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For Those of us who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Part 2

562 replies

Violinist64 · 05/06/2023 21:05

The original thread is almost full and I have found it extremely helpful so have started this new thread.

OP posts:
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NeverDropYourMooncup · 20/07/2024 22:52

Got my HA today.

It sounds like I'm in the early Sun recording sessions for Elvis - or a big wooden box lined with tin has been placed over my head.

Felt like the entire world was competing to make the most noise (and the most irritating noises at that) on the bus back home, followed by some dick charging in and bellowing at the pharmacist - as he was still serving me - and right in my ear about needing Lanacane.

And my voice sounds weird.

Yeah, I know, all part of the acclimatisation process.

happinessischocolate · 20/07/2024 23:05

I'd say try turning aids down a bit for a week. If it's still too overwhelming then go back and ask for them to be adjusted. I went back loads of times with my current ones before the hearing sounded "right" to me and Ive been wearing them for 30 years.

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/07/2024 23:17

@NeverDropYourMooncup when I first got mine maybe 8yrs ago I found noises like peoples footsteps or birds tweeting or oven bleeper loud

Try adjusting level but mine also has think 4 settings

Still not 100% sure what they do but have a setting for

normal
Tv
Noisy area like pub
4th

So have a fiddle which is better for you

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/07/2024 20:30

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/07/2024 23:17

@NeverDropYourMooncup when I first got mine maybe 8yrs ago I found noises like peoples footsteps or birds tweeting or oven bleeper loud

Try adjusting level but mine also has think 4 settings

Still not 100% sure what they do but have a setting for

normal
Tv
Noisy area like pub
4th

So have a fiddle which is better for you

It's letting me know today that my laptop keyboard needs cleaning (tap tap tap TAP), the dishwasher, airfryer and cat fountain all produce noise at exactly the frequencies that needed to be boosted and half the sounds made by people on TV do and half don't. Oh, and I need to hear just how loud breathing is with hayfever, apparently.

I have two settings on the HA itself - normal and restaurant (presumably that's turning down speech frequencies and messing with the directional mic) and scope to fanny around with the app for custom ones. Nothing too fancy here, it's a Starkey NHS model designed for BTE but being used as a RIC. And they haven't given me any spare domes (the smallest size available) or any micro tubes - just got to hope I don't snap it or lose them or something, I guess. The hearing centre seems very much set up for working with retired people, I think, not the likes of me, as it's all 'you come in and we'll retube/give you batteries' rather than 'here's what you need, we'll check in on you in three months and if all's well, you can have a year's/3 years' supply'.

Not looking forward to work tomorrow - compulsory attendance at a noisy event with about 400 people, most of whom are fucking loud at the best of times.

I know it's got to improve and the difference when I take the thing out is huge, so I accept I need to get over myself and cope but I'm being ungrateful and struggling with that, sciatica, end of term burnout/huge data tasks to complete in the next day due to an unfeasible workload all year and the thought that I'm clearly not being of much use to man nor beast at present. I'm hardly the confident, glam sort at the moment, as much as I wish I was. This is just highlighting just how not anything of the sort.

LIZS · 21/07/2024 20:40

I requested spare domes and tips and was sent one set! Hardly worth the postage. Also was told only to change the wax shield on the hearing side and tubes should last a year or so.

Certain frequencies still seem painful several months on, like train brake screeches, children crying, brass bands, car alarms...

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 21/07/2024 22:53

@NeverDropYourMooncup you are not being well served by your audiologist.
When I had NHS hearing aids it was more or less a 'get used to it or else' setup. I really got to understand why sound is used as an instrument of torture. It was dreadful, so much so that I gave up in despair.

Eventually as my remaining hearing deteriorated with age I tried again with a private audiologist who was recommended to me. It was an utterly different experience. It was explained to me how I'd have to re learn how to hear, and crucially, I had some practical advice on how to do it.

I have some friends who've had great NHS audiologists so it's not impossible, but it doesn't seem to be the norm. I would seriously consider whether you can afford to go privately (but even then, go to someone who is personally recommended by a number of people). Otherwise I'd suggest turn down everything for now and acclimatise very gradually. When you hear something intrusive, name it 'oh yes that's the keyboard clicking, that's traffic noise' etc. This helps your brain adjust to identify and filter out unimportant sounds.

Your work event sounds as if it would be challenging even for those of us used to hearing aids. As far as I'm aware speech in noise, when the noise is itself speech, is the holy grail of hearing aid adjustments and no manufacturer has yet got it sorted. If it was me I'd just take them out. You have enough to cope with without the extra stress of an event like that. You have the rest of your life to get used to your aids so in the grand scheme of things, a day off for a special event is neither here nor there.

Sending sympathy and wishing you all the best.

