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.

Can you upgrade your internet to get a good signal of at least 10 mb? If your internet is at that speed you should be able to have everything work. You probably need a better router to get the WIFI through the house. Your cell phone will work very well if your have a good internet connection. Most cell carriers have a setting for WIFI calling, that allows you to use the internet for calls, texts, emails. Reply if you have any questions.

Jon Habermann

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@joyces

Do you need to go back to your aid provider to pair your aid(s) with the Pocketalker? I've found that some of the things I've purchased or downloaded don't work with my aid, even though it has a telecoil and worked with an IPhone...until the IPhone had problems and I switched to a Samsung. I was able to get IPhone conversations and driving directions delivered directly into my ear. However, even though I downloaded the app for Samsung to do the same, it doesn't seem to work. I've been interested in the Pocketalker for quite a while, but want to know that it will actually work before investing more money in something that's only marginally (or NOT) helpful.

Part of my problem is that we have zero cell reception here, plus our modem isn't strong enough to provide WiFi for my Samsung phone. When we moved to this house from a city full time six years ago, I'd never have left my cell at home...but, once you get accustomed to not using it at home because it has no reception, it's very easy to leave the house without it! I can't even text or receive texts here.

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A Pocket Talker is basically am amplifier that can be used with a neckloop and telecoil equipped hearing aids in noisy settings. It is not a BlueTooth device that needs to be paired with hearing aids or anything else. It is hardwired to a microphone. You can extend its reach by adding a cord that will connect to the microphone. (Visualize a 10 foot cord running from the device to the speaker on a TV.) The most recent Pocket Talker models include a telecoil. That allows someone to plug into a looped room if their hearing aids don't have telecoils. So, to simplify, the Pocket Talker is a personal amplification device, no pairing, and no need for hearing aids if used with headphones.

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@jh31251

Can you upgrade your internet to get a good signal of at least 10 mb? If your internet is at that speed you should be able to have everything work. You probably need a better router to get the WIFI through the house. Your cell phone will work very well if your have a good internet connection. Most cell carriers have a setting for WIFI calling, that allows you to use the internet for calls, texts, emails. Reply if you have any questions.

Jon Habermann

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Jon, I have the modem provided by Charter...and it's the 7th or 8th modem they provided during the months of setting up internet here. I can't get a strong enough signal via WiFi even when I'm right next to the modem.

How can I tell how fast/strong the signal is...how many mb? I'm afraid to mess with any of our painfully acquired Charter setup to connect to the real world, as, after a few months of off and on 'net and a series of different techs from Charter (each of which claimed the previous fellow had "done it all wrong") we've had good internet service. Can't say the same for TV, though! In addition, Charter has failed to answer any of my questions about closed captions, which we're supposed to have...but only can get on three junk channels. If there were another service available in our isolated location, we'd have it!

I also don't know anything about a setting on my Samsung smartphone for WiFi calling. The smartphone techs in cities can't even comprehend not having cell service, are stunned by the very idea. I've found it extremely difficult to get help or info because all they know is having stable service. In this little town, City Hall has no cell service, unless you can connect to their WiFi. A business less than a quarter mile from the only cell tower in town has zero reception, even though there's nothing between the tower and the store. I can handle computer tech stuff, but dealing with the lack of cell service is apparently far above my pay grade!

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@julieo4

A Pocket Talker is basically am amplifier that can be used with a neckloop and telecoil equipped hearing aids in noisy settings. It is not a BlueTooth device that needs to be paired with hearing aids or anything else. It is hardwired to a microphone. You can extend its reach by adding a cord that will connect to the microphone. (Visualize a 10 foot cord running from the device to the speaker on a TV.) The most recent Pocket Talker models include a telecoil. That allows someone to plug into a looped room if their hearing aids don't have telecoils. So, to simplify, the Pocket Talker is a personal amplification device, no pairing, and no need for hearing aids if used with headphones.

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Julie, thanks for the info. I'm so stupid that I don't understand why the reach can be extended by adding a cord if it's already hardwired to a mic. I'm not buying anything right now, as my supply of hormones that would help me achieve a remission from the return of Meniere's are due to run out in two weeks. Because my primary doc refuses to refill the Rx, that may be the end for me. As it is, the level prescribed isn't quite enough to get a remission, let alone allow me to taper down slowly. So, big struggle right now is to find a way to get another Rx; everything else is small taters right now.

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Sorry for your health issues joyces. To further explain the hardwired issue. Everything plugs in to jacks with these accessories. The headsets or neckloop plug in. And, the microphone plugs in. You can add a cord to the device that will extend the microphone via input jack.

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Google: speedtest.net, hit go and that site with measure your internet speed. I’m checking Samsung phones to see what you need to do there.

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Not all cell companies offer WIFI calling, who is your company?

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I have much experience with Meneres too, what are your issues with that?

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Hi folks. FYI. There is a company that does Bait and switch so to speak-Hear well-they make it sounds like it’s a research program - and if interested they will make sure you get aid. I do not qualify for care credit and told that - they finally after a lot of wasted times- they only do care credit- heads up

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T-Mobile senior plan is the best. It saved my life. I did not have internet all hours( metro pcs even though T-Mobile was bad) . One month later, I discover I had cancer reading a test before Drs saw it- small enough mass that was operated on-alls well. consumer cellular is okay if you have internet otherwise. I hate that company they were crooked with me.

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