Hearing loss anyone have positive hearing aid stories

[bobdylannumber1]

Im.51 and had hearing issues a while now maybe 5 years. Eventually last November I went to have a hearing test the audiologist was surprised i was so bad at my age suggested it may be medical issue. I had an ENT appointment before christnas a CT Scan which showed nothing sinister. Which was great but doesn't help.my situatiom. After the ct scan he said come.back ill.look at you again so.qemt back another hearing test and another look he saidnum.at hearing aid levels.i said can tou do nothing he said cime back in.a.year well keep an eye on you im quiet upset that hearing aids ate my only option. I won't get aids yet as I don't want to cant afford and I think im doing OK ish. My family speak loud amd I've told my friends in work abiut the situation. Does anyone have positive stories of hearing aids .

Mine make my ears itch terribly, NHS ones,how can I stop this.

@soundsofthesixties I work for an audiologist. We recommend a bare dab of olive oil or Vaseline on your finger and wipe inside ears before putting aids in.

Words I have Phonak hearing aids and am very pleased with them. In 2019 when I needed an update I again had Phonak and this time they were supplied with a charger. This works very well. You put the aids in the charger overnight and in the morning they are fully charged and ready to be put back in your ears. I have found this infinitely better than batteries as although they do work well they always seem to die and need replacing at the most inconvenient times. Perhaps your friend could enquire about chargeable ones. Mine are from Boots Hearing Care.

Thank you dotty12345

I have been wearing hearing aids since my early 20s. I remember the first time that I turned my first pair on and I heard birds sing for the first time in my life (I can't hear high frequencies). They make such a difference. I think that audiology services in the UK have changed recently. Lately my NHS trust (Birmingham) have been discharging patients with mild hearing loss who would have previously been treated on NHS and telling them to go to places like specsavers. I am not sure how this works maybe they get vouchers like you do with glasses? Because my loss is now profound I am hoping that I get kept on the list. I have had private hearing aids in the past, but I didn't like the hard sell tactics to get you to spend more and more. Fine if you have a 4 to 6 grand to spare, not so fine if you don't. This was 15 years or so ago before places like specsavers entered the market so who knows it might have improved. My dad prefers private because he has the money. The hearing aids he is offered are much more advanced than mine. However I do fully recommend getting aids. Your first port of call should still be your GP as they might at least know how to claim aids/ access NHS services in your area.

I got mine in my mid 30s. I did feel a bit fed up at the idea of needing hearing aids, but once you get used to it they are so helpful. People don't seem to notice mine at all, but I have started to tell people as I still miss some bits of conversation, especially in group scenarios. They are comfortable to wear and much less of a pain in that respect than my glasses. I also like taking them out at night and enjoying the quiet. I'm sorry you have to pay in Ireland. I got mine free on NHS and are good enough for me at the moment.

I have had NHS hearing aids for about 10 years - they are free, the batteries are free. I went to GP who referred me to Specsavers who are an agent for the NHS and the appointment came through in a week. Went in, hearing tested, aids given and set to my needs, and I walked out wearing them.

Speedy, free, as easy as can be.

I was young to need them to, but my friends mostly don't even know I have them. They are small and discreet and brilliant.

I do not understand the problem!!

In most areas, Specsavers and other private chains act as agents for NHS. You access this via GP.

I'm only 36 and have had NHS hearing aids for 10 years for mild hearing loss

Most people have no idea as they are tiny - sometimes it is actually helpful to point out as it makes people speak clearer etx

They are great and I do not understand the stigma at all 🤷‍♀️ what the difference to wearing glasses! They give me clarity and make many situations easier - and even when I struggle I can point them out to people by way of simple explanation

Plenty of young people have hearing loss

@ColouringPencils I take mine out at night too 😂 prefer using subtitles

I am excited to hear about the disabled rail card @Wilma55 I use the train a lot so I will look into that. Do you need to be registered as disabled?

I have actually wondered before when applying for jobs whether I should say I consider myself to have a disability. Or if not now, if I would later on. What do others do? I feel like I can manage pretty well in my current job, but I do think there are some roles or situations I would struggle in.

I have had hearing aids from the NHS for about 5 years - I am 47 and have moderate loss in both ears. Basically don't hear the higher frequencies - years of not hearing alarms, struggling to follow conversation etc.

A few weeks ago I had a review appointment and was given new Phonak hearing aids which are brilliant more comfortable to wear and the Bluetooth feature is great for my job as I work on a telephone helpline 2 days a week. I connect the hearing aids direct to the phone and can hear really well. Before I had to wear bulky headset which combined with the hearing aids and glasses was v uncomfortable!

