Hearing Aids
Posted , 4 users are following.
I would be very interested to hear others' experiences of Oticon miniFit (thin tube) hearing aids. I was fitted (NHS) with a pair a couple of days ago. I realise they might take some time getting used to but I find the tinniness very irritating. I wear specs so every time they move I get a crackling in the ear and the sound of my dogs' paws on my vinyl flooring is deafening! Crackling paper is also very loud especially foil. On the plus side I do think I can hear the TV much better. It's the little sounds that are amplified too much but I do appreciate it's very early days and I will persevere until my follow up appointment in 6 weeks time. It would just be interesting to hear how other people have got on. Thanks.
0 likes, 9 replies
mainak46439 linda83225
Posted
I'm on the same page as you. One of my friend recommended to consult a good audiologist for the said matter.
Jubejube1 linda83225
Posted
Hi and me too have just had fitted 2 digital aids with thin tube from nhs but th y are resound danalogic. I've always really struggled n needed to concentrate real hard to work out conversation and had a really loud high pitched noise in both ears all my life. As a child and throughout school my hearing was never checked. I never questioned the noise and assumed everyone had it and also everyone heard like I did. I managed to do ok n got a degree and good job. I was embarrassed at times when I just couldn't work out what was said and as young adult realised that it just wasn't the same for everyone especially as it was impossible to follow the TV and it was common not to make out a single word in the cinema even though I knew was loud enough. I also had frequent total deafness and the buzzing sounded more like a siren and it felt I couldn't hear anything even if someone was right there. I visited my surgery several times as I knew it wasn't right and each time told all looked healthy and as my hearing would eventually get to normal again it was prob due to wax or that times of stress could b the cause. I accepted until recently when my boyfriend saw an ad in the surgery inviting people to go see an audiologist if had any hearing concerns. I didn't want to go as felt a fraud cos am not deaf but he said that I must be deliberately ignoring him a lot of the time if it wasnt my ears and he'd already made an appointment to which I reluctantly went to and was given an appointment for an hour or so long hearing check. I was shocked to be told I had moderate to severe hearing loss and the chart indicated it was probably from birth. That actually made sense cos the loud noise has been there always and I was always accused of not listening or paying attention and things like I could never work out the words in songs. Anyway am a bit long winded but I've been trying to use these devices and today had them turned down a bit. In both ears it's 50dc dropping to 70/75 in mid frequency then right ear goes up to 50 and left goes down dramatically. I just can't see how I'm gonna get used to these things. My left ear seem to quite like it and now realise I got to learn a new language cos speech isn't like Donald Duck at all. The right side is
Ike you describe and it just don't seem to enhance anything only make the annoying things sound almost deafening. I only need glasses when reading small print but yes the noise they make is horrible. I've been told I need the 2 but to be honest I'm using just one cos I can't stand it. It don't sound right and almost as if it could damage my hearing more in that ear cos small noises makes if feel like my ear is vibrating inside. I ain't had any other advice but to wear both and my (small) brain will get used to different sounds and filter out what should be background noise. It's like tonnes better with the 1 so that's what am doing til next check. I hope it's starting to work out for you and wondered if you'd had any different advice. Good luck n maybe it is a matter of adjustment 😻
linda83225 Jubejube1
Posted
Hi Jube
Thanks for your reply. What a shame your problems were not picked up sooner but you have certainly achieved a lot despite these difficulties. I am not really much further on with getting used to my aids. I am going for my 6 week check next week so I'll let you know how I get on. I prefer not wearing them but I understand it is believed that it is better to use aids if you are deaf so that your brain doesn't shut down your hearing capabilities altogether - or something like that. I think I prefer the quieter world and don't have many occasions when I have problems hearing speech as I don't mix with a lot of other people but I don't want my brain to deteriorate any more than it has already! Best wishes. Linda
mainak46439 Jubejube1
Posted
Jubejube1 linda83225
Posted
Hi Linda
i just tried to reply and must have either sent part of it or deleted so sorry if am repeating. I was going to say that I really do feel for you and the fact you don't go out much as it was starting to prevent my self from doing much at all. I managed when younger and kind of developed my own language which got me through education but was hard as missed so much in class so did my own research and copying of notes but am grateful was able to. When first tested I was told I had significant loss which solved a lot of mysteries but preferrred it my way mainly through embarrassment and convinced myself it wasn't that bad. Anyway I got to the point where it was too much effort and the concentration needed ruined any pleasure of socialising as may wat only worked ok in certain situations. I couldn't watch TV or cinema especially with music and sound effects and turning up volume made it worse nor could I go and learn a new hobby. I was trying to fishing with close friend cos went when very young and was something I could do. He got frustrated with me and was accusing me of not listening or else it was losing memory as he'd already told me. I realised it was preventing me from doing so much and like yourself I'd been told something on the lines of that if I didn't use aids then it would deteriorate quicker. I was told when was first tested that the hearing I had would improve but as I was between 60-75db at mid frequency I would benefit from aids. Also that if it did deteriorate then aids wouldn't be any use if hadn't already been using because my brain needed retraining and training so it would convert messages into the appropriate sound. Don't know my accuracy as I didn't want aids and as far as I was concerned nothing had got worse cos it's was the same as it always was.
