Help for Hearing Impairment

LameWolf

Thank you for all your replies - a lot to think about!

I'm also quite deaf in the other ear, but a) couldn't afford 2 aids, and b) don't think I could cope with something poked in both ears.

My current aid doesn't have a "T" switch - there's just one control, which turns it from "normal" to "restaurant setting", ie it focusses on the person in front of me and filters out noise from the sides.

That said, it's quite old now, and the tech is no longer supported, so I have to look at getting a new one (I have appt with audiologist in October).

Hmmm. Perhaps my best bet is to wait til I see the audiologist, and discuss it with her before buying anything - she's surely be able to tell be what I need to do. I like the sound of the Bluetooth streaming, I must admit.:o

Hear-Hear

LameWolf wrote: »

I'm also quite deaf in the other ear, but a) couldn't afford 2 aids

- Specsavers does 2 for 1 on models in its Advance range
- Boots does 2 for 1 in its Value range
- Most NHS locations now provide two hearing aids if you have bilateral loss

LameWolf wrote: »

b) don't think I could cope with something poked in both ears.

It does indeed take quite some getting used to using two aids where you've only had one previously, but the long-term benefit can be truly amazing. (There's also the long-term risk of auditory deprivation by not using aid(s) in one or both ears, but that's another story....)

adz595

LameWolf wrote: »

Hello everyone.

I have a wee question that's hearing-aid related, and hope this is a sensible place to ask it.:o

I'm looking at getting an MP3 player; I've never used one before, don't even know how they work, but I'm sick of suffering tinnitus, and a bit of music might be a distraction from it.

I need something portable - it's useless putting a CD on in the lounge when I'm polishing in the bedroom, for instance.

Radio doesn't cut it because I want to strangle the presenter within half an hour of switching on, so the idea is to download my CDs and have them on an MP3 player to listen to while I clean the bungalow.

Now the hearing aid bit - I wear a single in-the-ear hearing aid, so headphones/earplugs won't be very practical. A friend of Mr LW's said he thinks I might be able to get some sort of induction loop thingy that would hang round my neck, instead of using the ear plug things. But not having any hearing problems himself, he doesn't know details.

Does anyone know if he's right? If so, will it work with any hearing aid? Where do I go for such an item? I'd like to get the MP3 player from Amazon, simply because I have quite a bit of credit with them, from doing online surveys, but would I need to get the loop thingy at the same time, or is it something I'd buy separate and it'd work with any MP3 player?;)

If someone could point me in the right direction, I'd be very grateful.

ETA: I did try having a look in J0hn L£wis the other day, but they only had iP0ds, and I don't particularly want to worship at the @pple shrine.;):D

Connevans sell a hook type earphone, it hooks next to the hearing aid and feeds directly into the hearing aid microphone. I have students who use these with a profound >80db loss... It is compatible with all hearing aids and all loss levels.
It is called CLHook7 - Single inductive earhook. 3.5mm plug for audio

Guardsman

Interesting reading

Hearing-aid hackers fine-tuning their own devices
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18690973

Savvy_Sue

Guardsman wrote: »

Interesting reading

Hearing-aid hackers fine-tuning their own devices
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18690973

VERY interesting! Just forwarded the link to all my siblings, one of whom works with computers, and another of whom has a very intelligent son who likes taking things apart and fiddling with them to find out how they work! :rotfl:

Guardsman

Question.. How often do you re-tube your ear mould ?

Savvy_Sue

Guardsman wrote: »

Question.. How often do you re-tube your ear mould ?

Answer: not often enough ... :rotfl:

When it goes hard, definitely.

When your aid stops being as effective, definitely.

Errata

What Sue said
Plus, when the tube parts company with the mould every time you take the aid out :eek:
On a serious note, I was advised to re-tube once every three months and have new moulds made annually.

BigMummaF

My little Mum has even littler ear canals & has once again fallen foul of the Compacted Ear Wax Demon Unfortunately her GP surgery have said that they feel syringing is no longer an option & want to refer her to another Practise that has a trained medic, who will do a procedure they are calling 'micro suction'?

Any idea what this entails--as in instruments, procedures, pain, success etc--so that I can begin laying the ground-work to calm her nerve, as we wait for the appointment to come through.

Other than using a mini dy$on with the squashed tube thingy on the end, I haven't a clue what to expect :rotfl:

piglet4

BigMummaF wrote: »

My little Mum has even littler ear canals & has once again fallen foul of the Compacted Ear Wax Demon Unfortunately her GP surgery have said that they feel syringing is no longer an option & want to refer her to another Practise that has a trained medic, who will do a procedure they are calling 'micro suction'?

Any idea what this entails--as in instruments, procedures, pain, success etc--so that I can begin laying the ground-work to calm her nerve, as we wait for the appointment to come through.

Other than using a mini dy$on with the squashed tube thingy on the end, I haven't a clue what to expect

I go for microsuction every year at the hospital (have done all my life, due to various ear problems). It's basically just like you say--the world's smallest hoover in your ear

You lie down on the bed, and they use a special microscope to look in your ear canal, so the doctor can see exactly what he/she is doing. They get the wax out either with suction or sometimes with a little pick thing if the stuff is really hard. As you would expect it's very noisy and sometimes a bit uncomfortable (but not painful), and you have to keep your head really still. It's meant to be safer than syringing though.

It doesn't take very long, maybe 10-15 mins. At the end, the doctor always takes great pleasure in showing me the big lump of revolting goo that has been excavated from my ear canals

Top tip: use some olive oil eardrops for a few days beforehand, this softens the wax and makes the whole thing much easier for everyone. I use Earol spray, you can get it at the supermarket (have seen it in Morrisons and Sainsburys): http://www.hlhealthcare.co.uk/earol/
(although, check with your doctor before using the drops if there are any other ear problems e.g. perforated eardrum).