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Original poster

Hearing Aids - what to expect?

55 replies

ColouringPencils · 01/06/2018 18:41

I have an appointment next week to have hearing aids fitted and I just wondered what to expect.

I think I thought that they would take my levels again (my test was around 9 months ago) and maybe do a mould of my ears, and then I would be back for a later fitting, but now I am not sure. The appointment type is called Adult HA Issue Open Fit and it says in the letter that you are welcome to bring a friend with you. I imagine this is because they will be fitted on the day?

Why would I want to bring a friend?? Will I be disorientated? Will I be able to drive home? I don't really have anyone to come with me as DH will need to look after the kids. I could ask a friend if necessary but don't want to waste their Saturday if it's something I can do alone.

It's also my DH's birthday weekend - would I want to go on from the appointment for a day out, or am I likely to want to go and bury my head in a pillow and hide from the world? (Or should I just take them out again and have a day out??)

I'm feeling a bit anxious about it all, as well as quite fed up as I am only in my 30s Sad.

Thanks for any advice!

OP posts:
Original poster
ColouringPencils · 02/06/2018 00:16

Freetodo, embrace your super powers! (She says, not having tried hearing aids yet). Your situation in the Q&A with the audience could very easily happen in my job too. The other day I was at an event and was convinced the sound tech had the mics too low, even taking into account what I know about myself. Other people had to tell me it was fine before I did something about it.

I also find myself working more closely with certain people at work, according to their pitch. I seem to love a loud, high woman's voice and basically have to avoid the men Blush

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 02/06/2018 00:18

I've had a Google of open fit HAs now Coloured, they are completely different from mine.
I got mine about 5 years ago, due for new ones really. Mine fit right inside my ear canal, you can't really see them from the outside, and as a pp mentioned, they are calibrated electronically by the audiologist.

Lots of luck! You will be grand!

Original poster
ColouringPencils · 02/06/2018 00:20

Thank you Giraffey, and I'm pleased it has been really positive for you.

I read an article by Bella Bathurst, a lot of which rang true with me. I think her hearing loss was more severe than mine though.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 02/06/2018 00:26

Freetodowhatiwant when I first got them I was in denial I think too. Well I think I've probably had this hearing loss all my life, just hadn't realised, was in denial. It took me a fair few years till I stopped being in denial to be honest and wore them all the time. If I'd worn them all the time from the off I'm sure my life would have been much improved. I'd never not wear them now.

Colouring with regards to getting used to noises etc best advise is just to wear them all the time and you will get used to it honestly. Will feel weird for a while but it will become second nature. And the more continuously you wear them the more you get used to them. If you put them on and off it will take you longer.

Yes all you need for a disabled rail pass is to show them you wear hearing aids.

purpleme12 · 02/06/2018 00:28

Ps when I first went to doctors saying I think I need my hearing checked they were useless. I had to go to a different one. Seems to have happened to a couple of people on this thread too!

purpleme12 · 02/06/2018 00:38

Freetodowhatiwant please make another appointment to get the right fit. It makes such a difference. When I first got mine I had the wrong fit it was at a different hospital to the one I'm at now and when I got some new ones years on at my current hospital it was amazing the difference! I didn't realise they were the wrong fit of course cos you don't know any better but s makes all the difference when you get it right.

Helloflamingogo · 02/06/2018 00:40

Yes colouring, it’s based on you having hearing aids rather than anything else. Depending on frequencies you’re also entitled to a bus pass in Scotland (I don’t qualify because it’s high pitches I’ve lost, despite the fact it makes public transport tricky)

Helloflamingogo · 02/06/2018 00:42

One you’re used to them, look into access to work. It’s really worth while as there’s so much wireless technology (for example Roger pens) that you can use with them. You can also get a “thing” which lets you manually adjust levels and plugs directly into a soundboard.

Helloflamingogo · 02/06/2018 00:42

Oh also, insist on them activating the t loop on them.

purpleme12 · 02/06/2018 00:49

What is this thing? Is it for phones?

purplemunkey · 02/06/2018 00:53

I had hearing aids fitted about 4 months ago, NHS. No moulds, just over the ear ones which I think are the open fit. I'm in my 30s too but it seems like I've had this level of hearing loss for 15yrs+ and had just learnt to live with it!

Nothing to worry about, wearing them doesn't bother me at all - I see them the same way I see my glasses. The new sounds were pretty overwhelming at first and I had to take them out a few times in the early weeks to give my ears a rest. Got used to them very quickly though and now when I take them out it sounds like I'm underwater - I can't believe that's all I could hear for so many years!

