Hello As I have discussed in another post, I have recently experienced a low frequency hearing loss with accompanying symptoms which I find quite debilitating. I have been going to see an audiologist full of hope that he could provide me with an hearing aid solution which could alleviate my symptoms. Alas, the audiologist told me that there is nothing he could do. The hearing test he made showed that my hearing was -40db at 125, -35db at 250 and -20db at 500 before getting normal again. According to him, a hearing aid would be more detrimental than helpful. To anyone who has similar hearing loss pattern, do you wear a hearing aid and if so which brand/model? Many thanks in advance for your replies.
go to Costco or sams club for a hearing test. I know that sounds funny but they do not work on commission and I have noticed their hearing tests are way more comprehensive then the audios. Also Costco hearing aids are Phonics and seimens aids. I have low toned loss. Also they can program the hearing aids like little computers I am surprised they say they can't help you I think that is a bunch of bull.
Do you still have one good ear? I've heard there are hearing aids that pipe sound from your deaf side into your good ear. My audiologist said my word recognition was 70 percent on my bad side, and says that a hearing aid could still be helpful, until you get to word recognition less than 30 percent. I can't remember my decibels, but I'm now quite low hearing across all frequencies in my bad ear. What's your word recognition like? Are you bilateral?
I don't know why a hearing aid wouldn't work for you. In fact, the sooner you get assistance to that ear the more likely that you don't lose further word recognition. I was told the longer you go without hearing the brain "forgets" how to pick up those signals. There are hearing aids that send the signal to the good ear, but those are definitely more expensive. I can tell you that my low decibel hearing is MUCH worse than yours and my hearing aid brings in the low tones. (And my HA is a "entry level" aid...ie lower cost; no bells/whistles) Good luck.
I would get a second opinion concerning the use of a hearing aid. Also, check first and Costco and Sams. They sell top quality hearing aids for half the price. The hearing aid industry so overprices their products.
I have very little hearing in my right ear and was told by my audiologist a few years ago that an aid wouldn't help. I do have better hearing in my left ear and was fitted with an aid in that ear. Then an acquaintance said that her husband, who had been told the same thing by his Dr., said his audiologist suggested he try one in that ear and see. It helped him. So, I went to my audiologist and had him fit me in my almost deaf right ear, and it has helped, just a little but every little bit is welcome.
Keep in mind that most places where you purchase a hearing aid offer anywhere from 30-90 days trial. You could try one out and if you don't think it helps, return it for your money back. My history on hearing aids: When my hearing had dropped so significantly first audiologist told me that a standard hearing aid wouldn't work for me, I would have to have a Cros aid. Second audiologist and third said that one would improve my hearing; purchased an aid from them but didn't believe that their follow up on fine tuning was very good. 4th audiologist was great. Hearing aid helps significantly and she has no issues if I was to come in over and over to fine tune the aid. That is what is key is finding a good audiologist that will work with you to fine tune the program to maximize your hearing potential.