O/T Hearing Aid Forums?

[cpapernewbie]

interesting discussion.
Might need one someday, so I am really curious about the adjustment process

How is the process: using software or hardware only? do we need to connect the hardware (hearing aid) to a computer while wearing it to adjust the volume and cut noise etc etc

[DaveL]

Thanks mayondair and chunkyfrog. I appreciate your help and hints. Windnoise is a problem for me. Restaurants? Hear better without my hearing aid. I can hear what's being said 150 feet behind me; can't hear the person across the table from me, even if they're on my good side.

When I first got my hearing aid it whistled every time I chewed. So they made a new case; mould was pushed in as hard as they could, and the case has a lock on it so it won't move with my jaw. Works--no squeeling; However, when I get stressed the HA comes out. I just can't stand it.

I faced the same obstacles with cpap here.

See your doc; he refers you to a sleep doc. sleep doc refers you to a dme. No choice in any of these steps. and if you don't know what you're getting, you're very vulnerable. Wonder who's getting the kickbacks?

DaveL

[chunkyfrog]

My HA is an amazing piece of electronics.
My hearing loss is moderate to mild, but my tinnitis would drive me insane without the hearing aid.
My instrument has two microphones-one facing forward and one facing back.
I keep the background high to match the good ear, but in a noisy place I can run only the front microphone--works like a dream.
I wear a BTE (behind the ear model), because the battery life is longer and the whole thing tends to last longer out of the moisture.
I also reasoned that being diabetic, I didn't want to promote anything growing inside my ear behind my hearing aid.
I also went for a pearly hair-tone rather than a fleshtone. Why hide such an astounding piece of equipment?

[mayondair]

Chunky frog, I'm with you,the electronics are amazing. My hearing is very asymmetrical had trouble knowing where sounds were coming from before HA . mine has two microphones, , though I have nothing to adjust. Mine sits above my ear( it's a leopard pattern , though no one sees it) no ear mold only thin wire with speaker into my ear. I would avoid places like Beltone , see an audiologist, they should do testing in a soundproof room, takes an hour or so, you can buy HAs over the net, at Costco etc, but what you really need is someone to work with you to get it programed.

[DaveL]

http://www.hearinglikeme.com/forum

I have just registered there...don't know yet whether I should recommend it.

I am starting down this path again: hearing loss due to noise exposure; hearing aids required for both ears. I work in construction)

DaveL
Toronto

[chunkyfrog]

I'm totally out of pocket; so I try to get the best bang for my buck.

[DaveL]

Reality is, they cover some,but the cost is inflated...I shall learn details tomorrow. I bought my first one (not 2) out of pocket, and made all the wrong choices. 10 years ago. I shall find out what has changed. I have done some networking, within the local school board. Much more confident than when I bought that first one.

My questions were answered well by a knowledgable friend of a friend. So we'll see.

Meantime for me two purchases are painful. cpap. hearing aids.

[avi123]

http://www.hearinglikeme.com/forum

I have just registered there...don't know yet whether I should recommend it.

(I am starting down this path again: hearing loss due to noise exposure; hearing aids required for both ears. My claim at WSIB, Ontario, has been approved and I have qualified for hearing aids for life. I work in construction)

DaveL
Toronto

DaveL, where have you been for the last 2 years, and what have you done for hearing?
Do you have Tinnitus and if yes, do you hope that a hearing aid will take care of it?

[Starlette]

Hi there.

Just got my hearing aids (2) the middle of October and just a couple of weeks ago just got them raised 2 decibels to where I actually need to be.
Makes such a big difference. The only complaint I have is the muffled sound. Tech says there is nothing she can do about it, it is pressure behind the ear and there a different ways to relieve it. However, I've not found a good enough way to relieve the pressure. I have a booklet on hearing aids. I'll post it on this thread that shows what kind would work best for a person. As for recommending a professional, I went to my primary care physician and they made the referral.

Starlette

[DaveL]

http://www.hearinglikeme.com/forum

I have just registered there...don't know yet whether I should recommend it.

(I am starting down this path again: hearing loss due to noise exposure; hearing aids required for both ears. My claim at WSIB, Ontario, has been approved and I have qualified for hearing aids for life. I work in construction)

DaveL
Toronto

DaveL, where have you been for the last 2 years, and what have you done for hearing?
Do you have Tinnitus and if yes, do you hope that a hearing aid will take care of it?

