Help for Hearing Impairment

naf123

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

That's great news! However, I'd just like to say that what doesn't suit you may suit someone else: I don't know what model of Phonak one of my very deaf relatives is using, but I know it IS a Phonak, and I also know it's private (and eyewateringly expensive for all the extras which were wanted).

I know it's a Phonak, because when I first saw them with it on, they had the 'loop' on and I read 'Primark' not 'Phonak' on it. This seemed a bit unlikely because they are not the kind of person who shops in Primark! :rotfl:

Yes, phonak naida is a tremendously powerful hearing aid - probably the most advanced and complex hearing aid in the world - it was far too complex for the NHS to cope. The NHS won't have enough time to spend with each patient fine tuning it and it was notoriously difficult to fine tune.

Actually I went privately to try out (of which I rejected) and they tried me on the phonak naida 9 which is quite impressive hearing aid, but I did not feel a significant difference to existing hearing aids so I felt it wasn't worth my 6 grand.

But yes, you are right, each person is different and different hearing aids suits different people

Errata

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Just to update on DH's visit to the local Disabled Living Centre as was: they confirmed that they don't have headsets or other office bits and pieces for people to try out, but they agreed that it was a reasonable request, so someone is 'looking into it'.

It may not help me, but maybe it will help the next person ...

Could you push Technical Aids for an assessment in their premises? I know you need something for work, not so much for home, but do you have to tell them that? Perhaps you'd use your home phone more if you could use it IYKWIM.

Guardsman

I could not hear anything using a so called hearing aid compatable phone so I took it back and bought one of these for me the problem was solved.

The Amplicom PowerTel 49 Plus big button home desk phone is an easy to use big button home desk phone. The Amplicom PT 49 Plus has an induction coil built into the handset making it fully hearing aid compatible and features a +40dB volume boost button with adjustable reciever volume and tonal adjustment for the handset. The PT49 plus has big backlit easy to read buttons and large display and bright viusal alert. The PT 49 Plus has two large pre progammable buttons allowing for easy access to emergency or important numbers. The Amplicom PT49 plus has all the usual features you would expect from a desk phone, such as caller ID and a 35 number phonebook but is much easyier to hear see and use. The PT49 plus is an ideal basic big button phone for the hard of hearing, hearing aid users, elderly and less able people. Big Button Telephone with socket for vibration alarm pad 2 programmable emergency buttons Fully Hearing aid compatible (HAC) Speaker Boost Button for amplified calls up to 40dB Tone Control Adjustment Handsfree speaker backlight buttons Display with backlight Telephone book for 32 entries and CLI

Savvy_Sue

Yes, the OT who comes to our lipreading group has suggested a few things, but they all presuppose a 'normal' phone handset is in use.

I suppose the first thing to do next week is take the magnets to work and stick one to my phone to see if that helps. It's slightly less painful to hold the phone to my left ear with my left hand than to cross across my body to the right ear.

Mind you I've made and taken a few phone calls today without too many problems. Back to living with the problem, I guess ...

rosieben

Well at last I had my appointment with the audiologist (post #637). I didn't have to ask for an upgrade because he came in with my new mould and a new aid :T Its a Danalogic 6, less than half the size of the one I had before so isn't fighting for space with my glasses and so its much more comfortable.

I'd be interested to know your opinion of it Hear Hear, if you've a moment

I'm still getting used to it but it's most definitely an improvement, I have to try it for a few weeks and go back for adjustments if I think I need to.

He also said 'we're nowhere near the limit of what we can do for you, there's a long way to go before then' which is reassuring as I was told that Meniers might rob me of even more of my hearing.

I'd found a packet of batteries in a drawer last week so I threw them into my handbag; the new aid uses smaller batteries so I handed my pack to him; he checked the date - 'Use by October 2008'

Savvy_Sue

great news rosie.

Reminded on Radio 4 this morning about the SMS Emergency text service: if you can text but not use a phone when out and about, then it's worth registering your mobile (has to be done in advance) so that you can then send a text to 999. Story was about how a lady collapsed at a deaf club, having had a heart attack, and no-one there could use a speech phone, but one of her friends had registered for the trial and was able to get an ambulance there.

apologies if it's been mentioned before, but I think it's worth promoting!

Hear-Hear

Great news indeed rosieben

I feel I have been repeating the same old, same old, same old, for far too long on here. There are some really good digital hearing aids available now, and if one's current NHS aids are more than 3 years old, it is so worth it to get upgraded models. The technology differences in just a short period of time have been massive. Rosieben's experience surely bears this out.

Danalogic 6 uses technology released in 2005, but that's par for the course - new technology is released to the private sector first, then cascaded down to the NHS. Still, the manufacturer - G N Resound - ranks up there with the best of them. Danalogic 6 has 17 channels and well-functioning directional microphones. It still needs a volume control, as the automatic function is fairly primitive. Having said all that, it will be leaps and bounds better than whatever you had before. Enjoy your new world of hearing better !!

Guardsman

Had a appointment with the audiologist today and he has decided to replace my current Oticon Spirit Zest with the newer Oticon Spirit Communicate.Apart from being Bluetooth enabled and e2e wireless is the newer aid any better in everyday use ? The Bluetooth will be handy and the fact I will only need adjust one aid while working helps a lot but is the directional Mic etc any better than what I'm using at the moment.

Guardsman

Reply to a e-mail I sent to Oticon regarding the above question.

Dear Mr. Williams

Thanks for your mail.

Essentially the Spirit Zest Communicate is an enhancement of the Spirit Zest to include wireless technology. The only new hearing aid feature is the addition of an autophone function, this is where the hearing aid can switch onto an autophone program via a magnetic switch within the hearing aid.

Please find attached the instructions for use for the Spirit Zest Communicate.

If I can be of any further assistance please don’t hesitate in contacting me.

Best Regards
James Hannay
Technical Support Manager

Guardsman

As a ex Guardsman I have been on duty during a few Royal weddings but this one today was special.