Hearing Aid?

[jgillott]

Picked up my first hearing aid this afternoon. It is a 16 channel digital in the ear type. The Dr. really wanted me to buy one for both ears since I have loss in both (50% in the left and 80% in the right). But at $2300, I started with just one in the right.

Anyway, I can tell a difference in voices. For those of you who use them, how long does it take to adjust to wearing these things. Everything seems very loud right now.

 

[fest3er]

My Dad and brother have hearing aids. Dad lost his hearing while working on radar electronics in a Navy ship while someone on the other side of the bulkhead was stripping rivets. His ears restore a good bit of his hearing. My brother had other problems; his ears, while very good, restore almost enough for him to function; but he's pretty much deaf without his ears and nearly deaf with them. (Though maybe my brother has 'selective' hearing; he doesn't hear conversation very well, but hears birds and crickets with these ears--something he hadn't heard in 30-40 years. Personally, it can be good not to hear those sounds; those critters can get *loud* at night, almost painfully so.)

Even with your profound hearing loss, your bio ear should adjust within days. If the doc set it to restore 'perfect' hearing, your worse ear could be at 0 dB while your better ear is at -50 dB. That would sound loud. Have your doc turn your ear down 10 dB. If it's still somewhat loud, have him turn it down another 5dB. *He* doesn't know what you hear or what you want to hear, thus should pay attention when you say you want a change. And you need to take the time to figure out just what is 'loud' and what isn't, and tell him in case he can make sophisticated adjustments.

 

[jgillott]

I have been very impressed with the quality of service that I have been given during this process by the office I have been using. He spent quite a bit of time working with me yesterday making adjustments to this aid before I left the office. My initial reaction was that my voice was very loud in each setting (this aid has 4 that I can change with a button), which he turned down. I also noticed that sounds like closing a door or clapping was sharp and he adjusted that also. Today I am noticing that I have the volume on the TV turned down from what I used to keep it at, so I guess that it is working for me somewhat. They would like me to call them after a few weeks to set up an appointment for additional adjustments after I can give them some feedback from daily use.

 

[HSpiering]

Use aids for years. you really need two. You need too work to keep the sound up till you get use to them. I paid about 5K for my first two pair. Now I get them from Costco for about 3K for two.

 

[jgillott]

Use aids for years. you really need two. You need too work to keep the sound up till you get use to them. I paid about 5K for my first two pair. Now I get them from Costco for about 3K for two.

Do you have similar loss in both ears or is one worse than the other? I definately agree with you on needing 2, I just don't have the money at this point.

 

[HSpiering]

Bad in both. You need two for balance and direction. Got my last set at Costco. could not get behind the ear to work as well as a full shell. Batt last 2 week with the full shell. Each is adjusted for each ear.

 

[Teich]

These are lots of fun, had them for about 7 years heading loss was from work so workers comp pays First set was $5000.00 with endless supply of batteries. The office where I got them set the volume, they only enhance the area that I can't hear, volume was set to where normal should be, and that I thought was to loud so they kept turning them down for me. Then I couldn't hear, It was explained to me that they have to be at the higher volume because the ear or brain or something in there was compensating for poor volume, and if I left it at the higher volume everything would adjust and it has. My new aids have Bluetooth, can answer my cell phone (looks like your talking to your shelf!) change the volume some and even mute them. Good luck when you adjust it will be better. Laurie

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I was amazed how the hearing assist devices have advanced. I met a guy at a self defense shooting class that wore assist devices that were no larger than a garbanzo bean. Couldn't see them at all unless you looked directly into the ear.

 

[jgillott]

So I wore this thing to church today and then to brunch after. I think the biggest difference that I've noticed is how clear everything sounds to me. I wouldn't say that it is louder, but the background noise is drastically reduced allowing me to actually hear the voices, etc.

 

[Regcabguy]

I've got two top of the line Phonak Audeo Q's. They definitely enhance my hearing and comprehension watching tv or in a crowd.
With the thin edge flatscreens and their lousy speakers it's definitely a plus wearing them.
Thankfully,my health plan covers them.
Before I had coverage,Costco confirmed I could benefit from them. They laid a pr of behind the ear models and said to walk around the store. I was eavesdropping on all kinds of conversations. Pretty neat.

 

[jgillott]

Unfortunatey, my health insurance does not provide covereage for hearing aids. They consider them cosmetic........

 

[BIGNASTY]

BIL and I with the help of some cattlemen got a set of Phonak hearing aids for a little girl's Christmas Present, hearing is such a gift that most of us take for granted. They might be cosmetic but in her case they have made her life better just by being able to be around other people and not feel left out.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Unfortunatey, my health insurance does not provide covereage for hearing aids. They consider them cosmetic........

