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Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others
Hearing Loss | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (1521)Comment receiving replies
Thinking back, I may have had mild hearing loss since adolescence. However, I was not officially diagnosed w hearing loss until age 47 by audiologist at my ENT’s office in 2005. This was after a sudden & serious hearing loss issue after I had a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2004, that was corrected with the coiling procedure through my leg! Miraculously, hearing loss was my only disability after the aneurysm.
I began with in-the-canal Hearing aids for 18 years.
One year ago I chose behind the ear Hearing aids as I wanted Bluetooth.features and the raved about automatic adjustment in multiple noise situation feature.
Even with nany program adjustments and tweaks, I still find myself asking people to repeat themselves, hearing other words, particularly words beginning with consonants and simply not hearing someone, although in the same room!
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Question for you: You had hearing aids for 18 years prior to getting BTE aids. Did you have telecoils in those ITE hearing aids? Do your new BTE aids have telecoils and Bluetooth both?
Telecoils have been available for decades, but many hearing aid manufacturers have not included them. In some instances, they are included but not activated by the provider.
It's complicated. Telecoils can connect a hearing aid or cochlear processor directly to a sound system in a theater, room, worship center, etc. IF there is a system in that venue that is compatible with them. People with hearing loss, who are willing to speak out, have been advocating for assistive listening systems in venues for years, but primarily since the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1988. The law mandates these systems be available, but ONLY IF the people who need them request them. Then, of course, it takes time to purchase and install the technology and it often gets forgotten or is determined to be a cost that the venue cannot afford. The reality is: People with hearing loss don't advocate enough for themselves so their voices are not heard. We get ignored, sadly.
I realize this doesn't answer your question of solve your dilemma, but I had to ask.
I also wonder if your hearing aid provider mentioned the possibility of cochlear implants. It would depend on the results of your audiology exam. Also, on the knowledge of that provider.
Most people with hearing loss struggle in situations that have background noise, regardless of the capabilities of the hearing aids they use. It's frustrating. The emotional side of hearing loss is like a big bear in the room. But, with assistive technology we can manage it. We also have to learn what works and find ways to explain that to people. Are you familiar with support groups that bring hard of hearing people together? If there is an HLAA chapter in your area, I encourage you to check it out. You can learn more at http://www.hearingloss.org Mutual help like what you will find on MCC is wonderful. If you can get together to meet others in person, it's even better. HLAA brings people together.