What are your favorite apps for hearing loss or tools you use?

Posted by futuretech @futuretech, Oct 2, 2020

Hi all, technology is moving so fast right now, and I have never felt like my audiologist has been on the cutting edge. Personally, I have had hearing loss for thirty years, I know there is not one solution or one specific hearing aid that solves everything. I'd love to learn about the small things people have found that have made a difference. For me zoom captions have helped a lot lately, but masks are hard when in public. Any tips are appreciated!

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@futuretech I use Otter in many situations and am very pleased with it. I might use it at the cash register when shopping or with store clerks, sometimes conversations with others who are difficult to understand, with doctors, you name it!

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@jett215

Thank you for that information. I didn’t know you could use an adapter to give the mono a stereo sound. I used to think there was a problem with the Pocketalker when I first received it

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@jett215, Just to clarify...It's not a true stereo sound but it at least puts the same signal to both ears instead of only one. This is not a recommendation, but here's an adapter that will work: https://smile.amazon.com/Monoprice-107128-Stereo-Adaptor-Plated/dp/B002N1XMPO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=23J8ZCBZ5H0C5&dchild=1&keywords=stereo+mono+adapter&qid=1602184417&sprefix=stereo+mono+ad%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-3
Tony in Michigan

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@tonyinmi

@jett215, Just to clarify...It's not a true stereo sound but it at least puts the same signal to both ears instead of only one. This is not a recommendation, but here's an adapter that will work: https://smile.amazon.com/Monoprice-107128-Stereo-Adaptor-Plated/dp/B002N1XMPO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=23J8ZCBZ5H0C5&dchild=1&keywords=stereo+mono+adapter&qid=1602184417&sprefix=stereo+mono+ad%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-3
Tony in Michigan

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Thank you Tony, just ordered the adapter from Amazon!

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Does anyone get frustrated with Thei hearing loss? I do . My sister says that I take it out on her. What do you do to control it?

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Also my hearing loss is a big problem with communication what do you think would help with miss communication I really need to work on a relationship We both get frustrated when I don’t hear when my sister is tired of repeating she will just give up

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@bigmqama

Also my hearing loss is a big problem with communication what do you think would help with miss communication I really need to work on a relationship We both get frustrated when I don’t hear when my sister is tired of repeating she will just give up

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Me: I got high-frequency hearing loss. That means I have trouble hearing people who do not work hard enough on their sibilants. I would like to find some easy-to-understand some instruction to inform such speakers how to make their speech crisper and hissier. I am totally tired of trying to explain. My lady is of the Swedish kind, and somehow those people have learned how to speak on the inhale.

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One of the most important things you can do to help your relationship is: Ask the other person to get your attention before speaking. If we are not alert to listening, we will nearly always misunderstand what was said. We usually respond with "HUH" or "WHAT" and that gets their dander up. We cannot be on high alert all the time, so that tap on the shoulder, clearing of the throat, or saying our name gives us a chance to prepare to listen. Another thing you should know, and be able to explain is: It often takes a person with hearing loss up to 5 seconds to respond to a simple question or statement. Our brains take a bit more time to digest what we're hearing when we have to guess at some of it. This has nothing to do with cognition or intellect. It's a norm to be spontaneous. We are not within that 'norm' as hard of hearing people. Our brains work overtime to hear.

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@bigmqama

Does anyone get frustrated with Thei hearing loss? I do . My sister says that I take it out on her. What do you do to control it?

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@bigmqama Read Books about anger management, go to a psychoanalyst.. You need help, we all do. Life is a trial.. having hearing loss is just another burden, there are many out there with worse burdens to bear..

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@julieo4

One of the most important things you can do to help your relationship is: Ask the other person to get your attention before speaking. If we are not alert to listening, we will nearly always misunderstand what was said. We usually respond with "HUH" or "WHAT" and that gets their dander up. We cannot be on high alert all the time, so that tap on the shoulder, clearing of the throat, or saying our name gives us a chance to prepare to listen. Another thing you should know, and be able to explain is: It often takes a person with hearing loss up to 5 seconds to respond to a simple question or statement. Our brains take a bit more time to digest what we're hearing when we have to guess at some of it. This has nothing to do with cognition or intellect. It's a norm to be spontaneous. We are not within that 'norm' as hard of hearing people. Our brains work overtime to hear.

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I have had hearing aides for 3 years now, and my wife of 50 years and I have it worked out that if she says somethin in another room when I don't have my hearing aides on, I just say "I don't have my ears on" and she knows we need to meet in the same room to have a conversation.

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@bigmqama

Does anyone get frustrated with Thei hearing loss? I do . My sister says that I take it out on her. What do you do to control it?

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I get very frustrated also, mostly with my husband. In spite of discussing my hearing loss many times he continues to talk to me when standing behind me, or when he is in another room. Also when he is on the computer and there are voices coming from the computer or when we are driving, the fan is on and he is looking straight ahead. Various other situations as well. He just doesn't get it. He does have the beginning of old age dementia and forgets a lot so I try to be mindful of that. But I am getting tired of having the same conversations over and over. I say the Serenity Prayer a lot, sometimes over and over and it helps. Meditating helps and going for a walk.

I know I am not to blame for my hearing loss (neither are you for yours) but sometimes when others get angry with because of it, I do feel at fault.... have been working on that, trying to remember that those who can hear well cannot possibly understand what this is like. My husband has hearing loss also so I thought he would understand but it often seems like he does not. The situation calls for patience from both of us. I wish for you good luck and patience in working on communication with your sister. Judy

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