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

I managed to get an appointment on Monday at Specsavers so hopefully will get something sorted there and then. I think I will be looking for in the ear and with the app on phone although I am not very tech minded but found fiddling with buttons on the actual hearing aid very difficult.

Basically, I would like something that just enhances/amplifies hearing rather than having to change between background noise/noisy situations etc. as I found that hard with my old ones.

Thanks for the replies.

Now, I'm not saying our local Specsavers/NHS is selling data, but yesterday I had a letter from Hidden Hearing, with my full name and address, asking if I'm interested in their expensive hearing aids.
Letter says I had expressed an interest. I had not...

Through a complex set of circumstances I have an audiology appointment at Specsavers on Sunday and an audiology appointment at my nearest hospital on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see the difference in the audiograms and their respective recommendations.

@StuntNun Oh yes, please report back!

Argh. Talk me down, people. I have a job interview on Monday for the first time in years and I have only started needing to be upfront about my problems recently since my hearing has deteriorated. I know, logically, I should be honest but, also, the role requires some telephone work in another language I learnt years ago when my hearing was much better. I can hear the phone OK in English. I am not sure how much of this is my brain, though.

I am doing some Duolingo exercises, which are OK but they are still pretty basic and the sound is very clinical and correct. I have also been watching films, which I am struggling with (always did, tbh) but more so now. I know I would have little problem if it were captioned in the language, though.

Hi,@themuttsnutts , how did the interview go? I feel for you - I used to be OK with languages but my hearing discrimination just isn't good enough now for the spoken word.

Does anyone have any tips for getting your hearing aid to stay in? My dome was always popping out of my ear canal so I switched to a mould but that also won't stay in and I have to keep putting it back in every hour or so. It's also making my ear sore because I'm always poking at the aid.

Hi @SuziLikeSuziQ Yes! Me!

Usually I'm okay about it (been wearing them for approx ten years) but I really struggle in group settings and Easter Sunday, I came down with a cold - all blocked up and my hearing aids were useless. I felt very sorry for myself because I had to work really hard to communicate at Sunday dinner. And had to keep reminding people I can't hear...

There are good and bad days and you just have to roll with it.

I'm getting married soon and slightly dreading not hearing everyone's good wishes.

On the plus side: taking your hearing aids out and switching off at the end of the day can be a pleasant way to draw a line under the day.

I find people really strange sometimes.

I can't hear people sometimes when they talk to me because they don't make sure they have my attention first for example and we're in a busy office and i might have my headphones on too (at work).
But this morning i don't hear someone and she goes 'oh this is a good conversation' because i wasn't responding. i heard that.
I don't know what it is that mean people think they can say things like that. i don't know if they think they're making a joke? if they think it's funny? i mean it's not is it it's rude.
I genuinely don't know if they know it's rude.
like sometimes when people just seem to laugh a bit when i don't respond.

People can be horrible, @purpleme12 . As I get older I have less and less compunction about calling people out on discriminatory behaviour - because that sarcastic little aside went well beyond rudeness. I would have asked her to explain what she meant by ‘that was a good conversation’, point out that you have enough hearing loss to require hearing aids (never apologise for that!) and hopefully watch the bitch squirm.

Thanks, Raining! I'm actually feeling better about then now. I decided to try to embrace them, so I got some of the colourful tube wraps someone linked above and some charms to hang from them and make them a bit of a bling feature!

@Walkacrossthesand

I'm so sorry. I thought I'd answered this. Unfortunately, I didn't get it, though, looking back, I am not too unhappy about it as I don't think the job was right for me

Has anyone got any experience of a roger system? I think the newest version is called Roger on? I'm struggling to hear in cafes / meetings even with my aids in so thinking of buying one of these systems. I'll be self funding though and they are around £1k!

Just coming back on here to see if anyone can give me some advice. I was given these Signia aids by Specsavers after an NHS referral just after first lockdown . I've never found them helpful. No help at all in noisy environments or when I'm in a group of people. My friend got a referral at same time to a nearby health centre and came away with Bluetooth ones that seemed far more sensitive than mine and has been really happy with hers

GP re-referred me to same health centre as my friend as he wasn't happy that my aids weren't helping much, but they said as I'd been with Specsavers only they could see me. Anyhow I have an appointment this week with Specsavers. Can I ask them for a retest and an upgrade as I don't feel these have ever helped much at all? I'm 62 if that's relevant in any way. Thanks and sorry for long message

Does anyone know if the NHS can dispense “multipoint” Bluetooth hearing aids? Multipoint would allow a phone AND another device (computer, tablet) to be connected simultaneously. So you’re listening to audio on your computer and can then take a phone call without having to faff around disconnecting the computer and connecting the phone.

I have a feeling my own ones (Oticon Engage) pretty much did that, with an extra bit of kit called a ConnectClip. The phone was an internet phone system that worked with Microsoft Teams and I used to switch between phone calls and meetings quite regularly (not disconnecting as such, more like putting yourself on mute while you answer the phone). And I think the HA allows a number of devices to pair with it.

The NHS hearing aids I have definitely allow multiple devices to be paired — I’ve currently got my phone and tablet paired. It’s just really annoying to have to go into settings and disconnect them on one device (or switch the HAs off) and then go into settings on the other device and connect them there every.single.time I want to switch devices — that’s without even dealing with phone calls. I need the phone calls to go through Bluetooth to have any chance of hearing the call at a reasonable level. I didn’t consider there might be an intermediary device that might help though — I’ll have to investigate, thank you.

I had a Roger Pen and table mic. Really good sound quality. I much prefer it to the Oticon Connect Clip I now have. So, no experience of a newer system, but the Roger system I did have was brilliant.

If you work, you could contact Access to Work and you may be able to get one paid for.

I've got Oticon Engage P aids and use a Connect Clip. I've not tried switching from one thing to another but could have a play tomorrow, if you want.

Do you have Oticon aids? Do you have an iPhone?

Do ask. Tell them what you've been given don't work for you.

I have an iPhone (and iPad), and have Phonak Nathos HAs.

I have been offered a cochlear implant - I've been severely deaf all my life (now 67)but feel fine with aids (would rather have my arthritis sorted!) Has anyone experienced a cochlear implant after a lifeltime of being deaf. The handbook of personal stories is very positive but its all people who lost hearing as an adult. Thanks!

So I'm assuming your aids connect to your iPhone without any additional hardware. I can't find anything to suggest an easier way to switch between connections, sorry! It may be you can use a Roger device (a Connect Clip is Oticon not Phonak), but even when I had one, I had to fiddle around changing connections.

Yes, they connect without any third party hardware needed. It can be annoying in that my iPad can “steal” the connection from my phone sometimes, if I leave the room without my phone in my hand and then return.

I’m excited seeing how Bluetooth aids are helping people here. I got ‘approved’ for them a few months ago and am getting fitted for then this Thursday. I’m really looking forward to being better connected with the 21st century world!