Partially deaf and managing it

[Stumpedasatree]

I have been partially deaf on one side since birth whereby my ear did not develop properly. I have managed with it all my life (now late 40s) with no hearing aid and it’s had quite an impact on my life, for example,I can’t tell which direction a sound is coming from, and I’m no good at hearing conversations of many people are talking at the same time. The hearing in my good ear now seems to be worsening perhaps age related. I have no idea where to start with hearing aids and not even sure if I want one. Any advice would be gratefully received!

I have total hearing loss in one ear from an unrelated surgery 5 years ago, and partial deafness in my ‘good’ ear from a different issue more recently. I was managing fine with no hearing aid apart from I can’t tell where sound is coming from but since the other ear now has reduced hearing I’ve been assessed for a bone anchor hearing aid. I wore a temporary one on a headband for a few weeks to see if it made a difference and it was absolutely amazing!! I’m now on the waiting list for a permanent one and I can’t wait 🙂 I did have a cros-aid for a few years but found very limited benefit from that plus it was tickly and annoying and I wear glasses and have long hair so it was all a lot tangled up behind my ear, and then there were the covid masks too so every time I removed my mask the hearing aid would come flying off! It’s worth trying one as they are for single sided hearing loss but it wasn’t for me. I think it’s definitely worth trying whatever you are offered but if you have lived with hearing loss for a long time you might find it makes everything too loud and overwhelming, the baha on a band worked brilliantly but I did have to keep taking it off as it was just too much, every little noise that I wasn’t used to, it was like sensory overload. They said when I get a real one I’ll be able to turn it down!!

I'd go to spec savers for a private test, and advice on a hearing aid. They do small ones, that rest inside the ear.

@Bagofweasels thank you for your detailed reply. It’s interesting to hear of possible options out there. For the bone anchor hearing aid, did you go to your GP and is it the NHS waiting list that you are on? I’m not quite sure where to start.

thank you @Beautiful3 for the specsavers suggestion, I will look into that too.

Your GP is the first point of call, they can refer you to an audiologist who might well provide you with hearing aids. This would be free (via NHS) whereas I think Specsavers would charge you.

@Stumpedasatree yes NHS, my surgeon referred me to the hearing department. They’ve been really good and there’s loads of options depending on your type of hearing loss but I think I’m in for a long wait. I think the type offered by specsavers etc are more ones that amplify any hearing you have got so like age related deafness and rely on you have a working cochlea and auditory nerve. It would depend which bits still work as to what type you need. My nerve is damaged so bone anchor is my only option really

From the time the GP referred me to the audiology appointment was a week, and they fitted hearing aids the day of the test. It has changed my life! Just do it.

This is your first port of call, your GP!

Don’t get pulled into the private hearing aid circus until you’ve had an NHS audiology hearing test and are fitted appropriately with NHS aids.

Then, in slower time, if you wish, look into the private world. Be prepared to spend £6000 for bilateral digital aids.

I have NHS aids, they’re Bluetooth enabled. They have revolutionised my life since 2009.

Get a referral from your GP as PP poster said. I was told that you will get a better service from an audiologist in a hospital than you would at a high street store.

I have mid-range hearing loss in one ear. I have aids in both ears to avoid dizziness/nausea. Mine are also Bluetooth and I have seperate gizmos. One goes on the table during busy meetings/restaurants. The other enables me to watch tv with the volume at a different level to DH/DS.