My new hearing aids

I'm so glad you started it too, Tom. I have known for a long time that I needed them but didn't do anything. I was thinking about it when you posted, and that got me motivated. I have been very lucky to find a fellow that cares about his customers the first time around. I have read many horror stories about how much people pay, and get nothing out of. The first set of aids I owned were bought off of Ebay, and programmed for me. I could hear pretty good with them after Jeff programmed them but were not near as good as the ones I have now. They were bought new for $6000.00 buy the original buyer, and still had 6 months warranty left on them. I resold them on ebay so some other person could hear cheap. I sold them for what I paid, $260.00. 

Well, this this thread made me start thinking about my hearing.  Several years ago I got Sony headphones for hearing television when Dan home so I did not blow his ears out.  ;D  Really cleared up the sound and they work great.  Then at the Catalina New Years rally talked to Chet about aids.  He convince me to have my hearing checked so I went to an audiologist.  Thank you Chet.
Discovered I have low to moderate hearing lose and now have Phonak brand.  While I am still trying to figure out the correct settings, my hearing is better.  I am finding I hate some sound engineers for some TV shows (Castle, Almost Human and several more).  I am also not sure new Sony TV with all the sound adjustments is my friend (old Sony not as bad).  I am getting a some 'S' sound.  Closing potato chip bags and paper scuffle by Dan is very loud.  With time I will get it right.

I wear them all day from the day first day and comfortable.  I also wear glasses with a wide stem and gen. not problem.  However I think I will change frames to smaller stem next time I need new glasses. 

My short hair is just long enough to sometime brush the aid and cause crackles. 

The first time wearing them went out to eat and was amazed I could hear to place order and even some other tables talking.  Got home to ringing bells from dog tags did not even know existed.    So many sounds missing and found. 

All in all a positive experience.

AND I AM FEMALE,
Jennifer

ferfer said:

AND I AM FEMALE,
Jennifer

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Jennifer - Did you listen to a lot of loud music growing up? I know that is the reason my hearing is so bad.

I think your problem with the TV comes from the volume being too loud. I have that problem. When I watch a movie I adjust the volume so I can hear the quiet parts of conversations. Then a part of the movie with extremely loud sound come along and blow my hearing out of the water. Not a big problem, I use the remote to change volumes. But it is the only problem I am having.

No loud music or noise exposure.  Growing up I liked classical and jazz but generally listened only in the car.  Did use gas lawn mower when older.

I do not think it is volume set too high but I do know what you mean.  The commercial's all seem to be clear and too loud.  Some shows are clear with little TV sound adjustment.  Some shows are just almost impossible for me to understand.  Volume is ok, it is just clarity.  I may have Dan set the TV sound adjustments for him and see what they are like for me.  Then if I can figure out how to express to my audiologist it will get even better.  Right now I am thinking that the voice frequency (high) need to be lowered some more and perhaps base added.  This may help get rid of those 'sssss' sounds and that slight 'tingy' sound.  I will get there.

Jennifer 

Wearing a head set for 32 years will do it.....took out my high tone. Worked with a waiver for my last ten years.

As soon as I retired I purchased them.  Some people are vain, I just wanted to her the coffee pot....

ferfer said:

No loud music or noise exposure.  Growing up I liked classical and jazz but generally listened only in the car.  Did use gas lawn mower when older.

I do not think it is volume set too high but I do know what you mean.  The commercial's all seem to be clear and too loud.  Some shows are clear with little TV sound adjustment.  Some shows are just almost impossible for me to understand.  Volume is ok, it is just clarity.  I may have Dan set the TV sound adjustments for him and see what they are like for me.  Then if I can figure out how to express to my audiologist it will get even better.  Right now I am thinking that the voice frequency (high) need to be lowered some more and perhaps base added.  This may help get rid of those 'sssss' sounds and that slight 'tingy' sound.  I will get there.

