Hearing Aid

I ordered this cheap hearing amplifier from amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00II6ZHLA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It is more a distraction for tinnitus but helps a little, and for the price i was not worried if it did not work.

 

Ok, I got the hearing aid yesterday (that's how the documentation that came with it refers to the device) and I used it all day yesterday and am using it now.

It definitely takes some getting used to, but overall I have to say it is an improvement. I'm still messing around with adjustments but I can hear through the ear better for certain. Its certainly not what I expected, I can tell you that....I expected to just put it in and then be able to hear like normal again.....NO, that is not how it works and after really thinking about the issue, I realized it was stupid of me to think it would be that way. I guess somewhere deep down inside I have this expectation that my life will somehow return to normal, that someday I'll be able to just put all of this behind me and my life will magically be like it was before the MM. Unfortunately, I am realizing that will never happen......this IS the new normal and I need to accept that and move on.....even though this has been getting progressively worse for years now, its still difficult to accept.

Anyway.......back to the hearing aid.....It amplifies ALL sounds, every little background noise, etc. is much louder than normal and much of what I can hear through the affected ear is very tinny, and shrill (it's hard to put into words, I mean very high pitched) and my brain seems to still be processing the idea that sounds are coming in from the right side again. Sometimes it almost seems like the left ear has lost hearing because of the new sounds coming in the right, I know that's probably a perceptual issue and brain processing thing, but its weird sensation for sure.

I'm sure with time it will get better as my brain adjusts.

There is absolutely NO WAY I could use this in a restaurant, bar, party, or any other crowded place as the sound would be overwhelming, but for around the house and even in my office I think it will be useful.

Overall, its doing what it should do, improve my hearing and reduce the "huhs" and "whats" that I have to say in a conversation. It hasn't eliminated them altogether but who knows, as I get used to the device it will likely get better.

It does seem to be helping with the tinnitus as well, with new sounds coming in now, sometimes the background ringing is almost gone.

I'm happy that I made the investment.

 

RWJ,

It's not hard to put into words. You just did. It's exactly as you say.

From what I've read, it seems hearing aids sound like that. Mine does, and it's a high-end "real" hearing aid.

One hears high pitched things better than low pitched. So maybe that's why they made them to sound high pitched/tinny.

I know what you're saying about crowded places. Can you lower the volume? I can on mine.

I'm trying to get used to the tinny sound by listening to a lot of high pitched female singers. The idea being to listen something really annoying for "practice", so the real world won't sound as tinny by comparison.

Good training music is real jazz with shrill horns or a singer who likes to show off her range.

Here's some Ornette Coleman free jazz to get you started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNbD1JIH344


The McGarrigle Sisters are always perfectly annoying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G35XL4yKqhI


The Carter Family. Any crude early recordings will do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw77g1Y4pEs

 

JAZZ? Are you serious? I think I'd rather be deaf! 8) : JK, I'll have to try it and see if it gets better, but maybe I'll go with some classic rock,.... Scorpions, Boston, or AC/DC. Something high-pitched and shrieky like some old big hair bands maybe.

Yes, it has a volume control and I've got it as far down as it will go for the time being, some sounds are still very loud though. There are also a couple of different "pre-programmed" settings that can be changed by quickly pressing the on/off switch (hold it for 2 secs to turn off) the first one (1 beep) is extremely shrill, the second (two beeps) is almost like its off, all sound is very suppressed, I assume that's for times when you just need to kill the sound for a very short time, and the third one (three beeps) is middle of the road, that's the one I've been using.

There are also some more intricate adjustments that can be made by opening a small access door, and using a teeny tiny screwdriver, haven't looked into those yet but I might. I'm gonna give it some time right now, it's a lot to get used to, the device behind my ear, the plug in my ear, and then the sound itself.

I notice the difference right away now when I put it on, the sound input moves from my left side (my good ear) to a more centralized input that seems more normal. I like to think of it as pre MM hearing, the way its supposed to be with sound coming in from both sides, even though the sound from the hearing aid is louder and shriller.

All in all, its good and I'm glad I bought it.

 

I posted a message awhile ago--in reply to one of the other ones here--not sure what happened.
Anyway--I have Resound aids and they do help--but the first ones I had were thru my insurance co. and cost $600.00 each and these were $5,000!! And I have to say--these are not any improvement--only on the type of 'program's you can get and they really don't live up to potential.

I have one ear with 30% hearing and the other about 65%. Loud places, loud conversations =multiple noises like TV-someone talking and being on the phone and trying to talk in the same room with folks talking or TV is 'no fun'!
Brain fog sets in--and it's hard to 'concentrate with so many sounds trying to 'get thru' at once. Makes me really anxious!

I decided on the more expensive ones after my Ent said he felt if I invested a bit more I'd get better results.

Anyway--I am glad I have them--because they do block out most of the tinnitus--mask it! And when I remove them--I can barely hear anything other than certain noises like a shrill noise or a horn or a loud noise that is sudden. No conversation unless I'm right in the person's face and/or just facing them.

