Help for Hearing Impairment

marrowgirl

MrsCook wrote: »

its probably regional differences, i can access two different depts (prob a third) and none ask for old batteries to be returned

Hi all,

NHS used to request the batteries back as they contained mercury so needed to be disposed of correctly. (we had to pay for a company to take them away) Now they are generally zinc/air batteries which are not as bad, and generally get thrown away. Some departments like to see "the empties", often to make sure that those with poor memories only have fresh ones at home, and maybe some actually dispose of them ecologically but we used to just throw them away.
Most departments will still hand out batteries without a battery book now, and often do a postal service too.

I-Owe-You

Dear all,

First of all thank you for this thread - has been a great read and it makes dealing with a hearing impairment a lot easier when there is the avaliablity to have exchanges like this...

I was diagnosed at 18 (im now 25), struggled so much with coming to terms with needing aids, mostly I feel because I didn't know any other 18 year olds that had to walk around with these contraptions on their ears!! ... still not completely happy about them now and am unfortunately dependant on antidepressants....but I am getting there!

The main factors I struggle with is dealing with bilateral deafness is mainly the misconception that I am stupid when i dont always hear first time. The thing with being deaf is that there is not always a visual aid to remind others of your disability...which becomes very grating asking people to consistantly not mumble...when you tell people over the phone of your impairment I bet a tenner that they revert back to their "normal" telephone voice after 30 seconds...most annoying!!

Anyway, wanted to ask some advice, does anyone have a link to where I can purchase an amplified land line telephone that is not designed for the 80 plus-ers with big buttons!?! Ive been looking online for a while now without much luck - tried an amplifying attachment but don't work as well as a handset for that intent for me... any assistance would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, and thanks for this thread!!

Errata

This might help, although it's perhaps not as glamorous as you would like you can use it with your aid(s) set to the T position.

http://www2.bt.com/static/i/media/pdf/converse_1300_ug.pdf

Savvy_Sue

I-Owe-You wrote: »

The thing with being deaf is that there is not always a visual aid to remind others of your disability...which becomes very grating asking people to consistantly not mumble...

They can be a bit 'twee', IMO, but my mum has some badges with a teddy bear on which say "I'm hard of hearing, please bear with me" (groan) and others which say "I'm hard of hearing, please speak clearly". You can also get a card to show in shops, size of a credit card so easy to keep in your wallet.

Just need to think where from ... Ah, it's Hearing Concern / Link - here's the shop page. The 'Communication Card' doesn't seem to show on that page, but if you download the order form it's at the bottom.

No help with people starting to mumble on the phone, sadly ...

Errata

The old joke is that if you want people to understand you're deaf you need to use a white stick

Hear-Hear

I-Owe-You asked where to purchase an amplified land-line telephone, but not of the 'big-button' type. There is a well-established company called Connevans (also trading as Deaf Equipment). They can supply a huge range of telephones specifically for D/deaf/HoH. The best-known range of phones for HoH is Geemarc. Take a look at Connevans online catalogue, and use the search function for Geemarc. NB. I have no connection with either company, just experience.

You could also consider looking at Bluetooth compatible hearing aids from the likes of Siemens and others. Take a look online for their Tek accessory. It can be pretty surreal having the phone's output streamed in stereo into both ears, and takes a bit of getting used to .... even more surreal having your hearing aids ringing instead of your phone ! Again, something you quickly get used to.

Good luck with your search.

Unity

Firstly "Thank you":T:T:T for starting this thread. I'm working my way through and have got half way :j, it's brilliant!

I became deaf about three years ago, got my first Oticon Spirit 3 digital hearing aid in August 2008 and my second one earlier this year. My GP referred me to audiology, but my hearing was too bad for the one with the thin sound tube .

Anyway I just wanted to say that I've had a permanent T loop system fitted today and it's amazing - I can even hear the TV in the next room :T. Social Services had provided me with one of the portable ones with a neck loop - but it was nowhere near as good as this. For anyone who hasn't tried the permanent loop, I would truly recommend it.

zaksmum

Unity wrote: »

Firstly "Thank you":T:T:T for starting this thread. I'm working my way through and have got half way :j, it's brilliant!

