Thread: Hearing issues

Bob, I'd get hearing aids now whilst you still got that bit left because if you leave it and then get some later when you can no longer hear, you'll need to retrain the brain to pick it up again and a lot of people get put off by this as it can be irritating and they tend not to wear them.

Originally Posted by Acco

Bob, I'd get hearing aids now whilst you still got that bit left because if you leave it and then get some later when you can no longer hear, you'll need to retrain the brain to pick it up again and a lot of people get put off by this as it can be irritating and they tend not to wear them.

That's what the audiologist said but I kept thinking "he's just trying to sell me something". I can do a i week no obligation trial so I will give it a go.
My low frequency (<2 kHz) is slightly better than average which used to make everything sound bass like but now I don't notice that.

Originally Posted by Acco

Bob, I'd get hearing aids now whilst you still got that bit left because if you leave it and then get some later when you can no longer hear, you'll need to retrain the brain to pick it up again and a lot of people get put off by this as it can be irritating and they tend not to wear them.

Acco is on the money.
My daughter is an audiologist and would back this up.

isn't it a bugger Bob?

Been in the same boat myself for a while. I'm to have a test on 29th this month and I suspect an aid or two might be in order.

Thanks bob you may have answered a question I have been asking myself also and the feedback from others confirms my thoughts.

Better book myself in.

Is there any recommendations at type of hearing aids are better than others

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

Thanks bob you may have answered a question I have been asking myself also and the feedback from others confirms my thoughts.

Better book myself in.

Is there any recommendations at type of hearing aids are better than others

I have been wearing hearing aids for 2 years now. Mine were about $3000-00 for a pair but anyone who has some kind of disability pension can get them for nix. These are the most common.

Mine have the in ear piece with a small plastic tube to the electronics that sit behind the ear like the arms of spectacles. They have 3 preset settings that the audiologist sets up when they are fitted., plus for a few more dollars your can have blue tooth connectivity to your mobile phone.

There is another option which costs approx $5000-00 and is total in ear almost invisible and has a remote control with blue tooth as well which you carry in your pocket, same as John Howard uses.

Working around machinery, take them off because its impossible to wear ear muffs with them plus you have to keep turning them on and off.

They take a bit of getting used to because the brain has to be trained over a period of a week to adjust to them.

The upside is if you dont want to listen to the missus, turn them off and when she complains, tell her the batteries have gone flat.

Which reminds me, the life of the batteries varies considerably depending how old the stock is as well as temperature, mine don't like hot weather.

With age comes hearing loss regardless of youthful abuse.

A common sign is not being able to clearly hear someone talk with background noise around.

So I'm up for an audiology visit too. Can't do my p.t. job with that problem.

A mate sourced a pair of programmable aids with 5 pre-sets for about $2200. From the crowd that developed the bionic ear. He was very impressed with their after-sales support.

+1 for checkup and trial.

Several years ago, I tried the behind-the-ear models for a month (Florida statute) and couldn't accommodate. Laser printer sounded like a concrete mixer, and roadway tire noise was almost as bad. Audiologist said I needed to become more deaf to accommodate, which made little sense. Geography makes little sense too: more sensitive to sounds behind than in front. A weird combination is that they're touted as "invisible," but pickup body is available in different colors for fashion. Huh?

About a year ago, I got in-the-ear models, but not hidden. Conversations had become difficult, TV couldn't be set loud enough, etc. These have volume control, with beeps pre-set by audiologist at "ideal." Satisfied, but not completely pleased. Oh well. (And some conversants still mumble, I'm convinced.)

Public speaking is awkward at first. Your own voice seems very loud, so you throttle it down. Then your audience can't hear you. For a while, I removed them in such situations, until I learned to speak louder.

You'll need to carry spare batteries, or replace them religiously before they have a chance to die.

If you can "hear" people better when you see their mouth move, get help.

Cheers,
Joe

Shouldn't be too hard to take a recording of folk you don't want to listen to, get a frequency and db analysis done on the 'puter, and program a digital hearing aid to block them out

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

Is there any recommendations at type of hearing aids are better than others

Jim, here's a run-down.

Melbourne Audiology Centre | Hearing Aids | Hearing Testing Centre | Free Hearing Tests | Hearing Protection | Custom Ear Plugs

My mate's version comes with a wand that he can just wave past his ear to cycle through 5 presets.

Gotta love the possibilities ...

1. Block partner nag tone
2. Block telemarketer on the phone
3. Block Alan Jones
4. Block wind noise on the motorbike when db > 65
5. Block partner's snoring

I don't think they're there yet but give it time

This is the gear my mate was impressed with:

Hearing Aids | Blamey & Saunders Hearing Aids Online with IHearYou

You can buy online and get the programming device to fine-tune the operation at home.

I'm getting an audiology test anyway; want to know the details of my hearing deficit.

No connection etc.

Originally Posted by joe greiner

+1 for checkup and trial.

Several years ago, I tried the behind-the-ear models for a month (Florida statute) and couldn't accommodate. Laser printer sounded like a concrete mixer, and roadway tire noise was almost as bad. Audiologist said I needed to become more deaf to accommodate, which made little sense. Geography makes little sense too: more sensitive to sounds behind than in front. A weird combination is that they're touted as "invisible," but pickup body is available in different colors for fashion. Huh?

About a year ago, I got in-the-ear models, but not hidden. Conversations had become difficult, TV couldn't be set loud enough, etc. These have volume control, with beeps pre-set by audiologist at "ideal." Satisfied, but not completely pleased. Oh well. (And some conversants still mumble, I'm convinced.)

Public speaking is awkward at first. Your own voice seems very loud, so you throttle it down. Then your audience can't hear you. For a while, I removed them in such situations, until I learned to speak louder.

You'll need to carry spare batteries, or replace them religiously before they have a chance to die.

If you can "hear" people better when you see their mouth move, get help.

Cheers,
Joe

Right on Joe.

I also have trouble that they irritate my ears.

PS, it was not this job that caused the hearing loss but screaming racing engines.

Yeah, motorbike riding for me ... despite using high-attenuation earplugs getting and keeping a good fit in one ear was always difficult. I realised that custom-moulded jobs were necessary too late.

4 years ago my carer got hearing aids but wouldn't wear them, vanity I suppose, the excuse was "I don't need them and they hurt my ears".
Just pretended he couldn't remember what people had told him.

2 months ago he got tested again, his hearing (or rather lack of it) had worsened so he got new ones.

Now his brain has to learn to hear again, so as far as he is concerned, they don't work

Now we have a deal.

I need my orthotic boot but I won't wear it, meaning I can't walk and has to sit down all the time, unless he wears his hearing aids. Then I found out he just switched it off.

MEN!!!

PLEASE GUYS, PRESERVE WHAT HEARING YOU HAVE LEFT AND STOP BEING VAIN.