Jennifer

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Have  your audiologist give you another hearing test with the aid in, it makes a world of difference. My audiologist programmed mine according to my test then gave me another test with them in, and programmed them again. I think they are spot on for me now, but sometimes I do turn them down a bit. I've been hard hearing for 20 years and it may take a bit to get used to hearing again ;D ;D

Everyone's hearing is different but I have been wearing HA?s now for many years, on my third set actually. Usually when you first start wearing them everything seems too loud because you could not hear half of this stuff before. After you are used to them a bit, couple weeks at least, get them adjusted again.
When you start to get a small headache towards the end of the day it is usually because your higher tones are up too high or you are on the wrong program. When you hear lots of hisssss and popping or crackling (like a potato chip bag) it is usually because your volume is up too loud. You are turning the volume up to compensate because you still can't understand.
When you go to the audiologist for your hearing test in order to program the HA?s they are supposed to give you a comprehension test also. They adjust your headset as if you had your HA?s in and they speak words (with their mouth covered) which you then have to repeat back to them. Once you hit about 98% you are good to go and I have to stress how important this is. Just some minor tweaking can really help you to understand much better. If they do not do this you really don?t know if the HA?s are correct for you yet and if not, you turn up the volume.
Hope this helps. I started with Phonak, went to Siemens and now I have ReSound, all with about four different programs each, if anyone has any specific questions. Don?t give up on them.

I have an appt. Wed. with my Audiologist.  Mavarick, I requested another hearing test set to my hearing aid setting.  I do not know what she will do but she seems good.  I am also going to take a potato chip bag.  Show and tell time.  ;D 

Turning the hearing aids volume down and TV sound up will not work because Dan does not have a hearing problem.  I am trying to keep the volume comfortable for him even if it is on the loud side.  It also seems to me that the TV volume is all over the place, esp. at night.  Also different TV shows have very different sound clarity and that is giving me lots of problems.  Some of this clarity could be due to the advanced Sony volume and me chasing the sound options. 

I am hanging in because I can hear what I was missing, sometimes too well 

Jennifer

Jenn, what type of HA?s do you have? Do you have a remote with your HA?s? If so, there is usually a volume level adjustment and you should be using your universal program at about ? way on the volume adjustment for normal situations.
What type of programs so you have, universal should be first or the default, then you should have one for say music, then one for noisy environments that will kill most of the noise around you except for the person you are looking at, and one more for talking on the phone.
Never use the tv as an example or a reference for your HA?s. There are too many things manipulating volume for it to be a constant incl brand of tv and quality of soundbar not to mention the diff rules regarding volume changes during programs.
If you like music use that, just put on your fav cd etc and set it to the same # volume level that sounds Ok to your hubby and use it as a reference for your HA?s when you get home. Use this to change programs and test your volume levels on your HA?s to get used to the changes in them.
Your audiologist will use a default volume level to start with. In this mode you should be around 98% or better at understanding his speech in a controlled environment. If not, you will never understand in the real world.
If you take a chip bag in that quiet room it will sound like it?s blowing your ears out. I don?t know why but it seems to me an audiologist office is always so quiet so don't use that as an example either. After a few trips to his office you will get used to knowing where things have to be set for you to live with them when you leave. What I do is use white noise, meaning I have her turn on the portable heater fan in the office. Then I switch programs on my HA?s and listen to the diff of the fan. It really is amazing how well the new HA?s work when you get used to using them correctly.
Whatever you do don?t give up, once you get them right you will really appreciate all the things you can hear again.

Mavarick, I have Phonak Audeo Q70.  Since I do not have a blue tooth phone, I did not get the the remote or any of the wireless audio streaming device to connect to cell phone (& MP3 player) or the TV Link.  Maybe it is time to discuss those options in light my TV issues.  She did not push the remote but said it is available when and if I am ready.  I think she wanted me to use the HA without at first.  Now maybe it is time.

Currently I had her put some volume control on the HA using button but that is all.  Humm, maybe you have identified the problem and I need that TVLink.  I will discuss it with her tomorrow.

