Expensive hearing aids ?

[Jimbeam3678]

I realise that I just meant they seem to go up to £4k for what seem to be really good ones.

What model do you recommend? Widex seems to be good. I did go to an indy. I refuse to go chains! Perhaps that's why it was a bit more expensive.

I still have some 4 year Resound ones which do the job well enough. When I asked the person I see they suggested Widex Moment 2’s are the ones seen as the best at the moment. Also when I originally went to see him he did warn me against getting sucked into the marketing hype of X channels versus Y channels etc as the majority of people don’t require that level of detail.

A good measure of an indie is that they should allow you to try multiple pairs without any obligation to buy them.

 

[Freefaller]

I still have some 4 year Resound ones which do the job well enough. When I asked the person I see they suggested Widex Moment 2’s are the ones seen as the best at the moment. Also when I originally went to see him he did warn me against getting sucked into the marketing hype of X channels versus Y channels etc as the majority of people don’t require that level of detail.

A good measure of an indie is that they should allow you to try multiple pairs without any obligation to buy them.

Yes that's what I have booked to do. Following my hearing test I need now to explore what works for me.

Something I hadn't realised is apparently I lip read a lot more than most. No wonder I struggled when we had to wear masks.

If it can help reduce the tinnitus then I'll be a very happy man.

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Yes that's what I have booked to do. Following my hearing test I need now to explore what works for me.

Something I hadn't realised is apparently I lip read a lot more than most. No wonder I struggled when we had to wear masks.

If it can help reduce the tinnitus then I'll be a very happy man.

Tinnitus is the reason why I got hearing aids in the end, it’s your brain filling in the gaps it used to hear. Most people tend to lip read when missing certain frequencies.

Sounds like you are working things through, but don’t get pressured into buying anything unless you are 100% certain. Servicing should be included in the purchase price as well.

 

[Freefaller]

Tinnitus is the reason why I got hearing aids in the end, it’s your brain filling in the gaps it used to hear. Most people tend to lip read when missing certain frequencies.

Sounds like you are working things through, but don’t get pressured into buying anything unless you are 100% certain. Servicing should be included in the purchase price as well.

Noted and agreed.

 

[DXP55]

It's been about 12 months now since I replied on here and a lot of water has run under the bridge.

As i said I had NHS aids for about 12 yrs and although they made things better it wasn't perfect so I had some Specsavers hearing aids and ended up with a set of Phonac R90 at eye watering £2.4k - Are they worth it - yes and no - The plus is using your phone where talking to people is like wearing a good pair of headphones. Other than that I have come to the conclusion that for hearing things they are not worth the money - I mean my phone does loads more much better at fraction of cost.
Saying that you have to factor in Specsavers costs and I have to say after market service is very good - any problems (Bluetooth) I couldn't fix they booked me in and fixed it free. I have also just booked in another hearing test also free so you do get the service.

Knowing what I know now and having someone I know getting hearing aids I would go NHS as they now do the BT aids -If after having those for a while and finding they do not suit you you can then go private.
Are the hearing aids worth it as a tool I would say the makers are taking us for a ride.

 

[Freefaller]

Well I've been given a couple to test drive for a week.

Oticon Real 1 miniRITE T
And
Widex 440.

I need to try them both in an array of environments and situations and see which suit me best. From the others I tried these 2 sounded "best " but time will tell I guess.

 

[Bassmansam]

Well I've been given a couple to test drive for a week.

Oticon Real 1 miniRITE T
And
Widex 440.

I need to try them both in an array of environments and situations and see which suit me best. From the others I tried these 2 sounded "best " but time will tell I guess.

Wouldn't it better to try them in a list of places and then the type of places can be different. With an array you have to stick to the same type of place.

 

[Freefaller]

Wouldn't it better to try them in a list of places and then the type of places can be different. With an array you have to stick to the same type of place.

Not sure I understand maybe I use the wrong words?

I have to try them just by doing things I would normally be doing. I.e. in the office, conferences, events, work environments, etc... And see which ones seem to be more effective and provide the better sound quality for my preference.

Basically don't use them as an experiment in a sterile environment. The only thing I have to do is try and be mindful of how things sound and how I feel.

