topic Re: Hearing aids in Wellness

Hearing aids

matty liz — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 14:57:39 GMT

My hearing is bad. I asked my Dr. for help and his response was "good luck". I don't know weither to go to an audiologist first or to pick a hearing place and go out of the blue. If there is any help out there, it is you people, thanks

Re: Hearing aids

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:04:47 GMT

Sorry I cant help any but I have the same problem. I am completely deaf in one ear and loosing hearing in the other. What little checking I have done is scary. Hearing aid companies want a fortune for them, and the "cheap" ones are a rip off. This is the only reason I dont wear any now.

Let me know what you decide to do and what you find out.

Re: Hearing aids

kaydee50 — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:21:58 GMT

I also don't have any specific advice although if it were me, I would start with an audiologist. IMO, however, I would not ignore going deaf. My mother complained for years about a "popping" sound in her ear but did nothing about it. She eventually lost hearing and I am convinced this contributed to her dementia. When she died at 98 there was nothing seriously wrong with her and her quality of life would have been better if she could hear. Being deaf is very isolating. I would do something about it ASAP.

Re: Hearing aids

Apple Crisp — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:30:40 GMT

I felt like I was having some hearing loss about two years ago. I went to an audiologist who is connected with my ENT doctor. I tested out with some hearing loss and I purchased hearing aids from them, also. I am very excited that I can now hear things that I no longer heard. I no longer ask people to repeat things and I can hear sermons in church again. I can put the volume on my TV at normal levels. I am thrilled that there is such a thing as a hearing aid that can help us.

They do improve the quality of life. I have read in many places that if you don't get help, it can contribute to dementia.

My aids can also be controlled by my iPhone and it has various settings, for example, in restaurants it can block out the noise around you and let you concentrate on just the people you are sitting with.

Hearing aids come in all price ranges. The more expensive ones have more features. We spend money on a lot of things in this world, we should think about the quality of our lives when we think of hearing aids. The audiologist and hearing institute I went to sold more than one brand. It is wise to choose a place that sells more than one brand as you can find the one that is best for you.

Good luck to you.

Re: Hearing aids

ALRATIBA — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:39:12 GMT

My doctor sent me to an ENT ... all sorts of testing and he sent me to audiologist for hearing aids. I've been wearing hearing aids for about 12 years now.

Be prepared ... the devices are expensive.

Re: Hearing aids

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:11:51 GMT

@matty liz Unfortunately, if it's a true loss, there is no regaining of your hearing. IMO, it's always better to go to a licensed audiologist for a diagnosis, at least for starters. You may have a medical condition that's contributing to your problem. An audiologist can tell if you need a cochlear implant, corrective surgery, etc. I've been wearing hearing aids for probably close to 10 yrs. In that time, I've replaced them three times. They are not a once and done kind of thing. Your hearing continues to change/worsen and technology gets better. All this said, my son needed hearing aids but wasn't in a position to get them from the audiologist due to the cost. He got a pair from Costco and is happy with them. At Costco, they only have hearing aid techs or dispensers who can do a hearing test for amplification purposes only. They only sell hearing aids and are not trained in any way to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Now that I've been wearing my hearing aids for several years and know my own situation is one of heredity and aging, that I don't have an acutal medical condition, and as DH & I are nearing retirement, Costco would be a consideration for us in the years to come, if I could. Unfortunately, the mold that goes in my ear is custom made and I cannot use the rubber tips that come with the Costco behind the year version.

As for the style of the aids, I would recommend the behind the ear style. I've tried the in the canal type and they were very aggravating. When you chew, cough, yawn, sneeze, etc, the bones in your ear move and cause the aid to back out of the canal. Depending on what you need, your over the ear device might use an small rubber tip that sits in the canal or you mad need something that completely fills the area.

If you have any questsion, I'll be happy to try and help you. Use the notification feature if you need to reach me.

One more thing to consider - have you had your doctor do a deep cleaning of your ears lately? If you have a lot of ear wax that's packed in there, that can affect your hearing too.

Re: Hearing aids

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:49:58 GMT

@kaydee50 wrote:
I also don't have any specific advice although if it were me, I would start with an audiologist. IMO, however, I would not ignore going deaf. My mother complained for years about a "popping" sound in her ear but did nothing about it. She eventually lost hearing and I am convinced this contributed to her dementia. When she died at 98 there was nothing seriously wrong with her and her quality of life would have been better if she could hear. Being deaf is very isolating. I would do something about it ASAP.

