Hearing Aids
 

I’ve been wearing new hearing aids now for about 6 weeks and I’m ready to return them. I have a high frequency loss and now what I’m hearing is very annoying. Things like the paper crinkling, throwing a light switch, my feet shuffling on the carpet, etc. I am still asking my wife to repeat what she is saying which is the only reason I got them. They have been adjusted 3 or 4 times with very little change. I generally can’t tell if they are in or not. What is your experience? Thanks

Stay away from hearing aids.

Seriously, for your reason I wouldn't buy any.
I have yet to hear good things about any hearing aids in any price range.

If you aren’t happy with product then return them since you still can’t hear conversations with spouse. Why suffer. I have a hearing issue also but not enough to use aids.

Hearing aids
 

Doesn't your brand/model have volume controls?

It's a must. But no hearing aid will reproduce perfect, natural sound. Good luck wearing hearing aids outside on windy days. It'll sound like you're inside a popcorn cooker.

OP, your hearing aids may not be programmed properly, go back to your supplier with your complaints and have them readjusted, i had to do this with mine. This should be a simple procedure.

You probably need to have them adjusted.

I have been using hearing aids for over twenty years and also have problem with high frequency. I have used Phonak and Oticon brands -- both have been excellent and both were obtained through the VA. Hearing aids will never be the same as your original hearing, but they work very well once you get used to them AND get them adjusted correctly.

Do not give up on them, find a better professional that does hearing aids right! Good luck.

It also depends on what -type- of hearing aids they are, and where you got them. Some hearing aids are just amplifiers with basic controls over treble and bass. Basically - fancy ear buds. Others are incredibly complex and dynamic, with multiple functionality to shift on the fly when you change environments.

Some of them have good noise reduction ability, some have zero noise reduction ability, and most fall somewhere inbetween. None of them have "full" noise reduction ability. If you can hear your wife, you'll hear that paper crinkling. But your wife's voice should be crisper, louder, and clearer than the sound of the paper.

UNLESS...unless it's not actually paper you're hearing. If you have ear hair, or if you put your aids in over hair that drapes over your ears, you might be hearing the sound of hair against your ears. Ask me how I know this :)

If you are unhappy, you should return them. Each hearing aid brand has strengths and weaknesses. Before choosing mine, I “test drove” several but avoided stores that only sold one brand. I would also suggest going to a doctor of audiology such as Paige Holt. She is affiliated with a physicians office so isn’t pushing only one kind. I told her what features were important to me and she was able to make suggestions. Some of the places I went made me feel like I was buying a used car. There were thousands of dollars difference for the same model at different places. My degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy made me very aware of things to avoid. Good luck. It is worth the effort.

What utter nonsense. You really haven't a clue.
Without my aids I would live in a almost totally silent world.
Millions rely on them, or face exclusion from day to day communication.

Asking for a friend :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:, do hearing aids aid with high freq loss??

Thank you!
Over 30 years and the current technology available is fantastic.

Hearing aids are not for some percentage of people for various reasons. And some should remember or be aware hearing aids are not a cure all. And many hearing loss conditions are not correctable with hearing aids. Many are happy to NOT BE EXCLUDED......

I currently have the latest Oticon with rechargeable units, ability to make minor adjustments with my smart phone...... phone and television sound through the hearing aids.
Outstanding.

Oh, I so wish that the Daily Sun paper would run some ads for hearings aids. I mean the public needs more information about them. Perhaps there is not enough profit in this business to warrant a bit of marketing in our paper here. Not looking for huge multi/page blown-out ads that may cost a fortune….. I’m sure there is so little profit in this market…….

YES, many of these can have a customized to a frequency response curve specific to your needs. I have several friends that have hearing aids that are paired with their phones, and they can actually adjust the curve on the fly for specific sound conditions.

After putting it off for years, I finally broke down and got fitted at Costco last year. The best $1399 I've spent in a long time.

My fears of music sounding like crap, or exaggerated high frequency issues like you describe, or sounding like I'm in a tin can - none of them are my reality.

Yes, hearing things clearly again is something I needed to get used to - I hadn't heard the birds and crickets for a long time - but a year later and it all sounds natural now.

I think you have not been fitted and adjusted properly, just my opinion.

Just do a google search. Much more in depth info available for ALL that is available on the market.