I've been here, off and on.
Hearing? Listen Up Canada broke my hearing aid, cleaning it. I have done without. Reasons?
First hearing aid was a disaster
Money was oh so tight.
(approval is a god send)
Tracked down an expert, who works in a school board serving 1/4 million kids. Some are hard of hearing
met a great audiologist
Applird to workman's comp...takes a long while, is a slippery slope. now face age and hearing impaired discrimination since I filed my claim at work
I have Freedom 85. No pension, lucky to be still working...in construction management...at 66.

Just a cranky old OSA veteran, moderately hearing impaired. Paying too much for cpap and hearing aids. Believe our power is in numbers and knowledge if we can cause change.

I wish cpap.com sold hearing aids too!

[DaveL]

http://www.hearinglikeme.com/forum

I have just registered there...don't know yet whether I should recommend it.

(I am starting down this path again: hearing loss due to noise exposure; hearing aids required for both ears. My claim at WSIB, Ontario, has been approved and I have qualified for hearing aids for life. I work in construction)

DaveL
Toronto

DaveL, where have you been for the last 2 years, and what have you done for hearing?
Do you have Tinnitus and if yes, do you hope that a hearing aid will take care of it?

Yes I have tinnitus. Drives me nuts. Different tunes in each ear! Wish I knew a cure, or answer. Believe the bad remedy is sound masking. A louder noise, so the tinnitus can't be hears. Noise stresses me. Don't know a solution. Use an iPod so the sound masking is good?

[Tino2You]

I am a member of haringaidforums.com and I find the discussions useful although not as personable as in here.

I have tinnitus and high frequency hearing loss. Too many years working in computer rooms with hundreds of high pitch fans.
I went to my audiologist in May and was fitted with a pair of Phonac BTE Naida. All I can say is AMAZING. Pre-HAs I listened to the TV at volume 16, now (and my wife is most thankful for) I can hear the voices at level 8.

Since they are digital, the audiologist can "shift" frequencies that I can't hear into frequencies I can. She "programmed" mine to reduce wind noise as I often have to attend conference calls while I am on the road. A neat feature (but one that needs more engineering) is the Compilot. It hangs around my neck and communicates to my HAs wirelessly and via bluetooth to my phone. So it is hands free and all the frequency shifting is still being performed. The drawback, and one I complained to Phonac and my audiologist is "Why can a company that creates a HA that is 1.5 inches long have to use a 3x3 inch Compilot that I have to wear around my neck like a hip hop medallion?" Oh well...beats the alternative.

-tino

[chunkyfrog]

Frequency shift annoys me. Often I hear BOTH notes--the one I hear with the good ear and the tone it is shifted to.
Why they did not program the frequency shift to a harmonic of the original tone is beyond me!
Beautiful engineering ruined by crappy programming--are these bozos tone deaf?

[DaveL]

I am a member of haringaidforums.com and I find the discussions useful although not as personable as in here.

I have tinnitus and high frequency hearing loss. Too many years working in computer rooms with hundreds of high pitch fans.
I went to my audiologist in May and was fitted with a pair of Phonac BTE Naida. All I can say is AMAZING. Pre-HAs I listened to the TV at volume 16, now (and my wife is most thankful for) I can hear the voices at level 8.

Since they are digital, the audiologist can "shift" frequencies that I can't hear into frequencies I can. She "programmed" mine to reduce wind noise as I often have to attend conference calls while I am on the road. A neat feature (but one that needs more engineering) is the Compilot. It hangs around my neck and communicates to my HAs wirelessly and via bluetooth to my phone. So it is hands free and all the frequency shifting is still being performed. The drawback, and one I complained to Phonac and my audiologist is "Why can a company that creates a HA that is 1.5 inches long have to use a 3x3 inch Compilot that I have to wear around my neck like a hip hop medallion?" Oh well...beats the alternative.

-tino

Thanks Tino.
I have ordered 2 HA's. Phonak, but I'm not sure of the model. Same bangle as you...

[avi123]

Dave, an audiologist Ph.D. told me that an earing aid will take care of my Tinnitus. But I don't think so.
I tried a Phonax unit and it did not stop the Tinnitus sound.

http://www.audiologyonline.com/releases ... ps-on-1901