Help for Hearing Impairment

Savvy_Sue

sh1305 wrote: »

Where does one get a hearing test done? Apparently Specsavers do them and so do the local hospital. I think I need mine testing - although not sure how much is due to having issues with my nose.

Errata wrote: »

Your first port of call is your GP.

especially if you think there are multiple issues - Ear Nose and THROAT MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN aUDIOLOGY ... (SORRY, SEE SIG ...)

Discogod

Following up on my posts from a few months ago - my appointment is coming up in a few weeks.

I'll be looking at getting the bluetooth aids, probably with the product that will allow me to connect to devices (mobile mainly).

One of my concerns is if i get Oticon (or Siemens etc...) Aids, this means that i'd buy their streamer in order to connect. But, this would mean that in future i'd always have to have Oticon aids. Is this a valid danger of being restricted to one manufacturer?

another small issue is battery drain on my mobile if i always need to have bluetooth switched on...

Wonder where future tech may take us....

i really love the thought of bluetooth music (via my mobile).

I've looked into connecting to the TV but dont think it's worth the additional cost.

rosieben

I need to have my aid adjusted and I'm finding all this info re aids very useful so thanks to everyone who's posted info.

re the vibrator alarm clock - I used to have a vibrating alarm clock which never woke me once; a couple of years ago SS provided me with a flashing alarm which is brilliant.

I posted before that our local SS have given me such a lot of support for equipment etc, well I had asked for a second flashing doorbell at our shared security entrance as I don't hear the buzzer phone and have missed deliveries (I have left info about using my front door but some people are not good about reading instructions! ).

I had a call from Glos. Deaf association this morning wanting to know if they could call re the doorbell.

She's just left, having fitted the doorbell, also fitted a new tube to my aid (she offered) and left me with a couple of spares, has also shown me how to fit it myself.

I'm so impressed with this and just wanted to give them a public thank you! We do seem to be very lucky in this county, compared to some of the stories I hear about other areas.

eta, she said the DA taking over a lot of this kind of stuff from SS so fingers crossed the funding stays in place; also for anyone housebound they will call and change tubes, batteries etc if needed.

Hear-Hear

Discogod,

Just like other audio equipment, your hearing aids have a limited effective lifespan. Some people drag them out forever, it seems, but they are really missing out on clear speech if they have old aids. You should expect your hearing aids to last 4 to 6 years, and the bluetooth accessory (whether it is the Oticon Streamer or the Siemens Tek) to last about the same length of time. When it is time to upgrade your hearing aids, it will be time to get new accessories, whatever they may be in 2016+.

There's good and bad about the Oticon Streamer and the Siemens Tek. However, they are not interchangeable, so you will have no choice, as they can only 'pair' with their own manufacturer's aids.

Indie_Kid

rosieben wrote: »

re the vibrator alarm clock - I used to have a vibrating alarm clock which never woke me once; a couple of years ago SS provided me with a flashing alarm which is brilliant.

I had a vibrating alarm clock, because at one point, I had really sensitive hearing (it's gone now - finally!) and the noise would generally be too loud for me.

It was ok to use - and then I broke it. Thankfully on my current one, I can set the alarm noise level.

ps2659

Hi help/ advice required
One of our relatives called yesterday and I commented to her about the deteriation of her hearing since we last met some months ago she has always worn hearing aids, she told me that her ears pop like on an aircraft and if she pinches her nose and blows quite violently they pop back and her hearing improves does anyone else have this problem is it common any general advice on how to stop this happening, after our conversation she assures me she will make a GP appointment to ask about this problem, I thought I would post here to try and get some response to give her prior to her GP appointment.
Thanks

CurrentWorker

ps2659 wrote: »

Hi help/ advice required
One of our relatives called yesterday and I commented to her about the deteriation of her hearing since we last met some months ago she has always worn hearing aids, she told me that her ears pop like on an aircraft and if she pinches her nose and blows quite violently they pop back and her hearing improves does anyone else have this problem is it common any general advice on how to stop this happening, after our conversation she assures me she will make a GP appointment to ask about this problem, I thought I would post here to try and get some response to give her prior to her GP appointment.
Thanks

I have it sometimes, not really a problem. Does her ears just pop randomly then? I noticed myself that if my ears popped I have to blow till they pop back to get my hearing back to normal..

I dont see why to bother a GP unless her ears has just been popping randomly.

Savvy_Sue

CurrentWorker wrote: »

I dont see why to bother a GP unless her ears has just been popping randomly.

well, the deterioration in hearing would be worth investigating, and since my audiology clinic asks that you have your ears checked for buildup of wax before having a hearing test GP is a good start!

Errata

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

well, the deterioration in hearing would be worth investigating, and since my audiology clinic asks that you have your ears checked for buildup of wax before having a hearing test GP is a good start!

Some people who wear their aids all day every day may find wax builds up, so it may be worth their while asking a practice nurse to give them a quick check every six months or so.

As an aside, I happened to accidently turn on the sub titles for BBC News 24 the other morning. I suspect a voice recognition system is being used as the item on student fees in Scotland said students would recieve ".......... freak tuition........(no that's wrong)..........three tuition .........(no that's wrong as well)..........free tuition............" Bingo! Third time lucky!
Other sub titles were just as hilarious, but that one stood out for me

Savvy_Sue

Errata wrote: »

As an aside, I happened to accidently turn on the sub titles for BBC News 24 the other morning. I suspect a voice recognition system is being used as the item on student fees in Scotland said students would recieve ".......... freak tuition........(no that's wrong)..........three tuition .........(no that's wrong as well)..........free tuition............" Bingo! Third time lucky!
Other sub titles were just as hilarious, but that one stood out for me

I've been told that it is actually people transcribing 'live'. seems daft, when news programmes are scripted, that they don't run the script, or something like it! it can't be harder than projecting the songs in a church service, can it?

my question: I have a standard NHS aid: press button to change programme and there's a sound, 2 pips for face to face, 3 for loop, 1 is back to all round which is how it switches on. my 2 pip sound now seems to be louder than the others: is that as it should be? I don't think it has always been like that.