Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

Welcome to the Hearing Loss group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with hearing loss, and friends and family supporters. Whether you were born deaf or hard of hearing, experienced hearing loss after birth or with aging, it helps to connect with others. Together we can learn from each other, support one another and share stories about living with hearing loss, coping with challenges and celebrating milestones.

Let’s chat. Why not start by introducing yourself? What is your hearing loss experience? Got a question, tip or story to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.

@lioness

@tarheel I wouldn't get rid of your hearing aids if you like them I have hearing aids they mask your tinnitus but you won't get rid of it my Ear Dr told me so if you,ve found a cure let me know Closest I've come is Mullein Leaf tea 🍵 You don't get rid of it but it helps to quiet it down

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I'll see if any stores here have that tea in stock. I don't usually drink tea, but one store here carries a huge selection so I'll check there next time I buy groceries. I only notice some tinnitus when I'm not wearing my hearing aids.

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@karlotta

I'll see if any stores here have that tea in stock. I don't usually drink tea, but one store here carries a huge selection so I'll check there next time I buy groceries. I only notice some tinnitus when I'm not wearing my hearing aids.

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@karolatto It's a nice tasting tea no after taste to it

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@julieo4

If they are not helping your tinnitus as was promised (or suggested), I would return them. However, I would not then decide not to get hearing aids. Try a different brand or model. Tell your provider why you are not willing to make this costly decision at this point. Everything is different during this COVID19 time. As long as you're not doing much socially, it's the wrong time to try them in situations where they will help you socially. I always advise anyone who buys new hearing aids, whether they are first time users of experienced users....USE THAT TRIAL PERIOD TO GO EVERYWHERE YOU ENJOY GOING, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW WELL THEY WORK FOR YOU IN THOSE SETTINGS. Obviously, right now is not the best time to do that. Be sure you get a copy of your audiogram in case you decide to try a different provider. If you like the current provider, AND, they have different options available in their practice, tell them you'll be back when the time is right. Hearing aids are too important, and too expensive to make a mistake.

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Actually my provider allowed me to try different hearing aids they sold before I purchased the pair I have now.

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@tarheel

thanks for your response. I am not sure what "moderate" hearing loss means. While $6,000 is a lot of money for 2 hearing aids, it's not so much the money but rather a combination of other factors that makes me lean toward cancelling the purchase (30 days in MA.). I hear everyone okay with the exception of my wife who speaks very softly. I don't like wearing them. Wearing them while putting on and taking off a mask is a pain. And the lack of any tinnitus relief - all combine to make me wonder if I'll ever wear them. Mostly they have been the case since I acquired them. I think that the audiologist "oversold" the idea of any tinnitus relief (the remote control has a setting for tinnitus, but it does not help). I could reconsider but I'd appreciate any thoughts you or others might have to help me to decide (my appointment is coming up soon). Thanks.

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$6000 is a big investment. If you are not satisfied with the hearing aids you really have nothing to lose by returning them and then trying another brand. Maybe exchanging your audiologist as well since he/she said the aids would help the tinnitus and they did not. I saw a different audiologist two months ago and paid out of pocket for the evaluation ($125). Although she pretty much verified everything the first audiologist had told me I felt the second opinion was worth it for my peace of mind. Judy

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@judyca7

$6000 is a big investment. If you are not satisfied with the hearing aids you really have nothing to lose by returning them and then trying another brand. Maybe exchanging your audiologist as well since he/she said the aids would help the tinnitus and they did not. I saw a different audiologist two months ago and paid out of pocket for the evaluation ($125). Although she pretty much verified everything the first audiologist had told me I felt the second opinion was worth it for my peace of mind. Judy

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I don't have tinnitus with the hearing aids I'm using now. I notice it only when I'm not wearing them.

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@judyca7

$6000 is a big investment. If you are not satisfied with the hearing aids you really have nothing to lose by returning them and then trying another brand. Maybe exchanging your audiologist as well since he/she said the aids would help the tinnitus and they did not. I saw a different audiologist two months ago and paid out of pocket for the evaluation ($125). Although she pretty much verified everything the first audiologist had told me I felt the second opinion was worth it for my peace of mind. Judy

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@judyca7 I agree, $125 is little to spend on top of the price of HAs if it gives you peace of mind that you are getting the best HAs to help you. I have done the same.
JK

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@tarheel

thanks for your response. I am not sure what "moderate" hearing loss means. While $6,000 is a lot of money for 2 hearing aids, it's not so much the money but rather a combination of other factors that makes me lean toward cancelling the purchase (30 days in MA.). I hear everyone okay with the exception of my wife who speaks very softly. I don't like wearing them. Wearing them while putting on and taking off a mask is a pain. And the lack of any tinnitus relief - all combine to make me wonder if I'll ever wear them. Mostly they have been the case since I acquired them. I think that the audiologist "oversold" the idea of any tinnitus relief (the remote control has a setting for tinnitus, but it does not help). I could reconsider but I'd appreciate any thoughts you or others might have to help me to decide (my appointment is coming up soon). Thanks.

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@tarheel If they are not helping much beyond what you already have I would definitely delay getting new HAs until you can have a more normal life, as @julieo4 suggested. You really do need to try them out in situations where you can see their performance, it's too costly an investment to not be able to do that.
JK

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@colleenyoung Not sure where to send this -- periodically, messages from the several groups I am following suddenly cease. Why does this keep happening? Logging in does not seem to help. What should I do?
Thank you in advance for your help!

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@catladyde9

@colleenyoung Not sure where to send this -- periodically, messages from the several groups I am following suddenly cease. Why does this keep happening? Logging in does not seem to help. What should I do?
Thank you in advance for your help!

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@catladyde9 I am certainly not one to have the knowledge that could help in this situation. I am assuming you think this is tech problem, not a behavioral issue on the part of people in a particular group? Did you send this current message just to the groups that are involved in the problem, or all of them, including those where the problem does not exist? I'm asking only because if we knew that maybe there would be a way to at least isolate where the problem comes from?

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@catladyde9

@colleenyoung Not sure where to send this -- periodically, messages from the several groups I am following suddenly cease. Why does this keep happening? Logging in does not seem to help. What should I do?
Thank you in advance for your help!

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@catladyde9, your email had bounced, but has now been reinstated. You should be receiving email notifications again. If this happens again, please send me a message using this form https://connect.mayoclinic.org/contact-a-community-moderator/

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