 

[MrRockliffe]

The RAF did nothing at all. I actually failed every hearing test between 1993 and 1996 and it was only when I was at RAF Lyneham in early 1997 that they decided to do anything about it and even then only because I was due to go to the Falklands again. With no exploration of my ear at all they decided I needed a grommet fitting so they sent me down to Portsmouth for the day to have one fitted. I was discharged from hospital within thirty minutes of coming around and sent back to Lyneham. My wife at the time said I looked like death when I got off the train. It did nothing to improve my hearing but as I was due to go to the Falklands they gave me a pass. Came back from the Falklands and was posted to RAF Laarbruch in Germany and just before Christmas that year (1997) I started getting intense head pains that felt like a combination of having my head in a vice with a red hot poker being put in my ear. They were so bad that I couldn't concentrate on my job (trade group 5, Gen Tech GSE otherwise known as a heavy) and at times it overwhelmed me and brought me to tears. My sergeant sent me to the med centre who promptly told me not to bother them with a headache. No examination at all, just a couple of Ibuprofen and sent on my way. Two days later I was asking my sergeant if I could take some leave before I ended up getting distracted by the pain and accidently hurting someone when he asked me what was on the side of my face. I put my hand up only to have it come away with this foul smelling blood/pus mix. He took me straight off to the med centre and came in with me. Surprise surprise, the ******* corporal that sent me packing a couple of days earlier was on duty again and my sarge tore her a new one. Les Gardner was his name and was one of the best sergeants I worked for, he looked after his lads unlike many other's in our trade. Anyway, back to the story, the senior medical officer was called out and I was assessed and found to have a ear infection. Just to be safe I was sent off to have a scan. That was scary as it showed that I had a chronic infection of the inner ear which had spread to the bone of my skull surrounding the ear and it all needed removing. Two days later I was sent some 300 miles to the Karl Hanson Klinic near Bielefeld for a scheduled two hour op to have it all removed. It was even worse than they thought and actually went on for 3.5 hours. After the op I was told that my hearing would be effected, how much they didn't know until everything healed. I also may suffer from tinnitus which I had already figured as I had a high pitched screaming in my ear. After everything healed they diagnosed me with minor hearing loss and minor tinnitus and was eventually cleared to go back to work. Their statement didn't seem right to me as I was now struggling to hear clearly if more than one person was speaking as it all just blended together but I supposed they must know what they were talking about.

A year later I injured my spine and despite struggling on for another couple of years I was medically downgraded so I wasn't getting promoted anytime despite having assessments well above my peers. Eventually I was sent to Headley Court for a three week assessment and mid way through week two ended up in a wheelchair so that was that, a once very promising career over. After being left in limbo for 18 months on indefinate sick leave I was finally medically discharged in 2002. I got a good disability pension for my back and "minor" hearing loss and also got a war pension which made my other pension tax free. My ear needs cleaning out every now and then because it is no longer "self cleaning" as they put it. This involves my gp referring me to the hospital to have it hoovered out. I went for this procedure in 2016 only for the specialist to tell me it looked fine. When I asked her so why does it always sound like I am hearing things from under water (always been like this since the op) she took me through for a hearing test and found me to have severe hearing loss. She talked to me there and then about a hearing aid and took a mould of my ear. A week later she phoned me to tell me I should come and have it fitted and set up which I booked for the next day. I couldn't have a fancy in ear one due to the easily aggravated scar material in my ear so I have one that the amplifier part goes behind my ear while the moulding goes in my ear. Once set up it was such a difference and the fact that it's visible doesn't bother me at all.

Short answer to your question, no, the RAF did nothing to help me with my hearing loss and actually said it was less severe than it really is.

I'm really sorry to hear of your crap experience.

I hope you're still enjoying life

 

[Bassmansam]

Tinnitus is the reason why I got hearing aids in the end, it’s your brain filling in the gaps it used to hear. Most people tend to lip read when missing certain frequencies.

Sounds like you are working things through, but don’t get pressured into buying anything unless you are 100% certain. Servicing should be included in the purchase price as well.

nah hearing loss is the reason you got hearing aids. I have tinnitus but only minor hearing loss in the affected ear, not bad enough for a hearing aid.

 

[Freefaller]

nah hearing loss is the reason you got hearing aids. I have tinnitus but only minor hearing loss in the affected ear, not bad enough for a hearing aid.

Tinnitus can help to amplify the effects of hearing loss I believe - but regardless tinnitus is so draining if you're not able to manage it.



These are my results from the previous test. That + tinnitus makes for a miserable experience in noisy environments like busy offices or conferences which I go to weekly. I'll be interested to see how these aids help in those environments as I spend the majority of my time at work or in conferences or at least around people except for the admin days where I choose to WFH.

 

[Jimbeam3678]

nah hearing loss is the reason you got hearing aids. I have tinnitus but only minor hearing loss in the affected ear, not bad enough for a hearing aid.

Respectfully disagree, I was showing a very similar hearing loss chart to Freefaller, this was not before I went through various MRI scans etc to rule out anything more sinister.

2 years later I started a new job and someone wore hearing aids, we got talking, he explained he had tinnitus which disappeared once he got hearing aids. I went with a trial of some hearing aids and the tinnitus disappeared. Improved hearing was almost a bonus.

The above is one of the main reasons why I tend to offer my thoughts if anyone asks me.