You are correct about the office.  It does seem quite to me too and I do not know why or how they do that.  I will still take the bag and use the hallway if I have to.  Hick, Dan's' paper shuffle drowns out everything at home now.  Last time after adjustment I had her saying lots of words with 's' & 'c' sounds and sounded OK there but not as good on TV.  BUT, I think you are right about the volume being too loud depending on source and environment.  Somehow this leads me back to the remote system - I think?

I will have to find another source for white noise (heater fan) and can not think of any.  I live in Chandler, AZ with temps in low 80's.  I also think the system is central air.

Speech at home is not a problem during the day as there is none (few phone calls only).  TV during the day is not as variable as at night so less problem.  The HA revealed that Dan talks loud - who knew.  8)  I can hear without the HA in a quite environment in one on one conversation but miss a lot otherwise. 

Mavarick, thanks for taking the time to help me.  I have hope that it will all work out positive and maybe the TVLink is the answer.  I do know there is an answer just have to keep looking for it.  I will keep you informed. 

Jennifer
 

Jenn, no prob, glad to help if I can. I had Phonak in the ear 2 sets ago, pretty good units. The tv remote is real nice if that is your only prob as it sure makes life easy at home.
I really don?t think you are quite set though for other things. The reason I discourage the chip bag test for a benchmark is because sometimes when there is no other white noise you actually need that volume to hear some people. At this level a chip bag will drive you nuts but it can be useful. During NORMAL use the volume will be much lower and the chip bag doesn't sound bad.
It sounds like she doesn't have you set up with any programs and I think this is your biggest problem right now. With normal hearing your brain makes up for different environments automatically, us deaf folks have to use tech so get familiar with the different programs as they are your friend.
You said you had her put volume control on the buttons and that is all, this should be for different programs, not just volume. This is really important in controlling your ability to hear in different environments, I really can't stress this enough. It's easy to hear in a quiet room, very different in a restaurant. If you can't hear in a restaurant your HA?s & programs are not set right. Have her explain the program options for different environments and I think you will be going in the right direction, then when the HA?s work everywhere for you look at the remote for the tv as a separate and final problem.
Took me a lot of years to figure this all out so hopefully you won?t have to go through the same mistakes I made. Stick with it, they can be amazing when they are correct.

ferfer said:

Mavarick, I have Phonak Audeo Q70.  Since I do not have a blue tooth phone, I did not get the the remote or any of the wireless audio streaming device to connect to cell phone (& MP3 player) or the TV Link.  Maybe it is time to discuss those options in light my TV issues.  Now maybe it is time.

Currently I had her put some volume control on the HA using button but that is all.  Humm, maybe you have identified the problem and I need that TVLink.  I will discuss it with her tomorrow.

Somehow this leads me back to the remote system - I think?

Speech at home is not a problem during the day as there is none (few phone calls only).  TV during the day is not as variable as at night so less problem.  The HA revealed that Dan talks loud - who knew.  8)  I can hear without the HA in a quite environment in one on one conversation but miss a lot otherwise. 

Jennifer

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Those are good HA, newer generation than what I have. I also had a volume control instead of different programs. I want control of the volume without buying the remote. those aren't cheap. Remember the HA is no better than the person that does the programming on them. If your audiologist doesn't get them right for you, don't get discouraged, find another audiologist that can. My wife bought me a wireless speaker system several years ago, and we each have speaker on the end table next to our chairs. We don't use the volume control on the tv anymore, just the volume control on our speakers. This serves us great, even before the HA. Good luck tomorrow.

[quote author=Tom]Having seen the "flat line" response of one ear, and nearly the same response of the other, I'm cooling on the idea of hearing aids. ... I'll make a decision after further testing and meeting with an audiologist next week.[/quote]

Had a more thorough hearing test with an audiologist today, and his recommendation was that I don't need hearing aids, at least not yet.

An intrusion a bit.... It pains me to hear all the advise and recommendations that the medical industry gives on various problems; hearing, optical and general health issues/ GP's.

