Hearing aids

[Sid Rixon IV]

Update: I just discovered one use - I'm listening to my Amazon playlists through them. Hope no-one rings me!

 

[Tashyboy]

@Tashyboy I don't wear hearing aids but I'm surprised by the comment regarding a stigma. I wouldn't think anyone would care? So commonplace now, surely we have moved on from that way of thinking

You know what I never ever gave it a thought about it being a stigma. My initial reasons for not wearing one 10 years ago when it was first “ recommended” I wear them ( noise induced hearing loss through coal mining) was because I would hear the background noise as much as I would hear the voice of someone talking to me.
EG, the voice of someone talking would be louder but so would background noise. And that was and still is a big problem for me.
The tipping point was it being mentioned that hearing loss could contribute towards dementia.
When I had hearing tests at both Boots and specsavers, when choosing a coloured aid, it was mentioned that folk don’t tend to go for pink/ skin coloured hearing aids “ coz folk don’t want other folk to think they are NHS ones”. Apparently original hearing aids were cheap and pink and folk didn’t like them. They drew attention to their hearing loss. Yet grey and other colours are
“ cool”.
As my granddaughter said “ grandad, those silver hearing things match your hair “.
It made me smile when a PPsaid “ am going back to the drs for some new ones coz there better looking than mine”.
For me, I wear glasses, you can literally see the difference. I “ see” the same benefits and difference with hearing aids.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

Tash, my first reaction to my wife a few years back when I was told I needed them by an audiologist: "No way! I am NOT walking around with two bananas on my ears!!"
I've had these since late 24 and some folk still aren't aware.

 

[Oops!]

@Tashiboy: If you have the opportunity to try out different hearing aids, be sure to take advantage of it!

I just tried an Oticon and then a Widex device that was about the same price, and the differences were huge! Both in terms of fit - not every shape fits every ear, and the Widex device caused me considerable physical pain after a few hours (it “pressed”/chafed behind my left ear and caused a sore spot) - but also and above all in terms of sound quality: there was a world of difference between them! But everyone perceives this very subjectively and differently, so others may feel exactly the opposite!

Speaking of time: it also takes time to adjust the hearing aids to *you* - and you can't do that yourself ! So you'll be spending some time with your hearing care professional. It's just “fine-tuning,” and that takes time (and nerves ...!). However, rest assured: it's time well spent!

By the way, I've disabled the ‘ringing in my ear’ feature on my phone in the app. That's possible. And I want to stay as close to my natural life as possible. That's why I still listen to music on my hi-fi system. The same would apply to audiobooks if I listened to them. However, to each their own!

Either way: I chose Oticon devices, also partly because of their philosophy, which challenges the brain more (dementia prevention!), and with the help of my hearing care professional, I am currently at around 90% of what I envision, which is that I can cover all situations perfectly with the same setting on my hearing aids (and not with different “programs” for at home, at a concert, in a pub, or wherever!).

We'll get the last 10% sorted too!

Good luck and have fun with your devices! It really does make a difference!

 

[Tashyboy]

@Tashiboy: If you have the opportunity to try out different hearing aids, be sure to take advantage of it!

I just tried an Oticon and then a Widex device that was about the same price, and the differences were huge! Both in terms of fit - not every shape fits every ear, and the Widex device caused me considerable physical pain after a few hours (it “pressed”/chafed behind my left ear and caused a sore spot) - but also and above all in terms of sound quality: there was a world of difference between them! But everyone perceives this very subjectively and differently, so others may feel exactly the opposite!

Speaking of time: it also takes time to adjust the hearing aids to *you* - and you can't do that yourself ! So you'll be spending some time with your hearing care professional. It's just “fine-tuning,” and that takes time (and nerves ...!). However, rest assured: it's time well spent!

By the way, I've disabled the ‘ringing in my ear’ feature on my phone in the app. That's possible. And I want to stay as close to my natural life as possible. That's why I still listen to music on my hi-fi system. The same would apply to audiobooks if I listened to them. However, to each their own!

Either way: I chose Oticon devices, also partly because of their philosophy, which challenges the brain more (dementia prevention!), and with the help of my hearing care professional, I am currently at around 90% of what I envision, which is that I can cover all situations perfectly with the same setting on my hearing aids (and not with different “programs” for at home, at a concert, in a pub, or wherever!).

We'll get the last 10% sorted too!

Good luck and have fun with your devices! It really does make a difference!

One of the beauties of the aid is the ability to adjust the volume in which you use. Mine is quite low. One thing I have found is that if it is high, It sounds Tinny.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

One of the beauties of the aid is the ability to adjust the volume in which you use. Mine is quite low. One thing I have found is that if it is high, It sounds Tinny.

Tash, do you not have an "equalizer" facility or the modes I described earlier?
I play guitar and on the wrong setting it sounds incredibly "jangly" and "tinny" which is not what others hear.
I can simply adjust them to sound natural.

 

[Oops!]

Tash, do you not have an "equalizer" facility or the modes I described earlier?
I play guitar and on the wrong setting it sounds incredibly "jangly" and "tinny" which is not what others hear.
I can simply adjust them to sound natural.

That might not be so easy : usually a user only has 3 Control : bass, medium and high, no more other possibilities. The „equalizer settings“ usually are only available for hearing care professionals.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

That might not be so easy : usually a user only has 3 Control : bass, medium and high, no more other possibilities. The „equalizer settings“ usually are only available for hearing care professionals.

