Off Topic: Hearing Problems

[Linda3032]

Sorry to go off-topic, but I trust the info this forum gives me.

I have partial hearing loss in one ear, but have never had an audio test or hearing aide.

Anybody here know of a wonderful forum (like this one), to get newbie info? I thought I would try an inexpensive aide to start out to see if I could get used to it. Can they be purchased over the internet successfully?

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[wolftracker]

And from what I understand in hearing this is so true.

I have also been told that you should always get two
as hearing is binodal.

I need them but most insurances dont cover then so I will
wait.

I understand the ones you get on TV are not very good
but this from a hearing doctor.

Remember I an not a doctor and i dont have hearing aids
thought i need them

this is my understanding

wolf

[tangents]

Hi Linda,

I did a LOT of research on hearing aids for my mom about a year ago. I came across an on-line hearing test, which I thought was interesting. Certainly it'll tell you what kind of frequencies you aren't hearing. All you need is a set of headphones (I think they recommend the kind that go over your ears.)

Wolf is right, they are expensive, and most insurance companies don't cover them. However, they've made great progress with them lately. They're so small that they're hardly detectable. I've studied quite a bit of acoustics and electronics, so feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I'm new to the forum, but I'd like to repay the kindness you've already shown me.

Here's the link to the on-line test:
http://www.lloydhearingaid.com/audiogram_start.cfm

Cathy

[birdshell]

The following is my opinion:

I have a slight hearing loss in one ear, caused by very frequent ear infections as a child. I have never used hearing aides, but had many roommates who were speech and language pathology majors. (Language development is strongly affected by hearing) I also had several who were majoring in teaching of the Hearing Impaired, and in addition, I had a boyfriend with a severe hearing loss back in the 70's. His box hearing aid, worn on a harness, gave me bruises on the sternum; apparently, the hearing impaired just cannot restrain their strong, affectionate hugs!

I have seen no less than 5 different ENT's for my hearing and had numerous hearing tests. I have also had many students who wore hearing aids. I live and used to teach in an area only 10 miles away from the school for the hearing impaired in my state. Because of this, we have a large hearing impaired community. Seeing sign language in the mall or the grocery store is definitely not unusual.

With all of that said, I doubt that one can initially get the best result without testing. Self-titration is probably not a good option at first, as there have been many advances in hearing aids since my boyfriend's box. The field is a bit complicated, and the care and battery feeding of your hearing aid is tricky at first.

I am certainly not an expert, but it appears to me that the best option would be to see a professional for a good hearing evaluation and get a recommendation for the type and features best suited to you. At least at first, it would seem that the pros might be a wise idea.

Another parallel that I could draw would be in vision care; my friend the optometrist actually beats prices from Wal-Mart, Pearle, DOC, and Sears--plus others?--on the total exam and lenses (and frames) package. He is quite sure of this because he does the exams for Sears on a contract basis as an extra. The office also hears some great stories about the costs paid by patients to other eyecare providers.

I also know that the use of one hearing aid or two depends on the type of loss and the best hearing aid for that loss. Even children sometimes have only one hearing aid. In children, sometimes the use of hearing aids is recommended to stimulate their auditory nervous systems. Their hearing will then be more likely to develop to a greater degree.

This is all my opinion just off the top of my head, but I truly wish you all the best. Check on the opinions and available services and make a wise decision--and let us know what you have done! Thanks.

Karen

[NightHawkeye]

Linda,

To directly answer your question, I'm not aware of such a group for hearing loss, although I participated in some newsgroups about this subject some years ago. The newsgroups were not nearly the caliber of this forum, but may still be around and do offer some valuable info.

I can also tell you that you do not want a cheap hearing aid and you do not want to do it yourself. Cheap hearing aids do little more than amplify all sounds equally. A good hearing aid tailors its response to your loss so as to provide a more realistic sound.

I will also tell you that one of the problems with hearing aids is the extra volume they provide often exacerbates the hearing decay, making one go deaf even faster. (This is not conjecture, by the way, but fact.) Good hearing aids, properly adjusted can minimize this effect, but cannot eliminate it. (I get a lot of mileage out of this excuse for not wearing hearing aids.)

Close to a decade ago I spent $5000 for a set of "good" hearing aids. I find them immensely useful for important meetings when I'm giving presentations and I need to be able to understand and respond to questions quickly. Otherwise, I never use the hearing aids.

When I purchased my hearing aids, the cost of a hearing exam was almost universally free. I suppose that's because audiologists make their money by selling hearing aids, not from giving exams. Don't be afraid to get a hearing test and ask the audiologist if you would benefit from a hearing aid in your situation.

