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

@Stormchaser1502 someone else said how ridiculous that was and how they thought I was a bit deaf.
But the other doctor didn't even do this stupid tuning fork test and I didn't have to push it, her just referred me for a hearing test

I find it ridiculous that the boots man said you shouldn’t be there because you’re under 50.

I’ve been deaf since I had meningitis aged 2!!

Hi, everyone - I posted ages ago, shortly after being diagnosed with mild to moderate hearing loss, and I got some really lovely advice. I did eventually go ahead and get hearing aids, and I'm so glad I did - I love them! I can't quite believe the difference they have made.

I got Kirkland ones from Costco, which are rebranded Phonak P90 ones. They are rechargeable and have Bluetooth which is very convenient. I highly recommend if you are/can become a Costco member and are anywhere near one of their hearing centres, because they are very significantly cheaper than Phonak branded.

@Stormchaser1502 do keep going. Clearly I recommend Costco, but Specsavers do free tests too. That was where I went first. I really don't know why anyone would try to put off a private patient!

It's ridiculous sometimes what you hear from some medical professionals isn't it.

Not as bad but the doctor, GP, to me once was like why do you wear hearing aids as it's quite unusual for someone your age.
I was maybe 36
Well erm yes most people don't but there are quite a few that do still and I would have thought it's cos I've got hearing loss!
She was the one who refused to refer me to ENT to get my ear unblocked (it was stopping me having my new hearing aid fitted), said that wasn't a good enough reason, but audiology did refer me to do it so it was good enough reason for them

Please do get your GP to refer you for a hearing test. And if they wave the tuning fork about just ignore it. A tuning fork plays one frequency and you might be able to hear that one well while not hearing other frequencies!

And as for being under 50 and not needing aids, well I have 50 children under 18 on my caseload who I probably ought to tell that to 🤔

Also, the word mild with regards to hearing loss is a misnomer. It is only mild when compared with total deafness. It does not mean that a person has only lost a little hearing. If we wear hearing aids, it means that the loss is significant enough to warrant them.

I think this is true actually.
I think sometimes even the person with mild hearing loss thinks oh it's just mild it's not too bad.
But I think it makes more difference than people realise

Absolutely right. I've met teachers who have decided not to worry about the child in their class who is only mild or moderate. They should try listening all day with that hearing loss!

And to chime in: it just so happens that my poor DH's voice rumbles along at the exact frequency range where my moderate hearing loss is worst. (sorry am tired so my grammar is all over the place but hopefully you know what I mean). Without my hearing aids I particularly struggled to hear him of all people. It was really affecting how we communicated. Women and high pitched people I can cope with better. It's also easier for me when I'm not tired, and people don't have beards and masks etc. Anyway - point being that yes, you definitely need to have courage in getting more than one audiology trial and that man in boots is a total disgrace and wallychops. In fact, I would go back in and complain and I don't say or do that lightly.

Yes beards! Obviously masks but beards make it muffled too!
I found it really hard today at work and it made me feel a bit worried. Some people are really clear on the phone, others I really struggle with, muffled and a real struggle. I'm not sure if it's the people/the phone or the background noise. I don't know whether it's because there's more people there so it's noisier as well

Absolutely! I'd be writing a letter of complaint to Boots head office about him.

I began to have unexplained hearing loss aged 33. It's not a health problem that only affects older people, that idiot man.

@Stormchaser1502 Please ignore this idiot and go to someone else. My first indicators of hearing loss were nothing more than a realisation that I kept asking people to repeat themselves, and an online audiology test that suggested I had a mild loss (well, actually I did about 3 different ones but they all said the same thing!). I got hearing aids through the NHS 4 months later. 8 years on and I have a moderate-severe loss and absolutely rely on my aids.

And if you can bear it, a letter of complaint to Boots. That audiologist sounds like a disgrace.

Thank you all for being so lovely. I really did think I was going mad. The Boots man was atrocious!

Im sorry to hear I’m not the only one who’s had to fight. You are all inspirational

🌷stormchaser - that must have been frustrating 😩 . Try your GP and get sent to NHS audiology.

I love my hearing aids - I have different settings that I can adjust via an app ❤️.

I'm watching the first episode of that John Bishop documentary he says he's lost 60 per cent of his hearing.
I don't know what percentage I've lost of mine it doesn't say percentage wise on the graphs you're given from your test how much you've lost

Is sign language actually taught in silence?
How would you pick up what they're saying?

Is alright for these people they've got the money to learn BSL

Ok I've realised they had an interpreter now

That Boots chap is a disgrace! Definitely complain.
I’m lucky in that when I went to the doctor because I was pretty sure something was wrong with my hearing, he was great. Did a test there and then. Said it showed I was definitely suffering from hearing loss and referred me to an audiologist for more comprehensive testing.
I now have two Phonak aids. They make a huge difference and I really appreciate them, but really wish I could have Bluetooth enabled aids with rechargeable batteries. Seems some health authorities offer these but not others. The postcode lottery strikes again!

I would love Bluetooth hearing aids.

I need to book in for a new hearing aid mould soon so I might bring it up with my consultant

Do Bluetooth hearing aids work with headsets at work? I have no idea how they work

With a bit of configuring, they probably would.

If it connects to Bluetooth you can connect it to the hearing aid.

Oh I've no idea if it connects to Bluetooth

I mean I don't have Bluetooth hearing aids just wondered really. Never asked about them at the hospital

How do blue tooth hearing aids work ? I listen to radio/podcasts via wired in ear headphones and switching backwards and forwards with my hearing aids . With bluetooth hearing aids how does one switch from listening to radio function to listening to people mode ?

@peridito When I have my hearing aids in the always* connect automatically to my phone via Bluetooth. Then, any audio that the phone makes goes straight to my ears, as though the hearing aids were headphones. In theory, I could also connect them to my iPad and my laptops (personal and work), but I find Bluetooth is most reliable when it's used for a single connection. It can get a bit confused otherwise (this has happened a lot with various pre-hearing aid headphones.

You don't switch modes - the audio just plays. I can usually hear people speaking over it, but have to really concentrate on them. I usually pause whatever audio is playing to have the conversation.

*except for that one time they didn't, and I didn't realise everyone else could hear! I always check now😀

@purpleme12 At home, I now have a speakerphone rather than a headset for work calls, which is great. When I am in the office, technically I could route audio through my phone and use my hearing aids, but while it works great for me, my remote team tell me that my voice is muffled. I don't want to take my aids out at work, so I use a headset over the top, and it works fine.

Same! Hoping for new moulds soon so will definitely ask about Bluetooth hearing aids at the same time. They're giving them out to children/young people in my Trust so hoping us adults get a look in too!