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

If you are profoundly deaf, you may be eligible for a cochlear implant. Obviously there is a bit more involved than just being given a CI but it might be something worth considering and discussing with your audiologist.

Hearing loss is a disability and is a struggle at times. I have a profound loss myself so am well aware but with support ans confidence to advocate for yourself, you can live life to the full!

Just wanted to say hello! New to mumsnet/this thread. Happy to see it, thanks OP. I'm moderately deaf and cant hear a thing without my hearing aids (which are Oticon). Got a Roger Pen through Access to Work but I'm struggling with it. I have to use it with a loop and it makes everything sound even tinnier than before. I also have NO idea how to clean my hearing aids - which were recently upgraded. Audiologist has more faith in my tech skills then I do...

I’ve just been to the audiology department today. The audiologist was lovely. I am going to have two brand new hearing aids with all the bells and whistles on, including Bluetooth for my phone. I collect them on June 15th and am really looking forward to it. We are so lucky in the UK as l know these hearing aids would cost thousands of pounds privately and I am getting them free of charge on the NHS.

I just spotted this thread and thought I'd stop by. I've been noticing my hearing getting worse over the past couple of years and now have a constant buzzing/hissing in both ears. I went to have a free hearing check at a local opticians (not Specsavers) and the person conducting the test said that I have moderate hearing loss for high frequencies. My DH has noticed the TV has been on way too loud for him and there are times when he thought I was ignoring him but he's realised I just didn't hear him speaking. The optician said that they don't have a contract with my GP surgery so I couldn't get NHS hearing aids from them. Should I approach my GP?

Welcome aboard. I started this thread because I felt so isolated.
Since it's been running so many people have come on with all types of hearing loss, with advice and information that's been so useful.
Definitely get to your GP, they will then refer you for an nhs hearing test

Does anyone else hear have a bone anchored hearing aid? I'm in my 30s and have just upgraded for the first time. It might be an option (depending on the reason for the hearing impairment obviously) for those of you who struggle with in-ear aids especially if you get repeated infections. I love mine! Never seen them mentioned on mn though

And what an apt typo! I do know the difference between here and hear, honest.. 😂

My mam has One and it seems great! Are they for a particular type of hearing loss?
i am finding my in-ear aids good for my cookie bite loss but would def consider a baha in future

To anyone who is ignorant over hearing loss (particularly the one with the non understanding dh), I substitute what they say directed at a person with sight problems:

You see what you want to see, you don't look, if you just paid attention, you'd see better, oooh , what, where are you, who said that?

How bad is your cookie bite loss? Mine is severe. I always thought in the ear aids weren't aimed at me

@gandalf456 my loss is not bad enough for NHS to help me but it is bad enough to have been affecting my relationship with DH. Fortunately I can afford to go private. I can't make out words very well unless I am facing the speaker, and have some kind of warning that they are about to start speaking (so I can start paying attention). I can't hear the TV properly without having the volume way up - but then it's uncomfortably high on the high frequency sounds.

The in-ear aids are amazing! They are programmed just to amplify the frequencies in the "bite" and so they solve all of the above. They took a bit of getting used to as the amplified sound seemed very artificial at first but I persevered for a couple of weeks and got used to them after that. I've had them about 5 years now and could not think of managing without.

If your loss is severe I would hope the NHS could provide similar for you.
Mine are Widex, I don't know the model although they have probably been superseded by now anyway as I've had the same ones for the 5 years.

@gandalf456 my loss is not bad enough for NHS to help me but it is bad enough to have been affecting my relationship with DH. Fortunately I can afford to go private. I can't make out words very well unless I am facing the speaker, and have some kind of warning that they are about to start speaking (so I can start paying attention). I can't hear the TV properly without having the volume way up - but then it's uncomfortably high on the high frequency sounds.

The in-ear aids are amazing! They are programmed just to amplify the frequencies in the "bite" and so they solve all of the above. They took a bit of getting used to as the amplified sound seemed very artificial at first but I persevered for a couple of weeks and got used to them after that. I've had them about 5 years now and could not think of managing without.

If your loss is severe I would hope the NHS could provide similar for you.
Mine are Widex, I don't know the model although they have probably been superseded by now anyway as I've had the same ones for the 5 years.

Hi @flamingo40 - I'm sorry I have only just seen your post.

I wanted to say that my reaction was exactly the same as yours ! I was so taken aback to find out that I had hearing loss that I burst into tears. I was in my early 40s too. What brought me to my senses was the genuinely dumbfounded reaction of the really smashing audiologist who sat in front of me gaping while I sobbed and snivelled. And finally said, 'well, I can see it's come as a big shock, but honestly most folk are normally really pleased to find out that a) I can help them and b) it's not going to cost them a penny!'

It still took me a while to get used to, and to tell people easily, but it did somewhat bring me to my senses and make me appreciate the help. I don't mean to sound at all holier than thou, but I did begin to see more of the cup half full side of things ..

@ihavespoken that sounds quite debilitating. I am surprised the nhs won't help. However, if you prefer in the ear aids, you can't get them on the nhs anyway

Oh maybe I am misunderstanding what is meant by in-ear aids! I meant, as opposed to a BAHA.
I have now realised it probably means aids where the whole thing is in your ear (?)
Mine have a bit that hooks over my ear and then there is a dome that goes inside my ear.
Sorry for any confusion!

Those are called behind the ear (BTE). The "usual" ones you think of when you think of a hearing aid. In the ear (ITE) are just the small bit that gets pushed into the ear canal.

I'm surprised your hearing is bad enough that you can get private aids but not bad enough for the NHS. What kind of loss do you have, do you know? Mine was a mild loss at first, with levels around 35 dBL, but I still got NHS aids.

Has anyone got any tips on stopping the hair rustling noise or do I just have to have my hair up, which I don't really like.

My old hearing aids werent like this but my new ones oh my goodness it's annoying rustle rustle all the time.

Any tips?

My hairdresser asked if she needed to take my aids into account when she cut my hair short. I don't have a problem with it, so maybe mention it to your audiologists.

I sometimes do have rustle from hair cos it's right next to them.
I just put up with it you get used to it lol

Hair rustle - I think it depends where the microphone on your aid is - and agree its one of those thngs that brain cancels out after a bit but agree it can be very annoying!

Thanks all I think I've figured it out...

There a setting on the app called noise filter so I've activated that and that seems to have helped

Hi I have just found this. I have moderate hearing loss in my left ear and severe in my right caused by measles when I was a child. I have only ever had NHS hearing aids until recently I bought a ‘back up’ pair from Amazon for £89 and they are the best I have ever found. They are rechargeable, volume control is very sensitive and they are comfortable to wear.

M@thegreylady
Could you do a link please to the Amazon ones.

I will try

It says currently unavailable but there are similar ones and these may be available from another supplier.