Loss of hearing clarity: Solutions or strategies anyone?

One of the vast improvements in going into two hearing aids mode was better handling of background noises. Intereswy in 1979 with my correct diagnosis of being hearing impaired , that did not happen. I do remember being encouraged to have two hearing aids but never an explanation why until my 50’s. I am safer riding a bike because I distinguish sounds better. . FYI

I wish I qualified for a CI. I think people should qualify for one on their deaf ear no matter what their ‘good ear’ can hear. The world is best heard in stereo! I can’t tell where sound is coming from because with single sided deafness there’s no directionality... it makes life very confusing and dangerous. I try to look at the drivers seat before walking behind vehicles in parking lots to make sure no one’s there to back up into me.

@judysmayo
Hi,
I have 2 aids and can get by fine with using just one in my good ear. However, wearing 2 does not help too much in determining the source of the sound. I hear it but not always sure where it is coming from. This is true mainly outdoors. You get use to familiar daily sounds but an unexpected noise can leave you guessing... not only where it is coming from but what the heck is it. My loss is profound and I have been a hearing aid user for 40 years. Like you, I rely on visual cues...it’s second nature to most of us. We’re always watching and on the alert which is why we’re so tired at the end of the day.
I can understand why single sided deafness can be a challenge. Any amplification in that ear however small would be a blessing. Others here will know more about qualifying for a CI or how the BiCros hearing aid works and if there are other options to explore for you.

Regards from FL Mary

@bookysue
Hi,
Absolutely right...wearing 2 aids is safer...sort of like surround sound for us and may help somewhat in determining the source of sound. However, when the noise is overwhelming, I need to mute or take out the left (bad) ear for comfort.

Regards from FL Mary

@imallers I found that when I use my super dryer for my h.aids I can turn my T.V.down .

@lioness
The old moisture problem. My aids are in a Dry and Store nightly. This is the time of the year the humidity soars in Florida and sweaty ears lead to distorted hearing. When I am out for the day I throw a hearing aid blower in my bag. It’s a small bulb like thing. I have to twist off the tube and just blow the dry air through it a few times. You don’t want the moisture to blow back up into the aid so twisting off the tubing is a must. Moisture collects in BTEs. I re tube my own aids so I am use to doing stuff like this. I’ve tried low moisture tubing but don’t see the difference. Did you ever notice how much better you hear in cooler weather...or even cold weather? Although I have been in freezing weather when on vacation and, if out too long, that extreme cold affects the sound quality at times. But then my eyeballs are freezing too. I dunno.

My tv volume tends to be low. I guess it’s because the distance from me to the tv is not that far or maybe it’s just a good tv volume wise. Sounds loud enough for me. Other people have to turn it up.

Regards from hot hot hot ....and it’s just the start....FL

i have hearing loss at age 79 my is due to age and Disco damage i think. I purchased a Phonak M rechargeable for my left ear only.
can hear on my right ok. Hopefully soon as technology moving fast . I will get an implant.
Dan

"Disco" damage? 😊 I have also thought my inability to hear clearly was due to the loud music at the discotechs (standing by the humongous speakers) because there was no other spaces available. "If that's what you mean by,"disco";or was it a corrector type error and you meant to write,"Disc".? 😁 But yet,my loss of clarity didn't start back in the 70's,but in late 80;s when I was in my 20's and I'm 60 yrs old now. So I don't believe my hearing impairment comes from aging.. And to boot,one audiologist told me,back in 1994,that there will never be a listening device that provides clarity. ...As if she were in disbelief that the sounds I hear are garbled and seems as if everyone were mumbling...on purpose! Ah,what the hey;I suppose I liked your post and wanted to share a bit of my history as well. Thanks for reading. My name is Irene.

Clarity solutions for me has been a problem of communicating effectively with the audiologist as to what I am not understanding. The hearing test allows them to set the decibels according to the frequencies their test tells them needs enhancement (increased decibels). HOWEVER it has been my experience that those tests do not always indicate what you are hearing in real life (as opposed to the tones in the hearing booth) Adjusting their settings according to what you tell them is educated guessing on their part. I have required multiple "fitting"(as in a dozen more or less) for them to adjust the decibels of different frequencies to a point where it works for me. Using hearing aids that have multiple programs helps a lot. I have them leave the original program. Add an adjusted program. Compare the 2 then return to let them know what I experience. Again add a 3rd program leaving the first 2 and again comparing. Repeat until all programs are used. Checking each program in different environments. Car. TV. Restaurants. One on one conversations. Meetings. Deciding which work best (finding some work better than others in different environments.) Then eliminate any that are not that good. If need be, replace those with any additional adjustments.

Recently, I found sites on line for student audiologists to practice on. They have tones at the different test frequencies used by audiologists.
Wearing my hearing aids, I set the computer volume at what seems to be a normal and comfortable level for the 2000 frequency (test middle value) then I compare either side (1000 and 3000) to the volume level of the 2000 and record whether it seems louder of softer of about the same. Then compare the 1000 to the 500 and record the same result louder or softer and then the 500 compare to the 250.

Then I go in the other direction comparing and recording the result 3000 to 4000 to 6000 to 8000.
Now the hard part. I have the audiologist create a program that balances the volumes according to adjusting up or down volumes based on the adjustment variation from what ever THEIR original 1500 setting is. I can then compare that program to others.
I find applying this to the original, while also being prepared to give a verbal account of what I am hearing to the audiologist, for them to create a modified original the way they usually do, (leaving the original as is) that gives me 3 programs to compare.

I find my method gives a pretty good balanced volume where one frequency of sound does not drown out other frequencies. Also any frequency that is not effectively being heard by MY ears will be increased which I find makes all the difference in the world for clarity. Many audiologists use a technology that they charge an arm and a leg for (usually built into the higher pricing of their hearing aids) called real-ear measurement, which tells them what sound is actually getting to your ear to see if it corresponds to your audiogram... different things can cause a variance. My method allows me, I believe, to be able to tell more precisely what I am ACTUALLY hearing... and be able to effectively communicate that to the audiologist. I find some reluctance from audiologists to do as I request, possible they think I am telling them how to do their job and might be offended BUT I tell them I am just attempting to give them all the information I can so they can give me the best possible hearing experience from my hearing aids.

I realize this is probably too much information but use it or not as you desire.
Hearing aid users note that you can have your audiologist do a new test on you and adjust your aids if your hearing has changed. (and then get adjustments to the new settings as needed) When you are looking for a new hearing aid, find out how many years you can get adjustments from them at what charge? Some are free for 3 years. Some may limit to 3 free adjustments then $25 or much more per adjustment.