Hearing Aids

[Vagus]

Had two fitted this afternoon, seems I have mild to moderate hearing lossand the technician set my hearing aids to take this into account.

I have silver ones, they're very small, I have the app for them on my iPhone to control lots of things, mainly, for me, the volume. They sit nicely over my ears with my specs on.

the lady told me to wear them for as long as possible each day,to get used to them, which I will do. I took them off about a hour ago as my ears were very itchy but will wear them tomorrow for as long as I can.

Any comments from those who wear NHS hearing aids in both ears..suggestions, hints, tips?? It's all new to me 😊🦻

[jourdain2]

OIH can't cope with his, so sorry, I have no real tips.  Are yours the sort that go into your ears? Made from moulds of your ear canals? Doesn't sound like it.  Oh's hurt and he finds them difficult to insert properly.

You will find problems if we're forced back into masks - elastic + specs. arms + earing aid tubes gave OH v. nasty wounds and he ended up abandoning masks.

I would say on a positive note - keep them clean.  Clean them more often than you think they need cleaning. Be aware that batteries sometimes come from duff batches - so it's not you, change the batteries every day if necessary.

[Old_Geezer]

Had wondered how often hearing aid batteries needed changing. Every day ?! Probably better to give up listening to folk.

[jourdain2]

Some last longer, 0_G, but they do get odd batches. Just be aware. Unlike my husband, who happily potters along, stone deaf, and wonders why I'm screaming in his face. He's assumed that they'll all last the time they are supposed to.

[barry1010]

I've got hearing aids with domestic, not moulds.  I can't change the volume.

They did take a few days to get used to but it's well worth the effort.

It will seem that your hearing is getting worse because you will notice a big difference between wearing and not wearing them when you have got used to them.

The same as people notice a big difference when they take their glasses off.

Keep them clean and get someone to check your ears for dry skin. A drop of olive oil helps now and again.

I coped fine with hearing aids, glasses and face mask. Just a bit of a nuisance and care needed when taking the mask off.

Stick with them.

 

 

[Old_Geezer]

A pity one doesn't just plug them in to the USB port overnight.

[ParsleyDumpling]

My batteries last approximately 2 weeks. I tend not to wear them at weekends. I have NHS ones, they are bronze in colour and the little grommet thingy goes into my ear. Just be aware that you should be able to get batteries, the in ear thingies and the tube that connects them to the aid replaced for free from whoever supplied them. I have spare batteries in the car, at work and in my bag.

They will not compensate totally for your hearing loss, but they do make a huge difference. One of the things that really pi**es me off is when people say, have you got your hearing aids in.

[barry1010]

Mine have got a little charging case, they don't have replaceable batteries 

[ParsleyDumpling]

Meant to add, when you are not wearing them make sure you open the battery compartment. When replacing the battery I usually leave the new ones for five minutes after I take the sticky cover off, it is meant to prolong the battery life.

[Buenchico]

Clicking through the links here might be helpful:
https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/hearing-loss/hearing-aids/getting-used-to-hearing-aids/

[DTCwordfan]

Good excuse to 'switch off' when you have a nagging spouse or children - or even noisy grandchildren.

[jennyjoan]

Hearing people don't know how lucky you are. I'm wearing aids from I was 4 years old and I do pity older wearers as it is horrible for them

[Vagus]

Mine sound like yours parsleydumpling, they're not moulds, they have a small gromit type thing which you just put in your ear canal, and a thing which fits behind your ear.

I wondered about the batteries too, parsley, that's a good tip about opening the battery thing when you take them out so as not to waste the battery.

I was told batteries may need replacing after about five days, maybe more, maybe less. I've come away with batteries, info, and small blue things to clean out the very fine clear tubes. I will receive a years worth of batteries by the end of July, and can go into Specsavers at any time for more, if I run out, and if I need any help.

if we're ever back to mask, I'll decide what to do, I doubt we will though, so don't foresee that as a problem at the moment.

Thanks everyone for your input, but especially Parsley,,very helpful x

[ParsleyDumpling]

Thank you for best answer. I work as a medical receptionist, and we were only allowed to stop wearing masks in work last year summer. My ears were not big enough for glasses, aides and elastic, it was a nightmare 😖

[jourdain2]

Jennyjoan --- thanks.

[JinnyJoan]

Thanks Jourdain - but anyway if any of yous were interested - hearing, partial hearing, profoundly deaf, sign language or lipreaders - let me tell you

I could write a massive book about hearing loss.

