[Technology] Hearing aids

[GT49er]

Yes I have cross aids. Having experienced bilateral hearing loss for a number of years, I have been wearing aids for some time. Early 2023 I experienced Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) on one side, which has no chance of being restored, hence I have no hearing on the impacted side, and was provided with (NHS) cross-aids, which, as you state pass sound to the 'better' side.

Do they work? - 'ish (for me) they do pass sound to the good side but it's still very difficult to hear sufficiently, and I do tend to turn my head to the good side to try to improve hearing. I guess it depends on what you are dispensed, different NHS trusts issue different makes and models, with different features, mine are not Bluetooth for example and I've purchased one of these: https://www.phonak.com/content/dam/...documents/user_guide_compilot_ii_029-0308.pdf - it's all a bit of a post code lottery. I'm at the stage where I'm now researching private options, I would/will pay privately if they are an improvement on those that I have. Private dispensers appear to allow you to return options after a short trial period, if they do not work for you. My biggest problem is tinnitus, the brain still try's to 'hear' from the impacted side, which is at times a real inconvenience and nuisance.

Hope this helps.

Not for me. Hearing on one side surgically removed nearly 40 years ago (cancer) so have no hearing on one side. Bit of bone conduction, but well less than 1%, so no hope of balanced hearing (bit of a bugger on balance too). If I stick my left ear in the bins at a live gig, I can just about hear the music at conversational level. No chance of stereo!
There are charities that make things for people with hearing (and other) difficulties - explained to them what I needed, but their response was, 'Can't you just adjust the L and R controls on your stereo?'
Errr.... no!

 

[Sirnormangall]

Do you find that they help with your tinnitus?
I have really bad tinnitus in one ear and recently got NHS hearing aids after some tests, I have slight hearing loss in my ear with tinnitus.
Found i definitely can’t wear the hearing aids all the time though.

I’ve not had them fitted yet but they reckon they will help reduce the impact of tinnitus. In your situation I’d imagine that it would be best to watch the Dockers without your aids - given your robust support!

 

[BN9 BHA]

I’ve not had them fitted yet but they reckon they will help reduce the impact of tinnitus. In your situation I’d imagine that it would be best to watch the Dockers without your aids - given your robust support!

I wear one in my left ear as my right has no issues, quite good in the evening if I watch something like a drama series on tv as the tinnitus can take over and distract me from following.
Then my dog barks at something and it’s too loud

 

[Nigella's Cream Pie]

Do you find that they help with your tinnitus?
I have really bad tinnitus in one ear and recently got NHS hearing aids after some tests, I have slight hearing loss in my ear with tinnitus.
Found i definitely can’t wear the hearing aids all the time though.

Tinnitus should definitely reduce due to more stimulation of auditory nerve

 

[Nigella's Cream Pie]

From https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/services/audiology/brighton/adult-hearing/

'We do not accept referrals for people over 55 with age related deafness' - I guess because the demand is too great

 

[dsr-burnley]

From https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/services/audiology/brighton/adult-hearing/

'We do not accept referrals for people over 55 with age related deafness' - I guess because the demand is too great

It would certainly reduce the workload in audiology if they refuse to treat deaf people. There must be more to the story than that. A different hospital for over 55s, perhaps?

 

[Daddies_Sauce]

Update - After struggling with the NHS provided cross Aids, I decided to go for the private option, they are not cheap!

Firstly started with Phonak’s Cross solution, Left: Cross L-R and Right: AudèoL90-RT, these are rechargeable. They worked, but the battery was shocking only lasting for approx. 6 hours max. These were then swapped out for Signia Cross with an IX7, battery life is very good, easily last all day and evening, and I have a power bank travel case, so I can charge them ‘on-the-go’ if required. I also have the Signia StreamLine TV Transmitter which takes the signal from your TV (optical, Jack or Bluetooth) and talks to the aids, which works well. The issue I have with the Signia is they are too good. I’m struggling to be able to adjust the settings on Android, the sounds are just to ‘punchy’, I’m still trying the settings in multiple locations and conditions (the Amex is next!) seems that the app is more biased towards IOS, which does not help.

I’ve tried the tinnitus modes on both the Phonak’s and Signia’s, and it did not work for me, so I had those options switched off.

Over time I’ve found that while the tinnitus does not go away, you can learn to ignore it somewhat, so it’s not too distracting (or your brain learns to ignore it).

 

[happypig]

From https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/services/audiology/brighton/adult-hearing/

'We do not accept referrals for people over 55 with age related deafness' - I guess because the demand is too great

That's very odd, the majority of hearing aid users are elderly. It contrasts with East Sussex (who support me).

"If you are over 55 years of age you can be referred by your General Practitioner (GP) to be seen by the audiology team. Please discuss this with your GP.
If you are under 55 years of age please discuss with your GP who can advise – the normal referral route is then via the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Department."

Audiology – East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

www.esht.nhs.uk

 

[ewe2]

I am new to hearing aids,my thoughts are ,yes they make everything louder,but not necessarily clearer.especially with voices..

 

[Weststander]

I am new to hearing aids,my thoughts are ,yes they make everything louder,but not necessarily clearer.especially with voices..

Can that be altered through settings? My father in law had that issue initially, then his audiologist made an adjustment, making voices clearer.

 

[nickbrighton]

I am new to hearing aids,my thoughts are ,yes they make everything louder,but not necessarily clearer.especially with voices..

tbh that sounds one of two problems

1. they are very basic amplifiers which simply increase the volume of everything. so things you maybe cant hear to well are loud enough to hear, but stuff you could hear is too loud and distorted

2. the settings are wrong.

hearing aids are able to increase various frequency bands- a quick rule of thumb-the more expensive the more frequency ranges you can have adjusted. Mine leaves all the frequencies I can hear ok at the normal level, and only boosts those frequencies I cant hear. diferent frequencies are boosted by different amounts- especially the human voice bass frequencies,which I have issues with, so that nothing is too loud, but just the areas my hearing loss is in are amplified

If its the second scenario then a quick visit to your audiologist should resolve it

 

[Sirnormangall]

That's very odd, the majority of hearing aid users are elderly. It contrasts with East Sussex (who support me).

"If you are over 55 years of age you can be referred by your General Practitioner (GP) to be seen by the audiology team. Please discuss this with your GP.
If you are under 55 years of age please discuss with your GP who can advise – the normal referral route is then via the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Department."

Audiology – East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

www.esht.nhs.uk

I’m over 55. First went to doctor re tinnitus 3 years ago. Referred to audiology but no action deemed necessary at that time. I went back to doctor in April to say it’s got worse and I’m having hearing aids fitted next month. Seems like a pretty good service to me

 

[BN9 BHA]

I’m over 55. First went to doctor re tinnitus 3 years ago. Referred to audiology but no action deemed necessary at that time. I went back to doctor in April to say it’s got worse and I’m having hearing aids fitted next month. Seems like a pretty good service to me.

Similar to myself, my doctor was really helpful