IMO....Do Not....Do Not go to a hearing aid sales company nor hearing aid specialist for your hearing problems. I went that route for several years with total frustration. All they want is to sell you something. Go to a Doctor of Audiology. Here is a great suggesting for your better hearing and living:
• Paige Alberson Holt, AuD, Lake ENT Hearing Aid & Audiology Services. 352-753-5874. Audiologist. Doctor Holt is a doctor of audiology, not a hearing aid salesperson. Her objective is to assist her patients in better hearing. She is very thorough in her examination, explains your situation in terms that are understandable, and recommends appropriate solutions with trial periods. Located at 1501 US 441 N, Suite 1402 across from The Villages Hospital. Hearing Aid Services of Lake ENT - The Villages in The Villages, FL 32159

I tried 'em. My life is happier without 'em.

My daughter has Widex brand hearing aids. She has tried other brands at the suggestion of her audiologist but always goes back to Widex.

Hmmmmm…apparently the tongue-in-cheek thing did not resonate……

Hearing Aids
 

I have a very severe high frequency loss and have been wearing hearing aids for many years. I would be lost without them. I have to buy top of the range aids but always get in-the-ear aids as I spend most of my leisure time outdoors. Wind will always be a problem but changing the angle of my head usually helps. I purchased mine through The Villages Health audiologist and have a lifetime of adjustments. My advice is, if they improve your lifestyle, stick with them. It takes time for your brain to adjust but the noises you hear will eventually become normal as they were when your hearing was good.

Call Eric Clonce, Costco Hearing Aid Specialist at (407) 586 - 7241, in Orlando. Kirkland Hearing Aids (version 10.0 T) cost $1,400 for the pair. They are rechargeable. The letter “T” stands for Telecoil. The Telecoil will allow you to sync your Hearing Aids with the sound system in movie theaters, some Village and Regional Recreation Centers, the Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center and other venues. They are made by Phonak. Hearing Tests are free, follow-ups, repairs, supplies (domes, filters, etc.) are free. Costco has the longest Trial Period, 6 months. The warranty and replacement for lost Hearing Aids is excellent. If you are not satisfied, for any reason, return them for a full refund. We have been using Eric for many years. He is extremely knowledgeable, very thorough, very caring, and a real nice fellow. We have sent many friends, neighbors, and family to Eric. We always get excellent feedback. Call to make an appointment. This way, you will not have to wait. They will program a pair of hearing aids that you can wear in the store for a while to see how they feel and how they work. Costco sells several other Brands too. Make sure you talk with Eric about two other items. First, discuss a Transmitter. This is a very small box that will be placed near the television. It will allow you to sync directly from the television's audio to your hearing aids. This is an excellent option, and easy to hook-up. It costs about $140. Second, you need to purchase the very small overnight storage box (about $40) that you can keep on your night table. When you place your hearing aids in the box-- for the next 20 minutes or so, automatically-- all humidity will be removed and the ultra-violate light will kill 99+% of bacteria, etc. This is important from a health standpoint. Also, your hearing aids will remain safe overnight. BTW-- version 10.0 T can be programmed remotely. Talk with Eric about this. I wear version 8.0. Good Luck.
Just a quick follow-up. Costco, Sam's Club, as well as most stores that sell hearing aids-- employ Hearing Aid Specialists. These folks are licensed as such-- and are usually all one needs when purchasing hearing aids. These folks have a Bachelor’s degree-- some may have a Master's degree. They are not Audiologists. Audiologists are Doctors of Audiology and have the letters: Au.D. after their name. Hearing Aid Specialists are required to examine your ears to determine if there are any potential issues that may indicate that "clearance" is needed from an Audiologist or ENT-- before they will fit you for hearings aids. Many Audiologists sell hearing aids; but, they will be much more expensive. If someone has special needs (medical problem, Tinnitus, etc.)-- working with an Audiologist-- at least initially-- may be appropriate. One can then buy their hearing aids from that Audiologist, or buy the hearing aids elsewhere. You might want to check with your Health Insurance Company as to coverage for visits to an Audiologist, and even the hearing aids. Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids. Also, if you are a Veteran—check with the VA as to coverage for Audiologist visits, the hearings aids, and even the batteries. In many cases—there is no charge.

Bimodal Hearing
 

Hearing aids will help until your hearing loss is deemed" profound". My hearing deteriorated to the profound level which resulted in loss of word comprehension thus the inability to understand speech. My solution resulted in having a hearing aid in one ear and a Cochlear Implant in the other. My comprehension went from 10% to 95%. I strongly recommend you visit Davis Family Hearing on Hwy 466 for an expert evaluation by an audiologist....their solution restored my hearing to almost normal.

