Do hearing aids just not work out for some people?

[Ilikethefireside]

I first went to the doctor about 3 years ago about hearing loss. After multiple appointments with long gaps in between I was finally issued with some hearing aids in April. The day I got the hearing aids I thought I was just going for yet another hearing test so was a bit shocked when it turned out the audiologist was giving me some hearing aids there and then and I didn't ask any questions.
Anyway I have tried the heating aids for three months now and I hate them! They undoubtedly amplify all non-animate noises, eg the clicking sound when the indicator is on in the car, the washing machine is now audible even when I'm in the living room etc. But it has made no difference to my ability to hear human voices. My own voice sounds horrible to me when I'm wearing them, and there's a constant rustling sound from my own hair.
Any advice welcome. I don't know whether to give up on them completely, try to get another appointment with an NHS audiologist or whether to go to Boots or Specsavers etc snd pay for another hearing test.

I'm inclined to agree with you. Unfortunately my hearing is too bad to manage effectively without them and even with them my hearing is still some way below the norm.
I take them off whenever I don't have to engage with other people.
You do get used to them but the quality of sound when you're not wearing them is a lot better.

Are they the bluetooth ones? There is amazing technology now with hearing aids that can amplify just the noises that need to be amplified. My dad has used hearing aids for years and used to have the same problem you’re describing but now he has much more advanced bluetooth hearing aids where everything is adjustable. Don’t know if this type of technology is available on the NHS though

Mine are bluetoothed. Still substandard!

You do get used to the other sounds (and your voice) if you continue to wear them daily.

They may need adjusting - perhaps the mid range needs turning up and the high range turning down a little?
Also, your voice sounding strange, as if you have your fingers in your ears, is called occlusion. Some people get it worse than others.

If you have moulds you may be able to have a bigger hole made to let more air / natural sound in, which helps with occlusion, or ask if you could have open fit hearing aids with a dome...they allow more natural sound in.
Please make an appointment and explain all this, they do take some getting used to but it can take some tweaking to get it right. The audiologist will be very used to this!

Have you had your post fitting follow up yet. Usually there is quite a lot that audiologists can do to make your hearing aids work for you. For example, adjusting them to focus more on speech than general noise, as well as different programmes for different environments. It sounds like you'd benefit from a follow up appointment with audiology to discuss.

I’d love to understand what can be achieved and what is just unavoidable. My dM has hearing aides and I think really struggles with them.

I've worn hearing aids for most of my life and every time I get new ones it takes ages to get them set up properly. Multiple appointments with audiology tuning them up, adjusting the moulds etc. I highly recommend mithering them until they get the sound levels sorted for you. I can't function at all without mine so they're very important to me and need to be right. I love them once they get them right though. Bear in mind there is also a period of adjusting to them and your brain will tune out some of the background noise eventually but I can tell the difference between that and badly set up aids.

It took me a good year to adjust.

Like you I had to keep taking them off because it was a sensory overload. The noise of the tyres on the road outside the audiologist clinic is something I’ll never forget. It was almost painfully loud.

However I did eventually adjust to the normal life noises that before I wouldn’t have heard. People still need to talk a bit louder to me especially places with a lot of background noise.

For Those of us who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Part 2 may be helpful - theres lots of it though! Sorry you are finding aids hard to adjust to - as a lifelong (60 years +) aid wearer I'm afraid they do feel as if they amplify only the sounds you dont need - and alas conversation remains hard work. As another poster says it takes time for the brain to adjust - whenever I get new aids they feel all wrong for some months and I then realise that I am in fact having to concentrate less and hearing better. But go back and say they arent helpful and can they be adjusted. If you watch the screen as the audiologist adjusts the aids you can see which areas are getting amplification. Good luck

I don't know what type you have OP, but I agree with a pp that the in ear domes are great. I cannot hear a flippin thing without mine (meningitis when younger), and now I can. Transformed my life. I got them privately and they were adjusted a few times, but now I couldn't be without them.

I only take them out at night obv and when the young kiddies next door are squealing on the trampoline lol. Bliss. Other than that I wouldn't be without these with bluetooth which means I can answer calls, and watch movies, TV and listen to audiobooks via the phone. Miracle.

My mum felt the same about her NHS hearing aids. She eventually bought some very expensive ones from Specsavers which were even worse, they kept breaking and also falling out of her ears. Specsavers customer service was awful - I would avoid them like the plague.

They do take a LOT of getting used to, slowly increasing the time you wear them for.
Hearing aids will never make you not deaf but one certainty is that you do get what you pay for. My first set of private hearing aids cost more than my car!
The difference between my NHS aids and my private ones is amazing but I am very deaf though.