Help for Hearing Impairment

Savvy_Sue

It is true that putting a foreign body (hearing aid) in your ears will make the ears produce more wax. I agree that asking ENT for tips is a good idea, but also Audiology, because it must be a common problem!

And I find the directional setting equally limited, but have always put that down to being able to hear OK with one ear, so all the background 'chatter' comes in that ear.

Hear-Hear

Hello Unity

Could I just ask how you rate the Oticon Spirit 3?
Not a bad digital aid in its day, but the technology is pretty old now, which means your aids must be pretty old too. Since you must be living in a PCT area that uses Oticon (different PCT's use different manufacturers), you should ask to be upgraded to the more-recent Oticon Zest. The technology in Zest is old too, but certainly not as out-dated as 'Spirit 3'. You can be 99% certain that you will notice the improvement. With regard to directionality, this is where the technology advances have been greatest. You now get 'adaptive' rather than 'fixed' directionality on most aids, and as an experienced user, you will be quite amazed at the difference in quality of sound due to the much higher speech-to-noise ratio.

loop system......might be helpful in this sort of situation?
A portable loop system works best where there is a single speaker - in a department store, a retail sales assistant could use one to communicate with you (on the 'T' setting). Much more difficult to use in groups, where each person would need access to the microphone pick-up on the prtable loop system. Much better idea to go to #Plan A, get your Spirit 3's upgraded.


I don't want to look a complete dweeb
Why not tell your pals that you are trying out something new (whatever it is you are trying). You might be really surprised how interested they become - and very helpful too !


"The ears are a self-cleaning organ and nothing smaller than an elbow should ever be inserted!"
Hmmm. Said that to a new user once. She looked at me like I had two heads. :kisses3: She just couldn't get to grips with the concept.


My GP will not allow me to have my ears syringed
This is quite correct. Syringing by GP or Practice Nurse should never be done where the eardrum is (or has been in the past) damaged. You have to take the ENT route for suction or hooking.


Cheap self-vacuums
Rubbish, I agree.


I have tried putting warm almond oil in my ears at bed-time, but the wax that comes out is pretty miniscule
The oil should only be used where the perforation has healed (ie, you no longer suffer regular fluid discharge). You won't see much wax coming out. It trickles out naturally in miniscule amounts, once the oil has softened the wax sufficiently. If you are prone to excessive wax, then a drop (ie. ONE drop) of oil a couple of times a week provides a regular maintainance. It won't stop the production of wax, but will allow it to egress more easily. A word of caution - don't put your hearing aids in for several hours after putting the oil in. Let the wax absorb the oil first, otherwise you will clog up the sound outlet.

Unity

Hear-Hear wrote: »

Hello Unity

Not a bad digital aid in its day, but the technology is pretty old now, which means your aids must be pretty old too.

I got the first one in around June 2008 and the second in August 2009, technology becomes obsolete very quickly these days:eek:. Although I suspect it's probably down to my PCT - they are sadly lacking in a lot of ways unfortunately.


A portable loop system works best where there is a single speaker - in a department store, a retail sales assistant could use one to communicate with you (on the 'T' setting). Much more difficult to use in groups, where each person would need access to the microphone pick-up on the prtable loop system. Much better idea to go to #Plan A, get your Spirit 3's upgraded.

Well, I can try, but I think I can predict pretty safely what the answer will be :D. They'll probably look at me a little like Mr Bumble looked at Oliver Twist, when he asked for more!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.


I don't want to look a complete dweeb
Why not tell your pals that you are trying out something new (whatever it is you are trying). You might be really surprised how interested they become - and very helpful too !

Good idea.


"The ears are a self-cleaning organ and nothing smaller than an elbow should ever be inserted!"
Hmmm. Said that to a new user once. She looked at me like I had two heads. :kisses3: She just couldn't get to grips with the concept.

I've always thought that ears are irreplaceable so I'd always err on the cautious side, I'm the same with my eyes as well.

This is quite correct. Syringing by GP or Practice Nurse should never be done where the eardrum is (or has been in the past) damaged. You have to take the ENT route for suction or hooking.

I don't actually think my GP is correct in his assessment here, as I've never had any fluid discharge and when I had them vacuumed there was no evidence of any damage. I think he may have made an assumption because I lost my hearing very suddenly - about the same time that I developed thyroid problems and my blood pressure shot from very low to very high for no apparent reason.

