Mild hearing loss - hearing aids

[Legomum78]

Bit if a surprise to find out yesterday (after over a year of nagging by my DH to have a hearing test) that I do in fact have mild hearing loss and need hearing aids. I'm 46.

Anyone else been in this boat? I'm torn between being pleased that my hearing will be better supported and sad that I need to wear hearing aids. AIBU? Any top tips?

I found myself in a similar position 3 years ago when DH was fed up repeating himself so I took myself off for a hearing test, only to find I had lost some of my hearing.

I won't lie, it was a bit of a shock and I burst into tears.

When I was properly fitted with hearing aids I had first to use them for short bursts to get used to the change in sounds e.g boiling a kettle and listening to the TV. Gradually I wore them more and couldn't believe how much I really needed them. Now I wouldn't be without them.

I am fitted with NHS ones, so if there is a problem I go to audiology there's also an app I use on my phone which can control the volume and can track them.

I have them set to T-coil which I have found useful when at the theatre or cinema, though they buzz constantly to let me know to change the settings (using the app).

For batteries I buy a lot of eBay as you can get about 3 packs of them from the hospital as I find they last about 2 weeks.

I meant to add each battery lasts about 2 weeks, before they need changing. Each pack has 6 batteries in it. I keep spares everywhere make-up bag etc

I lost hearing in my left ear suddenly when I was 33, im 40 now. I have hearing aids, need to wear 2 as its a cross aid, they are quite discreet now, they do take a bit of getting used to so you need to keep wearing them for your brain to adjust properly.

I found out last week that I need hearing aids. I actually felt teary when I left the shop. Mild hearing loss at low pitch, into medium for high frequencies.

I'm going to do some research into the best ones, but I'm honestly dreading it. The audiologist put some on me so that I could hear what mine would be like. I hated it. It was clearer but also tinny and weird.
Apparently the earlier you get them, the easier it is to adapt. So I have to bite the bullet and get some organised in the near future.

I've just returned from an audio test, needed after three years of recurrent ear infections, to be told I have mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears at above 3k hz.

Would anyone know if this means I'll need hearing aids? I have pretty bad tinnitus, but I'm fairly used to that, however I can struggle with my teens as they seem to mumble a lot, which is may be exacerbated by my hearing loss.

My consultant appointment isn't until June, so I won't find out anything concrete for a while.

Thanks

I was diagnosed with mild hearing loss last year at the age of 37. Similar circs to you - was sick of arguing with partner about his mumbling/my hearing.

im still in the waiting list for NHS audiology and am not likely to be seen before 2024 😵‍💫. In the meantime I have some specsavers advance hearing aids, which I took out a 12 month interest free loan for. I love them, they have made life so much less stressful. I also bought a second hand iPhone so I can play music through them. Totally recommend getting hearing aids asap.

Thanks, sounds likely I'm going to need something too then. Glad to hear yours haven't been too bad to get used to.

@lorn195 , just in case you aren't aware, button batteries can be lethal if swallowed. If you have children around, keep them in a place where children can't come across them.

I got my hearing aids 3 years ago at the age of 37. I have congenital hearing loss in both ears.

It's changed my life. Honestly. Takes a while to get used to them but it's totally worth it in the end.

I have bog standard NHS ones, they aren't even the smallest available and I have to point them out, people don't notice them.

Yes, I started to lose hearing in both ears at 31. I struggled with the nhs hearing aids until 2020, I thought they were losing power but I’d lost more hearing. I went with specsavers and got private hearing aids and they are so much more comfortable (I got a lot of nerve pain due to the thick tubing on the nhs aids), I’ve got a remote controlled app where I can change settings, volume etc.

only downside is they aren’t waterproof

Thank you.

Fortunately both DS1 and DS2 are 21 and 16 respectively so I don't have to worry, though I do keeps spares in a safe place (makeup and wash bags) so no chance of either of them getting hold of them.