Thread for those of us that are deaf/hard of hearing?

[flamingo40]

I've looked through the health topics and can't find any particular areas for those of us who are deaf or hard of hearing to turn to if we are after advice or just fancy a chat with people who are in the same situation?
I guess I'm asking firstly if I'm missing something or secondly if there isn't an area we can go to would this be something Mumsnet would think about adding?

Having been hard of hearing for years and now a permanent hearing aid wearer I'd love you get help and advice and talk about experiences to other people

At 6 months I expect your brain's still getting used to hearing properly
But every time I have a hearing test (every 3 years approx) mine gets a bit worse
I guess it doesn't bode well but I've not allowed myself to ruminate over it

Also does anyone know where to learn bsl online please? Partly for personal use and interest but also to go on my CV?

After being told my ear had too much wax to get new hearing aids fitted last Thursday I started putting the olive oil drops in. Had no infection at that point. The infection had gone. So anyway I've now felt my ear feeling more sore again, like the beginning of an outer ear infection again. I relented and went to Specsavers they just looked in my ear and he did confirm it was infected. So yet another infection

I’m now a week in and gaining confidence I wearing them, bit not quite wearing them full-time or at work.

Just been shopping so it was mask on, mask off. Twice, I needed up dislodging them when taking my mask off, having longer hair now, and glasses probably doesn’t help.

How does everyone cope? Out and about I can now go mask-less, but I work in a healthcare setting, where we wear masks walking around the building, but not at our desks. Are some mask designs better/easier than others? I really feel for everyone who’s had to wear masks over the last couple of years, plus unable lipread due to them.

I wear a mask which has elastic that goes right round my head rather than looping behind each ear. Tried ear loop ones (wear 2 post aural aids ) and got feedback Thats fine
When I wore glasses (pre contactlenses) I got the optician to remove the plastic ends of the spectacle arms so they had curved wire instead. It did rub sometimes but was better than the plastic arms joggling the aids. That was at least 45 years ago so dont know if optician would agree to do it now. Many thanks for starting this thread!

It’s arrived!!! It isn’t set up and can’t be used until the audiologist comes on Tuesday but the actual hearing aid is here

It’s tiny!!! It’s about a 3rd of the size as my NHS one. I can’t wait to see how it works

@Soubriquet have you got a picture?

Anyone - can putting olive oil drops in actually bring on an infection?

Wow! What a lovely thread!

So you’re all a lot further on in your journey than me but I’m hoping you can help me somehow.

The last year or two, I’ve become increasingly more isolated. My husband keeps getting irate saying I’m shouting at him, I cannot hear my children clearly. And if there’s any background noise, and someone speaks, the sounds all blur into one! I have to avoid background noise, or just nod and pretend I’ve heard.

I used to be so confident but I’m gradually becoming more self conscious.

I have chronic sinus issues, could this be causing it or is it something else?

I keep promising my family I’ll go for a hearing check, but then put it off!

New one on the left

I havent read the whole thread, but does anyone have Microtia on here? I have unilteral and so does my youngest child. Neither of us use aids, although dc did try one but wasnt keen in the end. I guess because I grew up with it I have been able to help her adapt.
I have only recently really, realised how incredibly hard it's been only having one sided hearing. I was also quite embarrassed about ever telling anyone so would nod and smile a lot rather than ask people to repeat what they had said. I'm a lot more assertoive now and make sure I'm on the correct side. DC has also been offered reconstruction which she has chosen not to go through - I did but it wasnt my choice and an unpleasant and painful childhood - very different now to today.
Anyway, I have fully outed myself to anyone who knows me!!

Oh, and dont talk to me about bloody masks! Impossible to use the regular ones, so I have to make sure i have my over the head ones with me at all times eitherwise I have to walk around holding one side up!!

@purpleme12 my practice nurse says not but I beg to differ. I get a ear infection every time :(

Flossie - do be brave and get your hearing checked. Its really tiring not hearing properly - and we have all been guilty of nodding and smiling (and hoping person hasnt said nearest and dearest has died|) whether with or without hearing aids!

They ordered a special headset for me at work that they said cancels out the noise (it's just on one ear, not one of those on both ears) and works through that t link thing. I said I'd try it anyway
The T link thing doesn't seem to make a difference to me anyway so I don't have that on
But I'm sure the this headset pushes my hearing aid into my ear more. I don't think this is helping my infection. But this is supposed to be for people with hearing aids. I don't understand. Has anyone else had this?

Might have to go back to a normal one
I'm so confused if this is supposed to be for people with hearing aids

My hearing has been awful for a few years. I finally got a diagnosis at the end of 2020 and I need a stapedectomy procedure in both ears. The ENT wanted me to wear hearing aids for a few months before he operates.

The hearing aids have been life changing. I was isolated for so long - I would recommend getting your hearing checked if you’re experiencing loss.
The operation should be early next year and should restore my hearing or make it worse!!

I need to educate myself on behalf of my young adult disabled DS, haven't yet read the whole thread.

Our latest issue is that his aids tubes get blocked at least weekly, I have asked for microsuction for his ears, never had it done before, I expect after a decade + his ears are probably full of wax.

How do u all deal with that, should it be done periodically?

As for his face masks, I made his with one band.

My MRI results came back normal so don't know what caused my hearing loss.

Soubriquet - hows the new aid feeling? Hope its transformative

For people struggling with masks and hearing aids, I have a little knitted strip with 2 buttons on, so the loops attach to that around the back of my head rather than behind my ears. Definitely makes a difference especially as I wear glasses too, just too much to squeeze behind an ear!!

I failed the credit check

I don’t have the 3grand to pay off all at once, and whilst I can pay the monthly payments and even a £300 deposit, I failed the credit check which means I don’t have the new hearing aid

Gutted

@Soubriquet

I failed the credit check

I don’t have the 3grand to pay off all at once, and whilst I can pay the monthly payments and even a £300 deposit, I failed the credit check which means I don’t have the new hearing aid

Gutted

Have you asked the hearing clinic at your local hospital for help?

I got my new hearing aid from the NHS last month and there is no upfront payment.

From the sounds of her previous posts she's got an NHS one. I think this was supposed to be a smaller and better one for her privately?

Thanks purpleme12, I missed that.

Hi, I am a hearing aid user with a sever hearing loss, bilateral. Worn aids since a child.
I really dislike being coloured aids as they remind me of the big clunky nhs aids I had to wear as a teen, but sadly coloured aids only see,m to be for children!

@Soubriquet can you ask you audiology dept for a hearing aid review? My hospital offered me a choice if 3 different makes when I had my last appointment. I needed new ones as one fo mine stopped working in lockdown 1 and it was such an old model couldn’t just give me the same again.

Oticon XCeed is one eg. Much smaller than some aids, works Bluetooth/wirelessly etc. Can get it in the dark brown colour etc.

If stay with Phonak, Phonak Nathos Auto is on NHS, but they don’t have the ones that do Bluetooth etc out yet on nhs in my area. I forget the other makes.