Hearing loss: How do you identify yourself to others?

@mikepa, what led you to choose Starkey hearing aids? Are these your first hearing aids? If not, how do the Starkey aids perform compared to earlier set(s)?

@quitachiver, great idea. How did you have it made, Good Luck. Teresa

@quiteachiver76, GREAT IDEA. HOW DID YOU HAVE IT MADE? GOOD LUCK TERESA

@editored
Hi,
I have used the Williams Pocket Talker Ultra with the directional mic. What I found is that, after several years when my hearing progressed to bilateral profound, it was no longer effective. The sound quality went downhill. It did little tomaidmunderstanding. I lost the directional mic but still have the unit that I have tried from time to time with the neck loop and still am unsatisfied with it.

I wear Phonaks and trialed the Icom which is a Phonak brand. Wearing the receiver around the neck and giving the attached mic to someone, I used it in as many noisey situations as possible. It was not effective in the car, at a noisey church dinner, in a restaurant etc. It was superb for TV and quiet situations only...two situations I did not need it for. I gave the mic to my gym instructor and, while I could hear him as I was walking away from him to the back of the gym room, I did not understand what he was saying. I still need to face people to understand. It did not help when I was facing the front, in the first row. There was too much ambient noise in the car and the church dinner, also the restaurant.

I could try the Phonak Roger pen but the price is ridiculous and I doubt the outcome would be different and then I would be tethered to Phonaks only. I use a T Link for my landline phone, Innocaption for my cell and a captioned app called Live Transcribe. I used the app in an incredibly noisey restaurant last night for,the waiter
and with 2 of the people at my table. Captions for TV with the sound on are just fine.

I hate having to wear receivers but wouldn’t mind if you didn’t have to clip mics on everyone. I can trial the Roger pen for free and was thinking about doing that for very busy events coming up in May but hate having to hold a very small Roger pen...so easy to lose. Hmmmmm maybe.

The best advice I got for understanding conversation was to repeat back to someone what it was I DID hear and ask for the rest
without having them repeat the whole sentence or conversation. I like to remind myself to use the words “Sorry, I didn’t understand you” rather than “I didn’t hear you.” I hear but didnt understand....another little attempt at self advocacy.

I really like Live Transcribe...available on Goggle Play store for free. Used it yesterday also at my dentist when I removed my aids (because of all the water spraying) and had him point to it when he wanted to say something. It’s not always accurate but I like that you don’t have to hold it close to your mouth and you can put it on the table, and you click on the app to open it and it starts recording. I’ve tried a few of these...they’re getting better. One day people will be able to turn on captioned holograms when they speak.....why not? What a wonderful world!

Another thing I like about these apps is that you are holding a cell phone (who isn’t) and when people see what’s going on and why, it’s another step forward in educating the hearing world.

Regards and stepping down from my soapbox now.
Mary

@bobbiefriend
Hi,

Audiologist needs to know more about assisted devices since so many are proprietary and they’re selling these brand hearing aids. I I lucked out on a passionate Audi who is so interested in this field and she is the one who lets me trial the devices with no money upfront. She wants to know what I know...like Innocaption for example, so she can pass it on to others.

She loves that I retube my own aids and gives me free tubing. I read a lot about hearing aids and assisted devices , love that research is being done....maybe in my grandchildren lifetime they may be able to regenerate the ear’s hair cells.

Regards from Mary

Hi @capausz. These Starkey's are my 4th pair. Prior to these I had an Oticon and Phonak. The Starkey's are ok, but due to lack of listening by my audiologist when I bought them, they don't include a telecom. Which was one of the important features I was looking for in a new pair. I didn't realize it until I went to the HLAA Convention last year and found I couldn't take advantage of the hearing loops in all the rooms. I was quite pissed off. Overall they are good, but they are Starkey's 1st pass at an Apple compatible HA and I think they need to work on the app some more. My next pair will probably be the Oticon Opn with telecoil. Of the 4 I've had, Oticon is the pair I felt happiest with overall. I plan on talking to all of the manufacturer's reps at the Convention in Rochester to learn about all of them before making a decision. Another issue for me is when HA's get wet or sweat on them. I can't wear my Starkey's in the yard working in summer as the sweat gets in them and knocks them off. I didn't have same problem with Oticon's.

@mikepa

About the Tcoil. I don’t see why a Tcoil couldn’t be added to your hearing aid if there is enough room inside...it’s only a copper wire. And shame for that Audi for not automocally including it.

They make sweatbands for BTEs bit at a ridiculous price. I have actually wrapped Saran Wrap around mine in the beauty parlor . It crackles a little bit if you touch it but you can still hear . I plan on making a pair someday with waterproof material...a little hand stitching....or maybe a material like an elastic bandage which would be porous enough to let sound through. Try wrapping a small piece of this stuff for a temporary fix.

Regards from Mary

@imallears That's what I thought about the T-coil, but was told it can't be added. So now I know to look for the letter T after the model number. My Starkey had a T-coil model, they didn't show it to me. About sweat, I found what I call hearing aid 'condoms' that you can slip over the HA. You just have to remember to slip it on before going out in heat or hot yoga. I keep one with my yoga stuff and put it on before class. I wish they could make the HA's with a more moisture proof coating so you don't have to remember to slip the covering on.

GOOD ANSWER

I am also heading to purchase another set of HAs. Just had a hearing test at Starkey’s home office in Eden Prairie,MN. It was so thorough. Tuned them up, cleaned, and counseled about use of the product. Glad I did it. I’m also a proactive with my hearing loss. Would love to hearing what aids you lie. Thanks for posting.