OT: hearing aids, again

I am wondering if this AUDIONOTCH could help me with my Tinnitus:

http://www.audionotch.com/how-it-works

My Audionotch frequency is 4.654 k Hz and the volume is almost max on this sound generator:

http://www.audionotch.com/app/tune/

SleepyEyes21 wrote:Thanks, Everybody- for all of the great information and search results! I will definitely do plenty of research on this.

Another question: does hearing loss get worse if you don't use hearing aids? Audiologist says mine is from nerve damage; 15% on both sides. So if I wait to get hearing aids for a while, will it matter?

Thanks again

The answer is that your hearing loss will continue the same either way.
BUT the longer you wait to start wearing hearing aids, the more difficult it usually is to get used to wearing them.
Also, you want to get a professional in your corner to quickly head off anything that may need medical attention.

I wear hearing aids but I am not sure how this thread relates to CPAP

Everyone wrote:I wear hearing aids but I am not sure how this thread relates to CPAP

See that "OT" in the subject line? It stands for Off Topic so that people who don't care to read non-cpap related posts can easily skip it.

yaconsult wrote:See that "OT" in the subject line? It stands for Off Topic so that people who don't care to read non-cpap related posts can easily skip it.

lol

Drive-by whiners gonna whine.

On a sidebar; I retired my old Dry-Store in favor of a new device, which I highly recommend.
PerfectDry Lux; it's a fraction of the size, has UV-A tubes on 4 sides, and requires no desiccant cartridges.
Instead of running for up to 8 hours, it has 30 minute and 60 minute cycles.
I bought mine at Costco for just under forty bucks, though they are listed elsewhere for up to and beyond $80.
{{{I could use the UV light in the old Dry Store to disinfect my pillows, but why bother?}}}

Interesting comments! I am a licensed audiologist. I retired a little less than a year ago after working for over thirty years in the field in the educational setting. I am also a hearing aid user. The advances made in hearing aid technology, hearing evaluations and general hearing healthcare have gone from Caveman days when I first started to unbelievable sophistication. I remember setting hearing aids using a screwdriver and adjusting two potentiometers (if really advanced you had four! LOL) to programming bluetooth capable hearing aids that have multiple channels and directional microphones that can adjust to sound source directions on a computer. My advice to any one looking to purchase hearing aids....choosing an audiologist is like choosing your primary care doctor. Find one knowledgeable with the latest advances (the technology changes at least every 6 months with new advances occurring so quickly it is amazing), who will listen to your needs and program your hearing aids to YOUR needs. Two people with identical hearing losses may have different needs...One of my favorite stories...Two people with identical hearing losses receive the same type of hearing aid....One is thrilled, "I LOVE my new hearing aids. Every morning I sit and drink my coffee and listen to the birds singing outside my window. It makes me happy." The second one returns the hearing aids for credit..."I hate these stupid hearing aids...Every morning I sit and drink my coffee and all I can hear is those dammed birds outside my window. Makes me crazy!". Happy hearing....and I completely recommend using some type of desiccating device for your hearing aids. Moisture is a killer of hearing aids.

Cavalier wrote: My advice to any one looking to purchase hearing aids....choosing an audiologist is like choosing your primary care doctor. Find one knowledgeable with the latest advances (the technology changes at least every 6 months with new advances occurring so quickly it is amazing), who will listen to your needs and program your hearing aids to YOUR needs.

Question,

Audiologists in my area are connected to hearing- aid manufacturers. Most of them don't hold any medical designations. So how can you decide which one to see? Even the audiologist who tested me and who holds a Ph.D. in audiology is pushing one hearing- aid brand. Where do you find audiologists who are not selling any devices? It reminds me of seeking a financial planner who does not sell insurance policies.

Cavalier wrote:One is thrilled

Cavalier wrote:The second one returns the hearing aids for credit..."I hate these stupid hearing aids

Just like CPAP!

avi123 wrote:What about ringing in the ears (Tinnitus), have the hearing aids solve it?

