What to look for...and avoid...in a hearing aid.

Wow, that's good news.

pssstt, osso, she can't hear you.

WOW, THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

Remember on Saturday Night Life when Garrett Morris would do the news for the hearing impaired?

Starts at second 13...



God, that still cracks me up after all these years.

'K, I laughed out loud, and heard both the skit and my own laughter. So far so good.

I need to get retested to see if when my ship comes in my ears are still eligible for h/aids. Oh, wait, I live in the desert..

word

Very cute she said dryly.


But, after you have finished laughing at the deaf....WHAT ABOUT SOME POINTERS!!!!

You called?

First, congrats! That's exciting.

Second, I wore only one hearing aid (back when it helped) and while I didn't really have any basis of comparison, that worked great. I had to swivel my head around a bit to figure out where a sound was coming from, but in terms of communication etc., one really did the trick.

Now, in terms of advice, I'm at a bit of a disadvantage because I haven't worn a hearing aid for over 15 years. And the field has developed a LOT since then.

The fact that your loss is in the high frequencies is good. Hearing aids can make a HUGE, life-changing difference there. (Do you know your db loss?)

As for the salesmanship, I experienced that with cochlear implants (HUGE moneymakers for docs) but it was more laid-back at my ENT's 15+ years ago. I don't know if that's a function of time or of my ENT.

I think you can just get a lot of info, refuse to make any decisions right away, and do research etc.

Oh one other thing I know from my own recent experience and helping others, you should be able to try a variety of hearing aids before deciding. You have to pay for the earmold (the part that goes in your ear) but you should be able to try them free. Possible different in Oz.

Oh also if you tell me more about the db loss I can tell you more about what general kind of hearing aid is indicated (behind the ear, in the ear, etc.)

well, I'm thinking you should go with a really bright happy colour like sunshine yellow or orange or maybe magenta; while possibly rendering a lack of balance to your head it could offset your bland personality.

Take it out of yours.

You don't get irony, do you?

I was laughing with you all.

Jesus wept.

You manage to make even a cheerful advice thread nasty.

I've been laughing at my deafness for years and I don't need your crap.

Thing is I have no time and less for research.....I understand that you are out of date but your comments are always useful. It's good to know re the high frequencies stuff.

Any ideas anyone where there's a good website with thoroughly researched info?

You might pm Eva...

This is pretty good:

http://www.hearinglossweb.com/res/ha/ha.htm

"Which Hearing Aid is Right For Me?"

http://www.hearinglossweb.com/res/ha/ha.htm#which

Eva has been through this recently, yep, a good contact.

I don't know how different things are here vs. Oz.

Timing's a bit of an issue eh.

Here, we have very good free local services that provide advice re hearing devices and additional funding sources. They're also terrific at warning folks off the money-grubbers. They were wonderfully helpful to hamburger when he was looking for assistance. Would you have time to hook up with such a group?

Bookmarking this thread so that BBB might stumble upon it, get her hearing tested and then do something about it.

I am currently in a bedroom with the door closed and can still hear perfectly the QVC hosts on the TV in the living room. Sometimes I feel like I am living with my teenaged self and the hard rock music is constantly cranked up to ear splitting. I bought some sound isolating headphones for the TV, but they got worn for only 2 minutes before they were removed and ignored.

Maybe a hearing aid will do the trick.

I tried several different kinds, and the "open fit" ones are by far the most comfortable. I forget they're there.

BTW, five years is about how long one generation of technology lasts in hearing aids these days...at most. Five years later, you wouldn't be able to get the same model for the other ear.

Butrfly and BBB - there is a hearing clinic at UNM, which I need to go to. Bit of a trek, I think it is on Zuni. I haven't rushed, as I can't afford even the lowest end hearing aid, but I do need to be retested. Soz saw my last test, whenever that was, let me just guess 2004, and where is that? my files... but a long time ago.

None of my business, but does BBB have hearing aid insurance?

I might.

Years ago when I thought of getting a hearing aid made an appointment with one, but had to cancel because of a crisis at work.

They were FURIOUS!!!

Open fit?


I hadn't expected to get the same one, just possibly have two working, but different ones...or would that drive me madder?