Yes they do....I have the same problem. 3 years ago purchased hearing aids and they changed my life for the better....would not ever give them up. :a040:

Yours sounds like a poor experience, perhaps with a provider that is not adept at providing what you need.

Yes, a hearing aid that compensates for high frequency loss is going to amplify sounds in those high frequency ranges and you'll certainly hear paper crinkling, clicking and whishing sounds that you've been missing. You'll also hear more pleasant sounds of nature such as crickets and birds that you probably didn't know you were missing.

Yet, your real need, speech clarity, was what you wanted and what was not delivered. There are many possible reasons, but we can reduce them to two general reasons: the device and the practitioner.

DEVICES:
There are 5 major hearing aid manufacturers. All of them have a range of devices that range in capability to provide benefit to people on a scale of hearing loss, usually denoted as moderate to profound. The starting point is a good diagnosis that matches your loss characteristics with a device that offers the correct benefits.

As an aside, this is the place to differentiate between the new wave of devices that one can buy online, versus prescribed devices fitted by qualified audiologists. The online, or "over the counter" devices are good for some people, but are usually simple amplifiers with some ability to be tuned. That tuning function is usually quite limited and while helpful for some, isn't usually very good at offering speech clarity.

On the other hand, the prescribed devices are much more capable, smarter at understanding what you are hearing, and adept at providing speech clarity, especially when properly tuned ... or "fitted" as an audiologist says.

The price gulf between over the counter devices and prescribed devices is twofold: the capabilities built into the device, and the value an audiologist provides in fitting the device. Today's prescription devices, especially at the top levels have amazing speech clarity capability. Speech clarity is the holy grail of good hearing aids and several of today's manufacturers are providing spectacular results. ...but only when properly fitted. ...and often, it is the fitting skill and long term care that you're paying the premium for.

An aside, some of the latest technology senses the difference between when you are listening to a conversation partner walking beside you, or one sitting across the table, to conversation partners in a quiet setting, or a noisy place (restaurants are the bane of every listening environment). The processing power in the devices is now very adept at sensing environments and automatically tailoring their amplification to what you need.

PRACTITIONERS
A good Doctor of Audiology can make all the difference in the results you experience. The good ones don't merely dispense their products and scoot you on your way. The good ones do very careful diagnostics, learn enough about your conditions to understand what you want, try to offer the best devices to meet those wants, and then "fit" them to your individual hearing capabilities / deficiencies. You should expect them to take multiple fitting sessions to get you there. In fact, part of the high prices of prescription hearing aids (the part no one ever mentions) includes the practitioner's cost of multiple initial fitting sessions and periodic "check-up" sessions over the warranted life of the product.

It is completely normal for a Doctor of Audiology to "auto fit" your devices initially and then let you have a week to become accustomed to them. ("Auto-fit" means having their fitting computer adjust the device output to your audiogram. It is a good starting point, but rarely the best fit.) Our brains actually take some time to adapt to the new hearing landscape. Then, come the fine tuning sessions that shape the fittings to your needs. If these are not happening or being useful, find a better audiologist.

It also helps to learn more about the entire process, what to expect, and how to get what you want. A couple of years ago, I discovered Dr. Cliff Olson, and audiologist in Phoenix who has a YouTube channel where he frequently publishes videos on all sorts of hearing device topics. He has established a set of "best practices" and has compiled a list of practitioners who follow those best practices. Find his site at Doctor Cliff, Au.D. | Audiologist & YouTuber.

My personal experience covers over 15 years of using hearing aids. My previous practitioner was a Dr. of Audiology who did a reasonable job for me and fitted devices for me that did a very good job. After following "Dr. Cliff" for a couple of years, and coming to a time where my previous devices were 7 years old and far behind modern capabilities, I sought out one of the Best Practices doctors and found one right here in The Villages. He performed more diagnostics than the previous audiologist, listened more carefully, and applied a wealth of experience to deliver results that are SPECTACULAR.

I've avoided mentioning particular brands or practitioners to keep this from sounding like an info-mercial. My intent was to help others understand some of the differences between low cost options and premium priced prescription choices. The differences can be huge, but you need to know what you are buying, what to expect, and something about how to get there. Hope this helps.

For those who want to know what devices I now use and the Dr. of Audiology that I think is the best ever, ask me via private message.

Hearing aids
 

Get a cochlear implant!

