Loss of hearing clarity: Solutions or strategies anyone?

Posted by JK @contentandwell, Feb 24, 2019

I have in the last couple of years lost hearing clarity. Apparently, somewhere between my auditory nerves and my brain, there is something like a disconnect. The decibels at which I hear has not changed. This clarity loss can be age-related, and I have read that it can also possibly be related to having had cirrhosis, or to taking immunosuppressants - that all seems pretty unclear though. I have been wearing hearing aids since around 2004.

Has anyone else had this type of problem and if so how do you compensate for it? I get emails from CHC -- Center for Hearing and Communications which is NYC and Florida and a book was mentioned recently that can be purchased on Amazon, "Smart Hearing: Strategies, Skills, and Resources for Living Better with Hearing Loss" by Katherine Bouton. I am thinking about purchasing it but wondered if any others have this problem too. I have Oticon Opn1 hearing aids and purchased the "Connect Clip" which helps in some situations.
Thanks for any responses.
JK

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

I bought the book Smart Hearing. If anyone would like it let me know. I am done reading it. Thanks!

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@scottk

I bought the book Smart Hearing. If anyone would like it let me know. I am done reading it. Thanks!

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Hi Scott, I just read a brief summary of the book and it sounds great. yes, I'd love to have it, if no one else has responded to your offer.

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@scottk

I bought the book Smart Hearing. If anyone would like it let me know. I am done reading it. Thanks!

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@scottk @sparklegram I bought the ebook version to read on my IPad. I haven't gotten very far with it, I actually forgot about it, but I will get back to it this week. Thanks for reminding me.
JK

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Does anyone know of a list of recommended handsets that are good for t-coil use? I struggled at my job (retired) as a receptionist trying to understand clients on the office phone. It was listed as ha compatible but I only got a buzz when I turned on my t-coil. I have purchased and returned several handsets at home with the same problem.
I do use an i-phone with my bluetooth compatible Resound hearing aids. That is fantastic and has made phone conversations possible. Unfortunately, I live in an area with poor cell service, some days no connection. A landline is still needed. So my search for a handset continues.

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@robinraig

Does anyone know of a list of recommended handsets that are good for t-coil use? I struggled at my job (retired) as a receptionist trying to understand clients on the office phone. It was listed as ha compatible but I only got a buzz when I turned on my t-coil. I have purchased and returned several handsets at home with the same problem.
I do use an i-phone with my bluetooth compatible Resound hearing aids. That is fantastic and has made phone conversations possible. Unfortunately, I live in an area with poor cell service, some days no connection. A landline is still needed. So my search for a handset continues.

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@robinraig
I have a Captel landline at home that has a jack on the side and I loop Ear Links over my hearing aid. This eliminates any buzz and brings the voice right to my ear. Can order online. Not sure if the standard office phone has a jack and if it does, you need to find out how big it is....example it may be 3 millimeters. I understand the buzz problem and even supposedly Tcoil compatible and hearing aid compatible phones are ineffective. There are also neckloops that you can wear but they also have to be plugged into a phone.
Consider ordering a Captel phone for home...you can read the captions and hear at the same time. Captel phones work for businesses but it depends on their phone system and whether your company is willing to accommodate you. There is no special number involved. Since my hearing loss is profound, I can no longer hear on the Captel with an earlink or neckloop. You may not need one.
My Tcoil is set to have some regular mic sound which means I can hear on the phone but also get some hearing if someone is next to me speaking to me.

Hope this helps
Regards from Florida Mary

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@imallears

@robinraig
I have a Captel landline at home that has a jack on the side and I loop Ear Links over my hearing aid. This eliminates any buzz and brings the voice right to my ear. Can order online. Not sure if the standard office phone has a jack and if it does, you need to find out how big it is....example it may be 3 millimeters. I understand the buzz problem and even supposedly Tcoil compatible and hearing aid compatible phones are ineffective. There are also neckloops that you can wear but they also have to be plugged into a phone.
Consider ordering a Captel phone for home...you can read the captions and hear at the same time. Captel phones work for businesses but it depends on their phone system and whether your company is willing to accommodate you. There is no special number involved. Since my hearing loss is profound, I can no longer hear on the Captel with an earlink or neckloop. You may not need one.
My Tcoil is set to have some regular mic sound which means I can hear on the phone but also get some hearing if someone is next to me speaking to me.

Hope this helps
Regards from Florida Mary

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Thanks. That might work for home. Unfortunately, the work phone was a multiple handset system. The base was nowhere near my desk and the portable I used did not have a jack. My boss is beginning to have a hearing loss, so they may be looking for new phone system in the future.

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Hi. My hearing loss has worsened since I have gotten older. I have always had difficulty making out words. I can hear the tone, but can’t make out the word. Is that what you’re talking about? There are some things you just cannot change about this. It is always helpful when communicating one on one for the person to speak directly in front of you. There are times though when I think for sure I understand what they said, and then I find out it was totally wrong.
All in all, you are not alone. 😁

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@joangela

Hi. My hearing loss has worsened since I have gotten older. I have always had difficulty making out words. I can hear the tone, but can’t make out the word. Is that what you’re talking about? There are some things you just cannot change about this. It is always helpful when communicating one on one for the person to speak directly in front of you. There are times though when I think for sure I understand what they said, and then I find out it was totally wrong.
All in all, you are not alone. 😁

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You might want to watch the TEDx video that I posted a couple of days ago. It is likely relevant to your issues.

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@robinraig

Thanks. That might work for home. Unfortunately, the work phone was a multiple handset system. The base was nowhere near my desk and the portable I used did not have a jack. My boss is beginning to have a hearing loss, so they may be looking for new phone system in the future.

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Thanks. This is all good information to help us hard of hearing! I have two year old Phonaks(Audeo 70) BTE that did not have bluetooth capability which I wish they had since my hearing loss has gotten worse during this time. I am retired but participate on several different boards(meetings are tough to hear!)....I like to try different bells and whistles and am currently trying out the Phonak Compilot II which is basically a neck loop that converts bluetooth to T-coil and am somewhat happy with the set up....phone calls work well and playing music from phone eliminates earbuds/headphones for working out. You can also utilize for TV's but I have had limited success with that part of it. The unit is $300 bucks and will probably buy it. Going forward I think bluetooth or something similar will be the way to go. Keep up the conversations! I find them very helpful. Have a nice day!

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@joangela

Hi. My hearing loss has worsened since I have gotten older. I have always had difficulty making out words. I can hear the tone, but can’t make out the word. Is that what you’re talking about? There are some things you just cannot change about this. It is always helpful when communicating one on one for the person to speak directly in front of you. There are times though when I think for sure I understand what they said, and then I find out it was totally wrong.
All in all, you are not alone. 😁

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I certainly agree that conversations are easier when people do not turn their backs while talking to me. There are tone levels that some individuals have that I always have difficulty hearing well and if they turn from directly facing me, I can hear their voice, however muffled and unable to distinguish their words.

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