Sorry long winded but now I've chosen to give it a go and take seriously I've been doing my own research and is how found this site. Looking at what the experts say and also my audiologist hearing doesn't deteriorate because of not using aids but that if or when it did that it would be more difficult as like everything our hearing needs stimulating. Kinda use it or lose it and if you dont it's harder to get going again so no need to worry too much if you don't feel like using them at the moment or only use them for a small amount of time until you get used to it.
i only got mine 3 weeks ago and I don't like them and I am embarrassed so as for venturing out or using with friends I haven't given them a chance yet really. Things I thought sounded a certain way are different and things startle me because I've never noticed them before so that alone make it strange so another tick for not using. However I am going to persevere because I am assured that if I do then the brain with naturally filter things and in a short time things will sound like they should or as near to having got hearing loss. I'm slowly letting friends know cos apart from a couple I've always hidden it and I'm using home alone and getting used to watching a bit of to and chatting on the phone. I still feel I'm giving in but am beginning to see what some of the benefits are so this time I'll take seriously and do it. My audiologist said that it does take people different amount of time to get used but once that happens you can choose to use them or not depending on situation and not to concern that hearing will deteriorate quicker without them but if I do then I'll find it will improve quality of life. as far as the tinnitusconcerned there is a masker option on ones I got but am not gonna use because I can hardly detect it as mine is so loud and seems to compete with everything. Luckily It doesn't bother me most of time cos it's always been there and grew up with it thinking was normal.
Apols for length of this this but I can never say anything simply and am used to complaints. I do know this is never gonna be like in a perfect world and really do empathise cos it's changed my world and I'm not sure whether like it or if ever I will but I'll have a go plus a lot of users have said it does get better in some of the things I've been looking at. i hope things do improve for you and let me know how your getting on
😻
mainak46439 Jubejube1
Posted
linda83225 Jubejube1
Posted
Hi Ju
Well I went for my check up but I wasn't really with it as I had had to have one of my dogs put to sleep the day before. I told the audiologist about my irritation with loud paper rustling and clapping from the TV etc and she apparently reduced the volume but I couldn't detect any difference however she said she couldn't do anything else. One thing she said was to be careful removing them as the bit that goes in your ear can get stuck!!!!! I think she said to pull them backwards. I have narrow ear canals and have to really wriggle the right one about to get it in, however now I'm afraid I might not get it out. Still, when all is said and done the aids have made a difference to my hearing and I am getting more used to the irritating side-effects (noises indoors like the post arriving or something falling are really sharp and make me jump as I find it hard to know the source and have to go and check around in case anything bad has happened) so I shall persevere. I'm going to a workshop at the hearing centre early September so it will be interesting to learn other people's experiences. Unlike you I don't have the added aggravation, and I imagine it must be really aggravating, of tinnitus so I wish you well with that. All the best - if I come across anything interesting or useful hints I'll post again.
