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Help for Hearing Impairment
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My NHS audiologist set up a music programme on my aids. I listen to a lot of music and also play a bit of piano, and to my ears the sound is very good.
As I understand it, the music programme simply removes all the fancy digital processing (designed to enhance speech etc.), to give the most natural response across all frequencies. In my case the music programme helps to remove distortion from high, sustained notes--other than that, I have had no issues listening to music with my aids. I believe most most decent digital aids (NHS or private) can be set up this way.
I have never heard of hearing aids specially designed for musicians, will be very interested to see what Hear-Hear has to say though0 -
Guardsman, you mentioned that if someone had served in the military, (RN) they could obtain a pension for hearing loss & tinnatus. I've had both these problems for many years. I left the service in 1974 do these dates qualify. Cheers0
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brook2jack wrote: »Now she has a place to study music at Oxford and playing and composing music is her life and not surprisingly she is quite devastated to be wearing hearing aids let alone the fact she is worried people will notice.Hear-Hear will be along shortly, I'm sure, but meanwhile I know there is an excellent private audiologist in Oxford and I will get details for you.
I'd suggest going with the NHS local to you first, if you are prepared to be persistent in going back for adjustments you probably will get better results than if you don't. It is strange and horrid to start with, but it can get better!Signature removed for peace of mind0 -
Thank you so much for that. Having spoken to a few folks including a profoundly deaf professional musician she is feeling better and silly things like worrying how she will listen to her ipod (loop system with ear hooks so the sound will come through hearing aids) seem to be helping.
I
It was just a shock to a young girl at the start of her career in music, as she is just starting to get professional jobs playing on orchestras.0 -
Guardsman, you mentioned that if someone had served in the military, (RN) they could obtain a pension for hearing loss & tinnatus. I've had both these problems for many years. I left the service in 1974 do these dates qualify. Cheers
Yes just give the British legion a call.
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/can-we-help/contact-us
They will explain to you about compensation towards hearing aids it does not matter if you already wear hearing aids.I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.0 -
Thanks Guardsman i will contact them and see what they say.0
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brook2jack
Definitely try the NHS option first, as Sue suggests. The aids that they currently supply are really quite good from a technology point of view, only let down by poor programming skills and/or time made available by the audiologist she sees. For her iPod, get her to ask about Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids (available on NHS since August 2010). The accessory kit does have to be purchased, as the NHS won't fund accessories, and runs to £300+, but really worth it if iPod and music are important to her.
As for cosmetics, having NHS aids visible is not always a bad thing. It makes people aware, and she'll find that friends won't even comment about them. Have you seen what people wear in and on their ears these days ?? Might also be worth asking the audiologist to see what hearing aid colours are available. Sterling Silver perhaps ? A neat Champagne Bronze? Translucent Purple ? Aids do not have to be Beige ! Ask about coloured earmoulds... a subtle pink tint is quite common now, but she could be really brave and ask for any of the vibrant colours that are used for paediatrics....they can certainly be made for grown-ups too. As others have suggested, ensure that she gets a dedicated Music programme set up for her - if the audio is reluctant, it's likely to be inexperience, so ask for the Senior Audio to be involved.
Once she has tried the NHS route and become comfortable with the aids, then she can consider private options. Over 90% of private purchasers have tried the NHS route first. It is likely to offer easier access to a dedicated Audio for regular and frequent fine-tuning, especially in the early days. Important for people with demanding listening environments, such as musicians. She would also be able to have very discreet all-in-the-ear aids, if going privately. In terms of manufacturers, I am a great fan of Starkey for musician clients. Their latest products not only have a dedicated Music programme, but 4 sub-programmes within it for different musical styles.
Finally, what part of the UK are you in? About 40% of the UK now has access to AQP, meaning she can opt to have NHS-funded hearing aids supplied via a private supplier, including the likes of Specsavers and Boots. This might make it easier for her to arrange appointments, being town-centre based rather than hospital-based.0 -
Thank you so much hear hear. At the moment we live in Cheshire .
She is due back at the hospital for impressions in one to two weeks and we shall make great use of all the advice.0 -
Unless you live in the Runcorn and Widnes areas (in the old 'Halton' PCT area, which was to include Adult Hearing Aid provision within AQP from 2012) then your daughter will have to wait until April 2013 when the rest of Cheshire must allow private provision of NHS-funded aids. In the meantime, encourage her to go ahead with existing plans.
It would be great to hear how she gets on.....0 -
Hospital it is then.
I will update as hopefully aids should be fitted 4 to 6 weeks.
Thank you once again.0
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