Not sure what you mean.
Between the 3 modes and the bass, middle, treble adjusters I can make my guitar sound "normal" i.e as it would sound to someone with unaffected hearing and not what I'd hear without them.

 

[Oops!]

 

[Tashyboy]

Tash, do you not have an "equalizer" facility or the modes I described earlier?
I play guitar and on the wrong setting it sounds incredibly "jangly" and "tinny" which is not what others hear.
I can simply adjust them to sound natural.

Every days a school day. I honestly thought what are you on about bout so I have had a play on the app.
Gadzooks. There it is. Ave just put it on to mode. Stop shouting.
Cheers Sid IOU a pint.

 

[Tashyboy]

That might not be so easy : usually a user only has 3 Control : bass, medium and high, no more other possibilities. The „equalizer settings“ usually are only available for hearing care professionals.

Flippin eck Oops. You have opened a right can of worms. Am having a play on the app and found this.
Some Of the changes give a lot of constant static noise.

 

[Tashyboy]

10

 

[Beedee]

One note for recent hearing aid users. There's another Government Emergency Alert happening this Sunday (7th Sept 3pm). I keep my hearing aids connected to my phone, and last time the government tested this I got a full volume alert directly in my ears. Certainly made me jump! Glad I wasn't holding anything breakable.

 

[Oops!]

eck Oops. You have opened a right can of worms. Am having a play on the app and found this.
Some Of the changes give a lot of constant static noise.

All manufacturers seem to have these “programs.”

However, for my part, I have found that I actually hear *everything* best with the ‘general’ program - even music (the “music” program sounds really creepy! )! This suggests that my hearing aid specialist has already done a very, very good job with the basic settings - and as I said before: I feel that we are currently „only“ at 80%!

According to my hearing aid specialist, it was a great help that I wrote down all my observations, what I noticed positively, and especially what bothered me. This allowed us to optimize the settings step by step.

The rest is “fine-tuning”!

Currently, I'm still having some problems with snare drums, hi-hats, and a few very high notes from trumpets: they still sound a tad too aggressive.

However, we're working on it!

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

Currently, I'm still having some problems with snare drums, hi-hats, and a few very high notes from trumpets: they still sound a tad too aggressive.

However, we're working on it!

Do you have a lot of those around the house?

 

[Oops!]

Do you have a lot of those around the house?

Not physically, however musically...!

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

When I first got mine I had no app and no fine tuning.
I was just ready to strike my ball in a match one time when I was distracted by a metal clanking noise. I stopped and looked at my playing partners who were puzzled why I'd stopped. I looked around and realised I could hear a player on an opposite fairway carrying!
I had the same problem with conversations on other fairways - and birds!
All sorted now

 

[Oops!]

Well, I am fortunate that I have ‘only’ been diagnosed with ‘early hearing loss.’ Accordingly, the differences are not so severe; however, when I switch off my hearing aids via the app, I can already hear a difference: everything sounds ‘duller,’ lacking in treble and brilliance.

The problem right now is to boost these frequencies, however not so much that they sound too loud or, in extreme cases, uncomfortable, even “aggressive.”

I know that compared to others who hear poorly (significantly), this is complaining on a high level. However, I'm just trying to get the most out of it: the better is the enemy of the good, and only the best is good enough!
Why settle for less (especially in view of the considerable costs that are not covered by health insurance ... ! ) ?

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

Oops,
I mentioned previously that I am a guitar "owner" (not performer).
I was on the verge of taking my Martin guitar to a respected guitar technician because I had become so disappointed in the dullness of its tone. It was no longer a joy to play.
He was so booked up and he gave me a date months ahead - Jan/Feb. Coincidentally, my aids were fitted in November. I realised immediately the problem was me, not the guitar.
Now I have the apps to adjust everything I require to achieve "normality" I have never enjoyed playing so much in years.

Just as well this is a "Hearing aid" thread or we'd bore the pants off "Out of Bounds"

Weĺl done Tash

 

[Ross61]

Well, I am fortunate that I have ‘only’ been diagnosed with ‘early hearing loss.’ Accordingly, the differences are not so severe; however, when I switch off my hearing aids via the app, I can already hear a difference: everything sounds ‘duller,’ lacking in treble and brilliance.

The problem right now is to boost these frequencies, however not so much that they sound too loud or, in extreme cases, uncomfortable, even “aggressive.”

I know that compared to others who hear poorly (significantly), this is complaining on a high level. However, I'm just trying to get the most out of it: the better is the enemy of the good, and only the best is good enough!
Why settle for less (especially in view of the considerable costs that are not covered by health insurance ... ! ) ?

I’ve worn hearing aids for 37 years now. I don’t consider your posts
as complaining. I just wish the current aids were about when I first got them. Just the fact there were aids that could distinguish three bands of frequency was a godsend against the ones that just amplified everything.
I can take the advantages of the numerous adjustments available now, except for frequencies where I am completely deaf and ones that I’m profoundly deaf.
Carry on with your posts that will help new wearers that are mildly deaf. I still find them interesting as I would always support anyone that could have aids that helped them enjoy their interests.
I only get annoyed with people that think making jokes about hearing loss without consideration of the sufferer.