Paige Holt at Lake ENT is very good and extremely patient with her patients. Statement intended by the way <lol>. I test drove different aids and I have high frequency loss. I chose the Signia aids which has different programs. I also have tinnitus, but have adapted to it, so I do not need the maskers that are commonly used. Unfortunately, the tinnitus is in the normal speech frequency range and interferes with hearing in a social environment with many people talking. Aids with directional control and frequency control assist in this area. External aids can assist in directional control, where I use the hidden canal aids that are not as good in this area. Paige will guide you and test many settings to help you in this regard.

I had Phonak.. changed to Starkey…they’re better for me but they are hearing aids and unfortunately you will never hear as you once did. Also have high frequency problems but better than not hearing.

Could you please tell me what audiologist you use and what kind of hearing aids you have. Thank you.

Huge multi page ads for hearing aids!
 

Knowing how terribly expense good hearing aids are, it really irritates me to see FULL PAGE AFTER PAGE of hearing aid ads! My thoughts? Spend less on ads and lower the cost of the products! Use some of that space to tell the public more about what benefits they provide - and exactly what the differences are between various models. They really do make a world of difference![/FONT]

Word comprehension problems are common in any hearing loss, not just profound hearing loss. I've had word comprehension problems all my life, and my hearing loss is degenerative. That means it was mild when I was a kid, it's not mild now. It's still not profound. My hearing loss is just slightly less than severe, in the "moderate" range in both ears, though one is a little better than the other. I'm ultra sensitive to high frequency and my midrange is so-so. The frequencies between middle and low are lousy, and improves as it approaches low frequency.

So basically if you want to talk "music" - dobro guitar and sliding guitar music gives me a headache and makes me want to put my hands over my ears. I have trouble understanding what Ozzy Osborne is singing, but can make out most of the words when Steve Perry sings. I can hear David Crosby's words, but Bob Dylan's elude me. I can hear the melodies they're singing, I just have no idea what they're singing about if I haven't ever read the lyrics.

With hearing aids, I can understand almost all of it. It's crisp and clear, but not overwhelming. Except the dobro guitar. That is still painful.

Yes! You need to work with a PROFESSIONAL hearing aid specialist. My experience wearing hearing aids for over 20 years is that they make my life much better. When properly adjusted they help. Not cheap but worth every bit of money I've spent on them.

Yeah, that’s it right. I would return them. Because your hearing loss will probably not improve in its own, I would select a different audiologist or vendor. Wishing you the best!

I have had Phonak hearing aids for several years and am totally satisfied with the improvement in my hearing. My aids are adjustable from my phone and I can simply make them fit the environment I'm in at the time. It was an amazing improvement as my TV volume went down 50%, to my wife's relief, and I heard the door bell from the back of the house for the first time. I can adjust the treble, middle, and bass, as well as the band (hearing) width, and background noise. Don't give up. Get them properly adjusted. FYI I use Mid-Florida Ear in Deaton Plaza.

Dr. Al Turri, right here in The Villages at the Center for Advanced Health Care, is one of those who practices Dr. Cliff's "Best Practices," and did a spectacular job of fitting Phonak Paradise hearing aids for me. He is also very accomplished with the Oticon line.

Interestingly, his first choice is the Oticon brand because he favors some of their algorithms. Yet, he listened to my preference for Phonak because their Bluetooth is broader than Oticon's. He fitted the brand I preferred, and did an excellent job.

I tried the Eargo, they work well, tiny in the ear about $2500

Buy your wife a megaphone instead.
Amazon.com

I have been wearing hearing aids for several years now and have spent a small fortune on them. I could buy several televisions for the price of a single pair. What I have now work pretty well because I never have to take them out except to exchange them every three months. My wife likes them because she and I can converse even during those times I would normally not have my aids in. They are analog and not digital, but that's fine for me. I do like them, but damn are they expensive because they have to be fitted by a professional and are only available through a subscription. Still, they are the best I have found. They are called Lyrics. Perhaps someone on this forum can suggest a better alternative. I also like having the aids in my ear because they allow me to tell the direction to the sound source (birds in trees for example). As far as telecoils go, I have learned that many churches and theatres have telecoil ear "muffs" you can use for free. Just ask.

I can hear fine, I just can't understand you.......hahahah

Return them if they cannot adjust them properly. But if you need hearing aids, do not go without proper ones. It was explained to me that once you lose the hearing in a range it cannot be recovered so maintenance vs loss is an important factor.