The oil should only be used where the perforation has healed (ie, you no longer suffer regular fluid discharge). You won't see much wax coming out. It trickles out naturally in miniscule amounts, once the oil has softened the wax sufficiently. If you are prone to excessive wax, then a drop (ie. ONE drop) of oil a couple of times a week provides a regular maintainance. It won't stop the production of wax, but will allow it to egress more easily. A word of caution - don't put your hearing aids in for several hours after putting the oil in. Let the wax absorb the oil first, otherwise you will clog up the sound outlet.

I'll keep on with the almond oil then and hope it works.

Many thanks for all the useful information you've provided :T:T:T.

Discogod

just been updating myself since i last read this thread!

Re the different models available - is anyone able to tell me where mine fits on the range available on NHS?

siemens prisma 2 pro

Is there an 'upgrade' for me with better aids on NHS? I've lost around 20% in both ears since birth & it's stable (am 30 now). Really struggle with background noise though, i hate it so much & it stops me enjoying & going to social events.

I take it my loss wouldn't allow me to claim DLA?

Savvy_Sue

Discogod wrote: »

I take it my loss wouldn't allow me to claim DLA?

Only if it affects your life significantly, IYSWIM. DLA is given for the effect things have on your life, not the condition, on the whole.

If you can't go out alone, or need help with very basic tasks, you might get the very lowest rates, but if on the whole you lead a 'normal' life then that's it.

Apart from a Disabled Person's Rail Card, of course.

But that reminds me, rejoice with me, we have a Lipreading evening class starting after Easter in Bristol!

The teacher's given up waiting for City of Bristol College to run one again, and she's doing one off her own bat. I am SO happy, I really resent the implication that if you're deaf you can't be working, so it's only useful to offer daytime lipreading!

Indie_Kid

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Only if it affects your life significantly, IYSWIM. DLA is given for the effect things have on your life, not the condition, on the whole.

If you can't go out alone, or need help with very basic tasks, you might get the very lowest rates, but if on the whole you lead a 'normal' life then that's it.

Just to add:
The help has to be given by a person and not help from a piece of equipment. (vibrating alarm clock for example)

Errata

Posting this in case it's of use to someone.

I've just ordered a mobile phone from Connevans which is hearing aid compatible. It should be delivered day after tomorrow, so I'll update when I get it. Connevans will accept a return for a refund if it doesn't do what it says on the tin.

Errata

Result :T :T It arrived and I can use it :j :j :j

Details here http://www.connevans.co.uk/store/viewProduct.do?id=2580550

I get a teeny bit of interference (buzzing sound) but not enough to be a nuisance. Connevans do warn about this, and they will refund on return if it's unsuitable.

They're not having mine back - it's lush

Ginger_Nut

I've previous posted here and had a wonderful reply from Hear-Hear.

Finally got round to having my ears tested and as I knew I needed help.

I went to boots as suggested and what wonderful service I got and I have been told the aid I am getting is a very good entry level for some one like me and re assessment in a couple of years.

Here is what I am getting http://www.davidormerod.co.uk/hearplus.aspx and it's not a bad price either.

I have to say a VERY BIG THANK YOU for putting me on to boots (if I knew you I would give you a big hug)

I am looking forward to hearing back from them to tell me it's ready to collect

Hear-Hear

That's great news Ginger Nut. (I should point out at this stage that I am in no way affiliated to Boots or the David Ormerod concession there). What you now have is a device called a 'Personal Hearing Assistant'. It's not actually a 'Hearing Aid' as defined by statute, in that it does not have to be supplied by a Resgistered Hearing Aid Dispenser, and supply of P.H.A.'s does not fall under the remit of the Health Professions Council. Nevertheless, it is a pretty inexpensive way of starting out on the road to improving your hearing.

Now that you have at least done something, you must speak to your GP to organise a referral to your local hospital in order to get yourself some 'proper' hearing aids (you will be supplied with a pair if you need two of them).

You will find that Boots now have you on their database, and will most certainly contact you in due course with a view to supplying true 'Hearing Aids'. Only follow this through when you are ready, and as always, shop around.