clavus

I think that I'll be picking out a hearing aid in February for my left ear.

What features should I look for? What should I avoid? Do you use one that you really like?

This is totally new for me.

Do they automatically sync up with your bluetooth phone now days?

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Charlatan

If it looks like this... it's too big.

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MexicanOnABike

make sure it's black. then you can tell people it's a blutooth headset.

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LoganSnake

If I was getting one, I'd opt for one of those CIC (Completely In Canal) aids for total ninja stealth.

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amonkie

Clavus - important questions that will determine your options



1) what range of hearing loss are you replacing? How much? The more hearing loss you are trying to recapture, the larger the hearing aid.

2) For me, having a t-coil option is mandatory in order to talk on the phone.

3) Digital is the name of the game nowadays, with a smorgasbord of options. Assess your current electronics array to determine whether you really need additional accessories for your aid. I had a remote control watch for mine, but it was more a pain than anything, and was so big that I just stopped using it.


Your audiologist should be able to make some recommendations when they make an appointment to discuss dispensing you a hearing aid. I have worn one for 25 years, and had various models, including starkey and Phonak. My personal preference is Phonak, mostly because I know the brand standard and have had expedient service any time I've had need for repairs or minor service.

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

clavus

Holy heck. What's a t-Coil option? What is reliability like? In the real world, do people keep a cheap spare for when their primary unit goes down?

My grandpa had three or four, none of which (he claimed) worked worth a darn.

I'm not sure about which frequencies I need to boost (though my audiologist has a graph). Can these things be adjusted like a graphic equalizer? I've only just begun to think about the reality of this.

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Martian

I didn't think I'd have anything to add to this thread. You, sir, just proved me wrong.

A T-coil is an inductive coil built into some (most?) hearing aids. I won't bother to explain the technical whys and wherefores now, though I'd be happy to if you're actually interested in knowing them; suffice to say that the end result is that sounds may be transmitted directly to the hearing aid electromagnetically. The primary application for this is in telephones -- the small driver in the earpiece is usually sufficient to activate the T-coil, which (as I understand it) vastly improves audio quality.

It's also possible to get a variety of accessories that function with the T-Coil, and I understand that some public venues also offer an 'inductive loop' service, allowing hearing impaired to use the T-Coil with the public address or speaker system. My reading has lead me to believe that such things are uncommon in North America, although someone with direct experience (ie, amonkie) can probably be more specific in regards to that.

A possible question to ask, and to which I have no answer -- is frequency response a concern with these things? It stands to reason that adjusting the loop length would impact the response curve, but I don't know whether that's something that comes up in real-world applications.

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amonkie

Spare aids really depends on the price range of your aid. My current aid was nearly $4,000 when I bought it last May - this is about the going rate for a hearing aid for someone with moderate to severe hearing loss (Me). I do keep my older hearing aids for emergencies, because usually you are ordering new ones to have on hand once the hearing aid life expectancy period is coming close, and not because they've flat out died. My aids have needed to be replaced both because of technology changes and just general quality decline every 4-5 years.

With the price mentioned, good luck finding full coverage of your hearing aid costs under insurance. On every plan I've had, hearing aids are considered an "optional cosmetic device" and are therefore not covered under insurance.

Maintenance/Repair issues become necessary most often because of moisture in the aid, issues with the ear mold (again depends on your hearing aid model/size). Taking proper care of your hearing aid helps immensely.

Also.. this is VERY important. For some reason, dogs are EXTREMELY attracted to the smells associated with hearing aids, especially the ear molds. I speak from experience -I have had a dog go to town on a hearing aid... all I had left when he was done was a bunch of broken plastic.

Current technology often programs the hearing settings over your hearing loss - that is what the graph your Dr has is for. For me, they invert the graph, and then in those losses where the graph is highest is where they program the hearing aid to provide the hearing assistance.

The type of hearing loss you are dealing with is also helpful to know. Is this based on nerve damage, or just aging?

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

clavus

Thanks so much. They think it is "nerve related" but they don't know. There was event that triggered it. The MRI did not show a neuroma or tumor and the ear checks out physically.

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amonkie

I have nerve damage/hearing loss due to Spinal meningitis.

Digital hearing aids remove a little of the volume crutch, as there is no longer a volume switch that can be manipulated by you - it must be done at the Audio Dr. office.


If these questions are personal and you'd feel more comfortable taking this to a PM, feel free. But other questions:

Is the hearing loss low frequency (bass level noises) or high frequency (more piercing sounds)? Even if you don't know the technical part of the range you're in, where do you feel you can't hear as well as you used to? Do you all of the sudden not hear the phone ring, or not hear a knock at the door?

Do they have several tests, spaced several months apart, to help guage your consistent hearing response levels? I know as a kid I "heard" sounds at times simply due to the nature of the test setup. As I've gotten older, on paper my hearing has declined a small degree, but the points that are driving the change are the borderline points where I only showed reaction to the noises on a sporadic basis.

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

clavus

I'm not embarrassed by my hearing loss. Some people may be, so I'm happy to keep this discussion public on the off chance it helps somebody else. I'm not upset by people posting pictures making fun of my condition (*ahem* Charlatan, you butthole)

The tests are scheduled months apart. Next test is in February. But my hearing sucks, and I know it.

My hearing loss varies in intensity (which leads them to believe the problem is in the nerves). Sounds are distorted and mushed together, which is the problem that it most obvious. I am only aware of missing high-end sounds, but some frequencies of bass drive me nuts, some fans sound super loud and wrong to me, and some sounds, like stacking plates are nearly painful. The sound of water in my sink sometimes sounds like my phone ringing.

So talking to my kids while I am driving is rough.

You can see the trouble.

The doc said that a hearing aid might help. I just found out that my insurance covers hearing aids to the tune of $2,000 / 24 months!!

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Martian

Although I don't currently suffer from hearing loss, it's a prominent concern for musicians and I expect that I will have to deal with it eventually.

There's nothing to be lost by sharing your experiences, in my mind.

Kudos to you for being so open.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Charlatan

Guilty as charged...

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

clavus

There are ear-plugs for musicians. They block a lot of the sound, but keep the balance, so you can still hear all the frequencies correctly. A lot of my musician friends use them.

You might look into them so you can postpone your hearing aid shopping.

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Cynthetiq

at least you'll have a place to put your keys when you're naked.

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