Music--which has been a big part of my life is 'not pleasant' anymore and I even have a 'music setting' on the aids. Sometimes it does seem to 'clear up the sound' a bit--but for the most part--very familiar songs are hard for me to 'hear comfortably'.
A really big problem.

Still--I'd get advise anyone who possibly can to get the aids--and not let this make you isolated. Work with them, and explain to the audiologist just what you need and you may have to make several trips. I am considering getting an external device--one can put near the TV or phone and on table in a restaurant--small but very good I'm told and it directs sound to the hearing aids.

Cost of about $270 I think. It was recommended by a man who has a cochlear implant and is the audiologist who is with my insurance company--that only sells the cheaper hearing aids--and he said this device works 'like a charm' for him. It's called Quatro and you can look it up at www.ClearSounds.com for more info if interested. It works with all hearing aids--not just the ones this company sells. Some devices only work with the Hearing aid they sell.

As I said, I haven't gotten one yet--but want to see how things go with the fairly new hearing aids and then decide.

 

Does anyone have just one hearing aid?
I have MM in both ears but hearing loss is moderate to severe in one and normal to mild in my good ear. So I really don't need one in my "good" ear yet. How does it sound with just one aid? I've read that normal sounds don't sound the same with the aid. So if you have one normal sounding ear and one aid, wouldn't that be difficult to get used to? Or does the brain compensate and eventually everything sounds normal again?

 

Snuka- I have just one aid (about 5-6 months now) as my good ear is normal-ish. The only thing that sounded weird at first was the sound of my own voice. And honestly I do t know if that was because I have just the one side or it’s an adjustment for anyone with hearing aids. It seemed loud and a bit echo-y for a couple weeks. Now it’s totalky normal sounding.

Getting the HA was the best thing I’ve done in the 6 years I’ve been dealing with Meniere’s. Not only did it “fix” my hearing loss, but I’ve had the unexpected benefit of a great reduction in both tinnitus and fullness. Like 80% at least. I wish I hadn’t dragged my feet, mostly worried about the stigma. I could have enjoyed relief much sooner.

Now all that being said, just in the last 10 days or so my ear has taken a sharp turn for the worse for reasons I’m still trying to figure out. I know I’ve suffered a knee dip in hearing, not only because I can’t hear well especially when the aid is out (duh) but the tinnitus and fullness are still present when it’s in. I need to go in next week for new hearing test and adjustment.

 

Thanks for the responses PleaseNoDizzy and TLB! I probably should get 2 myself, but i guess I'll ask my Dr/audiologist what they recommend.
I've been dragging my feel also. The price, even with my insurance, is really high for the top end aids. I'm just sick of not hearing everything and it seems like I say "huh" every time someone initially tries to talk to me.
I really need to do it because my tinnitus drives me crazy. I literally have 3 or 4 noises going on at one time in one ear..ugh

 

Snuka,

I only wear the one "aid" (actually an amplifier that I was referencing earlier) but I can tell you its already helping with the tinnitus. Normal sounds are different through the "aid" but again, I can already tell that my brain is compensating and everything is starting to sound better already......its only been two days.

The brain is a wonderful thing isn't it?

As I said previously, its already doing what I needed it to do, reduce the "huhs" and "whats" in conversations, but only in relatively quiet environments. I cannot even imagine wearing this into a restaurant/bar......won't do it.

I'm glad I bought the cheap one as I've heard from many that the expensive ones aren't much better. I'll continue to use devices like this for as long as I can.

 

Thanks for the info rwj6001. I'll be looking into getting one early next year

 

This is a good record to accustom oneself to a hearing aid. The sound of the guitar is tinny and almost out of tune, like I hearing aid. Quite annoying. I listen to it with hearing aid in, before going to a bar/restaurant, so by comparison the bar will be tolerable.

It's by a little known jangle-pop band from the 80's called Felt. Great band if you were into the college music scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G0O0TgUn6E

 

Any updates on those new to hearing aids? How's the experience going? Especially the cheaper one that one of you got online.

 

I am getting on in the next week or so...I will let you know. I got fitted last week.

However...I have 75 db hearing loss across the board and 50 percent clarity on a good day so its a long shot.

Will keep you updated.

 

Not much new to report here, about the same as it was. I've been off work for the holidays and so haven;t been wearing it too much (I know, I know, not good) as I had mostly have been wearing it at the office. One thing I didn't mention before that I've started noticing is that small sounds, sounds I probably wouldn;t have even noticed before are extremely loud and can cause some discomfort.
Frequently, when I'm wearing it I've had to ask my wife to try to quiet down a little. It's not her fault, of course, she's used to living with someone who is pretty much partially deaf, so now she's got to get used to this. God bless her and everyone else who has to put up with everything this damned disease puts us through, deafness, constant ringing, vertigo ranging from mild discomfort to absolute disabling....its terrible that we have to live with it and its terrible that our loved ones have to as well.

I thank God for her quite often.......

Anyway, I'm still glad I have it and it was well worth the initial investment.