Hearing Aids

[milkman]

Anybody here use them, I've got lots of questions. After years in a corrugated box plant pre OSHA, no hearing protection, farming, chainsaw, lawnmowers, weedeaters, etc. I have lost some of my high frequency hearing. The wife says I now have selective hearing and I have the TV turned up too loud, and a lot of conversation sounds to me like mumbling. I have decided to drop a wad of $$$ and go with the almost invisible BTE digitals, should be fitted in about a week. I will probably get all these questions answered at that time, but wondered about real experience, what about wind noise, will that be a problem, and what about dusty situations? Do you just not wear them when running the tractor? What about getting hot and sweaty, will that ruin them? Will a using a bluetooth be out of the question? Is the benefit going to be worth it?

 

[mikim]

let me know the answers to those questions when you find out. I need to look into getting some as well. Cardboard box plant as well (2 years) ....and USAF -- jet engines are just great -- wearing ear protection is good then .. but after years of it - I am having problems ...Be pretty hard to proove military related though after being out so many years.

 

[milkman]

I've been putting it off for a long time, but I'm tired of trying to understand people on the phone, especially if there's any background noise at all. I can deal with the cell phone because I use the bluetooth headset and it's right in my ear, someone trying to talk to me in a crowd is hard for me to catch what they are saying too so I miss a lot or have to guess at what they are saying, so I just bit the bullet and hope they're not too much of a hassle.

 

[txdon]

About 8 years ago I tried a pair for a month. They were analog but very small. I could hear conversations in the car with no problem and the TV volume could be lowered. My wife was happy that I tried them.

The negatives - and these will depend on the hearing loss - The very high frequency I still could not hear. I still could not hear crickets (that may be good thing). Little noises that I did not hear before, like keys jiggling, were annoying. Conversations in a large area with a lot of people were drowned out by all the background noise. After several hours they are uncomfortable even with the air vent hole.

I ended up returning them and paid for the experience.

I seem to have less of a hearing problem in the quiet country.

I will be following this thread, my Dad is looking for another pair, I think he is looking at Delta, behind the ear with a small tube going in the ear, it looks comfortable. This kind has a blue-tooth option he will not get. They come in different colors and I saw a young girl at the store wearing them. they do not seem to have the stigma (old age) they once had with the cell phone era.

Make sure you check out the return policy, $ (as much as 25%) and time allowed.

 

[milkman]

Thanks Don, I've been looking at these online and the price of these things are all over the place. I decided to go with a local seller, not the cheapest and have seen some online for more. I did get in writing a 100% money back return policy and I will have a local face if I need service.

 

[Inspector507]

milkman,
I have a digital and I just can't see how an internet dealer can fit you correctly and tune the aid to your specific hearing loss. The digitals can be tuned and adjusted, whereas analogs do not have as much flexibility. It's been the best thing I ever did. Mine is is a BTE and has a larger tube going to the earmold. I have to have this type because of the hearing loss I suffer. It was caused from surgery. Two of the inner bones were removed because of a mass growing in there.
Sweat is a killer, just make sure you dehumidify it quite often. They have a little kit for that. Not expensive, mine was included. Yeah I know I paid for it in the end.
Wind noise is somewhat noticible in the car with the windows down or if in high winds.
I don't wear them while on the tractor unless I forget I have it on. I usually use Peltor Worktunes anyway so I don't need it to hear the radio.
I would imagine, with mine anyway, blue tooth headset is a NO. But I have the other ear if needed.
Txdon mentioned that crowd noises were a problem. Mine has an option called Audio Zoom. The remote will turn off one of the microphones and I will hear what's straight ahead instead of combined front and back.
Mine also has an option called Tele-coil. Some phones are compatible with that also some large meeting facilities PA systems accomodate it too. It's a tone that normal people will not hear but an aid will pick it up.
So, for me, an aid is priceless. The digital has so many options including a remote like mine. I can reach in my pocket and turn the volume up or down, turn one mic off, turn the Tele-coil on.........etc

 

[milkman]

Inspector, I was leery of ordering online for the same reason, then there's the shipping and downtime if they had to be sent back for adjustment or repair. Glad to hear that you are happy with yours, and I was reading that there is an adjustment period since it takes about six weeks to get used to the hearing aids as it takes that long for the brain to sort out the new sounds that it hasn't had to deal with for years and figure out which ones to pay attention to and the ones to ignore, such as fans and ac and things that we normally consider as background noise. I'm kinda anxious to try them out and see what I've been missing.

