Re: Hearing Aids

gizmogal · ‎05-09-2014

I find it curious that when a person has a vision problem like trouble reading the newspaper, they don’t seem to demand the newspaper be printed in larger type! They get their vision checked and don’t hesitate to get prescription glasses. Perhaps they buy more than one pair to have several frames for fashion as well as handy access to glasses in various rooms or the car. Few people are vain or self conscious about getting corrective lenses for vision defects. They wear glasses and solve a health issue.

But hearing aids aids seem to be some kind of insult to dignity! Instead, conversations must be louder, words repeated, the TV gets captions or top volume, etc. Hearing loss is common, it’s remedied by small and easy to use aids and they can be bought at different price levels if insurance doesn’t cover it. Also, medical expenses are tax deductible if you itemize. So that just leaves vanity as an excuse? And yet hearing aids are less likely to be noticed and remarked about than eyeglasses!

The OP is imposing her problem on others, resisting common solutions, and asking advice for something to which the answer is obvious. I’m sure her doctor is as enamored of her pattern of resistance as some of this forum is.

If you experience hearing loss, get your ears checked by a professional and obtain hearing aids as needed. If you’re old enough to notice hearing decline, you should be mature enough to accept the obvious solution.

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

Cost might be an issue for her

gizmogal · ‎05-09-2014

@cherry wrote:
Cost might be an issue for her

So far she hasn’t taken any steps to find out if she needs one or both ears aided and therefore can’t know the costs.

These products are sold with payment plans and insurance against loss or damage can be purchased somthe investment is stabilized.

There are solutions to cost issues. Various models come in at different price points. Also, some places will sell rebuilt/ reused aids at less expense. Obviously, they are in working condition, come with a warranty, and are sanitized.

Not looking into it logically and researching prices after being evaluated, is different than asking opinions on a shopping channel forum.

Maybe it’s not what it costs, but what it is worth to be able to hear properly?

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

I think it's a combination of denial of the problem and cost that are preventing @halfpint1 from getting hearing aids. I agree, though, that she has no idea of the cost until she looks into it.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@cherry wrote:
Cost might be an issue for her

Audiologists realize this. They can set the patient up with outside companies to arrange payment plans.

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

You can suggest things to her, but, she is going to do as she pleases..I think sometimes ,she just wants to be part of the conversation, and posts, to feel part of it all

She is battling other issues as well. I am glad everyone pitches in, and tries to help her

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

Knowing what I know now, I would have a hard time encouraging someone who just might have dementia to get hearing aids. Someone like my mom who spends the majority of her time home alone, doesn’t have a lot of company, doesn’t answer the phone unless my brothers and I call, doesn’t drive, doesn’t go to church or do anything socially.

Mom has had hearing aids 4 years as of last month, and a dementia diagnosis 3 years next month. The Dr has already told us she’s probably no longer benefitting from the memory medication she takes, and once those brain receptors are more affected by the progression of dementia, the hearing aids are useless. Those $2500 hearing aids are soon to be useless to my mom.

Hearing aids have to be kept up with, and I’ve found with mom that she’s forgotten to take them out at night and gone to bed with them in her ear. She has stepped into the shower and realized she forgot to remove them. Mom does not have pets, but cats and dogs like to chew on the plastic tubing of the ear piece. Batteries dropped in the floor are very dangerous for cats and dogs if swallowed. Mom used to be able to do the routine cleaning and replacement of the plastic tubing by herself, but now, not so much. My mom has 6 people who can do that for her, which saves her a trip to the office, and a charge for that service.

No, I would not want to live in a world I couldn’t see, hear, taste or feel, but a hearing aid brings much responsibility that not everyone is prepared for.

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@RedTop wrote:
Knowing what I know now, I would have a hard time encouraging someone who just might have dementia to get hearing aids. Someone like my mom who spends the majority of her time home alone, doesn’t have a lot of company, doesn’t answer the phone unless my brothers and I call, doesn’t drive, doesn’t go to church or do anything socially.

Mom has had hearing aids 4 years as of last month, and a dementia diagnosis 3 years next month. The Dr has already told us she’s probably no longer benefitting from the memory medication she takes, and once those brain receptors are more affected by the progression of dementia, the hearing aids are useless. Those $2500 hearing aids are soon to be useless to my mom.

Hearing aids have to be kept up with, and I’ve found with mom that she’s forgotten to take them out at night and gone to bed with them in her ear. She has stepped into the shower and realized she forgot to remove them. Mom does not have pets, but cats and dogs like to chew on the plastic tubing of the ear piece. Batteries dropped in the floor are very dangerous for cats and dogs if swallowed. Mom used to be able to do the routine cleaning and replacement of the plastic tubing by herself, but now, not so much. My mom has 6 people who can do that for her, which saves her a trip to the office, and a charge for that service.

No, I would not want to live in a world I couldn’t see, hear, taste or feel, but a hearing aid brings much responsibility that not everyone is prepared for.

When someone has dementia, that’s probably not the right time to begin testing and getting aides. The hearing deficit/dementia connection is realized when it’s too late. The individual should have taken care of their hearing throughout their life before getting to that point.

Anonymous032819 · ‎03-29-2019

@RedTop wrote:
Knowing what I know now, I would have a hard time encouraging someone who just might have dementia to get hearing aids. Someone like my mom who spends the majority of her time home alone, doesn’t have a lot of company, doesn’t answer the phone unless my brothers and I call, doesn’t drive, doesn’t go to church or do anything socially.

Mom has had hearing aids 4 years as of last month, and a dementia diagnosis 3 years next month. The Dr has already told us she’s probably no longer benefitting from the memory medication she takes, and once those brain receptors are more affected by the progression of dementia, the hearing aids are useless. Those $2500 hearing aids are soon to be useless to my mom.

Hearing aids have to be kept up with, and I’ve found with mom that she’s forgotten to take them out at night and gone to bed with them in her ear. She has stepped into the shower and realized she forgot to remove them. Mom does not have pets, but cats and dogs like to chew on the plastic tubing of the ear piece. Batteries dropped in the floor are very dangerous for cats and dogs if swallowed. Mom used to be able to do the routine cleaning and replacement of the plastic tubing by herself, but now, not so much. My mom has 6 people who can do that for her, which saves her a trip to the office, and a charge for that service.

No, I would not want to live in a world I couldn’t see, hear, taste or feel, but a hearing aid brings much responsibility that not everyone is prepared for.

@RedTop

You make a good point.

Even if halfpint1 were to get the hearing aids, would she have the capacity to keep up with the maitenance of them?

Or, the first time that the batteries needed to be changed, would she say, "They don't work!", and refuse to wear them ever again.

The Sky looks different when you have someone you love up there.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

@JeanLouiseFinch,

Exactly. However, moms hearing seemed to be fine until her embarrassing phone incident.

We never saw a noticeable issue of decline with her hearing. She is believed to have vascular dementia; her mini stroke had been diagnosed shortly before she asked for, and failed, a basic hearing test in her doctors office. At that time dementia wasn’t even suspected to be in the picture.

In hindsight, we can see it all now, and it makes sense. Mom’s doctor is family; he would’ve explained the vascular dementia/brain issue had he seen any indication that was the case in front of him, and probably would not have done the audiology referral.