Help for Hearing Impairment

WASHER

I am single sided hearing due to mumps 30 years ago, I saw a private consultant way back then (my fathers company paid into BUPA at the time), a hearing aid was not advised at the time as I have damaged nerve endings etc.

I cannot hear the smoke detector during the night, it went off due to the power going off a few weeks ago (mains operated) and I never heard it, the children and my husband did and woke me, I do not hear the alarm clock in a morning, I have to have my mobile phone under my pillow on vibrate to wake me up.

I do not claim any benefits nor do I want too, how do I buy/get a special smoke detector?

I was thinking about having an hearing test in an opticians, my husband says do not, they will try and flog you an hearing aid, I am approaching 40 and I know my hearing will deterioriate further and want to be prepared for that? Any advice?

WASHER.x.

Errata

WASHER wrote: »

I am single sided hearing due to mumps 30 years ago, I saw a private consultant way back then (my fathers company paid into BUPA at the time), a hearing aid was not advised at the time as I have damaged nerve endings etc.

I cannot hear the smoke detector during the night, it went off due to the power going off a few weeks ago (mains operated) and I never heard it, the children and my husband did and woke me, I do not hear the alarm clock in a morning, I have to have my mobile phone under my pillow on vibrate to wake me up.

I do not claim any benefits nor do I want too, how do I buy/get a special smoke detector?

I was thinking about having an hearing test in an opticians, my husband says do not, they will try and flog you an hearing aid, I am approaching 40 and I know my hearing will deterioriate further and want to be prepared for that? Any advice?

WASHER.x.

Your local Fire Service have smoke detectors which you should be able to hear. Contact them and they'll be thrilled to visit you, check which one of theirs you can hear and supply and fit it - all for free. I have one in my bungalow supplied by them, and a lovely fire figher calls every year to make sure everything is ok.

Ask your GP to refer you to your local Audiology Service. Your husband is right.

spugzbunny

Hear-Hear wrote: »

Hi spugzbunny,

That could indeed be it. The image you posted above is of a PHONAK open fit. Phonak is one of the 3 main/approved suppliers to the NHS, the others being SIEMENS and OTICON.

It's impossible to tell from the pic you posted what model it is, but if you find out any more details from your audiology clinic, post them on here.
Don't forget, if you have bilateral (both sides) loss, then don't just get half the problem treated. You will need, and you are entitled to, two hearing aids. One is likely to only exacerbate the problem.

Thanks HearHear! Yes they showed me 3 models, one was the large flesh coloured type that I am most familiar with - that went straight back in the box! The next was smaller and came in bright colours or flesh which I considered and the last was this one which to be honest sold me on the size and style! She also said it would be good for me as it's directional and I have trouble picking out speech in particular. I will let you know the model when I go back for my next app.

My hearing loss is one ear only. My left ear is still happily listening out for me! The loss in my right ear came on suddenly with the tinnitus a few months ago.

Indie_Kid

I believe you can also buy vibrating smoke alarms? http://www.rnid.org.uk/shop/products/home_and_family_safety/

rachyrach2k

WASHER wrote: »

I am single sided hearing due to mumps 30 years ago, I saw a private consultant way back then (my fathers company paid into BUPA at the time), a hearing aid was not advised at the time as I have damaged nerve endings etc.

I cannot hear the smoke detector during the night, it went off due to the power going off a few weeks ago (mains operated) and I never heard it, the children and my husband did and woke me, I do not hear the alarm clock in a morning, I have to have my mobile phone under my pillow on vibrate to wake me up.

I do not claim any benefits nor do I want too, how do I buy/get a special smoke detector?

I was thinking about having an hearing test in an opticians, my husband says do not, they will try and flog you an hearing aid, I am approaching 40 and I know my hearing will deterioriate further and want to be prepared for that? Any advice?

WASHER.x.

I have severe hearing loss due to nerve damage from birth, yet I have two hearing aids. I do not see how the consultant has said that you do not need hearing aids due to your nerve damage. It may be because of your level of hearing loss at that time did not warrant the use of hearing aids.

It maybe found that if the nhs consultant finds that your hearing loss has deteriorated, you may benefit from hearing aids.

Savvy_Sue

spugzbunny wrote: »

Thanks HearHear! Yes they showed me 3 models, one was the large flesh coloured type that I am most familiar with - that went straight back in the box! The next was smaller and came in bright colours or flesh which I considered and the last was this one which to be honest sold me on the size and style!

Gosh do you mean to say I might get a bright pink hearing aid if anything happened to my current model! :j although I'm not sure what you mean by 'large', mine have all been very discreet, although the open fit mould is definitely less visible than a conventional one because the tube is so much thinner.

spugzbunny wrote: »

My hearing loss is one ear only. My left ear is still happily listening out for me! The loss in my right ear came on suddenly with the tinnitus a few months ago.

