Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

I am getting HEARING AIDS on Wednesday ~~~ Are there any other DEAF MNetters???

83 replies

RTKangaMummy · 09/11/2009 22:25

I am so chuffed that I am getting hearing aids as I have been lipreading for years

My hearing has got worse recently and they have said it is MODERATE/SEVERE hearing loss

Are there any things I should know about?

Thanks

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 11/11/2009 19:22

sorry I didn't re read the thread before my rant

These ones are whole ear moulds but they are open not closed ~ so I have no idea if they have holes in or what they are like

He put a tube thingy in my ear with a sponge on end before he put the putty in

Hopefully it will be just a couple of weeks ~ I'll ask DH to ring them at end of next week to ask if they ahve any idea when I will go back.

Thanks for all your help and support

OP posts:
BrigitBigKnickers · 11/11/2009 19:27

How disappointing for you. One of the points of offering open ear fittings is to cut down waiting times as the ear moulds take a while to make.

bigbangerslips · 11/11/2009 19:35

it could be like this

OR

click on the open ear (RIC) picture

good luck and im surely it will be worth the wait

Earthstar · 11/11/2009 21:06

RTK what a duff experience, it makes me cross .

Lostinwales I had the option of double hearing aids or an op on both ears...I didn't fancy the aids so I have 2 fake ear bone implants now which have returned my hearing to normal both sides. It is like a miracle to hear again. I would happliy answer any questions about the op if you are interested. They can now do this op as a day case so that makes things easier.

lostinwales · 12/11/2009 12:27

Sorry to talk across you RTK.

Does anyone else just cringe when someone hugs you and your ear then gives out a huge squeak, is there anything to be done? My friend (?) told me last week I sounded just like her old geography teacher which is not the look I was aiming for.

Earthstar I'm waiting for my other ear to catch up with the really bad one before I think about the op. Did you have to spend much time recuperating in the quiet, I'm not sure I can do that 'cos I live with ME! Will deffo consider having it done though as my hearing aid is HUGE and hurts my ear if I wear it all day. Nice to know it can be a day case, I hate staying in hospital, did you have a GA?

RTKangaMummy · 12/11/2009 13:09

Thanks everyone for your support

I think it is like the open ear photo you linked to

Why do you squeak? Also why was your friend hugging her geog teacher?

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 12/11/2009 13:11

Also do you need different style of glasses to wear behind the ear HA

I waer them for reading and computer work and am due to have new ones but am thinking i should wait til I have the HAs

OP posts:
lostinwales · 12/11/2009 15:12

I squeak because putting something close the the aid will create a feedback loop. I've just discovered putting my hood up has a similar effect. As to my friend and the geography teacher, I will go and quiz her now at school.

I don't wear glasses but I can imagine some kinds of glasses will get in the way, I'd wait until you've get yours in before choosing a new pair.

RTKangaMummy · 12/11/2009 15:49

LOL

I will wait for my HA before my glasses then

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 12/11/2009 15:51

I didn't mean LOL about you squeaking ~ I meant about your friend with her Geog techer

OP posts:
lostinwales · 12/11/2009 18:33

Sadly the geography teacher was v old dressed in beige and was constantly fiddling with her sqwawking hearing aid. Any ideas of her hugging hunky young teachers have flown and I'm now depressed that I remind her of an old wee smelling woman. I'm contemplating asking for glitter in my next set of moulds.

Earthstar · 12/11/2009 18:39

lostinwales no quietness is required in recovering from a stapedectomy. My advice would be get it done asap as I can see no advantage at all in waiting! Why not get back perfect hearing without aids asap?

bigbangerslips · 12/11/2009 18:46

ive worn different glasses for the past 9 yrs and it doesnt get in the way at all

notcitrus · 12/11/2009 18:51

lost - that happened during my first ever snog! I now remember to turn them off first (opening the battery compartment) I had one crap pair that didn't have any way to turn them off except a remote control - which I got mugged for the day I got the aids, and when I got a replacement it broke really quickly and the aids kept changing program when I passed the microwave at work!

RTK sorry about your experience being promised something today and not getting it. It always sucks. Why oh why are audiology admin people so useless and with worse deaf awareness than the average brick? I'm fine with wearing hearing aids especially now I've got black ones with magenta moulds and added coloured rings to the tubing, but I'd love to never have to organise an audio appt ever again... actually I now have 4 sets of moulds in various colours. None of which are the colour I asked for, but I figured it was time to give up.

The audiologists themselves tend to be fine, although I suspect being 'interesting' helps

RTKangaMummy · 13/11/2009 00:42

Oke doke ~ you guys have got me wondering now about different colours ~ how do I get glitter or bright colours for my moulds that he took yesterday?

Is it too late?

Do they take longer?

What about the hook thingys that go behind the ears?

Do they come in different colours?

If so should I have asked yesterday or when I collect them?

I said to my mum this evening that yesterday felt like I am looking forward to my birthday ~ new outfit to go to party in and then I arrive and I am told ~~~ sorry we decided you birthday isn't in July we have changed it to August!!!!!!!!

With regard to the glasses I am due to go to Optician next week for eye test ~ I have just tried my blue tooth earpiece with my glasses and it is ok

Has anyone had a problem with glasses and BTE HAs ?

Thanks for all your help and advice

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 13/11/2009 00:43

LIW Glitter for next ones sounds deffo brill

OP posts:
Polgara2 · 14/11/2009 09:13

Sorry to butt in but can I ask advice here whilst you're all gathered?

