Help for Hearing Impairment

Guardsman

3 - A second aid for my right ear (which has similar hearing loss). Can anyone tell me if the Zest P's work as a pair that "talk" to each other or are they independent?
You'll need to ask your audio that question, as I don't have the specification for Zest/Zest C with me. (I thought the Zest and the Zest C were both wireless, and the Zest C had Bluetooth as well, but stand to be corrected).

I had the Zest for a while but had them replaced with the Zest C due to the fact I needed the wireless function.

Guardsman

Having lost most of his hearing a number of years ago, this elderly man goes to the doctor to be fitted with hearing aids which promise to allow him to hear 100%. A month later, he returns to the clinic for a check up on his progress. The audiologist tells him that his hearing is perfect and asks if his family is pleased.

The man says, "Oh, I haven't told them about the hearing aids yet. I just sit around and listen to them talk. I've changed my will three times!"

Mrs_Arcanum

Managed to lose one of my hearing aids and have not bothered getting a new one. It is one with the ear mould and whilst it helped a bit it was a constant annoyance. So thinking about having the operation to possibly get the Otosclerosis damage repaired.

If I could have the ones with the thin tubes in both ears I would not mind so much.

Hear-Hear

Mrs Arcanum

Having lost one your hearing aids, it really would be worth your while getting it replaced. Two are always better than one, always, if you have below-normal hearing in both ears.

Have you asked your audiologist about the "thin tube" styles (ie. without the need for ear moulds) ? They're not suitable for everybody, but if you are suitable, they are usually SO much better than standard-tubing with traditional ear moulds.

Mrs_Arcanum

Hear-Hear wrote: »

Mrs Arcanum

Having lost one your hearing aids, it really would be worth your while getting it replaced. Two are always better than one, always, if you have below-normal hearing in both ears.

Have you asked your audiologist about the "thin tube" styles (ie. without the need for ear moulds) ? They're not suitable for everybody, but if you are suitable, they are usually SO much better than standard-tubing with traditional ear moulds.

I know, but it is such a trek to ENT and the difference is only when people talk behind me as I have conductive loss rather than noise/age related degeneration. I wear earplugs at concerts to reduce the volume as it irritates. Have 20% loss in one ear & 40% in the other. Not sure the Audiologists always understand the difference between the two types of hearing loss when they try the hearing aids. I probably get as much benefit from the aid part projecting sound through the bone as through the ear tube.

Hear-Hear

Ah, I hadn't noticed your comment about otosclerosis in the earlier post, sorry. So, conductive loss it is. You probably know, then, that the open fit / thin tube style isn't for you.

So, go back to your fundamental self-question: "....thinking about having the operation to possibly get the Otosclerosis damage repaired.....". Give it some serious thought. If your consultant supports it, there's a huge success rate with stapedectomy. And, if the NHS funds continue drying up, you may not have the option if you leave it too much longer.

Mrs_Arcanum

Hear-Hear wrote: »

Ah, I hadn't noticed your comment about otosclerosis in the earlier post, sorry. So, conductive loss it is. You probably know, then, that the open fit / thin tube style isn't for you.

So, go back to your fundamental self-question: "....thinking about having the operation to possibly get the Otosclerosis damage repaired.....". Give it some serious thought. If your consultant supports it, there's a huge success rate with stapedectomy. And, if the NHS funds continue drying up, you may not have the option if you leave it too much longer.

Funny thing is the ear with 20% loss does have a open fit tube. :rotfl:

Bryen

Had my appointment two weeks ago and new audiogram. Told it wasn't very different but audiologist reluctant to discuss in detail. Told to apply to medical records for a copy.
I asked for second aid as both ears have similar loss. Audiologist worried that Zest is "too powerful" for two aids and wanted to put me back on my old aid (which was not very helpful). Eventually agreed to order a second Zest and take new moulds.
Adjusted the software so current aid stays at current volume unless I adjust it, which works well for me most of the time. Not perfect hearing, but much better than no aid. Difficult to know how good it could be?
I'm supposed to have loop set, but at two stations, one bank and a theatre, when loop set aid goes quiet, but no annoucements etc. picked up. Does a typical hospital have a loop I can test it on at my next appointment?
I'll be reporting on two aids in a couple of weeks, when it is fitted.

piglet4

Bryen wrote: »

Had my appointment two weeks ago and new audiogram. Told it wasn't very different but audiologist reluctant to discuss in detail. Told to apply to medical records for a copy.
I asked for second aid as both ears have similar loss. Audiologist worried that Zest is "too powerful" for two aids and wanted to put me back on my old aid (which was not very helpful). Eventually agreed to order a second Zest and take new moulds.
Adjusted the software so current aid stays at current volume unless I adjust it, which works well for me most of the time. Not perfect hearing, but much better than no aid. Difficult to know how good it could be?
I'm supposed to have loop set, but at two stations, one bank and a theatre, when loop set aid goes quiet, but no annoucements etc. picked up. Does a typical hospital have a loop I can test it on at my next appointment?
I'll be reporting on two aids in a couple of weeks, when it is fitted.

The Zest is "too powerful" for two aids? What a load of old nonsense! I think they really mean "we are trying to save as much money as possible". I'm also horrified that they tried to push you back onto an old, obsolete model of aid. Glad to hear that you stuck to your guns though, and they are getting you a Zest for your other ear.

I think you will find having two aids helps a lot. Be warned though, you are very unlikely to get perfect hearing again, even with the the most advanced technology now available.

As for loop systems, most public ones are pretty useless, luckily I rarely need to use them . They are usually badly installed (so that the microphone is miles away from the speakers mouth), and very often the thing is not even switched on. Loops really come into their own in situations where you can install and adjust the equipment yourself: e.g. telephones, room loops at home for TV and music, and neckloops for iPods.

Many audiology departments do indeed have loop equipment that you can try out. Also, quite a few "normal" phones have loops built into the handset, so if you can find one of these then this is another way to try out your T setting.

summerof0763

piglet4 wrote: »

The Zest is "too powerful" for two aids? What a load of old nonsense! I think they really mean "we are trying to save as much money as possible". I'm also horrified that they tried to push you back onto an old, obsolete model of aid. Glad to hear that you stuck to your guns though, and they are getting you a Zest for your other ear.

I think you will find having two aids helps a lot. Be warned though, you are very unlikely to get perfect hearing again, even with the the most advanced technology now available.

As for loop systems, most public ones are pretty useless, luckily I rarely need to use them . They are usually badly installed (so that the microphone is miles away from the speakers mouth), and very often the thing is not even switched on. Loops really come into their own in situations where you can install and adjust the equipment yourself: e.g. telephones, room loops at home for TV and music, and neckloops for iPods.

Many audiology departments do indeed have loop equipment that you can try out. Also, quite a few "normal" phones have loops built into the handset, so if you can find one of these then this is another way to try out your T setting.

hi could you give names of phones that work with t setting as my phone not much good?