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

[Violinist64]

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

I have Oticon from the NHS. I've had various different models over the years but currently have Engage too. Never had a problem with them randomly turning off!

I have phonak. on nhs

Interesting! They look like kind of half moulds on the same thin tube as a dome would go. I've never come across moulds like that! Yes, they look like there's a small sticky-out bit at the bottom (much like dome tubes have an extra little bit you can use to secure them more in your ear (and that people often cut off)).

I'd definitely go back to audiology. I'm sure there are other options they can try with you. Don't put up with the aids constantly falling out!

My Signia NHS don’t have Bluetooth. That’s something that would have been really useful for me.
I’ve still not been called back in for my mould fitting, but when I am I might ask why I can’t have Bluetooth.

@Jyn i had to ask for them and it’s literally been life changing especially with work as I’m on Teams/Video calls daily and hear audio directly via the aids. Then in the evening I can stream TV from my iPad or radio from my phone into them. I love them. I had initially an App on my phone and an access code supplied my audiology to get them working. But now iPhone have an accessibility option in their settings that you can use to “pair” them.

@Jyn I was also issued with them during covid 2020 so all the testing & set up was done over the phone. I had previously had a different pair that were not Bluetooth enabled so these were a great upgrade.

Thanks @SuziLikeSuziQ I'll do that. @Jyn try and get Bluetooth if you can; it's a complete game changer. I especially like the way I can get Googlemaps directions into my hearing aid so I'm not struggling to hear them over background noise like my noisy children when driving. I would like to know how to stream from the TV @Summerswimmer767 as mine don't seem to have that option. Is it a setting on your TV?

Thanks @Summerswimmer767 and @StuntNun I'll definitely ask when I go in. They would be great for me as I seem to spend half my life removing them for my AirPods and vice versa.

I have the same and have no issues with them switching on or off sounds like they're dodgy

I think this is only available if you're on apple as I'm Android and can't connect via Bluetooth

Mine are Danalogic GN which are Bluetooth connected. Also NHS

Some Oticon aids will connect to some Android phones, there's a compatibility list on the Oticon website. I don't think it includes Engage because I believe the Engage is actually a different model rebranded for the NHS. Sorry I don't know which model though.

I have an appointment soon so I shall see what they say but at least I know that it's a problem not a 'feature' thanks 👍🏻
I'm interested to know about the tv too though because if there are no subtitles on a program I can't watch it!

I would not be without Bluetooth now. It is a real game changer. I teach some music lessons on zoom and it makes it a lot easier to hear everything that is going on. Last week I had a long train journey and was able to listen to a radio play on YouTube on my phone without disturbing anyone else.

For main big TV watching I just use off the shelf headphones Sony ones the receiver is plugged into Tv & I use these and everyone else in the family can have TV at normal volume. For watching TV on my iPad I use my hearing aids go link to it.

You can use a Connect Clip to be the middle man between your Android phone and your Oticon hearing aids if they don't automatically link.

I have a Samsung phone and a pair of Oticon Engage and can use my hearing aids like ear phones to listen to music. I can also take calls with my phone in my pocket because the Connect Clip has a mic on it. I try to take mine wherever I go, it's so handy!

@SuziLikeSuziQ is this connect clip easy to use?

Yes! You just pair it with your aids and then with your phone, and then it will just automatically link to both when it's turned on. 3 buttons on the side; two are volume and one big one is on/off but also switches between device audio and microphone, as well as pausing/playing device audio.

So at a meeting I can give it to the speaker and they can wear it clipped like a mic and I'll receive their voice direct in my hearing aids. Or I can listen to music from my phone. I can control it from my phone, too, in the Companion app, so if it's being worn like a mic, the person wearing it doesn't have to worry about muting it for discussion times or whatever because I can do it myself.

I love being able to listen to music or podcasts in my aids!!

Spoke to audiology today, still no sign of my moulds. He is chasing them in the morning.
I asked him about bluetooth aids, apparently they weren't available in my NHS area in December when I was given mine and because they can only update every three years I'm stuck with what I have until December 2025 😭
Gutted.

Still no moulds 😭. Ears are really sore at the moment too.

on the upside, I’ve been to the theatre this evening and was given an induction loop necklace. Oh my god, it changed the whole experience. I don’t think I’ve heard a show so clearly for many many years and it was so much better than the old style systems I’ve used in the past. I will make more of an effort to ask for loops in the future now I’ve experienced this.

Oh that's interesting.
I didn't know you could ask for that?
Is that on all shows?

It will be venue specific but from what I gather it’s the improved way of doing loops.

there is a sensor on the front of it which you need to keep uncovered. Apparently signal is then bounced from the stage directly to the sensor giving a much clearer sound. I’ve used the normal ‘in the air’ type loop in Disney shows and that always seems to be a bit crackly but this one was crystal clear. Very impressive.

According to the website quite a few of the AGC Group theatres have them now so worth checking the list if you’re going to a show. I’d love to see them rolled out everywhere tbh. I’d buy one for the telly!!

I posted a long message which got eaten so will try again 😫
I would like advice and/or experiences from anyone who had new aids or re-tune which has resulted in everyone sounding like Sean Connery (Shurely schum mishtake, Mish Moneypenny) because it's driving me absolutely insane. They were fitted on Monday, audiologist wasn't confident these supposedly "more powerful" aids, which a different audiologist recommended and ordered, were going to do much because of the kind of hearing loss I have (practically no hearing in high frequencies and moderate loss in low) However she tuned them beyond my prescription, so to speak and when I said it sounded like she was talking in Parceltongue, she said my brain would adjust.

I'm don't think it will. I've never had this in 15 years of wearing aids and I can't get a follow up for 2 months due to waiting lists. I don't think I'll be able to cope with it that long, it's truly awful.

Any advice?

I had this problem with new aids, except everyone sounded like daleks, the audiologists said the same oh you'll get used to it.

I ended up using my old hearing aids again. Eventually went back after about 6 months and saw someone else who said one of the aids was faulty and gave me new ones, set up much better.

I then had to go back and ended up with audiologist 1 again who meddled around and now all music sounds crap.

You need to go back asap. Tell them you can't hear and keep nagging until they give you an appointment.

I have my moulds. I HATE them with a passion. I feel like I did when I first started wearing hearing aids, everything sounds weird and I feel like my ears need to pop if that makes sense.
Lasted a day before I put the old tubes back on.