How do we get clear information about hearing assistive technology?

I am 76, live in a rural area, and do not engage in a lot of social activity so I went with hearing aids that I guess are more basic. Cost was also a factor. My left aid is a transmitter. I have Oticons. Meeting with people at social gatherings leaves me isolated and lost in conversations. Too much noise. My phone is not very 'smart' either. Limited resources and a lack of high tech knowledge/understanding are what I think have hindered me from perhaps better hearing. Budget and necessity seemed to determine my choice of the options.

We are quick to blame the audiologists and HIS for not explaining available healing assistive technology to us. But the fact is that isn't ALL their fault. We, as patients, need to be more vocal about our needs. These providers don't know whether we work in a noisy shop or a library or much about our social life either. We need to TELL them about our hearing challenges. As patients, in general we aren't very good at that. So part of the blame is on us.

Julie, I know that you are a passionate advocate for hearing loops (induction loops). I am too. I was recently fitted with new HAs after failing to qualify for a CI. This was by a private practitioner. Most of the HAs she offered me did not have telecoils. Of course she explained that the telecoils were available in a remote microphone or other secondary device that would allow connecting to a hearing loop (but required using another device to do so). I insisted on telecoils IN my hearing aids and had to accept HAs with disposable batteries instead of rechargable ones. Furthermore when I was doing my homework prior to seeing the audiologist I was researching the various brands of hearing aids and found the information on websites sadly lacking. They mostly said "we have all these wonderful colors and they are smaller than a baby bee bee". I was interested in functionality not cosmetics. I voiced my concerns to several manufacturers.

The audiologists and HIS are fed products and information by the manufacturers. We assume that manufacturers are trying to make the best possible products to help us hear better. But they are really in business to make a profit. Small hearing aids sell better. So I think that with hearing aids, like many other products, the engineers know what is needed and how to make it, but the marketing department trumps the offerings of the engineers in order to produce a more marketable product. Here again, we the consumers need to be screaming at the manufacturers.

So in summary, yes audiologists in general don't do a good job of educating patients about assistive technology, But we, as patients have a responsibility to make our needs know to the practitioners too.
There is some great assistive technology available to help us hear better, but there are barriers like cost, complexity, and compatibility, and connecting multiple devices.
Lastly the manufacturers need to focus more on the needs of the patients than their bottom line. And here again we the users (who pay for these things) need to demand more functionality from them.

Jim

@arrowshooter You make some excellent points. Those of us with years of experience with hearing loss and hearing technology think a bit differently than those who are new to it. At some point in our journey, we figure out that we really want to hear and need personal devices that work for us. Learning to educate and advocate comes in time.

The key to all the assistive technology is finding a way to bypass background noise and get the desired sound direct to the hearing devices so our damaged ears only hear what we want to hear. Not easy, but telecoils, when used with loops in venues can do that. I too insist on telecoils and have had to choose hearing aids with disposable batteries rather than rechargeable ones. I actually like that because I have enough chargers on the flat surfaces of my home! Telecoils do not add cost to hearing aids, but they take up a tiny bit of space which is only a problem when the manufacturer's focus is to make hearing aids smaller. No matter how small a hearing aid is, people 'see' our hearing loss in our behavior...which often leads to far worse assumptions than thinking we don't hear well.

I'm fine with smaller products, but seriously, my hope is that I will be able to hear better with them, not be able to deny that I'm wearing them.

You are absolutely correct to point out how important it is for people with hearing loss to learn what is available, to ask questions and to advocate for better, more effective products. How do we make that happen?

It will be interesting to see what Auracast brings in the future. It's concept, like that of telecoils, is to bring desired sound direct to the 'in ear tech' whether it's speech in social settings or performance/presentations in venues. Meanwhile, those telecoils are so worth the teeny tiny space they take in our hearing instruments.
It's important for buyers of hearing aids to know what questions to ask and to explain where they want/need to hear. Providers need to know our experiences and expectations.

The more we talk to the providers and the manufacturers the better it will get. Unfortunately, though, the large majority of people who experience adult onset hearing loss don't go there,

Lots of work to do out there, right?

Julie

@pmrsuzie You may want to ask your provider if the hearing aids you purchased have telecoils. Often times they have them, but have not been activated by the provider. Activation means the provider needs to take time to show you how to use them and explain what they do.

Telecoils don't add much to the cost of hearing aids, but they add value. It is said they cost less than $15 to be included.

Much of this has to do with what you tell your provider about your life and what brings you joy. It's tough to be a social person who doesn't hear well. Not as tough for someone who is more introverted. Our lifestyle matters, and the providers need to know about it.

Oticon is a quality brand hearing aid. I hope you are able to get the most out of it.

@julieo4, I do not think my HAs have telecoils but I will get in touch with the audiologist.

@arrowshooter and @julieo4 are both right on. And yes, people need to be more vocal as to what their issues are. I've seen a couple versions of questionnaires that I don't recall my AuD having me fill out before my first appointment. At least I don't recall doing one but that was nearly 13 years ago. She also says she conducted a sound in noise test but I sure don't remember that either. I've asked about getting another one and was given what sounded to me like BS---something like there is disagreement over the background noise to use I believe it was. Anyone looking at getting hearing aids should watch Dr. Cliff's youtube video on what AuD should be doing for Best Practices. As well as several others he has produced, including explaining Sound in Noise test and Real Ear Measurement. Too many AuD don't do either. Personally, I put it all the fault of AuD that don't take the time to educate and ask more questions, have people fill out the questionnaire after the 30 day or 45 day trial period. I didn't think to take notes or go into settings to test my hearing aids so when I went back I'd have a list of things to share. Audiologists could easily, without much time, IMO, provide information about telecoils, provide a brochure, flyer, recommend a place to learn more about assistive listening systems (hearing loops, FM, Infrared), include the blue "ear" logo so people would know to look for it and ask for an assistive listening system in places that should have one. I've heard too many people across the country in different HLAA zoom meetings also say their AuD basically poopooed getting telecoils ("it's old technology, there aren't many places around here with hearing loops, there's new technology coming" )--we have to wait for it??? IMO, the best website to learn all about hearing aids and assistive listening systems, ADA and more is http://www.centerforhearingaccess.org. And, we have to not be shy about our hearing loss or wearing hearing aids that are visible. We need to speak up or people will continue to be ignorant of what we need.

Thank you for the information and this website that I was not aware of.