[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The risk reduction is one of the reasons I kept pushing for my parents to get and WEAR hearing aids. They got them - covered by Medicare. And then, they just stopped wearing them. Mom's was configured badly and she got tired of making appointments to get them adjusted. Dad just didn't like having something sticking in his ear.

Mom had a stroke and they say the subsequent dementia was caused mostly by the stroke, but hearing aids could've reduced the severity. Dad's dementia is strange, he's in "Sunsetting" mode, hallucinating sometimes, aphasia often, sleeps most of the time, but he recognizes me and my sister and his health care aides. He still refuses to wear the hearing aids and keeps the TV on full volume instead.

Hearing aids are not covered by Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer hearing aid benefits, but these normally require a co-pay. I have been wearing hearing aids for over 1 year. My hearing loss was significant, I needed hearing aids. Now I can hear all conversations clearly. I was not able to hear certain sounds, like the turn signal in the car. Pushing a light switch. They are easy to wear. Easy to charge up. They have internal batteries. It keeps your brain focused on what is going on around you.

[RoadTowed]

What Brand/Model are those?
Controller app?
Tks

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I have around 8 programmed settings for my hearing aids, and each setting has its own left and right volume control. I also have an equalizer so I can create a custom setting for a new situation if I need to, and my "automatic" adjustment setting lets me select volume, PLUS my choice of normal, comfort, or clarity.

When I'm at a restaurant by myself I can reduce background noise and muffle it somewhat, so it sounds more like thrumming than specific sounds. If I'm with someone, I can turn them into omni-directionals, so that anyone sitting directly in front of me is heard clearly, while everything else is dulled and reduced. There are a bunch of little tricks I've learned to do with my hearing aids, including - "listening differently." That's a pretty awesome trick. My golf cart is super noisy but when I have my devices in my ears, I can "tune my listening" to somewhat dull the sound of the engine. It means the sound of the turn signal and reverse beep are very sharp and intrusive, and - get this - I can also hear the turn signal of the cart behind me if they're close enough.

You won't get this kind of functionality with over-the-counter devices.

[juddfl]

If you wear hearing aides, the government considers that a disability. You can get a free phone that types out what the caller is saying to you. It is great. Sometimes the caller will say a phone # so fast that you can't quite get it. Now it is typed out for you. Here is the information: CapTel 561-373-7545 You must have a land line for this to be connected. A representative will come to your home and connect it up for you. Free of charge.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by RoadTowed

What Brand/Model are those?
Controller app?
Tks

They're Unitrons. Moxi style, either S-R or V-R model, I don't remember which and don't feel like looking it up to figure it out.

The app is brand-specific, called Unitron Remote Plus.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by juddfl

If you wear hearing aides, the government considers that a disability. You can get a free phone that types out what the caller is saying to you. It is great. Sometimes the caller will say a phone # so fast that you can't quite get it. Now it is typed out for you. Here is the information: CapTel 561-373-7545 You must have a land line for this to be connected. A representative will come to your home and connect it up for you. Free of charge.

My cell phone translates voice to text already. So does Google Voice, a VoIP product that lets you use your computer as a phone with its own dedicated phone number.

But no - wearing hearing aids doesn't automatically label you as "disabled." You can't get disability SS checks, you can't get tax breaks for the disabled, and you can't get special accommodations. Hearing aids ARE the accommodations. If you are DEAF - then you are disabled. And if you are DEAF, then hearing aids won't help you. A cochlear implant might though, depending on the nature of your deafness.

I'm not deaf. I'm hearing impaired. I can hear you just fine. I just can't understand what you're saying if you have a certain tone and quality to your voice. And with a different tone/quality, your voice might actually be painful for me to listen to. Hearing aids correct all that.