There are many different types of hearing aids, and there are many different brands. The better brands carry different models of aids which are optimized for specific disorders. See an audiologist who can get the major brands like Phonak and ReSound. (Names may have changed, and there are others I don't remember.) I trialed four pairs of aids before settling on a pair. BTW, take the lessons learned about researching CPAP equipment with you to the audiologist. After I'd trialed three different pairs of hearing aids and wasn't satisfied with any of them, I researched a little on my own and found a different model of Phonak aid specifically tailored to my "ski slope" hearing loss and asked to trial a set. Not surprisingly, they worked better than any of the others, and at that point I committed to purchase the pair.

Hope this helps a little.

Regards,
Bill

[krousseau]

Definitely get a hearing test to find out the reason for a unilateral hearing loss-I would recommend going to an ENT first-that way you get your ears checked and rule out anything easily treated. Hearing aids are expensive and depending on the level of hearing in your ear may not help. I am completely deaf in one ear and do well without an aid. The major issue with the unilateral partial loss and one aid is that your hearing will still be "unbalanced". Insurance usually pays for the hearing test.

[Linda3032]

Thanks for the responses. I definitely will get the hearing test. And as mentioned, they are practically free.

My insurance (and next year on Medicare) will not pay for the aids. So, I'm looking at a huge expense which I can ill afford.

I drastically notice the hearing loss in one ear -- so I lie on my other one at night to block out the cpap/mask noise. . And I know that it's low tones I can't hear. Both our sons speak in very low (manly) voices, and I can never understand what they say. So, I know I need to do something. Like I said, just can't afford the expense.

Was just wishing there was a wonderful forum that could give me alot of answers. Well, there is, and I'm right here. . Thanks again.

[NightHawkeye]

Thanks for the responses. I definitely will get the hearing test. And as mentioned, they are practically free.

Also, when you call to make an appointment, check out the credentials of the individual who will administer the test and discuss the results with you. Here are the national standards:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos085.htm

And I found this part interesting:

Audiologists can acquire the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. To earn a CCC, a person must have a graduate degree and 375 hours of supervised clinical experience, complete a 36-week postgraduate clinical fellowship, and pass the Praxis Series examination in audiology, administered by the Educational Testing Service. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, as of 2007, audiologists will need to have a bachelor’s degree and complete 75 hours of credit toward a doctoral degree in order to seek certification. As of 2012, audiologists will have to earn a doctoral degree in order to be certified.

I think what this means is that in the near future less qualified people will be performing hearing tests, and that every facility will have one highly paid individual with a doctoral degree on staff in a management role. (I have to wonder which major company lobbied for this change - for the common good, of course. Could its initials be B.E.L . . . )

My insurance (and next year on Medicare) will not pay for the aids. So, I'm looking at a huge expense which I can ill afford.

Yeah, my insurance only covered a very small part of the expense (and I had good insurance).

I drastically notice the hearing loss in one ear -- so I lie on my other one at night to block out the cpap/mask noise. . And I know that it's low tones I can't hear. Both our sons speak in very low (manly) voices, and I can never understand what they say.

Don't be so sure it's low frequency loss, Linda. Kinda sounds like high frequency loss to me. (That's the most common kind, by the way.) The hearing test will positively identify it though. Like with sleep studies, be sure to get a copy of the report, including graphs of frequency response that you can take home and study.

Regards,
Bill

[tangents]

I absolutely agree with everyone here, Linda. The on-line test is for info only, and to help you research hearing aid possibilities. NHE is correct that just because a low voice sounds "muddy", that doesn't mean that you have low frequency loss. Actually, low frequency loss is associated more with the VOLUME of sounds, and high frequency loss is associated with CLARITY of sounds. Good luck, keep us "posted"! Cathy

[Bella]

Two months ago I got hearing aids. It's funny, because like you Linda, I had problems hearing men too. But it turned out that it was high frequency hearing loss. Go figure. I got these really cool looking behind the ear ones. So small that you can't even notice - and they are red to match my glasses. (Yes mid-life crisis ) I'm in Ontario, Canada and there is a provincial program that paid 1,000.00 towards them. My drug plan paid $800.00 and I got to pay the other 1,200.00 But it's heaven having them.http://deafness.about.com/od/hearingaid ... ngaids.htm
The site above has interesting info and a link to a forum.
http://www.hearinglossweb.com/discus/index.html

Good luck!
(I hit 45 and had to get bifocals, 49 and it was bipap, and just over 50 hearing aides. I'm falling apart! !