Page 16 | Thread for those of us that are deaf/hard of hearing?

flamingo40 · 2021-09-04T16:45:14+00:00

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

Walkacrossthesand · 25/11/2021 11:50

Those of you suffering ear canal eczema - is the 'in canal' portion of your aid, made of flesh coloured plastic, or clear & colourless?

If the former, you may be low-grade allergic to the material, even though they say it's 'hypoallergenic'.

When my shells were flesh coloured I had the most awful problems with itchy ear canals, low grade infections etc. They switched them to transparent ones and bingo! Problem solved. They forgot to use clear material for the next set, and it all started up again - quickly got them replaced, and all good since.

Straysocks · 02/12/2021 09:23

There have been so many issues on this thread that I wanted to respond to but it seems to take my breath away. I didn't realise my hearing loss and efforts to deal with it were so tied up with my emotions.

On a different and more practical note if anyone is interested in swimming headphones jukes.com are selling bone conduction headphones at a discount. Their V12 model is out of stock so orders are currently being upgraded to the bone conduction Solo Wave headphone, usually £20 more expensive. They also do sets for coaches where you can talk to the swimmer from the pool side again using bone conduction. Niche I know but could be a great gift.

Original poster

flamingo40 · 02/12/2021 11:29

Just checking in to see how everyone's doing?
I'm feeling more positive especially now we have this little group of us in here to talk to and support each other.
Off to London next weekend so that'll be a big test. I'm expecting lots of noise and scenarios that throw me x

OP posts:

Plantsandpuddlesuits · 03/12/2021 08:41

Have a great weekend @flamingo40

I'm still persevering with my aids.

I cried when the mask rules came back in it makes everything so hard. I was in a shop yesterday and I had some admin to do there so more talking than your usual shop. I could hear the cashier but I couldn't make out what she was saying so asked her to repeat herself at the start. Then k said sorry I'm actually a bit deaf can you speak up. She offered to remove her mask but I said it's ok as I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable but she did it anyway and the difference is just amazing. I almost cried. Didn't realize how much I rely on lip reading until the pandemic infact that's what prompted me to get a hearing test and the audiologist said lots of people are saying the same thing.

I struggle so much to watch TV without subtitles. There was a program DH and I wanted to watch last weekend, looked forward to it all week. Get in on and there's no subtitles aarrgh. Without my aids in (I don't wear them in the house as it's overwhelming) I could hear the speech as a mumble and there's no way I could watch it. So I put my aids in on the special TV setting and it was amazing! I still had to concentrate really hard but I could actually make out (most of the time) what they were saying! DH had to fill in some gaps though. But I had to have the aids turned up really high which meant I jumped everytime dh rustled his crisp packet or sipped his wine as everything is so loud.

I do have a TV listener from connevans with a neckloop etc so it's like an induction loop. This is the best for TV as it streams directly into my ears. But our TV is quite old so it can only be plugged in a certain socket in the back so no one else can hear it so no good for socially watching TV. And if I'm on my own I prefer subtitles anyway. Prefer subtitles all the time actually.

Still need to ring audiology to see if they can help. I don't know what else they can do. I'm debating going private as a friend's husband is an audiologist and they said they will do all they can for me. But it's still expensive. My son has private hearing aids so I know how expensive it is. I'm happy to pay for.my child to have the best but can't justify that for myself. I don't want to use my son's private audiologist as it's really far away (private paediatric audiologist are very rare) whereas my friends practice is fairly local but they don't see children.

Sorry for the essay!

purpleme12 · 03/12/2021 08:50

You have a special TV setting on your hearing aids?

I couldn't not wear my hearing aids in the house
I'd have too much trouble hearing what my child is saying

Plantsandpuddlesuits · 03/12/2021 08:53

@purpleme12

You have a special TV setting on your hearing aids?

I couldn't not wear my hearing aids in the house
I'd have too much trouble hearing what my child is saying

Yes I have normal setting, busy place setting, induction loop setting and TV setting so 4 altogether. Audiology just put them all on.

If I wear my aids in the house it feels like my brain will explode?! Fees like sounds are bouncing off the walls then back into my ears it's so hard to explain. I also get disoriented as can hear things like the clock ticking and the fridge humming and it's so noisy!

TheSparkling · 03/12/2021 22:25

Can I just say thank you to everyone for sharing on this thread. It has been fabulous to read and makes me feel I am not alone in my struggles.
I am only partially deaf but bringing back masks has really made my life more difficult.
My desk has been moved at work which is nothing really except now people approaching me for information all come to my deaf side and they are wearing masks too. I am saying pardon and sorry I didn't catch that all the time now. It annoys me and must be annoying for them too.

I have to admit to managing without my aids for ages now. I get away with that because I have nearly normal hearing in my right ear but I think I am going to have to get used to them again. I am not sure how they will work with my telephone headset though so that's something else to struggle with. Now and again the whole thing really gets me down.

On a positive note I have found myself a lovely boyfriend who is very supportive and understanding. The first night we spent together he admitted he snores, (and he does) but I sleep on my hearing ear and it works out well for both of us.

Original poster

flamingo40 · 04/12/2021 09:02

If I'm in the house alone I'll take mine out.
One of the things I loved when I got my latest was the fact I could hear my teens upstairs in their rooms giggling away on whatever device they're on with their friends.
It made me happy to hear them in their own little worlds.
As for tv we all have subtitles on even if I'm
Not watching, it's just become habit for the main family tv.
Tonight I'm off to a big Xmas party so that'll be interesting but it's with my lovely fitness friends who accommodate me so well.
Lots of noise, dancing and alcohol, which I find once I've drank my hearings worse.
On the plus I get to show off my new hearing aid earrings because I've finally wanted them show the world I have them not hide them away.
Have a lovely weekend everyone

OP posts:

SMaCM · 04/12/2021 11:35

@TheSparkling

Can I just say thank you to everyone for sharing on this thread. It has been fabulous to read and makes me feel I am not alone in my struggles. I am only partially deaf but bringing back masks has really made my life more difficult. My desk has been moved at work which is nothing really except now people approaching me for information all come to my deaf side and they are wearing masks too. I am saying pardon and sorry I didn't catch that all the time now. It annoys me and must be annoying for them too.