Whereas I have a fully functioning right ear, put our heads together and we have stereo! :rotfl:

Washer, it may well be worth phoning your local Social Services department and asking for a Sensory Needs Assessment, especially if there are other things you don't hear. You may be able to get flashing lights if you don't hear the doorbell or phone, or a vibrating thing like a wristwatch to alert you to up to 4 different 'noises'.

But maybe once you're awake you're OK?

Hear-Hear

Hi Washer,

Your husband is about 40 years+ behind the times, as that type of practice became illegal in 1968. Any qualified audiologist who tries to "flog" a hearing aid to you can (and should) be struck off the HAC Register. Without being on the Register, it is illegal to dispense Hearing Aids, so he/she risks losing his/her livelihood at a stroke. Personally, I would rather have them hung, drawn, and quartered ..... that puts me about 500 years behind the times ?? :exclamati

Anyway, if you want to make it easier on him, to re-assure him a bit, try reputable places like Boots, Specsavers, or Dollond & Aitchinson for a free hearing test. If he feels under pressure, you can both just walk out !

The alternative, like errata suggests, is a referral by your GP to your local NHS audiology clinic. The waiting time for testing will be longer, you won't be able to select an appointment date/time like you would at an opticians, and the products the NHS supply are not selected by you. But the testing proceedure is identical - to British Society of Audiology standards.

Whatever you do, get your hearing professionally tested somewhere. Once you are over 40, it should be done every 2 years, and if over 55, every 12 months.

I-Owe-You

Hello all

I am also profoundly deaf (diagnosed 3 years ago and im in my 20s so quite a shock to adapt too)... I have found my local social services to be fantastic. Speak to them about any equipment needs you may have. They do an assessment of your circumstances and have open days where you can try various equipment and models and see whats right for you.

I was lucky enough to be "permanently" loaned equipment which social services buy for you (doorbell, paging system, listening device for the TV - much to my boyfriends happiness that I dont have it on full blast anymore!), or they can offer you a scheme called Direct Payments which allows you to buy equipment yourself and be reimburse if you dont like what they can offer.

I was shocked that I got this assistance as I work full time and I assumed schemes like this would only be applicable to those on benefits.

I also was not aware that I could calim DLA for deafness which they assisted with my application for (Im new to benefits etc...) and I was awarded - Did take a while though! I also got a freedom pass, and other not widely spoken about "pro's" to being in receipt of DLA (free cinema card etc...) and also the "Access to work" scheme which provides financial assistance to anyone disabled who works and needs to make reasonable adjustments (in my case amplified phone etc...)

Good luck - if I can be of any assistance, I'll do my best to help as Ive had much liasion with social services the past 18 months.

spugzbunny

Hi Savvy_Sue - yes they were actually this pink and blue and a nice teal. I was pretty keen on those actually. I think they come in other colours as well. It is literally a whole new world to me at the moment so I am looking forward to seeing the hearing therapist so I can learn more. I don't even know what questions I need to know the answers to yet!!

I feel a bit better today though - I was very blue yesterday. I'm just taking time to adjust and taking time for me to relax and look at the bigger picture.

I-Owe-You

I have another hearing related query, I wonder if anyone can help..

I claim DLA for my hearing loss and for associated Meniere's disease (which is a balance disorder of the inner ear which I have quite a tough time with)

My mum is also hearing impaired, not quite as profound as me, but still struggles with every day communication, requires assistance, wears bilateral aids, has problems with traffic noises etc... and is dependant on lip reading.

Mum is deaf, which effects her daily life, so I am encouraging her to make a claim for DLA.
Thing is she doesn't like being a burden on people or (as she puts it!) "likes to make a nuisance of herself" attending audiology open clinics all the time (I work in the hospital so pick up her batteries for her), so she is relatively unknown to them & my GP. She only attends generic yearly check ups with an ENT specialist - which is a case of in the out 2 minutes later & the box is ticked that she's been seen.

Would this affect the likeliness of her being awarded DLA, as obviously we don't have mountains of paperwork and appointment letters as evidence. (aside an audiogram and the annual follow ups) & adaptations my mum & dad have made to their home for her was at the cost to themselves (silly I know - should have gone via Social Services!) so no correspondance of dealing with any other healthcare authoritise. (Im sure listing the equipment will not help as anyone could do this.)

My mum has never claimed benefits before and is lucky enough to remain in full time work for an understanding employee (as do I) and is adamant she wouldn't be entitled for DLA.

The main thing I find hard about being deaf (apart from hearing of course!) is the fact that people are not given a visual trigger to my (our) disability and treat me (us?) as "normal" - even when they are aware of my impairment it is easy to forget and I still get shouted at accross the room and spoken to from heads inside cupboards - almost seems like us deafies have to justify our reasons for assistance & support more...because there is no visual aid.

Will this effect mum? Any advise would be appreicated! x