Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

I love that Costco allows such a long trial period. Other providers should consider this too. 30 days just isn't long enough to test hearing instruments, and that has been especially true during the pandemic.

Reality though, is that background noise is a 'monster' for people with hearing loss; aided or unaided. We will still have trouble understanding speech in very noisy settings.

While it's not possible to resolve completely, I have helped myself by using add on technology. I've been using a hand held microphone for decades. The first that I used required 'direct audio input' in the hearing aids. I literally plugged in a tiny hand held mike, with a cord, to the hearing aid. That technology has evolved to wireless microphones that are available with some hearing aids. I don't know if the Kirkland model you have, has that feature. Other models that Costco sells do have it.

The mike I use now is a BlueTooth device. It's wireless and works quite well, especially in situations like you described...a couple of adult voices near you in an environment with a bunch of kids having fun.

The downside of the mike for some people is stigma related. It shows. I learned that didn't matter years ago with the corded variety when someone at a cocktail party asked what I was using, followed by the statement "That's really cool! I didn't know you were smart." I realized then, that my non participation in group conversation was a huge negative for me. It motivated me to educate others on what assistive tech can do.

Just sharing this because it has been a true game changer for me; one that took place a few decades ago.

Keep us posted on how those hearing aids work for you, and also on how the provider offers help and suggestions. Good luck!

@julieo4
Thank you for the suggestions. I assume any Bluetooth mike that will pair with my HA would work. I looked on Amazon and there are quite a few choices and price ranges.

I honestly don't know if those BT mikes will work with the hearing aids you have. I have a cochlear implant, so the brand I'm using is Cochlear. It does NOT work with my hearing aid, but the reason it doesn't is that the aid is the wrong brand to be compatible with the Cochlear system. Next hearing aid will be.

Hello. I'm new to the group. I have a young nephew who has progressive hearing loss in one ear. He has a hearing aid (which he doesn't like using, I think) but the family is thinking of getting a cochlear implant. We are in Queens, NY.

We found a surgeon that a lot of people seem to recommend, except he doesn't take the family's insurance. And he is in the city, which is problematic because traveling with the kids is challenging. We found a surgeon in Queens but we can't find anyone who has had a CI surgery with this surgeon. Are there ways to find out more information on the surgeon, even talk to prior patients? Thanks.

@mazeppabob I think the newer hearing aids MAY pick up the audio from a standard Bluetooth microphone but I'm not certain. You should ask your audiologist before spending any money. You should be able to buy a streamer device from the manufacturer of your hearing aid that will get a Bluetooth signal to your aids. You would have to carry that streamer device with you, typically hanging from a lanyard around your neck, when you wanted to listen via a paired Bluetooth device.
Tony in Michigan

Welcome to the group, Jeff. I might suggest that you start a new discussion in the Hearing Loss group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/hearing-loss/ and ask the group what to look for in a CI surgeon. It would be a very useful discussion, not only for you, but also for others who are considering a Cochlear implant.

Would you mind starting a new discussion?

As an experienced semi-retired school Band and Orchestra Director, I was disappointed to recently discover the hearing in my right ear is seriously diminished by a "schwannoma (sp?)," on my eardrum. ENT said it cannot be removed by surgery. Since I now direct a New Horizons Band (www.newhorizonsmusic.org), it is quite vexing. During Covid-19 I bought hearing aids at Costco without much improvement. After learning that most Audiologists have little or no training for working with musicians, I contacted "Sensaphonic" in Chicago to locate an Audiologist in my state (NC). I've contacted her office but have not yet had an appointment.
There is an organization named Association of Adult Musicians with Hearing Loss (AAMHL). Their website has a great deal of valuable information, including testimonials for some of their members. I've found it quite useful and informative.

Will do, thanks.

Hi, I'm new to the group as well. Last week I went for what I thought would be a baseline hearing test and was shocked to learn I'm a good candidate for two over-the-ear hearing aids! I'd noticed some minor shifts such as not hearing the ice cream truck tune as soon as my husband could and sometimes seeing one of our cats meow but not hearing anything. My husband can't hear those meows, either, and we joked they were "silent meows." Both my father and his mother had significant hearing loss but I didn't expect this in my late 50's!

I'm happy to "meet" you all and I may be back when it comes time to decide on which hearing aids to get. I don't know yet which ones are covered by our insurance.

Hi Len, great to see another musician on Mayo Clinic Connect. My axe is the French horn. What's your primary instrument? I just visited the New Horizons website https://newhorizonsmusic.org/ It sure looks like a lot of fun.

For anyone else interested, here's the link to the Association of Adult Musicians with Hearing Loss https://www.musicianswithhearingloss.org/wp/ The title of one blog listed on the website struck a chord (pun intended) with me "Deafened but Not Silent."

Have you considered getting a second opinion about the operability or treatment of your acoustic neuroma, also known as vestibular schwannoma? Note that a risk factor with surgery is also hearing loss.