- Joined
- 11 Jan 2004
- Messages
- 42,758
- Reaction score
- 2,639
- Country
As some of you know, I am HOH, and have high frequency loss.
I had an analogue aid dispensed in 98 and have not used it since 01 because of a very irritating audible "shushing" noise which is in my range.
Well, today I went back for a new test with a view to getting digi aids.
Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I came away thoroughly disappointed.
My audiograms were compiled by someone who did not look at me at all when speaking to me - I need to lipread - which wasn't helped by the set-up, where I was not facing the technician.
When she had finished, I was told that my HF loss was now in fact high and medium loss - it has got a lot worse in 7 years. OK, I accept that my hearing will only deteriorate.
What I didn't expect was to be told that I would not be fitted with an aid for my worst ear (the right) because the digi aid - even the high power one she specified could not cover the highest losses. So I would be fitted with one in my slightly better ear that would better cover the spectrum.
Worse, these high power aids come without a volume control or a two mic system where you can cut out background noise - ideal for me as that is when I have the most difficulty - in a sports hall with echo or a crowded room or pub or even hearing my kids in the back of the car.
I was even informed there would be no guarantees that the new aid would not make a background "operational" noise.
The final insult came when I asked about help with my tinnitus, and she could not point me to any.
Basically I came away having been told that the new aid may well offer me no advantages over the old one, and that she could offer no guarantees about whether my hearing would be boosted by the digi aid.
HELP!
Can anybody offer any suggestions about where I can go from here?
I am certainly not feeling sorry for myself, but I am disappointed.
Is this justified, or am I asking too much of current technology?
I had an analogue aid dispensed in 98 and have not used it since 01 because of a very irritating audible "shushing" noise which is in my range.
Well, today I went back for a new test with a view to getting digi aids.
Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I came away thoroughly disappointed.
My audiograms were compiled by someone who did not look at me at all when speaking to me - I need to lipread - which wasn't helped by the set-up, where I was not facing the technician.
When she had finished, I was told that my HF loss was now in fact high and medium loss - it has got a lot worse in 7 years. OK, I accept that my hearing will only deteriorate.
What I didn't expect was to be told that I would not be fitted with an aid for my worst ear (the right) because the digi aid - even the high power one she specified could not cover the highest losses. So I would be fitted with one in my slightly better ear that would better cover the spectrum.
Worse, these high power aids come without a volume control or a two mic system where you can cut out background noise - ideal for me as that is when I have the most difficulty - in a sports hall with echo or a crowded room or pub or even hearing my kids in the back of the car.
I was even informed there would be no guarantees that the new aid would not make a background "operational" noise.
The final insult came when I asked about help with my tinnitus, and she could not point me to any.
Basically I came away having been told that the new aid may well offer me no advantages over the old one, and that she could offer no guarantees about whether my hearing would be boosted by the digi aid.
HELP!
Can anybody offer any suggestions about where I can go from here?
I am certainly not feeling sorry for myself, but I am disappointed.
Is this justified, or am I asking too much of current technology?
