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teaching hospitals, research centers, that specialize in hearing loss
I live in central fl (orlando fl) , & have been going to VA for audiology/ hearing aids for years.
I recently have received a 2nd,(replacement pair, for 1st pair of phonaks I returned), Both the phonaks & now resounds ( new hearing aids) are not providing me with speech perception.
Is there a teaching hospital/ research center near me that has in-depth hearing research capability that might help better define & resolve my hearing defect? 2nd opinion?
The fundamental question I ask myself is , how come I can hear the audio/speech well enough from a headset/ear phones. Like tv ears, or sony am fm radio headset, but lousy using my hearing aids??? (and from hearing aid accessories). I realize hearing environment not same,
going on my 2nd second trial of hearing aids (resounds this time), audiologist seems ok, VA seems to have resources, so whats the problem.
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the audiologist did not connect comfort duette to resound. she simply replaced them with the comfort duette.
I can hear a lot clearer with the duette.
problems are limited range of duette.
wired mike to headbuds , your on leash, very clumsy, easy to get wire tangled, you need to have mike correctly positioned to hear. its constant battle with wire. boy would bluetooth be better.
but when you position it right , its way better than hearing aids they gave me. at least the audio is great when you get it correctly aimed.
I still wonder why hearing aids couldnt deliver the same quality audio. mine were always distorted sounding.
I delt with 3 va audiologists.
1st prescribed phonaks, never sounded right
2nd retested me & tried to tweek the phonaks to work better. unsuccessfully..
2nd took my phonaks, & replaced them with resounds & tried to tweek them.
3rd. fitted me with the resounds, & subsequently replaced them with comfort duette.
so I have seen 3 audiologists. best quality sound is $150 buck device, when it is focused right.
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Hug
1 ReactionThat is interesting. I don't know how to help you other than to recommend trying a different provider if the 3 audiologists you saw were all at the same facility. The assistive listening devices can work extremely well, but usually do better when paired with or connected to hearing instruments. Your situation seems quite unusual.
the provider is VA.
just saw new audiologist at va. I am an anomaly !!!! I can perceive speech fairly well with the comfort duette. but do lousy with phonak & resound hearing aids. comfort duettes not perfect. have limited range, & wired. but/but I can hear with them. audiologist mystified. so I am getting to try another hearing aid octigons.
we will see.
my question is still, WHY CAN i HEAR WITH DUETTES, BUT NOT VERY WELL WITH HEARING AIDS?
hearing aids have air tubes & ear pieces, duettes ear buds??
could it be decibal difference??
HA attack/release speeds?
why do my eardrums like the duettes, but not hearing aids
...what are duettes please?
@awilst
Hi
Could you tell us what type of hearing loss you have...mild..moderate...profound? From what you have described you have tried all Behind the Ear Hearing Aids...is that true?
This is my take....the Duette is just an amplifier as you know and you have to position the ear buds just so for maximum listening. You need the sound going as close as possible into your ear canal. If my hearing aid mould is getting loose I often just push it in a little for better and louder sound. You would probably have the same result with an over the counter hearing aid type of amplifier . But these could damage your hearing.
This is telling me you may do better with a receiver in the ear type of hearing aid or even an entirely in the ear type of aid. I would try them even if your audiologists don’t think your level of hearing loss would qualify for a less powerful device. Phonaks are powerful...I wear 2 BTEs. Be a little persistent on trying this type as you have nothing to lose at this point.
As for the earbuds, the only way I can hear out of my right ear when I connect earbuds to my phone is if I really push the bud on and hold it. I have profound loss.
I remember the old analog hearing aids and how loud and crisp they sounded. If they were still around (and maybe they are) I would love to try it just for fun.
Let us know your next step and I know it is frustrating...and you don’t fit the audiologist’s profile. I think you have tried enough aids and had enough tweaking at this point.
FL Mary
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1 Reactionlast I checked , I have severe loss. Yes , the HA are behind the ear. yes , sometimes I have to play with the buds to get decent sound. BUT, I do get the sound & perceive speech. lot better then HAs.
audiologists say , I should think about implant.
but I can hear with duette.
go figure?
somewhere on this web site I think I posted my audiogram. mabe on separate discussion.
Would you please tell me what Duettes are?
Thankyou.
Ainsleigh
Ainsleigh, I believe that @awilst is referring to hearing amplifiers. The product is called Comfort Duett. It's a small rechargeable hearing amplifier designed to improve communication in difficult listening situations. At least that's what the website claims:
https://www.oaktreeproducts.com/comfort-duett-with-headphones-earbuds-f00654