I adapted well to hearing aids and really appreciate the difference they make to my quality of life. It is exhausting trying to follow conversation in groups, meetings and on the phone without them. The downside is they can be too good at picking up sounds and some noises are unpleasant/ sharp etc. But I can take them out and still function so I feel very fortunate that I was able to get NHS hearing aids. When I take them out it is like the world gets duller, loses a dimension.

I do mention my hearing loss as I am in a role that requires me to take calls, be in meetings etc. It is actually easier for me to work remotely as I can control my environment more, I do struggle to focus in the office if there are background noises / conversation etc. So a call centre would be difficult for me. I don't need much adaptation but I believe in being upfront about the hearing issue, it doesn't stop me being good at my job but sometimes I will need to work differently.

Hello.
I'm 26 years old, back in December I suddenly lost hearing in my right ear. I had some appointments and medications prescribed with ENT, however, not much can be done and it is moderate to severe loss. I mostly struggled with high frequencies, but lower sounds also make me turn away as it just sounds horrible. On my last appointment in January I was told I will be referred to have a hearing aid, I'm still waiting. They said three months waiting time. Anyone recently have been through this and knows how long will I be waiting for? Thank you.

Thanks @Magi84

I have mild (r) and moderate (l) hearing loss and have one hearing aid for the moderate loss side.
It is revolutionary in some circumstances but quite overwhelming in others so I do pick and choose when I wear it.

I cannot tell you how pleased it makes me to see so many fellow hearing aid wearers. I am 33, I have had hearing loss since my late teens and am have only very recently and very reluctantly, started wearing hearing aids. I am currently in a trial period with Phonak paradise ( i think) as i went to a private audiologist as i did not think i would be able to get something good enough for my level of loss through the NHS. Having read all these posts though I am now wondering if i could and save myself close to £5k... Having said that, yes i do feel they make a difference but i certainly am still struggling in certain situations and really must be facing people when i converse. Background noise is a big challenge but my main hearing loss is high frequencies - no birds, alarms, doorbells etc as others have mentioned. I am really keen to see more open discussion about hearing loss as it does seem to still have that stigma attached to it.

@FlemCandango it sounds like we have a similar loss, i do not hear any higher frequencies. Do you know which Phonak model you have? I am on a trial period with Phonak Paradise through a private provider as did no think the NHS would provide them but would be keen to know if they do!!

If you are on a long NHS waiting list, it really is worth asking GP if there is a branch of any chain optician/hearing centre who act as agents for NHS - as I said upthread my local Specsavers is such an agent and I was seen and sorted with a hearing aid within 10 days. Tests, aids, maintenance, batteries are all free.

Mine are Siemens and have 3 setting to choose from. I could not be more pleased with them.

Seems the rechargeable Phonak ones are getting the thumbs up!

I've looked them up and I think they are the same type a former colleague used. His hearing loss was I think quite profound, and he used a combo of those and lip reading.

They were behind the ear ones and he was totally bald, but you didn't really notice them at all.

Just now weighing up how to approach all this sensitively with my friend.

@BobbidyBibbidyBob

@FlemCandango it sounds like we have a similar loss, i do not hear any higher frequencies. Do you know which Phonak model you have? I am on a trial period with Phonak Paradise through a private provider as did no think the NHS would provide them but would be keen to know if they do!!

Hi Bobbidy I have checked and have the Phonak Paradise aids. I had no idea how much they cost! Your hearing loss does sound similar to mine all bass no treble!

@Words I only have NHS so no idea about whether other options would be better. I'm afraid I am not always great company when out as even with hearing aids in it can be difficult in a busy restaurant to hear over the chatter, music, clattering of cutlery etc.
I am sure your friend really doesn't want to be annoying and there are some ways I think you might be able to help when you meet for dinner, such as sitting opposite them at the table so they can lip read, choosing a quiet venue or sitting outside if it is nice weather, choosing places that don't play loud music, and obviously speaking clearly. Some it is particular people's voices that are just at a pitch that is hard to hear, which is very difficult too! I have a couple of good friends and colleagues that I struggle with even when my hearing aids are in, and my loss is only mild-to-moderate.

Thank you @ColouringPencils .

I should say we always eat at my house, and actually pandemic has highlighted to me how much I utterly loathe background noise of any kind myself. Not because of hearing, just utterly hate it. I mean, just why?…

I cook a lot and used to like restaurants to a point but goodness no more.

Also I think my voice ( high, soft) is in her poorly received range .

@ColouringPencils all you need to do for the railcard is to fill in the form and provide a copy of the front page of your hearing aid battery book.
You do not need to be registered as disabled.