@kaydee50 Absolutely true! My audiologist said there's a definite connection between hearing loss, isolation, and dementia.

My hearing isn't great, but I'm not deaf. Even with aids, crowded, loud, noisy places make it very difficult to have a conversation - that background noise really interferes. I know I miss a lot and sometimes feel that isolation or even some degree of ignorance at times because I am not hearing the other person correctly or responding to them correctly. Fortunately, those instances aren't very frequent.

Re: Hearing aids

jlkz — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:03:07 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch

Thank you for a very informative post. While I don’t have a hearing problem, I do know others with the issue. I can at least share the info with them.

The point about the ear bones moving wasn’t one I was aware of...it makes sense !

Re: Hearing aids

ALRATIBA — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:09:20 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@kaydee50 wrote:
I also don't have any specific advice although if it were me, I would start with an audiologist. IMO, however, I would not ignore going deaf. My mother complained for years about a "popping" sound in her ear but did nothing about it. She eventually lost hearing and I am convinced this contributed to her dementia. When she died at 98 there was nothing seriously wrong with her and her quality of life would have been better if she could hear. Being deaf is very isolating. I would do something about it ASAP.

@kaydee50 Absolutely true! My audiologist said there's a definite connection between hearing loss, isolation, and dementia.

My hearing isn't great, but I'm not deaf. Even with aids, crowded, loud, noisy places make it very difficult to have a conversation - that background noise really interferes. I know I miss a lot and sometimes feel that isolation or even some degree of ignorance at times because I am not hearing the other person correctly or responding to them correctly. Fortunately, those instances aren't very frequent.

@JeanLouiseFinch

There are hearing aids that can be programmed to eliminate background noises. Depending on brand, they have a "restaurant" or "comfort" setting that work great. There numerous other settings ... I have telecoil and microphone settings and volume control on mine.

Re: Hearing aids

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:18:19 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@kaydee50 wrote:
I also don't have any specific advice although if it were me, I would start with an audiologist. IMO, however, I would not ignore going deaf. My mother complained for years about a "popping" sound in her ear but did nothing about it. She eventually lost hearing and I am convinced this contributed to her dementia. When she died at 98 there was nothing seriously wrong with her and her quality of life would have been better if she could hear. Being deaf is very isolating. I would do something about it ASAP.

@kaydee50 Absolutely true! My audiologist said there's a definite connection between hearing loss, isolation, and dementia.

My hearing isn't great, but I'm not deaf. Even with aids, crowded, loud, noisy places make it very difficult to have a conversation - that background noise really interferes. I know I miss a lot and sometimes feel that isolation or even some degree of ignorance at times because I am not hearing the other person correctly or responding to them correctly. Fortunately, those instances aren't very frequent.
@JeanLouiseFinch

There are hearing aids that can be programmed to eliminate background noises. Depending on brand, they have a "restaurant" or "comfort" setting that work great. There numerous other settings ... I have telecoil and microphone settings and volume control on mine.

Yes, @ALRATIBA, I know. I'm seeing my audiolist in a couple of weeks and plan to discuss this with him. My aids don't have any kinds of buttons or dials to change anything, they sort of do their thing automatically based on the situation I am in. I just noticed the crowd difficulty within the last couple of months. Maybe my actual hearing is getting worse and I may only need a setting update for right now. Next year it'll be time to replace my aids. He told me of a new style with two microphones; one in the back and one in the front. Technology wise, they are supposed to be very good for "reading" your situation and give better hearing for conversations in those loud situations.

Re: Hearing aids

Alison Wonderland — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:23:35 GMT

My father is going through this now. I would see an audiologist first. My dad has been pricing hearing aids and his former business partner got his at Costco for a better price than most places.

I think it's terrible that most insurance companies view hearing aids as unnecessary and refuse to cover them. That's a ridiculous policy and I think it's shameful. Hearing isn't a luxury.

Re: Hearing aids

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 18:08:21 GMT

@Alison Wonderland wrote:
My father is going through this now. I would see an audiologist first. My dad has been pricing hearing aids and his former business partner got his at Costco for a better price than most places.

I think it's terrible that most insurance companies view hearing aids as unnecessary and refuse to cover them. That's a ridiculous policy and I think it's shameful. Hearing isn't a luxury.

