Hearing Aids / Tinnitus Maskers

I have an Oticon. I waited for a couple of years before pulling the trigger on one. My HA is considered "entry level"; it does have several settings that are preprogrammed at time of fitting for me. One is for restaurants to lower the sound; one is for "bad" days and it increases the sound.

I will say that when I started wearing it I did not notice the ringing quite as much - probably since it was pulling in other sounds.
Before I started wearing them, there were certain tones/noises that would actually hurt my ears - I carried ear plugs for that. Once I started wearing the hearing aid I did not have that issue any more. Which by the way still strikes me as odd. It would "seem" like hearing better would have increased the pain not lessened it...but I will take it.

I have a regular BTE aid. Not a CROS.

My learnings - audiologist has to be very good and patient. You have to be prepared to get the HA adjusted multiple times over the first 4 weeks or so to "tweek" it and maximize your experience. I also learned that the domes used for the ear can make a difference. The first ones I was given I "felt" them throughout the day and they would start to bother me. The ones I ultimately use now, I do not feel at all and actually I hear better with.

I didn't want a HA for vanity - but after finally getting one I realized that vanity is not as important as hearing. And because I could hear better, it seemed like I was not as tired at the end of the day (probably because I didn't have to struggle and strain to do normal things).

Most places will give you 60-90 day trials. So you could try one aid and then if not getting everything you need/want, you could try a different one until you find the perfect one that fits just right. LOL

 

could you tell me what brand you got? I have been working with Beltone and getting no where. They just keep telling me have to put up with the things that bother me. And they are when ever I touch the hearing aid behind my ear with glasses or turning my head it makes a scratching sound. I can't use it for Tv or the phone. i was so upset but finally they agreeed to take them back or one and just get one for my best ear telling me that ear is dead. A very mixed up mess right now

 

i have Siemens HAs and very happy with them.
With moderate to severe hearing loss in right and moderate in left
they do help. And i agree it isn't vanity...it is good to hear.
Even though i am looking for a new ENT/OTO the one i have now is all
about preserving hearing and didn't jump to doing a destructive procedure.
i also agree that a good audiologist is essential and am very glad i have a great
one.

 

I am the same age with a husband and a 3 year old. I have oticons for both. I am also bilateral with more significant hearing loss in the left. Although I lost my right one recently and haven't shelled out the money to replace it. I really haven't noticed a huge difference in my ability to hear speech better with my aides. I think they may not be the right fit for me. They are not noticeable at all. It does help me hear cars coming while taking walks with my family. My aides can be turned up and down by clicking on the button on the left or right aid which is nice for fluctuation. I think having that 60-90 day trial period is key mine was only 30 and it takes at least that long to adjust to them.

 

Yes, I have this fear as well. I think I have decided that learning to lip read will be more beneficial than sign language. I do think learning sign language would be a great family bonding experience. Since this is so in right now and your daughter is the right age. Joining a sign class would be an awesome idea!! I really struggle to hear my husband. Plus English is his second language so this is a daily challenge for us that we are working on trying to find a solution for. I think learning basic signs would be really helpful. Like are you hungry. Walking all the way across the house to hear some really basic things is such a silly thing I have to do sometimes. Cochlear implants would be an option but my hearing is still fluctuating so I don't think I am ready for those yet. I have taken the past 4 years to try spend all my time trying to stabilize my issue and have not spent as much time on addressing the hearing issue. Though I am getting to that point. my take on that was once my hearing is gone it is most likely gone then I will deal with it. But if there is any solution out there to better it or stabilize it I want to find it now. so that is what I have been concentrating on. the pros more people use email and texting so you and your wife can text and still have phone conversation this way. Hooray!!

 

My Oticon hearing aid absolutely helps with "hearing" and understanding speech/words in that ear. Prior if I put the phone to that ear I would hear "wa wa wa wa" like Charlie Brown! LOL I don't think I have 100% speech hearing as my good ear but significantly better than without.

 

I definitely think the hearing aids I have are not the right fit for me. But I am trying to finish my TMJ treatment before I spend big bucks on anything else right now. One thing me and my husband are trying to do to help with communication is schedule lunches once a week at home or a quiet place to get some quiet time we also only discuss important issues after my daughter has gone to bed. So I can focus and hear better

 

Hi Loo-Hoo - what kind of TMJ treatment are you having? Do they think it will help with your meniere's?

 

Loo-Hoo, maybe you need to get the HA tweeked for the settings; also have them try different domes (the plastic part at the end that goes in the ear). When my domes got switched it made a HUGE difference. So many things go into making the aid work - so before you spend money on a new aid, perhaps get your audiologist to work to fine tune the one you have.?

 

GLA - I did not experience that type of sound from mine. But most important is to take note of all of the sounds that are off or weird so that they can tweek the programming. I know I was shocked that my audiologist could understand from basic description what was wrong. For example, I remember saying that it sounded "tinny". I remember saying that it sounded like hearing the radio with the treble turned way up and no bass. Basically, the more that you describe what doesn't sound "right" makes it easier for them to adjust the settings for you.

The first HA I ever tried out (even for 30 min) was inside a Costco. OMG, while I didn't think I could hear the demonstrator better I heard the clank of the carts, the heels on the concrete...it was a bit overwhelming.

My Otican (have to look up the model) but is a very basic model. I just need the one for the bad ear and it ran me around $1100. Keep in mind that as you go through the trail period, if you don't feel like this pair is working great even after tweeking, then ask your audiologist to trial a different brand/model.

 

NCimger after reading about your audiologist I think I for sure I need a new one. I am moving to the west coast in a couple weeks anyway and so hopefully I can find a better one. Mine really didn't pay that much attention to things.
Muff, I am seeing a dentist that specializes in TMJ. He solely does TMJ in his office no other dental work. It is a variation of a mouth piece worn 24 hours a day, physical therapy, massage therapy, ultrasound treatment, tenz treatment, and some other stuff. he is one of the top in the country. It is $$$$$$. They think there is a strong possibility it will help me. But I am not counting on it. I went in assuring myself that if it just helps the headaches, jaw and neck pain that is enough. Anything else is a bonus. but yes, decreasing the loads of inflammation I have right now may assist with the ear trouble. Maybe???

 

Audiologist is key. 1st one I went to insisted that the only aid that would work for me was a CROS due to the significant hearing impact in one ear (but those are pricy); 2nd I went to (at Costco said that my hearing could be improved with standard aid). I did get an aid from there but once it was fitted when I went back in with my thoughts on "what" was wrong with what I was hearing that audiologist was no help. Connected to my ENT they have an audiologist and she not only got me with a HA at similar pricing to the one I got from Costco but specifically had me come back within 7 days, then 2 weeks later, then a month later to tweek. She was phenomenal in working to make the fine tune adjustments. I continued on "pushing" to find her because everything that had been shared with me was that the adjustments and the good audiologist is sometimes (most times) the key to making the aid work...not the cost of the aid.

For sure there are hearing aids with more bells and whistles (bluetooth, remote control) that mine doesn't have but I have not found that I needed those extras. I just want to hear!

I am not, for the record, knocking Costco audiologists or promoting private ones connected to an ENT - it really is simply about who takes the time to listen, and who has the experience to adjust based on the feedback we are able to give. Obviously I am a "layman" and can't verbalize in tech speak what is wrong, can only share what seems to be off. Good luck. If the first one seems to be quick and brush you off, find a different audiologist.

 

Thanks so much, Loo-Hoo. Do you mind if I ask who your TMJ dentist is?