Linda
mainak46439 linda83225
Posted
Jubejube1 linda83225
Posted
Hi Linda
sorry late reply . This is about my 7th attempt as somehow I kept managing to delete instead of sending so I hope I manage this one. Firstly am really sorry about your dog as I know it's heartbreaking losing a buddy as I'm still heartbroken after losing my best ever moggie bud last October who was with me 24/7 and even visited my friends and came on walks on local common.
im glad your persevering with new aids and thanks for sharing cos makes me feel am not alone during this getting used to them. I too find those sharp sounds unpleasant and loud and also the fact I can't always tell where something's coming from. Also a lot of things sound totally different to how I heard them before and am constantly getting startled by things when I'm out and about especially things I'd never noticed or even heard before. I don't feel that my hearing has got any worse and my current audiograph is almost identical to the first one I had when I was told had hearing loss. I suppose if it's been virtually that way since birth then I guess it is going to take a while to adjust after hearing things the same way all my life but like yourself am going to give this a go and take seriously now. From what I can see it seems that most people, including those with good hearing, do lose some after a certain age. My audiologist said that the longer I left it and particularly if my hearing did get worse which is likely then I'd find it difficult even if started using aids at that point as both ears go down to 70db in the mid range frequencies which is where normal speech is at. I must be so vain cos am still embarrassed telling people and although modern aid are quite discreet and people don't really notice I spend ages fiddling with my hair so no one sees em. Daft really cos I'm not so important that everyone is looking that closely anyway so my head is getting round to thinking I'd be stupid not to try and enhance life and be able to do things like watch tv n go out to cinema and theatre n listen to music without intense concentration and frustration. By looking at other comments from people I'm sure that once our brains adjust and filter the sounds more like they should be heard I'm sure those higher pitch noises will calm down in time cos my audiologist did say it can take a few months to really get used to them. Ye the tinnitus is and always has been pretty loud and before I realised I must have some sort of problem hearing properly I thought that perhaps I often couldn't work out what people said cos the swarm of bees were drowning it out. It's always been loud and 24/7 but now and wen growing up the bees as I call it go a bit mad and I go temporarily completely deaf. That only lasts for minutes to half a day and gradually returns to my normal but can take up to a couple of weeks. There's no explanation but it was these times when as young adult visited my surgery complaint I thought I was going deaf. my friend and audiologist are quite disappointed with the surgery for not taking it seriously. I'm not that bothered as I was ignorant as growing up and accepted as normal but I can't believe wasn't tested n even more how I managed to get by tho I do know what my friend was on about wen said I was quiet and mumbled cos before I couldn't tell what I sound d like. When I found out all this about hearing loss and tinnitus it did start to irritate me and was reason for having tv on day and night if on own in the house. It doesn't bother me now really as I've not known it any different as ignorance was bliss while growing up but I do feel for those one out there who have developed it later in life and can imagine how disturbing it can be. Anyway I've got my first appointment on Monday to see how I'm getting on so may ask for masker thing to go off cos to be honest it's not same pitch as what I can hear so when it's quiet I got 2 lots of it going on and mine is that loud I don't think it's an advantage n it seems to compete with other noise as can hear it in heavy traffic or over conversation etc. I did go to the drop in and saw an audiologist to ask to have the left aid turned down a bit cos seemed much louder than the other. I've got a few questions for Monday so I'll let you know if I glean anything interesting or get any useful info
apols again for these epistles I write and hope things are getting a little easier. Having to use hearing aids is a plain in the neck and I know I may sound flippant but it helps and makes me grateful and feel quite humble when I think of the ailments and disabilities some have to live with and also that I live in relative comfort compared to most in the world as most don't have decent food or housing or else live in war torn areas in constant fear of their homes and lives. Also fact that this didn't happen suddenly after having normal hearing and no tinnitus as imagine it would be quite scary so I never had to go through that adjustment. I prob don't help much n don't make these damn things any easier but it keeps my sanity just keeping some perspective on stuff.
Good luck n let me know how it's going.
julia 😻🐾🐾🐾