I have hearing loss in one ear (sensorineural ?) and have lost the high tones. I have a Spirit 3 BTE but don't find it much help tbh. Although it does amplify things it also amplifies all the background noise that stop me from hearing what I want to listen to iyswim! Also I can hear it 'working' all the time and so that's an additional background noise! And it is uncomfortable after a few hours.

Do you think I should go back and enquire about differnt HA's or is it just tough (which I suspect is the general attitude when I last went).

Many thanks in advance

notcitrus · 14/11/2009 12:14

Hi Polgara,
I've got Spirit 3s too but my loss is mid-range rather than high tones. Have you been given a program that amplifies stuff in front of you only (the second one, usually?) That usually helps a bit. If you have had some loss for years and only now got a hearing aid then your ears aren't used to picking up what the aid gives you and your brain doesn't know how to filter the signals it gets - the problem is if you have hearing loss they can make what goes in the same as a hearing person but your brain doesn't know what to do.

If it's uncomfortable, then the mould needs adjusting and that should be fixed. Dealing with background noise is harder - if you wear them most of the day for a week or so usually you'll stop noticing them being 'on' but some people have more trouble with that. Turning the volume down rather than up when you have trouble hearing may actually work better.

If you have significant problems picking out one voice, then a radio aid can really help - talk to Access to Work or social services as they cost a lot.

notcitrus · 14/11/2009 12:27

RTK - it shouldn't be your job to know anything, they should tell you what's available! Meanwhile back at the NHS, they probably assume if you wanted open fit but had to get moulds, you'd want the moulds as invisible as possible so are making standard transparent ones. 95% of people getting hearing aids are over 65 and apparently they all want everything tiny and 'discreet' and as few options as possible, which is why so many aids don't have obvious things like on/off buttons or volume controls. (insert long rant here...)

Try calling them on Monday and saying if you have to have moulds you'd like them in whatever colour (red, pink, blue seem to work) and with glitter. Worst that can happen is they'll say they only do it for under-18s. And you may get the wrong colour - I was after dark purple but gave up...

Shouldn't take any longer, they just add a dye when making the mould. The tubing only comes in clear as far as I know, and the aids come in a variety of colours but possibly only red, blue, green and yellow - many don't come in black. But transparent shows off the gold contacts inside so it's quite cool. Again, ask. You can also buy funky animal covers to decorate the aids, for about £15 online.

I don't wear glasses but apparently modern aids and thin glasses frames should be fine after a few days.

Good luck with it all, and don't be afraid to go back as often as necessary to make sure the aids work for you. The audiologists get bored of all the standard settings for the elderly people who won't give any feedback at all!

Polgara2 · 14/11/2009 22:12

Hi notcitrus - 'Have you been given a program that amplifies stuff in front of you only (the second one, usually?)' - I'm sorry but I have no idea what you mean by that (so I guess the answer is no!).

Didn't think it had a volume control - was told it was automatic?

I guess I need to go back and talk to them don't I? I get so upset when I can't hear people, and going on a night out, for instance, is so hard that I feel like it is just not worth doing. I have to tell the dc that unless they are in the same room as me I just can't work out what they are saying . Also when I am at school of course the children all speak in high tones and I really struggle even with the ha in.

I do wear glasses btw and they don't interfere with the ha at all.

notcitrus · 15/11/2009 21:52

Hi Polgara - you said you had Spirit 3s? Maybe they do different models, but mine have a rotating bit which is the volume control, and a push button below that which beeps different numbers of times each time you press it, which changes the setting. You have a microphone just behind where the tubing joins the aid which faces forwards and another in front of the dial which is for all around.

Default setting for the aids is for both mikes to be on. Then typical setup is program 2 to be forward-mic only, for use when there's lots of background noise, and prog 3 is the T-setting for use with induction loops.

Sounds like you might find a radio aid really useful at work - have you ever dealt with Access to Work? It's hassle getting them to assess you for stuff that may help you but then you get lots of info and kit usually paid for? Last time I had a great assessor who ensured I got everything I might possibly benefit from ever at work and obviously I can use the bits elsewhere too, like an induction loop for a mobile phone so I can receive calls if really necessary. I have to admit I use my radio aid more in the car and in restaurants than at work!

RTKangaMummy · 27/11/2009 14:46

my moulds have arrived back but now they say I have to wait until january to get them fitted

I am so angry with them

DH is going to ring up someone to ask if I can have them fitted earlier as I should have had them fitted 2½ weeks ago

I have 3 functions next week for 500 people each day that it will be impossible for me to hear in ~ there will be so much background noise

I am so upset and angry

Does anyone have any ideas how to move up in the queue for a fitting?

I am angry cos I have already queued once for the last appointment and now have to join the end again

OP posts:
RTKangaSANTAMummy · 15/12/2009 09:54

DH managed to get them to fit me in for an early morning appointment ~ appartently old people don't like 8am appointments

I now have my hearing aids!!!!!!!!!!!!

And it is really weird

When he first put them in I could hear all the rustles of the papers he was moving and the chair creaking

Mega weird!!!!

I know that this was going to happen but it was still weird

He has set them for level 1 atm but it will automaticially go up to level 3 after a monthas that is my setting {i think that is what he said}

It was a very quick appointment about 30 mins

They are sort of moulds with hole in with the bit behind the ear is silver

I thought I was getting 2 types but I was so nervous that I asked and he said I was just getting this sort

I have got a knob with volume control and a T setting and mic setting

He says it automatically works out the voice directional thingy ~ no idea how though ~ how does it know whoose voice I want to listen to?

RTKangaSANTAMummy · 15/12/2009 09:55

THEY ARE OTICON ~ SPIRIT ZEST

coppertop · 15/12/2009 20:36

Wow! I was just looking for this thread for another thread and have just seen the update!

Fantastic news!