 

[Inspector507]

Inspector, I was leery of ordering online for the same reason, then there's the shipping and downtime if they had to be sent back for adjustment or repair. Glad to hear that you are happy with yours, and I was reading that there is an adjustment period since it takes about six weeks to get used to the hearing aids as it takes that long for the brain to sort out the new sounds that it hasn't had to deal with for years and figure out which ones to pay attention to and the ones to ignore, such as fans and ac and things that we normally consider as background noise. I'm kinda anxious to try them out and see what I've been missing.

Mine's over 8 years old. My audiologist ( the Doctor I can call 5 days a week because she's local) convinced one company to offer me insurance one more year for it for less than $200. The manufacturer would do it for 6 years. It cost $1800 back then, so I can only imagine what it would cost now. It is the strongest aid on the market. But something sticks in my mind that if I "lose it", my homeowners insurance might kick in .

 

[milkman]

Extended warranty is one thing I had not thought of, but will probably come up when I take delivery.

 

[Bird]

Thanks Don, I've been looking at these online and the price of these things are all over the place. I decided to go with a local seller, not the cheapest and have seen some online for more. I did get in writing a 100% money back return policy and I will have a local face if I need service.

I've never used a BTE (assuming you do mean "behind the ear") hearing aid, but I bought a pair of Beltones in Virginia Beach, VA, in April, 1992. They were analog, in the ear, but pretty large. When I first got them, one would start hurting that ear after a couple of hours. The audiologist worked on it a bit, and no more problems for over 4 years. But anything, such as a telephone against the ear would cause feedback (a loud squeal). I paid $1630 for the pair. Beginning in September, 1996, I think each of them were sent in for repair about once a year (fortunately never both at the same time) by a dealer in Waco, TX. The first several times, it was $100 each time, then later went to $150 each time.

In 2001, the dealer in Waco had closed up, and I decided after 9 years to buy new ones. So I bought a pair of smaller Starkey hearing aids in Corsicana, TX, in October, 2001. And I quite simply, got swindled. The audiologist in a doctor's office told me they were programmable, but in fact, they are non-programmable analog. But they were smaller, fit farther into the ear, and did work; not well, but they worked. They did have the advantage of being far enough into the ear, that I could use the bluetooth gadget that hangs on your ear. And they cost $2,000.

In May, 2006, one of them quit working, so I took it to a Beltone dealer in Denton, TX, and got it fixed. But I also had new hearing tests done there and bought two new digital, programmable Beltones. They cost me $4,588. They have two programs and I can switch between the two, and my dealer can pretty easily and quickly re-program them in her office. They're a little larger than the Starkeys, but I use a speaker phone nearly any time I'm on the phone. I can use the bluetooth gadget but just talk on the cell phone so seldom that I no longer carry the bluetooth gadget with me. I can hold my current cell phone to my ear, but it also works pretty well on the speaker. The price of the hearing aids included a two year warranty. And I have been back several times because they would sometimes change programs, sometimes do some weird beeping and shut down, etc. The dealer sent them back, one at a time, a couple of times with instructions to fix a particular problem, such as the volume switch or an internal short. But when they continued to have problems, the dealer finally called Beltone, then sent both of them back to completely re-do and they came back with all new internal working parts a month or so ago and that seems to have fixed the problems.

I'm almost deaf without hearing aids, been wearing them 16 years, so I know I'll be wearing them the rest of my life. A nuisance? Yes, but not as bad as eyeglasses.

And I think you're smart to go with a local dealer myself.

 

[milkman]

Thanks Bird, I'm getting a lot of good info, some of it a little scary, with so many glitches, I know that as small as they are they're a somewhat delicate and complicated instrument. I think I've found a reputable dealer, he's been here for 21 years so I think if he's a sheister, he'd have been tarred and feathered by now. He did mention the problem with feedback, the older ones he had would scream when his wife would hug him or if he'd put the phone up to his ear, not near the problem with the newer ones. I'll have to go back through all the responses and make notes to take with me when I pick them up.

 

[mikim]

No one is mentioning tinninitus (ms) which I have quite bad. Some days are better than others - today is really bad. I guess I need to go to a good audiologist and start from there. Inspector - what brand is yours? They sound like a real cadillac version.

 

[jimg]

Im particularly interested in the digitals b/c I think theyre far more flxible in what they can do than an analog. Some of this conversation seems to bear that out a bit. Ive been after my dad for some time to try out a digital but hes not interested...mainly b/c of $$$. Right now he has an *old* analog that really isnt help him but b/c its familiar he doesnt want to part w/ it. To date his plan was to continue turning it up to hear better. I think hes long since past the 'all the way up' setting. Anyway, Id really appreciate all the pros/cons of digitals you all have experienced. Perhaps I can come up w/ enough to convince him to give it a try. Right now he misses 95% of everything said to him.