 

[Hedge]

I wear an NHS issue one in my right ear and it's fantastic. I struggle with high frequency in my right ear which means conversations in crowded rooms are hard to decipher and women's / children's voices are muffled somewhat. The hearing aid has made them way more clear.

More than happy with the NHS one. I have a shaved head and even without having hair to hide it people often say they didn't even notice I had one.

As for tinnitus, a few days where I've forgotten or lost my hearing aid tinnitus kicks in. It also tends to get me when I've had too much caffeine or I'm dehydrated.

 

[Bassmansam]

Respectfully disagree, I was showing a very similar hearing loss chart to Freefaller, this was not before I went through various MRI scans etc to rule out anything more sinister.

2 years later I started a new job and someone wore hearing aids, we got talking, he explained he had tinnitus which disappeared once he got hearing aids. I went with a trial of some hearing aids and the tinnitus disappeared. Improved hearing was almost a bonus.

The above is one of the main reasons why I tend to offer my thoughts if anyone asks me.

From google

What is the main cause of tinnitus?


Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other treatments that reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.30 Nov 2022

 

[Jimbeam3678]

From google

What is the main cause of tinnitus?


Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other treatments that reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.30 Nov 2022

I think you misunderstood my point maybe? Your quote is echoing what I said before. My point was I could handle the hearing loss, lip reading (unbeknown to me at the time) helped me compensate for it. Tinnitus was the main thing I couldn’t cope with after a while. Tried all sorts like Youtube videos and Spotify playlists, nothing really worked.

In short, for me personally I got hearing aids primarily to help with Tinnitus and of course hearing better was a positive as well, but not the primary reason.

@Freefaller hope you have a positive experience and get everything you want out of your hearing aids which ever ones you settle on.

 

[Bassmansam]

I think you misunderstood my point maybe? Your quote is echoing what I said before. My point was I could handle the hearing loss, lip reading (unbeknown to me at the time) helped me compensate for it. Tinnitus was the main thing I couldn’t cope with after a while. Tried all sorts like Youtube videos and Spotify playlists, nothing really worked.

In short, for me personally I got hearing aids primarily to help with Tinnitus and of course hearing better was a positive as well, but not the primary reason.

@Freefaller hope you have a positive experience and get everything you want out of your hearing aids which ever ones you settle on.

Ah ok i see what you mean. Did you find that the tinnitus was variable different days?

Somedays mine is like a 1/10 and others it can be 5/10

 

[Freefaller]

I wear an NHS issue one in my right ear and it's fantastic. I struggle with high frequency in my right ear which means conversations in crowded rooms are hard to decipher and women's / children's voices are muffled somewhat. The hearing aid has made them way more clear.

More than happy with the NHS one. I have a shaved head and even without having hair to hide it people often say they didn't even notice I had one.

As for tinnitus, a few days where I've forgotten or lost my hearing aid tinnitus kicks in. It also tends to get me when I've had too much caffeine or I'm dehydrated.

I'm sure the NHS ones are great. I'm in the fortunate position that I can go and get this done privately/quickly. Means that someone that needs the NHS more than me can use them to help them out.

1 day in of my trial with the 2 I've been allocated and it's startling the difference they make. Very noticeable when I turn them off or take them out. It's as if someone has pushed an off button on the world around me!

@Jimbeam3678 thank you. And yes the tinnitus management will be an interesting exploration as well. If the brain isn't having to process things it can't interpret I'm hoping life will get a little easier.

 

[jpaul]

so I had some Specsavers hearing aids and ended up with a set of Phonac R90 at eye watering £2.4k - Are they worth it - yes and no

relation went from some specsaver resound quatros (2years ago) to, recently, phonak paradise, both of which they rebrand as Elite.
Resounds had been unreliable, inbuilt batterywise, and specsavers seem to have a lot of problems reliably re-programming aid with new prescriptions so they did an exchange.

Relation doesn't use a smart phone so they can't use the manufacturers app to adjust/tune the aids, for individual environments which I suspect would help.
another issue is both resound&phonak whilst they support bluetooth hands free for phones, won't connect to BT audio devices like tv's and you have to buy their proprietary/exorbitant £200 adapters if you want that convenience.

meanwhile the NHS digital ones have been a very good standby when he has problems with either of them/during repairs, trick seems to be renewing your nhs ones as they update to next generation.

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Ah ok i see what you mean. Did you find that the tinnitus was variable different days?

Somedays mine is like a 1/10 and others it can be 5/10

Mine used to come and go, no apparent reason. Apparently you can train your brain to ignore it but I find that hard to believe but research indicates you can. Thankfully it’s not a problem for me anymore.

 

[Bassmansam]

Mine used to come and go, no apparent reason. Apparently you can train your brain to ignore it but I find that hard to believe but research indicates you can. Thankfully it’s not a problem for me anymore.

Its gone for good? Even when you don’t wear the hearing aid?