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!

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

@sunnyone

Hi Tony, Thank you so much for your thoughts. I am beginning to research remote mics again after an unfortunate experience with my first hearing aids. I do have an iPhone and love the Blue Tooth streaming ability. Is there a remote mic you particularly have found useful? Phonak's remote products are very expensive...so looking around first before going that route. Appreciate any brand names and other helpful tips you have discoverd!

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@sunnyone I have Resound Linx 3D hearing aids and use their Micro Mic. It has an 80 feet range and has a USB type jack for charging. The cost was $250 from my audiologist. Phonak has a similar product. Resound also has a Multi Mic, which is the same as the Mini Mic but also has a telecoil and a jack for direct connection to an audio source (anything that has a headphone jack). I think the Multi Mic may have additional microphones to help in conference room situations. I'm not sure of the cost of the Multi Mic. Phonak makes the Roger Pen, which may be comparable to the Resound Multi Mic (I don't think it has a telecoil though).
Tony in Michigan

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@ken82

@sunnyone My Starkey remote mic came with the Hearing Aid given to me from the VA.. it works well with phone calls in particular.. The clip that would allow you to wear it on a thin fabric shirt broke the first week.. so I hang it on a lanyard around my neck.. Ken

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@ken82 It's ironic that my Resound Micro Mic broke similar to your Starkey mic. I had it just over a year, which is the warranty period (go figure). Anyway, you'd think for the cost, the quality would be much better. To fix mine, I took a small piece of thin double-sided tape to attach the clip to the unit. It doesn't swivel, but it will still clip to a shirt.
Tony in Michigan

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@sunnyone

Hi Julie, Many thanks for your reply to my questions and concerns. I really like my audiologist but it seems as though such a huge practice could be a bit more helpful in providing actual resources and training for assistive devices.Thank goodness for forums like this where we can help each other. My hearing aids do have active telecoils but I have never really experienced that in public. I also have not tried the assistive devices for text/captions in theaters yet. That is on my list. Right not the remote mic is number one. I just learned how expensive the two Phonak remote mic products are. There is also a TV connector that can stream BlueTooth directly to my aids, but the audiologist says there are much less expensive versions out there that require a few more steps to pair. I am wondering if the remote mic could serve both the TV , as Ken suggests, and social situations. I so appreciate recommendations by others who are struggling with these issues...especially brand name recommendations and other workaround tips. I love the creativity and the generous spirit here!

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Hi Sunnyone .... I ordered a remote for my Oticon hearing aids a will pick it up next week. Very excited to try it out in conversation with others, also hoping like you that it will help in other ways like placing it by the computer or TV... we'll see.
My audi never mentioned the remote to me.... Found out about it through this group and asked her. It's like we have to know everything first then ask. Not all audiologists are like this but enough seem to be that it is a problem as a few on this site have mentioned. So we are lucky to have this group.... so helpful and supportive. Good luck to you. Judy

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@judyca7

Hi Sunnyone .... I ordered a remote for my Oticon hearing aids a will pick it up next week. Very excited to try it out in conversation with others, also hoping like you that it will help in other ways like placing it by the computer or TV... we'll see.
My audi never mentioned the remote to me.... Found out about it through this group and asked her. It's like we have to know everything first then ask. Not all audiologists are like this but enough seem to be that it is a problem as a few on this site have mentioned. So we are lucky to have this group.... so helpful and supportive. Good luck to you. Judy

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You are right on target about 'having to know everything' when going to an audiologist to be able to get what you might need for your hearing loss. Audiologists should have an Assistive Device Demo Center available, either in their practice or one they can refer their 'patients' to. The high cost of hearing aids is a shock to most first time buyers, so they are hesitant to suggest assistive devices that will raise the price. Also, the technology changes rapidly, so buying something today that may be 'old stuff' in a year is also an issue. It helps so much to participate in groups like HLAA chapters that bring hard of hearing people together to discuss what works for them and also what doesn't. This is especially difficult during COVID when we cannot get together in person. There are some interesting pod casts and Zoom recordings on the HLAA website that might be helpful. And, all of them are captioned. http://www.hearingloss.org So many have said that there are no HLAA chapters in their area. Reality: There were no chapters anywhere a few decades ago. People who seek help start them. There are people who need them everywhere. It's just a matter of finding a way to get them together.

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Hello: I have trouble with tinnitus and use sound apps to try and lessen the problem. I came across and app today called AudioCardio that is supposed to help with improving your hearing....2 week free trial...then $12.99/month....don't want to spend that much....anyone use it or know of something similar? Thanks.

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@scottk

Hello: I have trouble with tinnitus and use sound apps to try and lessen the problem. I came across and app today called AudioCardio that is supposed to help with improving your hearing....2 week free trial...then $12.99/month....don't want to spend that much....anyone use it or know of something similar? Thanks.

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I'm unfamiliar with that app. Let us know if you try it.

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@scottk

Hello: I have trouble with tinnitus and use sound apps to try and lessen the problem. I came across and app today called AudioCardio that is supposed to help with improving your hearing....2 week free trial...then $12.99/month....don't want to spend that much....anyone use it or know of something similar? Thanks.

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@scottk, I moved your question about the AudioCardio https://audiocardio.com/ app for tinnitus and hearing to this discussion about best apps for hearing loss to connect you with other members trying out apps.

it looks like AudioCardio offers a free trial period before you would have to commit to paying for it. But the trial is only 14 days long. I'm not sure you would see significant differences in that short time period. I'd be interested to get your review should you decide to trial it.

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@colleenyoung

@scottk, I moved your question about the AudioCardio https://audiocardio.com/ app for tinnitus and hearing to this discussion about best apps for hearing loss to connect you with other members trying out apps.

it looks like AudioCardio offers a free trial period before you would have to commit to paying for it. But the trial is only 14 days long. I'm not sure you would see significant differences in that short time period. I'd be interested to get your review should you decide to trial it.

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Hi!
I tried to link to the site, but my security stopped me indicating it may
be a bad site. Can you confirm if it is a site you trust prior to my
overriding the warning?

Thanks!

Deb

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@stella52

Hi!
I tried to link to the site, but my security stopped me indicating it may
be a bad site. Can you confirm if it is a site you trust prior to my
overriding the warning?

Thanks!

Deb

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@stella52 The link for the audiocardio app is safe.
Tony in Michigan

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@scottk

Hello: I have trouble with tinnitus and use sound apps to try and lessen the problem. I came across and app today called AudioCardio that is supposed to help with improving your hearing....2 week free trial...then $12.99/month....don't want to spend that much....anyone use it or know of something similar? Thanks.

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@scottk I do not have any experience with AudioCardio. Some say that the sounds that crickets make gives some relief. Others have said that "white noise" or "pink noise" generators have helped. You may want to search that criteria to see what's out there.
Tony in Michigan

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