@Alison Wonderland Oh, don't even get me started on that one!!! I've been saying for years, insurance will pay for a man to get "happy", but they won't help with hearing aids. I realize getting "happy" is a big deal for a lot of guys, but nobody ever died from not being able to be "happy". Hearing well is a big deal too and can have a great impact on quality of life, IMO moreso than in the bedroom. Being unable to hear can contribute to depression and dementia..

Re: Hearing aids

Fifi1 — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 17:41:44 GMT

I have hearing loss and saw an audiologist first appt and the ear specialist at 2nd appt. Both went over the results and how hearing aids could benefit my daily life. I want to try them over the summer to make sure they are properly fit and the right ones for me. I'm 60 but had many, many ear infections as a kiddo and young adult so lots of scar tissue in ears. We have $5,000 ear benefit on our insurance, so I understand that is very good coverage. I'm 60(yikes) and have had hearing loss for quite a while, and now it's beginning to interfere with my counseling patients and being able to understand! There is no hearing loss in my family at this age, they tell me I just got "un-lucky"!

Re: Hearing aids

sandy53 — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 17:48:50 GMT

I would suggest talking to friends who have hearing aids who live in your community and see who they recommend. Of course they cannot diagnose your issue, but they can tell you about service after the sale, etc. Sadly, I know very few people who are satisfied after getting hearing aids and they are such a huge investment.

Re: Hearing aids

IMW — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 17:52:09 GMT

Excellent, very informative post.

Re: Hearing aids

sophiamarie — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 18:04:56 GMT

My husband experienced his initial hearing loss when he was less than 30 years old, in the Air Force and working on the flightline around jet engines. The Air Force immediately removed him from the flightline environment and sent him to a U.S. Navy station in San Diego for a complete hearing check. They found out that he had severe high-frequency hearing loss in both ears.

He was fitted with a pair of hearing aids that were outside the ear. This caused him not only to hear sounds that he hadn't heard in a long time (such as birds, crickets, etc.) but resulted in amplifying every sound. This, of course, drove him nuts, so he ended up not wearing them more than he wore them.

He recently purchased a pair of the "cheapie" hearing aids that are now advertised everywhere you look, after comparing several types of this hearing aid. As you probably know, these hearing aids are CIC (completely in the canal). He is absolutely delighted with the results. Because they are CIC, sounds from behind him are blocked like they would be with a normal hearing person and sounds from the side and front are amplified.

I now no longer have to tell him the microwave just beeped and my kitchen timer just went off, etc. He is hearing sounds he hasn't heard in 40 years. Some sounds still bother him, like when the dog shakes her head and her tags clink together - but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

He says that they are much better than the thousand dollar hearing aids he was given 40 years ago. Not only is he happy but I am happy because I no longer have to repeat things to him. It's a win-win. They fit completely in the ear canal and cannot be seen. When he first got them, we were sitting and talking for over an hour, when he finally told me he had those hearing aids in his ears.

It takes patience and perserverence to make several minor adjusments until you get the hearing profile just right for your hearing loss - but it is well worth the effort. You can also pay to go to an Audiologist to have him adjust them but it really isn't worth the time or the money.

These may not be for everyone. I can only speak for my husband's experience. He felt that there was nothing to lose by trying them, since they totally guaranteed them and he can return them within 45 days if not fully satisfied.

Re: Hearing aids

matty liz — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 18:57:23 GMT

Thank you Sophia. Where do you get CIC hearing aids?

Re: Hearing aids

sophiamarie — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 19:43:13 GMT

@matty liz wrote:
Thank you Sophia. Where do you get CIC hearing aids?

@matty liz This may not last but he found them online, did some more research and decided there was nothing to lose. The name of the hearing aids he has is "Nano." Followed by the "dot com," they are nanohearingaids. After you see them, you will recognize that there are other similar ones by different names. His cost him $198.00 for both ears ($99.00 per ear). He's had them a short time, but so far, so good. He loves them.

Re: Hearing aids

Shelbelle — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 20:43:10 GMT

I wouid go to an ENT specialist, they usually have a tech in their office who tests for hearing.

Re: Hearing aids

matty liz — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 22:11:18 GMT

Ladies, you are the greatest. I asked the original question and I appreciated the responses. Today I set up an appointment with an audiologist who has worn hearning aids since she was a child. It will be a free exam and all the things you said gave me good questions to ask. This group is smart with honesty and I can't tell yu how much I appreciate you. Thanks!