.

What are your experiences with hearing?

I bought a set a few years ago (2019), from Specsavers. While they helped, I never really felt they were helping enough to be worth what they cost.

But then I went to a different place for earwax removal and a hearing test just after last Christmas. A small, independent hearing specialist. After the hearing test, she took one look at my existing aids and said those aren't powerful enough (particularly my left ear).

She recommended a new set (expensive), but the difference is absolutely amazing. I really hadn't realised just how much I had been missing.

 

[cyberknight]

mrs ck has one ear closed over due to cancer treatment and the other is not brilliant, she has tried nhs hearing aids but they dont help much .
We were given a device that you plug into the tv and its supposed to braodcast the sound to a little clip on unit that has headphones so you can hear the tv without background sound but it doesnt work we have to have subtitles so she can understand whats going on .

 

[dicko]

I had two NHS hearing aids fitted last year by Specsavers after an operation on my right ear to remove a Cyst.
I was given two aids and it’s made my life much better. Both aids are easily controlled with my smartphone.

 

[oldwheels]

I have had an NHS one in one ear your several years and had it replaced once after further tests.
Not impressed.
At first it seemed to be an improvement but often in close conversation I cannot hear what the other person is saying. Trouble is partly to do with voice pitch I think as some I can hear perfectly ok.
I often feel like just chucking the thing away and once I left home without it and the sense of freedom was amazing.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Seems like I am weird

As I get older I have more and more trouble following things on the telly (often need subtitles) and especially hearing what other people say in noisy places.
A lot of the time it sounds to me like they are slurring they words - I also miss words from conversations

I hadn;t noticed a lot of this - especially the missing words - but my wife confirmed it as it sometimes result sin a different meaning

Anyway - I wet for a hearing test - especially as my Mum had the same problem and when she finally agreed to have a hearing test the person doing it said she was damn near deaf and he unconsciously learned to lip read to fill in the gaps in conversations
Which sounded right to me as I have said for years that I hear people better if I can see their lips

Anyway - turns out that my hearing is pretty good for my age
and it is just my interpretation of the words from the sounds that is sometime lacking - and it is that that I am filling in my looking at lips and facial expressions
probably

still not convinced

and my wife still talked to me from the lounge when the kettle is boiling and wonders why I don;t understand a word she says!!!!

 

[glasgowcyclist]

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/

Edited for a typo

 

[numbnuts]

I have NHS hearing aids by Specsavers, yes I can hear the birds singing, but when it comes to voice it is still not good as it should be.
As I live on my own I never wear them and only really use the to go the the doctors, dentist ect so I can hear my name been called out.
At church I use them, but we have an Italian priest and his english is not very good and to be honest I can't hear what he is saying most of the time and sometimes I say "Lord I can't hear him", but it never makes any difference
I would love to try some expensive ones to see if there is any difference, but if there was it would be out of my price range so there is really no point.

 

[Alex321]

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/of-peak restrictions. Costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years.

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

I never knew that.

At 65, I can get a Senior railcard anyhow, which isn't much more expensive. Though it does have restrictions, and the disabled railcard allows a partner travelling with you to also get the discount.

But I hardly ever use the train, so not worth it for me.

 

[DaddyPaddey]

I had NHS for several years, but got some from hidden hearing [cost=ouch], but I have the gizmo that sends the mobile, and TV, direct to hearing aid. Latter is fantastic, quality of speach really good, and you have the TV sound turned off. She who must be obeyed kept popping into the front room to see if I was still alive as it was so quiet.

My bluetooth intercom has just arrived so now to see if I can pair it with the hearing aids.

 

[Alex321]

I had NHS for several years, but got some from hidden hearing [cost=ouch], but I have the gizmo that sends the mobile, and TV, direct to hearing aid. Latter is fantastic, quality of speach really good, and you have the TV sound turned off. She who must be obeyed kept popping into the front room to see if I was still alive as it was so quiet.

My bluetooth intercom has just arrived so now to see if I can pair it with the hearing aids.

Mine were through Clear Hearing Solutions in Barry.

Again, cost pretty ouch, but like yours, they have bluetooth connectivity, so can be used as headphones/microphone for things like teams meetings. And they are completely comfortable to wear all day. And they do come with a 5 year guarantee.

It is Phonak Lumity aids I have now.

 

[Mo1959]

My hearing is still quite good. Probably the only part that’s still working well!