I have that tinnitus. It has really increased over this past year. Switched from Starkey. Was being refitted with their Muse that has tinnitus option and did not like the sound. Went with Widex. Had never heard of it, but after much Googling saw it got good reviews. The audiologist is super too, unlike the previous fellow. Only had them three days. They have a sound (1 you choose) competing with the ringing. Somehow it trains the brain to ignore the ringing.

Along with a hearing loss, I have hypersensitivity to certain sounds...happens often, especially if you have tinnitus! Go figure She lowered the whole sound levels accordingly. Will be going back in a few weeks for revaluation etc. so far, the Widex is a winner for me. If I ever need another...years from now, we should finally have that Costco built near by. Several hours away right now.

There is one level called Zen...just the sound you choose. I took a nap today with my HAs in. Put them on Zen mode and it was pleasant. My Zen sound is like a gentle rain, unlike the tinnitus sound. Close enough to mask it.

bdz wrote:

avi123 wrote:What about ringing in the ears (Tinnitus), have the hearing aids solve it?

There is one level called Zen...just the sound you choose. I took a nap today with my HAs in. Put them on Zen mode and it was pleasant. My Zen sound is like a gentle rain, unlike the tinnitus sound. Close enough to mask it.

Zen Therapy:
http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles ... -zen-12367

chunkyfrog wrote:

SleepyEyes21 wrote:Thanks, Everybody- for all of the great information and search results! I will definitely do plenty of research on this.

Another question: does hearing loss get worse if you don't use hearing aids? Audiologist says mine is from nerve damage; 15% on both sides. So if I wait to get hearing aids for a while, will it matter?

Thanks again

The answer is that your hearing loss will continue the same either way.
BUT the longer you wait to start wearing hearing aids, the more difficult it usually is to get used to wearing them.
Also, you want to get a professional in your corner to quickly head off anything that may need medical attention.

Thanks for the info, CF. That does make sense about trying to get used to HA the longer you wait.

Did see the ENT first, but will be changing audiologists as the one I saw obviously isn't up on the latest in technologies or options for patients.

About waiting to get the HA - there is a level of "ignoring" for want of a better expression, that sets in if you go for a long time not hearing what's going on. I have to fight to pay enough attention to people in a crowd to figure out what they are saying. They say this gets worse the longer you wait.

avi123 wrote:

Cavalier wrote: My advice to any one looking to purchase hearing aids....choosing an audiologist is like choosing your primary care doctor. Find one knowledgeable with the latest advances (the technology changes at least every 6 months with new advances occurring so quickly it is amazing), who will listen to your needs and program your hearing aids to YOUR needs.

Question,

Audiologists in my area are connected to hearing- aid manufacturers. Most of them don't hold any medical designations. So how can you decide which one to see? Even the audiologist who tested me and who holds a Ph.D. in audiology is pushing one hearing- aid brand. Where do you find audiologists who are not selling any devices? It reminds me of seeking a financial planner who does not sell insurance policies.

Actually most independent audiologists will work with two or three manufacturers...at least find one who does. (Places like Miracle Ear are the exception...they only dispense Miracle Ear hearing aids.) Most manufacturers have many hearing aid lines to choose from and you could be usually be happily fit with one from the major groups. My favorites are Phonak, Oticon and Widex. Audiologists work with reps from hearing aid companies because the reps keep up to date with the absolute latest changes and provide that info to the audiologists on a on going basis. Hearing aid sales are the bread and butter of most private practice audiologists same as glasses and contacts are for optometrists. Be upfront with your needs and do the follow up visits. It is almost never a first fit/perfect fit. You need time to adjust to hearing aids the same as you would adjust to bifocals, lineless bifocals,etc. Write down your concerns as you wear the hearing aids so you can be specific when you go in for a follow up adjustment. You always have a period where you can return the hearing aids if they are not working for you. If you need to try another kind, do that. It is very much like CPAP masks....one type doesn't necessarily work for everyone.

Or get a pair that you can adjust yourself.