Has your hearing aid made much of a difference?

I would say they are exactly the same as glasses. They take a while to get used to (a good bit longer than glasses in fact). They have limitations - glasses get rained on, steamed up, you can see them if you think of it. In the same way the hearing aid has to be kept clean, the battery dies (and your woman's voice makes me jump every time).

BUT if you need glasses you wear them and the difference is worth it, just the same with a hearing aid. If your hearing is bad then a hearing aid brings the world back to life. (Also if my husband has a very annoying tv show on, I can switch off the aid and have blessed quiet while I read )

The aids have settings that will cope with different circumstances, though I find I just wear mine on the same setting now.

I got in-the-canal hearing aids 3 years ago when my hearing loss was mild/ moderate. It took several visits to the audiologist to try to fine-tune the volume and frequency adjustment.

I got them mainly because I was having a lot of trouble in work, with meetings etc. My experience was mixed. They have helped in 0ne-to-one conversations and at meetings where there is little background noise.

Where there is background noise, or the meetings are in rooms with no soft furnishings, they are of very limited use. I also find them of no benefit in watching TV.

My hearing has deteriorated a bit recently (my better ear has gone from mild to moderate loss) and I have had the hearing aid adjusted. Even in quiet rooms, I need them unless the other person speaks clearly and at reasonable volume.

In short, they have helped in limited circumstances, but they have not been a transforming force for me

Have had hearing aids since I was a child (hereditary hearing loss) in both ears. When I switched from analogue to digital hearing aids, the change was nice. There are settings that you can have, mine are
1) normal
2) normal + T-switch
3) T-switch
4) all sound

I usually just have it on "4) all sound" as "1) normal" tends to block too much sound. I find the digital ones to be very clear compared to the analogue ones. The make which I use is "Widex".

/edit
Like glasses, some people find them helpful, some don't.

Joe
Don't let me put you off- you might find that they help you more than they do me.
The main problem for me is
- they pick up all background noise and
- sound which comes from a TV, radio or phone seems fuzzy.

They have helped me, but in limited circumstances

the_syco wrote: »

First off; ask your hearing aid specialist (where you got them, usually) to add the option to get rid of background noise. Although i rarely use the option, it is there and is sometimes useful for when talking in the pub with someone close to you.


I'd get this looked into. I vaguely remember this happening once to me, and I think it was to do with interference. What did the hearing aid specialist say about this, as it seems like it could be a wrong setting? Also, what happens when you try to listen to the TV with the T switch? I ask as my right hand hearing aid picks up the TV sound very clearly (although a bit louder than normal).

thanks.

I don't have a T switch- I was not really familiar with what was on offer when I got them. The ones which I bought were expensive enough and are supposed to screen out background noise.

I will be going to get them re-tuned in a couple of weeks, so I will be asking a few questions

Yes, I am teaching. Its difficult to say as some students speak so quietly (in class ) that you would be hard pressed to hear them even with perfect hearing. I do quite often find myself walking towards people who are talking to me, in order to hear what they are saying, even with the hearing aid. The only thing I can say is that, with it I can hear most of what is being said, without it I would hear very little.

Stay with it, its not just your aid, you are also training your brain. It will come right in the end.

uisce33 wrote: »

ideally I need two but I can only afford one as they were priced the other side of €1700 each for the cheaper ones.

Mind saying what shop you're buying it from?

Also, ensure you're getting the grant, and know how to claim your tax back as well.

uisce33 wrote: »

I am getting the grant it's €500 per aid and it's hidden hearing that gave me that price the original aids I tested were €2100 each

Hidden Hearing aren't meant to be too bad. Are you getting ITE, RITE, or BTE? Have an ITE myself. T'was expensive as I needed an aid that had more than the standard four channels, due to a dip in the chart, but there was a sale on at the time in Bonovox (new store had opened somewhere, I think).

If you listen to music much, ensure you get a program that doesn't automatically adjust the music to the same level; was annoying until I found out it was the issue, and was able to get Bonovox to add the program. Hidden Hearing should be able to do the same.

Also, ensure you can get the "T" switch. They are invaluable in busy places such as train-stations, etc, and also some cinemas have a loop system in place to allow you to hear the sound better.

Finally, when you say "cheapest" do you mean that's the cheapest Hidden Hearing does, or the cheapest aid that will correct your hearing? Bonovox do sell cheaper aids, but they may not be available to you if your hearing is very bad, and/or you need more channels in the hearing aid due to you being unable to hear certain frequencies.

Best of luck

joanmul wrote: »

If you haven't committed to Hidden Hearing maybe you should try Specsavers. A friend of mine and my sister both got theirs, 2 each, for a significantly less amount than HH were charging and are both delighted with them.

Haven't heard anything good about SpecSavers hearing aids, tbh.