I became deaf about three years ago, got my first Oticon Spirit 3 digital hearing aid in August 2008 and my second one earlier this year. My GP referred me to audiology, but my hearing was too bad for the one with the thin sound tube .

Anyway I just wanted to say that I've had a permanent T loop system fitted today and it's amazing - I can even hear the TV in the next room :T. Social Services had provided me with one of the portable ones with a neck loop - but it was nowhere near as good as this. For anyone who hasn't tried the permanent loop, I would truly recommend it.

How would I go about getting the permanent loop system fitted, Unity? I'm also quite deaf and use a Starkey in the ear hearing aid which isn't much good. The hearing aid dispenser says it's as good as I'll get with an in the ear aid, but at the moment it's in yet again for repair as it keeps going muffled on me.

So I'm using my old NHS one as it's better than nothing.

The loop thing sounds good though.

Unity

zaksmum wrote: »

How would I go about getting the permanent loop system fitted, Unity? I'm also quite deaf and use a Starkey in the ear hearing aid which isn't much good. The hearing aid dispenser says it's as good as I'll get with an in the ear aid, but at the moment it's in yet again for repair as it keeps going muffled on me.

So I'm using my old NHS one as it's better than nothing.

The loop thing sounds good though.

Hi Zaksmum :wave:, I haven't seen you since the prescription thread, fun wasn't it? :rolleyes: :D.

In my case, my audiologist told me to ring Social Services and ask for the team that deals with hearing problems. I rang them and they made an appointment for someone to come out to do an assessment.

At first we tried the Echo Minitec portable listening system, but although that helps to boost some conversations I couldn't get it loud enough to catch the low register sounds on TV. There was a bit of a delay, because I'd been away and once back we'd all had swine flu _pale_ - but then another team member came out (last Friday) and brought a (trial) permanent loop with her to check if it would work. To test it they just have you sit with the wire around you and change the channel on your hearing aids to the loop programme. It was brilliant, so she said they would be in touch to fit it. We got the call on Monday and it was fitted yesterday.

The fitting consists of putting a small thin white coated wire all around the room - like a phone wire, so all your furniture needs to be away from the walls and they'll either fit it around doorways or under the threshold. There's a tiny microphone that fits next to the TV speaker and you just switch the set top box on at the same time as your TV.

It wasn't means tested at all and the only thing they asked was if my hearing aid was digital. If yours isn't you might need to make an appointment to upgrade - it should be free too.

It is so good that the TV can be on very low but I can still hear all the dialogue when I am two rooms away :T.

Good luck and I hope your local authority is as 'user friendly' as mine :j.

katyboo123

Hi there,
My partner is partially deaf due to operations to deal with cholesteatoma in both ears. One ear is less than 20% and one ear is about 60%. So she has finally given in and admitted that she needs help, been to the hospital and been fitted with hearing aids in both ears.
She really struggles because she can't hear - like when she gets on the bus, or goes to pay in a shop - so she has terrible social anxiety. I know at the hospital they told her she can go to free lip reading classes, but I know she didnt ask about any other help available to her.
In January she is starting as a trainee nurse at our local university hospital and the course lasts 2 years on less than min wage - it is about 15 miles from our home - could she be entitled to a free bus pass as a few people we know who have hearing impairments have both a free bus pass and a free rail card.
Can she get DLA? I dont know because she is going on this course and it is full time - it's not like she cant work, it's just that certain things need special treatment for her. For example, if we go to a restaurant I have to order for her, she cant ask herself as she cant hear the waitress. If we go in to a pub or any other environment where there is a lot of noise I have to tap her or take her to the toilet or outside if I need to speak with her. Even just to ask her what drink she wants.
She cant learn to drive because she cant hear the driving instructor - we discovered this after a terrible attempt at a first lesson.
While she doesnt need physical help it's more the social support and making things easier for her, but as she is a student (after being unable to find work due to her hearing - not necessarily discrimination, just not hearing questions right in interviews or on the phone, etc), we can't afford to pay to get these adaptations and support.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated right now x