Help for Hearing Impairment

GlasweJen

I'd avoid getting Boots to test your hearing. The audiologist at Boots in Sauchiehall street was downright rude, didn't examine my ears, didn't ask what problems I was having and didn't give any hearing advice. He just put me in a booth and asked me to click a button every time I heard a beep through some headphones. At the end he said my hearing was fine and that I was worrying about nothing.

Saw my GP who examined my ears, referred me to ENT (long term sinus problems) and ENT performed much more thorough tests and determined that I needed aids. Unfortunately finding the right aids is proving difficult because I have a cardiac pacemaker and also need to hear on a phone for my work (which is in a loud environment with lots of background noise).

Hear-Hear

Hello ps2659

An occasional 'popping' of the eardrums is quite normal. The fact that your relative commented to you about the 'popping' suggests that it is recurrent rather than occasional. As others have suggested, it may indeed be a build-up of wax, but it could also be a condition called otitis media. Don't worry about the terminolgy; medical terms always look worse than they mean to be. Then again, it could be a disorder of the auditory pathway, the nerves that take sound signals to the brain.

Whatever the cause, your relative should certainly go see the GP, who will certainly be able to identify if it's wax or otitis media. If the GP rules these out, then a referral to ENT is likely. They will use a little gadget called a Tympanometer (completely painless) to help determine the cause of the popping. One way or the other, recurrent popping is normally a treatable medical condition.

Don't forget, if your relative is between 40 and 60, her hearing levels need to be checked anyway every 2 years; annually if she is 60+.


Savvy_Sue

The pips may indeed sound louder as you move between Programmes 1, 2, and 3. Not really something to be concerned about, as long as you can at least hear the tones each time you change progs, and as long as the sound output that you get in each of your programmes hasn't changed. I forget which type (manufacturer) of hearing you have, but your audiologist will be able to listen to the pips for you through a special type of headphone, and can fully adjust the frequency and the intensity of the pips to suit your personal preferences.


GlasweJen,

Always get a second opinion. You have done the right thing.

Discogod

OK - well, i finally had my appointment today (booked 3 months ago), was supposed to check out the new bluetooth options they have, seeing the Oticon 'streamer' and Phonak 'Icom' in action.

Turned up, they called me through after a 20 minute delay to tell me that the only two people trained on the equipment weren't there! So, they had to try to fumble their way through the equipment telling me what it was & how to use it - only of course, they knew as much as me (not a great deal....) and actually couldn't get it to work.

So, got another appointment booked in Feb by which time they'll hopefully have it all sorted out. Rubbish!

Hear-Hear

I guess this is part of the reason why the private provision of hearing aids is thriving, even in these difficult times.

Indie_Kid

GlasweJen wrote: »

Unfortunately finding the right aids is proving difficult because I have a cardiac pacemaker and also need to hear on a phone for my work (which is in a loud environment with lots of background noise).

Have you been in contact with RNID? I'm sure you're not the only person in this situation.

sunnyone

GlasweJen wrote: »

Unfortunately finding the right aids is proving difficult because I have a cardiac pacemaker and also need to hear on a phone for my work (which is in a loud environment with lots of background noise).

I am severe/profoundly deaf and because I need aids and a use a pwerchair Im incompatable with my husband and my aunts heart problems, I hadnt even thought about it till their (diffrent) cardiologists mentioned it.

Savvy_Sue

just thought I'd let you all know, I bought a Sonido personal listener which arrived today, just in time! I have to travel in the back of the car atm, which means my deaf ear is angled towards all the chit chat, the radio etc. hopeless!

anyway tomorrow we're going out for a meal, and on Monday driving for hours, so it will get a good test run within the 28 days return period!

I had a play with one at my lipreading class, and also with someone's (vastly more expensive!) Conversor, and they seemed useful, so here's hoping!

Savvy_Sue

Sonido works quite well, but not fully tested as I lost my hearing aid on Sunday! DH spotted it today, on the pavement under the lamppost at the bottom of our drive (still in its box!)

I'm making sure it's not damp before I switch it on ...

Errata

Stick it somewhere warm with the battery out and the battery door open, should dry out ok.

Savvy_Sue

battery door is always open when switched off but I'll take batt. out completely overnight!