The suggestion for a friend may be so you can hear how a familiar voice sounds with them in.

Good luck, you'll be fine.

purpleme12 · 02/06/2018 00:58

It's funny looking back isn't it purple. I hate not having mine in now. It makes me feel so unconfident.

But also they still don't make you hear like other people. Even with them in I can't hear as well as perfect hearing people.

purplemunkey · 02/06/2018 01:02

Yes it is funny looking back.

I remember thinking the same thing when I first started wearing glasses too, 'oh this is what you're supposed to be able to see' Grin

purpleme12 · 02/06/2018 01:04

I still find myself thinking oh can other people hear that cos to me I still think what I experience is normal but it can't be

theotherendofthesockportal · 02/06/2018 09:38

Another awesome thing about hearing aids is that when you go to the cinema the hearing aids tune in to the film and block out back ground noise. No more anointing crunch popcorn noises!

You can also get tickets for some theatres at discounted rate if you attend the shows for people who are hard of hearing.

And yes to the disabled railcard. I've not got one yet, as I don't live close to a train line but if I did start using the train I would definitely get one.

Original poster
ColouringPencils · 02/06/2018 17:25

That sounds cool about the cinema. Is that a thing you have to select on your hearing aids or do they just tune in automatically? I have no idea how any of this works!

I also use the train quite a bit, so will be definitely checking out the travel card.

I will ask about the t loop, too. Is that something which is always on or is it an optional setting?

OP posts:
Original poster
ColouringPencils · 02/06/2018 17:34

Looks like you have to be profoundly impaired to get a bus pass in my area, which is fair enough as this isn't stopping me working or travelling in another way.

I'll enjoy my discounted train travel and personalised cinema experience though! There has to be some bright side Smile

OP posts:
theotherendofthesockportal · 02/06/2018 17:55

@ColouringPencils my hearing aids automatically tune in to the cinema etc which I believe is the same as what the t-loop system does.

As I've got older I've learnt to embrace my hearing aids. My favourite thing to do is to turn down the volume when situations get to noisy, for example on a busy bus

Original poster
ColouringPencils · 02/06/2018 18:34

That sounds great re the cinema. Yes, I will do my best to think of it as an advantage too - I can choose loud or quiet etc.

OP posts:
BikingBeatrix · 02/06/2018 19:24

OP, if you want to see pics of open fit aids you just need to google! They have small behind ear aids and no moulds - they have a little bar thing that goes in your ear. I think they’re used for mild to moderate hearing loss. I had them for a while but found they fell out a lot - l have slightly weird-shaped ear canals. I have moulds again now. My loss is now up at the moderate level now anyway.

You might find you don’t want to wear them all day at first - everything sounds quite weird. I remember noticing birds singing when l was sitting in my car outside the clinic. And the indicator sounds really loud when you’re driving! I recall one meeting where several ppl spoke at once and my hands went over my ears in a flash because it was so loud, but generally they have changed my life.

Original poster
ColouringPencils · 02/06/2018 22:08

Yes of course you are right, but I didn’t actually realise I was having ‘open fit aids’, I thought perhaps the type of appointment was an ‘open fitting’ - like a dress fitting! It is almost a year since my last (and only) appointment with an audiologist, and that was all quite a blur, so apologies for being a newbie.

I will google now though, good point!

OP posts:
Original poster
ColouringPencils · 13/06/2018 19:22

Just to update, I got my hearing aids at the weekend and it's been fine. Don't know what I was so worried about. Wearing them out in the street or in meetings where there are several people talking can be quite overwhelming, but one-to-one conversations are much improved. Eating sounds horrible, as does crumpling paper! I do find it quite tiring and have been enjoying taking them out at the end of the working day.

OP posts:
Choice4567 · 13/06/2018 19:35

Glad it went ok and wasn't as daunting as you first feared!

Have you looked into any equipment to go with your aids to help you at work? You can get microphones and things for meetings to make it easier to hear the person speaking.

AdaColeman · 13/06/2018 19:50

Pleased that it's going so well for you Colouring. Well done!

Gigusting · 13/06/2018 20:13

I am also a newbie and wore mine today after putting it off for ages. I am not sure if I am fitting it correctly as I feel I have to push it into the canal rather than stick it in like earphones, if that makes sense. As a result, my ear canal is slightly sore. Is that normal? I am in my late 30s I am worried about the dementia link as I only have one hearing aid as I was born without any hearing in one ear. Am I more at risk of dementia?

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