When in lockdown and people wearing masks, all I could see in the eyes, 

the colour

the sadness

the happiness

emotional

unemotional

evil

kindness

distance

speaking to you - non-speaking to you

just every single part of your body  can and could be related to deafness

those who hear probably will say "what the heck is she talking about"

to lose hearing particularly at an old age is absolutely incredible isolating and lonely.

At least I have the loss from when it was recognised was about 4 years - actually I was born deaf with mastoiditis - but my mother wasn't aware until I was about 3 or 4 that things weren't normal with me- that's my first memory of being around 3 years old and underneath the lights of a consultant.  My mother told him that I didn't shut my mouth crying from I was born and he told her "neither would you if you were in the pain she was in"   =   I cried for about 3-4 years - they said that the mastoids burst and I passed them but left me deaf.

 

sorry Vagus  - hope you get great results from the hearing aids - I do wish you all the luck.

 

Sorry

 

 

 

 

[jourdain2]

Jinny-Joan...........if it is any help at all ...I learned what you meant during lockdown.  What you wrote is almost a poem about isolation. 

Mr.J2 is now profoundly deaf - music was his love and core of his life.  He has had to giveup singing in our quartet (which finished it off).

It's so hard when it happens at the end of life.  I know the signing alphabet - but he doesn't.  I'm finding it hard to remember that my yells such as 'Keep the dog in!'  when someone knocks at the door - rest blissfully unheeded so I end up trying to summon said canine from the delight of chasing passing tyres.

I wish you luck as well.  

Jourdain x

[JinnyJoan]

well Jourdain - I am sorry about your husband.  To lose your hearing is bad but to lose your musical love is even worse.

My dream was to be able to play an instrument and I am signing on for Saxaphone in September.  

I feel for your husband cos from one deaf person to another - he is missing his music more than his hearing.  My heart goes out to him.

 

 

 

[JinnyJoan]

Your hubby seems to be an educated man and it would be fabulous for him to learn to lip-read - he may he is too old but he give it a go.

Also even tho I dont sign language myself I know I could learn it in a flash as I am particularly animated person anyway.  

But I do think your husband would enjoy the earphones that Buenchico recommended me some years back and they are simply brilliant for a person who cannot hear the radio or the "words etc" and to hear the banter of the DJ having with his listeners is so wonderful for me.  

I got these earphones - they are Sony Muff earphones mdrrf811   (sorry can't read) the smaller numbers.  

But you charge them to your favourite station and take them away from the radio - put the muffs on and your husband will all the music he likes and stations.  It was Buenchico who introduced these to me and for me it was the first time since I ever heard the sound of a harmonica, or a bird - never heard those in my life.  

look for these on amazon or currys and hopefully your wee hubby will enjoy the music again

 

Sony Muff earphones mdrrf811   (sorry can't read) the smaller numbers.  

[Thisoldbird]

Vagus and 99% of hearing aid users, you have my sympathy. 

I wear 2, they hurt my ears. If you've ever worn new specs that hurt the back of your ear,the pain from badly fitted moulds are the same. 

Battery's, impossible to tell how long they last, sometimes days but not more than a week for me. 

 

I have been back to the clinic fresh moulds made..no different. 

 

I seldom watch tv as they either speak too fast or the sub titles cover what I might be watching as well as running late..

Someone mentioned isolation..I so agree with that. I'm ok 1 to 1 but any background noise blocks out the person I might be lip reading.  

My great grandchildren have been taught to stand in front of me so we can speak 1 2 1..

Couple that with Tinitus..$$#@ its a booger!!

 

Make sure you clean the ear piecw as it's liable to block with wax. 

 

[Vagus]

Jj, I'm so sorry to read all that about your hearing loss, and about your husband too jourdain. Mine is due to aging and I can still hear fairly well without the hearing aids, it was the family who insisted I get a hearing test. 
This old bird, mine aren't moulded ones, they're generic NHS ones which lots of people have, just a small grommet (about the size of a large lentil) which goes in the ear, and another part which goes on the outside. Whilst I've only worn them for about four hours yesterday, there was no pain or pressing at all. And my specs are easily removed and replaced with the aids in place. Maybe try these NHS ones instead of the moulded ones you have?

I may feel differently as time goes on but currently I'm pleasantly surprised how comfortable and easy to put on and take off they are. Time will tell.