Who or what can you believe ? How can one be sure that they are not only wanting new Customers, or....that they don't want anything to do with you?

I don't want to go into details but I have tried to solve that problem for 10 years. The GP/family doctor only prescribes pills and doesn't want the hear of past history only known to the patient.

  I could go on for a while; instead I wish we could sanely discuss the problem, as I see it.

Perhaps someone would be interested in starting a topic named "What do you think of your GP and other non-specialists." Specialists fix things, GP's are struggling to make money.

Don't ask me to start a thread; I am biased and can prove it over and over again.

In the meantime I'll keep smiling/groaning for a bit longer.


 

An intrusion a bit.... It pains me to hear all the advise and recommendations that the medical industry gives on various problems; hearing, optical and general health issues/ GP's.

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I hear ya, what gets me is all the commercials talking about drugs I've never heard of hoping I will discover a problem that this drug surely can fix!
Speaking of GP's, I haven't went to one in over 20 yrs. I only use an internal medicine doc for everything. GP's just seem to refer you to someone else.

Heard at my last hearing appt Luna Hearing, located in WA and OR now sells discounted HA's same price as Costco and includes a real audiologist for testing etc. Just an FYI for those out west.

carson said:

Who or what can you believe ? How can one be sure that they are not only wanting new Customers, or....that they don't want anything to do with you?

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When you go into an audiologist you are given a hearing test. The results are given to you in an easy to understand graph form and then the doctor discusses the results with you. At that point if he recommends a hearing aid for you he will put one on you and let you try it out. The decision is totally up to you as to if the hearing aid does you any good or not. Of course he wants new customers but he won't get any unless there is a good reason.

I don't want to go into details but I have tried to solve that problem for 10 years. The GP/family doctor only prescribes pills and doesn't want the hear of past history only known to the patient.

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It is a pretty simple solution to quit bitching about him and switch to a different doctor. :

TomS, simmer down. You have no idea what is happening. i have had 4 GP's in the last 12 years. Why? that's another story I won't belabor you with. And my opinion remains...they were all the same. They are in a club; they protect each other and will not tolerate criticism about their peers.

Enuff said.

I didn't like my doctor so I switched and solved my problem. You vote with your wallet. And I won't simmer down.

[quote author=Tom]... with my newly-cleared ears ... The TV volume is definitely lower. I got out several ukuleles, played and sang, but there's not a discernable difference. I'll be interested to see how my next 'public' singing performance will sound next week.[/quote]

Much to my surprise, I couldn't detect any difference when I sang to, and led the singing at, a large group this week. I didn't really know what to expect, but I thought that my own internal feedback might have changed after my ears were unplugged.

OTOH one of our newer ukulele band players came up to me at the break in practice on Tuesday; He sits catty corner to me (front/back row, left/right end), and said "I can hear you singing above all the ukes and other voices". Hope I was singing in tune  ???

I now have 4 days on her adjustment, even used that bag.  Everything is much better.  Think we are getting closer.  We went to Benson this weekend so had opportunity to try 2 different TVs with little to no difficulty.  So it appears that the New Fancy Sony sound is a major problem for me.  Just too variable for me.  Dan loves it and I think it is a good sound.  The bedroom TV sound still good too.

She sent me home with the TVLink to try.  I have not hook up yet as I want to try with the current setting first.  The New Sony is better with the current HA setting, there is still some chasing.  Evidently the new TVs are giving more problems to some HA users.

As to repeating the hearing test, she declined saying it was was not accurate and gave some false readings.  When I said I wanted a straight line, she laughed and said I would not produce one but she would be glad to draw me one.  She is really good so all above was said in fun.  I did ask her about turning on other functions but she said no.  They perform automatic and if she gave me control they would just confuse me and I would get lost.

Also had my hair cut Friday leaving the hair around the ears a little longer.  No more crinkling sound from hair brushing HA.  Ah life is good.

So slowly solving the HA mysteries.  I am sure I will have a few more adjustments but I think I am really close. 

The saga continues and my education incomplete,
Jennifer