Violinist64 · 22/07/2024 00:27

I am yet to find a speech in noise setting that actually works. In a situation where there is a lot of background noise, I find whatever l do is to no avail and I cannot make out what people near me are saying. It is at this point that I switch off my aids and rely on lip reading.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 22/07/2024 04:38

Background noise is the worst so pub restaurant cafe etx

Agree the times they are open for replacements aren't great

I tend to buy batteries domes tips from eBay /Amazon yes costs me but .....

The high pitched which i struggle with , now I hear the cooker beeper I understand why friends found it so weird that I couldn't hear it

Breathing. Yes esp in queues - omfg

Feel like they are literally breathing /standing on top of me and

I do move down the queue - only for them
To move as well 🙀

GardenersDelight · 23/07/2024 11:31

I've had my ha for 9 months and no follow up. I wondered if this was standard? In thinking of phoning for an appointment

purpleme12 · 23/07/2024 11:41

There's no follow up here no. BUT if you have any problems you can phone up and make an appointment for them to help you.

Summerswimmer767 · 23/07/2024 11:43

If it’s nhs @GardenersDelight you have to be proactive I’ve found. They were just busy and expected everyone to be retired & prepared to just sit around in their clinic waiting alot. I found a satellite “clinic” which you had to pre-book at a local site not as close but the benefit of knowing that a 1pm apt was a 1pm apt so I could take short leave from work and still do school run.

LIZS · 23/07/2024 11:44

Follow up audiology appointments only on demand here too it seems. There are drop in community sessions for supplies, retubing and basic support.

purpleme12 · 23/07/2024 11:48

I live very close to my hospital so it's very convenient for me I guess.

GardenersDelight · 24/07/2024 13:45

Thanks for replies
I'll have tobook myself an appointment
I've got acclimatised to my ha and now find I need to switch them to plus one as my baseline and remember the audiologist changed the settings when dispensing them as it was rather overwhelming

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/07/2024 15:56

Fuck's sake. Work have had a bright idea - to move me into a multi occupancy area instead of a quiet office of just me. So just 2-300 people coming in, often in groups of 8-10, all of the phone calls, all the computers and screens being picked up...

I might have just freaked out at them.

SuziLikeSuziQ · 30/07/2024 17:30

Managed to wear one of my hearing aids in the pool on holiday (forgot I put it back on) and get it completely submerged when the wave machine was on!! Happy to report it still works! Top tip: put wet hearing aid in a bowl of rice (remove battery and have drawer open) for at least several hours. The rice draws away the moisture. Not guaranteed but something to try.

purpleme12 · 30/07/2024 17:52

I've forgot I've got them on sometimes when washing my hair and then realised.
I've always just left the hearing aid open for some hours, changed the battery and it's always worked again

purpleme12 · 31/07/2024 18:46

Sooooo....

I've got new hearing aids....
A better model as mine were obsolete....

However.. they keep cutting out for a few seconds!!
😠
Think they must be faulty

Also I can't help wondering if he's given me too big a dome. Yes I can get it in my ear but it's a lot harder. Put it this way,I hope the dome he's given me isn't the smallest one because I think I could do with a smaller one

Think I might have to ring again tomorrow. ☹️

purpleme12 · 31/07/2024 19:03

I think he can't have given me the smallest domes

purpleme12 · 31/07/2024 19:18

Bit disappointed about it

NeverDropYourMooncup · 31/07/2024 19:59

purpleme12 · 31/07/2024 18:46

Sooooo....

I've got new hearing aids....
A better model as mine were obsolete....

However.. they keep cutting out for a few seconds!!
😠
Think they must be faulty

Also I can't help wondering if he's given me too big a dome. Yes I can get it in my ear but it's a lot harder. Put it this way,I hope the dome he's given me isn't the smallest one because I think I could do with a smaller one

Think I might have to ring again tomorrow. ☹️

Domes can be absolutely tiny - mine are open ones (I picked up some extras today) and they're about the size of a ballpoint pen tip, despite saying 5mm.

purpleme12 · 31/07/2024 20:02

I'm pretty sure they did this last when I new hearing aids. Gave me the too big one first. I don't know why they like to do this. It's a bit annoying cos they should know by now I have the small ones
I'll have to call them tomorrow I think

Violinist64 · 31/07/2024 23:19

I have moulds rather than domes as they fit my ears better.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 31/07/2024 23:27

I've always had domes so I think he's just given me the wrong size. Can hardly get one of them in. I've only got small ears!

purpleme12 · 01/08/2024 09:57

Went back this morning. The domes are bigger for this new hearing aid and he has given me the smallest ones. They do feel a bit easier to get in than yesterday so perhaps it's just a bit of getting used to my ear.

About the fault with the sound cutting out intermittently, apparently it had on the computer that I had a mould when I didn't. So that means they do something differently on the computer settings than if you have a tube (interesting how it works) so he changed something on the computer for that and we'll see how we go....

Having a new hearing test in September

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