O/T Hearing Aid Forums?

[DaveL]

I'm interested in finding an environment that serves helpful, knowledgable people like this one does!

I'm a cranky old sod (sleep apnea? ) and I don't tolerate my hearing aid well.

Meantime I'm getting deafer and deafer.

I live in Ontario Canada and would love to find a forum and support group.

Thanks!

DaveL

[base2balls]

I don't know of any forums for the hard of hearing, but I know what you mean. I wear two hearing aids and I don't wear them while watching tv as I use headphones when I watch tv. I have a phone that is designed for the hearing impaired and it lights up when it rings. I do need to get one of them lights that flashes when some one knocks on the door. I can't hear the door bell very well and so a light would be helpful for me. I have not found one as yet. Maybe if we try to google a forum or start one ourselves that would be boss. Good luck, Huggies, Fay

[DaveL]

Thanks Fay.
Perhaps someone will post here.
I've had better luck with cpap than my hearing aid. In spite of my DME.
DaveL

[dsm]

Dave

I too am a user of dual hearing aids - several of my kids also have aids or
need them. My wife was using analogue in-the-ear aids.

I have high frequency loss (severe) but am able to get by well with Widex
CIC (completely-in-canal) aids. Am currently using their Inteo models but
have a pair of Diva CIC aids in reserve.

Also for what it is worth, when very young & starting out in the work force
I worked as a hearing aid tech for some months & go to know a bit about
the testing & types of hearing loss. Today's technology is amazing when
compared to what I worked with.

CIC have the advantage of being almost invisible vs the behind the ear
models but they have less features compared to the behind the ear units.

DSM

[DaveL]

Thanks DSM.
I have 1 hearing aid/left ear. Understand it's due to exposure to noise. I can't remember the brand; it's an in-the-ear digital variety I bought when I was unemployed. (Read=cheap.) I find it very uncomfortable. It's terrible outside, and really terrible in a noisy environment like a diner or bar.
When I'm stressed I take it out.
And theres a lot of controversy in my job, so it's out a lot.
I truly appreciate you posting.
I'll find the receipt for it and be ready with a name and model later.
By the way, it would squeal every time I chewed, so they put a "lock?" on it and wedged the wax into my ear when they made the mold.
DaveL

[dsm]

Thanks DSM.
I have 1 hearing aid/left ear. Understand it's due to exposure to noise. I can't remember the brand; it's an in-the-ear digital variety I bought when I was unemployed. (Read=cheap.) I find it very uncomfortable. It's terrible outside, and really terrible in a noisy environment like a diner or bar.
When I'm stressed I take it out.
And theres a lot of controversy in my job, so it's out a lot.
I truly appreciate you posting.
I'll find the receipt for it and be ready with a name and model later.
By the way, it would squeal every time I chewed, so they put a "lock?" on it and wedged the wax into my ear when they made the mold.
DaveL

The Inteo units are 16-channel digital & have a program that eliminates the squeal when phoning or chewing. The Diva units still do a bit of squealing & have less adjustable channels. The widex units are horribly expensive (here in Aust).

If you provide the brand I'll try to find out what I can.

Cheers

DSM

[bearcatx16]

DaveL

You might try doing some reading here http://www.hearingaidforums.com/index.php.

I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with your HAs. I have had mine (2) CIC, completely in canal, long enough that they no longer make them, they now have newer and improved. If I should get in a hurry in the morning and forget them when I join the old guys for coffee I feel naked in the head, if I do forget them I put them in as soon as I get home. When I have them in I don't take them out until I get in the shower just prior to bed time. They are the Starkey Destiny 1600 CIC. Features: three channels, digital, noise adjusting, telephone compatible and off.

Good luck

Fred

[DaveL]

Thanks Fred, thanks DSM.

One question I have is, "how do you select a HA manufacturer and model?"

Each business carries a select few. do they carry the right ones? How do you figure that out before you go?

Dave

[dsm]

Thanks Fred, thanks DSM.

One question I have is, "how do you select a HA manufacturer and model?"

Each business carries a select few. do they carry the right ones? How do you figure that out before you go?

Dave

I got my 1st pair in Hong Kong in 2003 when working there & Widex was proposed as one of the bigger European suppliers (from Denmark I think).
So I picked up with the local Widex distributor in Sydney Australia when I returned that same year.

I would always lean towards a large well established manufacturer out of caution.

Good luck there

DSM

[DaveL]

Thanks DSM.
I got my hearing aid when both my wife and I were unemployed and without benefits.
I was very price concious.
I did listen to the audiologist who helped me select.
Who knows whether she was the right choice.....

There's a new service in Canada. Listen-Up Canada.

Regards
DaveL

[DaveL]

I confess I haven't done anything.

I had the good fortune to meet a lady at a local school board who provides counsel to families of young children that are hearing impaired. She's incredible.
She said I'm (over)due for new hearing aid(s), and that better aids are available.
She said I need to get my hearing checked to see where I'm at.
She uses Phonak and only needs 1.
She also provided the name of an audiologist who has proven to be an expert, and is very patient with children. Perhaps this will work for this cranky old guy with OSA (Me!).

After that, and suggested by my wife, I went to ListenUp Canada. I told the woman behind the counter my circumstances. When I told her the brand I wear, she made a face. I asked why and she could not provide a reason. I asked what brands they sold and she provided me with a list of 4. She suggested I go on line and educate myself.

Buying HA's costs so much! I want to make an informed decision.

And I've found that Costco sells HA's in a few stores in Canada, and there is a price savings.

I'm so confused!

Best,

DaveL

[mayondair]

I use one hearing aid, Small, digital, pretty expensive,;my business(barbershop) has a lot of background noise and I really like to talk to my customers. I Probably made 5 or 6 trips to the audiologist for tweaking ,probably a lot like DMEs, only the audiologist was really wonderful to work with. I don't have any trouble , it's comfortable and I am able to share lots of bad jokes with my customers. I doubt you could get good results without working with a knowledgeable person. The audiologist I used worked with my ENT at a major teaching hospital. Lots of new technology out there

[DaveL]

Thanks mayondair.
I believe there are 2 key needs:
* finding the right audiologist
* finding the right equipment

and hope that everything follows that.

Thanks for your post.
DaveL
"still looking"

[mayondair]

FWIW, the brand I have is Oticon, Delta model. Very small , light, not noticeable. Unfortunately, unlike my pap, you need the audiologist for soft wear and tweaking, good luck, it takes a bit of getting used to but works well.

[chunkyfrog]

I wear one hearing aid--(infection as a child) I had a Phonak several years ago (good);
my current model is Widex Aikia--(even better, but discontinued)
I am particularly pleased with the feedback and overload control--( Ican stop at the kettle and Santa's bell doesn't make me cringe)
My brother has two of the same model--along with several of his hunting buddies.
They have a program for hunting that takes care of wind noise while still letting them listen to the calls of small game animals.
I would recommend digital only --as many channels and features as you can afford,
and avoid the heavily advertised brands-'Miracle Oar' and 'Bultone'--The Veterans administration has a list of brands they will get for vets--
and (to the best of my knowledge) these brands are NEVER on the list, because they wind up put away--not in the ear.
I got a decent deal at the local university, where the audiology department does not do commission sales.