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

Thanks everyone.
I’ve only been wearing hearing aids for a month so pretty new to it all. The batteries fitted by the audiologist lasted a week, I wasn’t given a supply at the time of fitting, she told me I’d receive six months supply in the post so I ordered pack of Duracell from Amazon, I’ve gone through a pack of six and now onto my second pack. They seem to last three or four days.
I’ve contacted the audiologist to chase up the supply from them.

Oh yeah, definitely open the flaps when you have them out of your ears otherwise they will just munch thru batteries. As far as they know they're in your ears and needing to work.

How do others deal with the pain of having their ears examined? I just saw the audiologist for a hearing test and when she was using the otoscope it was so painful I was gritting my teeth and my eyes were watering plus it made me cough and cough. The worst thing is she couldn't see either of my eardrums so I have to go back for another hearing test in a couple of weeks.

@Daffodilsandtuplips
If you have an NHS hearing aid you should get free batteries
I have 2 aids , I just ring up the audiology dept or /and go get them

Does anyone have T link headset that they use for work?

Because mine keeps losing connection with the t link thing and quite frankly I've no idea what exact position it needs to be in to get it connected as I always have it over my ear.

Also, does anyone actually think it helps/makes a difference?

Thank you, I’ll ring them tomorrow. The last set have lasted 11 days which is a huge improvement. They were only lasting from three to six days.

Ive been opening the covers when I’m not using them.

Great stuff - opening the covers is the game changer but yes. I have never had to pay for batteries unless I have gone away for the weekend and forgotten to pack any spares. And then been horrified by the cost of them in Boots!

I don't find it painful, perhaps a little uncomfortable if you get an audiologist who's a bit heavy-handed. Did they mention if you have an infection at all? What was the reason they couldn't see the drums, wax?

@purpleme12 Sorry, no, I don't have one.

I emailed connevans like someone mentioned on here. My hearing aid isn't Bluetooth but they said there's equipment where you put something round your neck and it turns it so it's Bluetooth and you don't even have to wear a headset
Do people on here recommend Bluetooth?
Is it louder or better sound quality or both?

@SuziLikeSuziQ no infection but it hurt more than usual so maybe a heavy-handed audiologist like you say. The GP sent me to Specsavers rather than the hospital audiology department and I'm not sure they're as good to be honest. The audiologist didn't know what to do with my audiogram as it was unusual (asymmetric high frequency hearing loss) and started texting her boss for advice! I've never experienced that with NHS audiologists; they always seem to know what they're doing.

The reason the audiologist gave for not being able to see my eardrums was that my "ear canals are too narrow and windy" which I'm sure they are but I've had numerous ear appointments and microsuction and it's never been a problem before.

Sounds like they weren't very experienced, then!

@purpleme12 Mine are like that; I need a Connect Clip to use my hearing aids with Bluetooth. I will get one at some point as the Roger Pen I had with my last aids was brilliant!

I'm still quite confused how it works.
How does it make it Bluetooth??

Is a Roger pen a microphone? Or have I got that wrong?

It depends what model of hearing aid you have. If your aids are Bluetooth compatible then once they are paired to the ConnectClip (part of the initial set up, which I would specifically ask for help with if you’re not computer savvy), they should connect automatically. Although sometimes, the signal drops out (IIRC it’s dependent on Wi-Fi) and you have to reconnect.

If they are not Bluetooth compatible then you need a different, slightly older bit of kit with a neckloop, which works just as well but needs to be plugged in to the computer. You’ll need to check with the Connevans people which kit is right for your model of hearing aid. Audiologists are a bit unreliable on their knowledge of these technical issues (mine didn’t know I needed to change my kit when I upgraded my hearing aids).

To be honest @purpleme12 in your position I would ask to get your hand held every step of the way through this process as you sound like you need plenty of support in learning to use the equipment.

Oh ok.
Yes I don't know what I'm doing!!
I emailed connevans like so someone suggested to see what could help me and this is the thing they came back with. They did say there would a neck loop and it would be wireless, so no headset if I do this.
Have you used this before?

So...
I asked connevans about an amplifier too cos the phone is just too quiet compared to the noise in the office!
They said often that's not so good with hearing aids because hearing aids will actually quieten the sound so as not to damage your ears.
But I am not aware of this?!
I am in noisy places and it still stays noisy?! I'm really not convinced mine go quieter in noisy places?
And also the phone is too quiet anyway I can't hear it above the office noise

In my quest to make my very dull Signia's a bit more 'me' I have no added sparkly tube wrap. I've also fashioned a chain, which fits to the hearing aid via a grommet and the other end hooks into an existing ear piercing. This means that should the hearing aid drop off (I'm thinking theme parks etc here because I'm off to Disney next week) the chain keeps it attached to my ear.

Pic added (industrial piercing and various other holes pre existing 😂)
Not for everyone clearly, but I'm happy!

That looks amazing! I'm almost inspired to get a similar piercing myself but I'm such a coward when it comes to pain.

The industrial wasn't too bad to be honest, the bigger pain was not being able to sleep on that side for a while. I'm actually considering having one on the other side now as for reasons I can't fathom the tube seems to fit better around the ball of the piercing.

It's probably all rather pointless given I have quite long hair that I rarely tie back anyway so none of this is visible. But I know it's there and I feel a bit better for it 😂

Incidentally, I found a company in the week that makes jewellery for hearing aids. They are called 'Deaf Metal' which amused me immensely 😂

I'm exhausted from trying to hear people at work, on the phone. Concentrating over the background noise.
And maybe it's my fault cos I haven't spoken up. But I haven't spoken up cos I don't think they value me and I worry it's another reason to want me gone.

@purpleme12 Have you been through Access to Work? They would recommend what would work for your aids. You tell them what you're issues are and then they tell you (and your employer) what you need to do your job. Your employer will own the technology, but you would just go back to Access to Work for another assessment if you switched jobs. It's very easy.

Also, Connevans' explanation is a bit too simplistic. Hearing aids don't quieten things. What they do is dynamic range compression, which reduces noises (and makes quieter noises louder). So a hearing person would hear a jumbo jet at a very loud 90dB but with hearing aids you would hear it at 70dB (just an example, not sure of actual figures). It's more complicated than that and varies from person to person, but it's certainly not that your aids are just making everything quieter!

@jyn Love the tubing! Where did you get that from? I love Deaf Metal but not actually sure where the holsters are!

I've been lurking here since the beginning. Purpleme12 you could be me!
I feel your pain. I've been through Access to Work and have the gizmos. Work still don't seem to understand that making a call in a busy office when the person you're calling is on a mobile, in their van and has a strong accent still isn't easy!
They are making my life so hard and now even comparing me with other people they know who have hearing loss but have "normal, successful" work lives. I'm feeling pretty forced out tbh ☹️

Yes this is also my worry the forcing out thing ☹️☹️

Tubing was from an eBay seller. Can’t get into it at the moment but they are called tube coils and are about a pound.

Just found these on Etsy with your description of tube coils.

Are they comfortable? I have scarring on the back of my ears from having my ears pinned back when I was 11, and sometimes the hearing aid can rub on the scarring and make it sore.