Saving Money Buying Hearing Aids

jem16

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

jem, my loss is mild, and only in one ear.

Do you know how many db that equates to?

jim83

"Open fit" generally means using a slim tube (about 1/3 the diameter of standard hearing aid tubing) with a small dome on the end, retaining it in the ear. This is advantagous in the sense that they are a lot more discreet and comfortable, but given the nature of acoustics and harmonics, they are not typically suited to low frequency amplification. They are designed for high frequency losses.

There's nothing to say it absolutely wont work, though. Everyone's hearing is unique and it could be successful for you. I'd view it as more as an option of last resort though.

jim83

jem16 wrote: »

Do you know how many db that equates to?

This varies from audiologist to audiologist, but I was taught with these rough bands:

<20dB loss = "within normal limits"
20-40dB = "mild"
40-70dB = "moderate"
70-95dB = "severe"
95dB+ = "profound"

This can be quite misleading to a layperson though. For example, A severe loss in the very high frequencies (6kHz+) alone will be nowhere near as noticable as a moderate loss in the mid-low frequencies.

jem16

Seems I'm on the cusp between mild and moderate then.

jem16

jim83 wrote: »

Incidentally, to get a bit back onto the subject of saving money... I have lots of information that can help. BUT it starts dealing with mentioning specific companies, prices and possibly even leaked product information from a major supplier. What should/shouldn't I post?

Would love any help on this please. Where would be good to go if I wanted to go down the private route?

Errata

As Sue says, try NHS first and keep going back until everything's okey dokey.
My newest pair of NHS digital hearers have been tuned in and fitted so well I'm not aware of them most of the time, it truly felt like getting my natural hearing back.
If the waiting list at your local NHS place is lengthy, ask your GP for a referral to your nearest NHS place with a short waiting list - it will often be the area adjacent to your own. My local waiting list was 18 months but my adjacent NHS place took 6 weeks from GP referral letter being written to my second and final appointment.

jem16

Errata wrote: »

As Sue says, try NHS first and keep going back until everything's okey dokey.

I have an appointment for the 26th of this month although not too sure how I will get on with it. It has been almost 4 years since I last had a hearing test done with them and an aid fitted in March 05. When making the appointment I said that I would like my hearing retested as I was not hearing well with the aid - I was told that it would just be the tube needing cleaned!

Hopefully the actual appointment will go better.

My main problem seems to be the classroom situation as it's a tricky one to handle.

Errata

Blimey - have they got videophones ! Having said that, it mgiht need cleaning. Actually it might need replacing, my audiologist advised me to retube my hearers myself every three months to ensure I get the best out of them - the plastic can degrade and compromise the units ability to work at its full capacity.
Have you got digital aids? Mine have cut down the background noise considerably and I can flick a switch to cut it down even more.
The extra difficulty you're facing is that classrooms are all hard surfaces so ever sound bounces off them making background noise even worse.
HTH

jem16

Errata wrote: »

Blimey - have they got videophones !

The wonders of the NHS today ;-)

Having said that, it mgiht need cleaning. Actually it might need replacing, my audiologist advised me to retube my hearers myself every three months to ensure I get the best out of them - the plastic can degrade and compromise the units ability to work at its full capacity.

I doubt they need cleaning as I very rarely use it these days. I can actually hear better without it.

Have you got digital aids?

I have one Siemens Prisma 2M digital aid. ( although my hearing loss is equal in both ears, not just one)

Mine have cut down the background noise considerably and I can flick a switch to cut it down even more.

I do have a setting between 1 and 2 - 2 is for noisy situations. Unfortunately it makes no difference.

The extra difficulty you're facing is that classrooms are all hard surfaces so ever sound bounces off them making background noise even worse.
HTH

I expect you are right. Wearing the aid makes me feel I'm in the middle of a wind tunnel.

Errata

Ask for a retest, summat sounds not quite right if you can hear better without it.