Hearing Aids

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rod7515

rod7515

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Well for years Ive struggled with some lost hearing. Ive been told by family members many times I should have my hearing checked and get hearing aids so I dont have to ask them to repeat themselves. So the TV doesnt have to be so loud, or the radio or so I could hear group conversations. Finally I scheduled an appointment and the diagnoses is moderate to severe hearing lose in both ears. I have been told that they dont give a lose in percentage anymore. They recommended hearing aids for both ears. So on Tuesday I was given a pair of demo hearing aids. The brand is Oticon. Ive been wearing them for 5 days now and I can say I hate them. Not that they are uncomfortable, not that they look bad but because I dont think they do what I expected. First thing is I find everything more tinty sounding, I hasnt helped with me being able to hear a group discussion as it just amplifies all voices and the conversation still sounds jumbled to me. Also it makes some noises sound loud that the things I am trying to hear are blocked out. Yes, when I am watching TV I can hear better without having the volume as loud, but if my wife and daughter are in the same room talking everything just blurrs together. I was able to hear my grandson better which is a great thing. But all and all I dont see a $5400 value in a hearing aids yet. I have this loaner pair for another week and will give them every opportunity to change my mind but so far Im not impressed!
How do you other hearing aid wearers feel about yours and what can I expect?
Thanks
Rod
 
I hear you. Don't have an answer for you, but I hear you. I hear fine in tests its understanding what's being said that's the problem. Sounds like your problem.
 
I was born with a hearing loss and have had hearing aids for 40some years. The new digital aids are great in comparison to the older models. I like Starkey brand aid. The over the ear with an open ear bud. I have tried the in the ear, in the canal and over the ear models and all make your head feel like it is in a bubble. Then I was introduced to the open ear bud, these have been the best by far. The only problem I have experience with my current ones are I sweat and the sweating wreaks havoc on them.
With the digital type, the audiologist should be able to tune them to the exact frequency losses you have. Don't be shy telling them when something doesn't seem right. I've been into many arguments with them, I always win with the statement "so you have a loss of hearing too?" Makes the point every time.
Good luck,
Andy
 
rod7515 said:
Well for years Ive struggled with some lost hearing. Ive been told by family members many times I should have my hearing checked and get hearing aids so I dont have to ask them to repeat themselves. So the TV doesnt have to be so loud, or the radio or so I could hear group conversations. Finally I scheduled an appointment and the diagnoses is moderate to severe hearing lose in both ears. I have been told that they dont give a lose in percentage anymore. They recommended hearing aids for both ears. So on Tuesday I was given a pair of demo hearing aids. The brand is Oticon. Ive been wearing them for 5 days now and I can say I hate them. Not that they are uncomfortable, not that they look bad but because I dont think they do what I expected. First thing is I find everything more tinty sounding, I hasnt helped with me being able to hear a group discussion as it just amplifies all voices and the conversation still sounds jumbled to me. Also it makes some noises sound loud that the things I am trying to hear are blocked out. Yes, when I am watching TV I can hear better without having the volume as loud, but if my wife and daughter are in the same room talking everything just blurrs together. I was able to hear my grandson better which is a great thing. But all and all I dont see a $5400 value in a hearing aids yet. I have this loaner pair for another week and will give them every opportunity to change my mind but so far Im not impressed!
How do you other hearing aid wearers feel about yours and what can I expect?
Thanks
Rod
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Exactly the reason I tell my Wife I won't spend the money on them. For the most part I hear fine... it's just in a crowd it seems like it's all jumbled together.She has a habit of talking to me from another room in the house...I can hear her talking but for the life of me can't understand what she is saying. As one friend told me after getting them.... now I can't understand what people are saying ...only louder. It's frustrating for all .
 
I had my hearing checked last year. bad! it is electrical he said, if it were physical they could fix it. my dad could not hear SQUAST! finally when he was in his early 70's, doc operated and FIXED it!! guess i' not so lucky. the doc says I will get SO frustrated I will get a hearing aid. $5500 for one that does not work? I doubt it!! sweat kills the good digital one? I sweat like a friggin pig!!! LOl oh well....
 
Got mine free from the VA and I hate them for the same reasons you said. I quit using them so do not waste your money.
 
I just received mine from the VA today. I have had them in all afternoon till now. They seem to work fine some time but other time not. I will try and get used to them. I also have a hard time understanding words and think I it is a different word then is been said. Working with large jet engines in the USAF was not good for my ears.
 
Ok First of all their hearing aids not hearing replacements. I went through the same thing as you. I had so many friends that had hearing aids that sat on their dresser because they didn't like them, they didn't restore their hearing back to natural. So for many years I put off getting them because I wasn't going to spend money on something that sat on the dresser. I wouldn't even try them. Last April my hearing was so degenerated that I could hardly hear, frustrating for everybody. I had heard a lot of good things about the Costco hearing aids , my boss and his wife both wore them and love them . I made an appointment at Costco. They were very professional and of course I had major hearing lose.
The tech tuned in a set of trial hearing aids for me and had my wife and I go out into Costco.
I was amazed I was hearing thinks I couldn't hear before . I could hear my wife and she didn't have to repeat herself . Costco backs all their hearing aids and I can go into any Costco in the country and they will adjust them for free. are they perfect NO, one on one conversations are great , crowds are the hard thing. Hearing aids can't channel like normal hearing so their for they pick up everything. you have to teach your brain to hear again.
Take them for what they are - an aid . Give them a chance. The can sound will go away.
I'm not with out mine any more. I can actually listen to TV on 19 loudness instead of 56 LOL. I hope this helped some. It just takes time to adjust. Good luck
 
Thanks guys for your opinions. I called the hearing specialist today and told her I didnt think they were performing as they should. She is having me come back in tomorrow so she can check them out. I will have many things to discuss with her now that I have tried a set. They will need to improve for me to spend that kind of money. Zigs, I only need the TV turned up to 25-30 so far so maybe I should wait a while! lol I'll update how things work out.
Rodney
 
Went in to have the hearing aids check for proper function and found that the left one had a bad "speaker". That is the tube that comes out of the unit behind your ear and goes into the ear. I ask how often they go bad and she said not very often and they are part of the warranty for as long as I have them. So with both of them working they were much more comfortable today but I still find myslef asking people to repeat what they are saying and its because everything is jumbled together. The aids do a very good job of amplifying but it doesnt seem to separate voices and noises to a point that I can make out conversations any better. I'll have them for trial for one more week then I will need to make a decision.
Again thanks to all for your thoughts and experiences,
Rod
 
Got my second set from VA. Itoo have a hearing lose from being around too many things that went Boom!!. The second set was fitted. Only problem is now the fit is really tight. Ear piece pulls the little hairs in the ear and I get. Ingrown hairs. Need to buy one of those trimmers to keep the ear hair down.
 
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