I have to admit to managing without my aids for ages now. I get away with that because I have nearly normal hearing in my right ear but I think I am going to have to get used to them again. I am not sure how they will work with my telephone headset though so that's something else to struggle with. Now and again the whole thing really gets me down.

On a positive note I have found myself a lovely boyfriend who is very supportive and understanding. The first night we spent together he admitted he snores, (and he does) but I sleep on my hearing ear and it works out well for both of us.

I sleep on my hearing ear too

Dogatetheleftovers · 04/12/2021 21:10

I have a bad headache which develops as soon as I’ve been wearing my hearing aids for a short time, even 15 minutes. Plus I can’t keep the part behind my ear and the arms of my glasses as my ears sit too flat to my head. I either have my hearing aids on or my glasses but the space is too narrow for both. Masks are a whole other problem!

purpleme12 · 04/12/2021 21:32

my hearing aids sit over my glasses. i've no other option.
my ears are as small as a child's ears - also need teenager size glasses and children's hats so must have small head all over lol.
so they don't sit the best and you can see them more than if i wasn't wearing glasses but tehy do stay on and i'd be lost wihtout them

SkiRun0077 · 06/12/2021 21:19

I’ve used headphones for watching the TV for years, my DH got me some and then my mum some. It’s fab I wear my headphones to my level of sound and clarity and the rest of the family watch & hear the TV as normal at the same time. So don’t struggle, for years my mum used to read the paper or her magazine when we watched TV and it was only when I struggled with the clarity of sound that we realised how bad her hearing had got and she could hear the TV properly at all. She loves her headphones now.

Walkacrossthesand · 08/12/2021 00:01

What are these headphones that amplify for you but don't interfere with TV output for others listening? I've never heard of such a thing!

supadupapupascupa · 08/12/2021 07:38

I have a microphone box that does the same thing direct to my ears

Polgara2 · 09/12/2021 07:40

Just wanted to say thank you so much for this thread! I have had NHS digital hearing aids for years (Sensorineural high tone loss) but I found I increasingly couldn't hear.
Went to audiology to get them checked and because of this thread asked about Bluetooth ones - and walked out with a pair! Unbelievably life changing for my phone. They are Oticon Engage - does anyone else have these?
I still can't hear very well generally though so am back for a hearing test today. Fingers crossed they can adjust them to help.
I really struggle with speech (especially accents) more than sounds in general. I cannot hear the TV without subtitles so I just can't watch if they are not available.

purpleme12 · 09/12/2021 13:34

Speech is the worst thing isn't it
And it's so much harder when someone's got an accent
or even if they're got a property beard too
or if they speak quietly or not clearly

Reader57 · 09/12/2021 13:44

Hi, I have a mild hearing loss with moderate tinnitus which, as it’s worsened, I’ve found very distracting. I was prescribed NHS aids a few years ago and really need a review but with the COVID situation and difficulty with contacting my surgery I haven’t felt able to try. I too find restaurants etc very difficult or anywhere with background sound and totally relate to the embarrassment of having to repeatedly ask someone to ‘say again please?’ My husband does get irritated at times…

purpleme12 · 09/12/2021 13:59

Can i ask something
You know when you see those signs saying they've got the t loop thing so switch your hearing aid to that t link
Are they always switched on? so you can always do this? or do you have to physically ask them to switch it on at their side so that this can work?

BigbreastsBiggerbeard · 10/12/2021 16:03

I've been looking into something called a ConnectClip - it's a wireless hearing aid accessory that allows you to stream calls and music etc from your phone. Does anyone have one of these and if so, can you let me know if it needs to be calibrated to your hearing aids by an audiologist or can you set it up yourself?

I'm also liking the sound of the Remote Microphone function - I reckon that could be incredibly useful.

My hearing aids are bluetooth but I can only control volume etc from phone, as it's an android. Apparently if I had an iphone I could stream everything straight from the phone!

Apologies if this has been mentioned, I haven't read the full thread yet.

repeatplease · 10/12/2021 16:14

just laughing rather ruefully at purpleme's query about T loop and switch to this...everytime I see that - bank bus whatever I check. Usually it isnt working - so I say politely "by the way your loop isnt working to a member of staff." Theyre usually polite back but claim cant do anything...RNID used to have cards one could give in that said "Your loop system is defective or words to that effect but havent checked if they still provide them. Sigh

purpleme12 · 10/12/2021 16:28

i am a bit new to the T loop thing so i was quite unsure about if i needed to ask them to switch it on every time? or if it's supposed to be on anyway?
i can get by without it i just kind of wanted to see if it was better with it and less of a struggle.
i know i could hear the difference with that programme when i turned it on in my audiology appointment

repeatplease · 10/12/2021 17:49

The T system should be turned on all the time if the symbol is displayed. When its working its hugely helpful - sound goes straight into aids - sounds a bit surreal almost as if the voice is inside your head.

purpleme12 · 10/12/2021 20:48

So do they never work then?
i tried it at the cinema once and it was no different?
i tried it the other day at the shop and it didn't seem different either?

SMaCM · 11/12/2021 09:38

I've used it at the bank and a shopping till and it worked really well, but most coffee shops etc that say they have it, it doesn't seem to work.

purpleme12 · 11/12/2021 10:23

i guess i'll just have to keep trying it to see where it works?