Getting one hearing aid

max12

Recently got HA for first time. Hearing is about 50% in ear and 75% in the other. But they are driving me mad and can’t seem to get used to them especially when I am eating as I can’t hear barely anything around me because of the noise in my mouth. Also feel very uncomfortable when I talking with others.

If I take out one HA it’s not too bad at all but the audiologist is very insistent on keeping the two as he said I’ll get used to them and that by only having one I’ll get no advantage and I’ll confuse the sound going to the other ear.

Garlinge

I have one sided deafness and got first HA 5 yrs ago. When first set up it was at a low level and over I think 3 further visits it was adjusted up to 'prescription' level. I wonder if that would help you? I was also advised to wear HA for at least 5 hrs a day for brain to get used to the new sound level. It is the job of the audiologist to sort out your problems. There are so many options with settings and types of aids nowadays. Also I have a '60 day return' if not happy. I lost mine and now have a replacement one week but it does not seem as good as last one. It is such a subtle thing! but I find myself turning up volume on TV and on the fancy App but does not seem to be better. Unfortunately meetings and classes and other activities are no more which was main reason for wearing a hearing aid. I have a followup appointment next week.

joanmul

There’s an accessory that you can get for Phonak hearing aids that you can put on the table for picking up conversations. It could help you for meetings etc. I have it and use it for the tv. I think it’s a new product (out early this year) so not everyone knows about it. I was going to use mine for when I meet friends but with Covid haven’t tried it yet.

Garlinge

I have option of TV transmitter (an extra) that will send sound direct to hearing aid. I dont really understand the need for same for myself. I appreciated having h aid 'on' with old one if anything decent on TV but dont seem to feel the same about present h aid. TV transmitter might mean you could pop to kitchen and keep hearing sound? The same way it sends sound from phone eg youtube, podcasts using smartphone etc. I suppose the transmitter for meetings is a different item but same principle?

Treppen

I just have hearing loss in one ear but where I bought it says I have to buy the pair? And charged me double of course. But prsi only pays allowance out for one. People keep saying to keep one spare but I'm not pushed as I can make do with one good ear until I get a new one!
Any thoughts. Do places like Ss and Hh only sell pairs?

Garlinge

I negotiated a discount for only taking one of the pair offered me in Specsavers. I was told pay back the discount and get second one if needed it but not 5 yrs on when I lost first one.

I replaced h aid recently with fancy one but did not work for me so returned it and now have entry level one without frills and took the pair with the second one set up for same ear. It will be there for if first one lost/damaged etc. I worry in time that the good ear could go on me.

penny piper

max12 wrote: »

Recently got HA for first time. Hearing is about 50% in ear and 75% in the other. But they are driving me mad and can’t seem to get used to them especially when I am eating as I can’t hear barely anything around me because of the noise in my mouth. Also feel very uncomfortable when I talking with others.

If I take out one HA it’s not too bad at all but the audiologist is very insistent on keeping the two as he said I’ll get used to them and that by only having one I’ll get no advantage and I’ll confuse the sound going to the other ear.

I have a total of a 90% hearing loss ...I found it very difficult when I first got mine as well....hearing traffic noise...listening to birds sing....you really do get used to them eventually...just give it time...My audiologist told me the same thing about I'd get no advantage from one.....but I can manage on one and don't have any problems...it's what is more comfortable for me..

looksee

I had one for a long time and it was fine, it was a very good (advanced) aid in fact. Then I seemed to need one for the other ear but went for a cheaper pair and they have not been nearly as satisfactory.

I suspect my problem in the second ear is not 'usual' deafness, its fluid in my inner ear, but I haven't done too much to resolve this yet. My experience with ENT specialists (unlike specialists in most other areas) has not been great, and a hearing aid audiologist is just going to sell me another aid. If I could find an ENT person with some actual interest/knowledge I might see what they think, if maybe a grommet would help, but while covid is around I don't feel inclined to attempt it.

Garlinge

The cause of my deafness is build up of fluid/debris in inner ear due to dysfunction of eustacian tube. I was referred to a ENT surgeon initially and had two grommuts fitted and clear out of inner ear, with instant improvement but which lasted c 18 mths. So she was ready to do another grommut when she said I would be a good canditate for a hearing aid and also that the level of deafness I had should deteriorate further.

So grommut for older person not the answer? and it involves surgery/anaesthetic etc and maybe scar tissue builtup as site of grommut grows over when ejected.

So surgeon was only interested in doing grommut! She did put me on long term antibiotic and also had CT and MRI done ... to rule out anything sinister!

My GP was not happy that I went first to hearing aid supplier.

josip

I have significant loss in both ears but the right isn't as bad as the left.
I still strongly prefer to have 2 aids and I'm more irritable when they aren't well balanced.