 

[kidr]

No one is mentioning tinninitus (ms) which I have quite bad. Some days are better than others - today is really bad. I guess I need to go to a good audiologist and start from there. Inspector - what brand is yours? They sound like a real cadillac version.

There are basically 2 types of hearing loss, conductive and nerve.Condutive caused by damage to eardrum or small bones in the ear. nerve caused by damage to nerve cells from loud noise etc.Tinnitus is the sound of nerve cells dying. This effects hearing high pitched sound. Conductive losses affect low pitch.Very hard to correct nerve loss.When high pitch is amplified, so is the low.With an earmold in the ear the effect is like being in a car with a teenager blasting the bass on the radio. I understand work is being done on open air earmolds that wont trap the low sound in the ear. If this works it will be a boon to those of us with nerve losses, who can't wear aids. Some of this info may be outdated, but I think It's basically sound. Sorry couldn't resist.

 

[mikim]

kidr -- are you saying that because of my tinnitus and most prolly nerve damage from high noises that I am probably not going to get any help from a hearing aid? ...mixed emotions about that..... don't want to mess with one but sure would like to hear better. .. wish I was younger too - but that ain't gonna happen either.

 

[texasjohn]

My experience is from my son.... he's had various hearing problems over the years. I've learned the following:

There are doctors that specialize in hearing and there are audiologists that sell hearing aids.

First step is to go to a doctor/hearing specialist and get an accurate diagnosis of the problem and how best to augment it. There are in-the-ear, behind-the ear, bone conduction, many different kinds for different situations and problems. Given the prescription, you can take that prescription to the people that dispense hearing aids for proper fitting.

And, too, there are a whole bunch of options... directional microphones, digital vs analog, things that synchronize between ears...

Net, it's very complex and what is required for best results is a proper diagnosis... In my son's case, his problem went improperly diagnosed for years... he needed an operation, actually several, to give him best results. Audiologists can't do the proper diagnosis... takes a doctor... with the right equipment...

Anybody in the Central Texas area, PM me for details.

I recommend very highly the ENT clinic at Scott and White in Temple.

 

[Bird]

kidr -- are you saying that because of my tinnitus and most prolly nerve damage from high noises that I am probably not going to get any help from a hearing aid? ...mixed emotions about that..... don't want to mess with one but sure would like to hear better. .. wish I was younger too - but that ain't gonna happen either.

I think the first time I went to a doctor (ENT specialist) about my hearing was in 1981 and I went because of the tinnitus, not because of trouble hearing. He told me then that I'd need hearing aids someday, but not right then. Sure enough, 11 years later I got them. And while I know of nothing that eliminates or cures tinnitus, the hearing aids actually help with it, and yes, I have nerve damage from too many years with too much loud noises.

 

[kidr]

kidr -- are you saying that because of my tinnitus and most prolly nerve damage from high noises that I am probably not going to get any help from a hearing aid? ...mixed emotions about that..... don't want to mess with one but sure would like to hear better. .. wish I was younger too - but that ain't gonna happen either.

Hi Mike. No I'm not . You need to see a professional for a diagnosis. In my case I have a classic trauma from gun fire and artillery.At a certain frequency I drop off the chart and then return later down the line.Nothing at present can be done in my case. Hopefully your situation is different.Preserve the hearing you have left by always wearing protection. Certain frequencies are more damaging than others and may not be recognized as dangerous. Certain brazing torches,and comercial oil burners for instance.Many young people are damaging their hearing now with I Pods and such, and won't realize it till later in life. Of course they won't listen to advice.Good luck .

 

[milkman]

Well said TJ, I don't think anyone here can say who is a candidate for a hearing aid or what kind of hearing device, but there is a lot of personal experience with the different scenarios. I apreciate hearing them all, I have gotten some real good pointers to help me know what to expect and what to ask when the time comes. Some even have a problem similar to what I am having and have had good results with the type that was recommended for me, that was reassuring, maybe I should have come here and asked before i went shopping. Hopefully by posting the thread, others that have tried hearing aids without good results a few years ago can see that a lot of strides have been made and there is now help for people that had none just a few short years ago.

 

[Inspector507]

Inspector - what brand is yours? They sound like a real cadillac version.

Phonak