Cosmetic my A S S. How in the H E L L are hearing aids cosmetic? Being able to communicate is an essential to living life for crying out loud.

 

[jgillott]

Cosmetic my A S S. How in the H E L L are hearing aids cosmetic? Being able to communicate is an essential to living life for crying out loud.

I called my insurance company, which has been great with everything else that has ever happend, before I ever went to see a specialist. They told me that hearing aids were to enhance life, like a cosmetic procedure and not essential to health. I hung up and called back to get another agent on the line. Same story. I even explained that my hearing loss was starting to effect my ability to work. Their response was...."We're sorry, but there is nothing we can do".

My boss at work suggested that I call our county OVR office. (I believe it is called Office of Vocational Rehabilitation here in PA). They told me that my household income was too high for any assistance/coverage from the state but they would review my information and call me back. I still haven't gotten a return call.

So, one of my coworkers suggested that I call the union that we belong to at work. They said that they would be happy to enroll me in a discount program that could save 35% or so on the cost, but there are no hearing centers anywhere near hear that accept their program. So, I'm back to square one. I don't mind paying for this out of my pocket, but it is frustrating to say the least that for as much as we pay for insurance etc. that there isn't anything out there to help with the cost.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

^^That's just terrible^^

I get why people want some sort of revamped healthcare sometimes.

 

[jgillott]

Yea, I've said my fair share of bad words through this process. But no matter what, It's something that just needs to be done and I am happy that I have some improvement. I hate spending money on myself. But, it really is necessary this time.

 

[HSpiering]

There is a pure socialist system in this country. It is called the VA. If you can get your income down low enough. Regardless if you own quite a bit $ value and a if you are a vet you can get free hearing aids. But same old, same old, too much income your out of luck. Now to ward off the flack from injured vet’s, you should get all the help you need. I asked a couple I know how they get free medical and they just grin. Come to find out, if your under $38K income at the time you could get started on it. I think it is up to $42K now. Like I said takes $$$ from those that really need it because of combat injures. I'M SURE THIS POST WILL BRING FIRE AND BRIMSTONE ON MY HEAD.

 

[BIGNASTY]

There is a pure socialist system in this country. It is called the VA. If you can get your income down low enough. Regardless if you own quite a bit $ value and a if you are a vet you can get free hearing aids. But same old, same old, too much income your out of luck. Now to ward off the flack from injured vet’s, you should get all the help you need. I asked a couple I know how they get free medical and they just grin. Come to find out, if your under $38K income at the time you could get started on it. I think it is up to $42K now. Like I said takes $$$ from those that really need it because of combat injures. I'M SURE THIS POST WILL BRING FIRE AND BRIMSTONE ON MY HEAD.

A Vet is a Vet no matter what era!!! they can get medical attention at ANY INCOME level, unless you are employed and your company has medical benefits that meet a certain criteria (that I can get for you if needed) and even then you can get a partial benefit from the VA. If any VA representative tells you different!! get his name and if employed by the VA get their employee number, the VA hospital that they are attached to and the one that your trying to receive care from.

No fire and Brimstone coming your way, you just received some tainted information that needs to be corrected for our Veterans Family!!

BIG

 

[Killgore]

My 'ears' sit in the box they came in. I need them, they work great, I can hear birds, bugs, etc. And, believe it or not I can be in a group of people and participate in conversations without reading lips. The problem is that when adjusted just right they are too loud when I'm around my wife!

Hah! That sounded bad but it's the truth. She is partially deaf and consequently talks loud and it hurts my ears if wearing the hearing aids; we can't get together on adjusting the volume on the TV, etc. So it's just easier to not wear them. Her hearing can't be improved without going to the Shea Hearing Clinic in Memphis and having an operation that she doesn't want to go through.
- Ed

 

[Dutch & Di]

While I don't have any hearing loss as your wife does I had to talk louder and louder as Dutch's hearing continued to go downhill. Even after he got them, he wanted to wear them intermittently. Everything had to be so loud that I told him I was going to go deaf because of this. I finally got him to agree to wear them for 30 days without fail. He did and after day 4 mentioned I was talking to loud! What I had to do was have him g-e-n-t-l-y remind me to lower my voice. I have to work on it but I'm finally starting speak at a normal level again and am enjoying it.
I was wondering, even with your wife's hearing loss, if you could try the same thing. If you do get her to try this do keep in mind how sensitive we gals are so it has to be a very easy reminder.
You don't really have anything to lose if your wife is willing to try. Hugs, Di
ps Dutch is the only person I know with a hearing loss that didn't start to speak louder.