No one likes to repeat themselves, apparently

For some of us, it's far more than simply not hearing: it's hearing that someone is speaking, but not being able to decode what's being said. Some of us have, in addition to low levels of hearing, distortion. That's really hard to explain, especially since it doesn't make good sense to me, the person who has it! Between recruitment and distortion, hearing loss isn't really the problem. Fortunately, both are not as bad as they were before I was able to get on a good hormone replacement program, but they're still present.

Because our neighbors are deer, elk, and other wildlife, they don't run any machines. The road is far enough away that I can't hear the occasional car, either. But, there's a really big machine in the partial basement under my bedroom, or so it seems. I know that (a) I'm not supposed to wear my hearing aid when I mow or use the chainsaw or other noisy things, and (b) should use earplugs if I can't avoid something noisy...but, I forget, and then I listen to a rerun of the lawnmower or chainsaw or whatever during the night. I believe that many of the non-existent sounds we hear are sounds we actually DID hear once upon a time. I know that hearing the dishwasher run while I'm in my office is acoustic hallucinations, as I haven't actually heard a dishwasher clearly for a long time, unless I'm wearing the aid and standing right next to it. Even then, I don't hear water swishing, just a faint noise...but, sitting in the quiet of my office, I clearly "hear" the dishwasher, just as I was able to hear it years ago. Just as I can't hear whether or not I've started the car, sometimes I could swear the engine is running after I've shut it off.

I also sometimes think I'm hearing something noisy running while I'm in the kitchen, go stand next to the 'fridge to see if it's acting strange. Again, it's all in my head, not real at all.

Another word for hyperacusis is recruitment, where sounds that most people hear without a problem are overly loud: dog barking, for example. Recruitment is one of the "fun" add ons of Meniere's...probably can be associated with other hearing problems as well. After I went bilateral over two years ago, then finally got the hormones I need to cease having crises, not only did hearing in my one ear that can hear a little return, but the godawful recruitment stopped. (It had been so bad that I wasn't able to wear my aid, because loud sounds were very painful.) That was so encouraging that I'm scheduled to have a new hearing test to see if it might be possible now to have an aid for my nearly useless right ear. I've had recruitment in my useless ear for nearly 40 years (I think), and it's bothersome because I've always at least one large dog, if not two or three. My dog understands that I don't hear, so he barks his big bark to let me know that there's someone walking along our road, over 100' from the house. At least now, with adequate hormone replacement, the sound doesn't tear through my head the way it used to.

I would like to move the "machine shop" from under my bedroom, though! My solution for falling asleep is to work hard all day, which is very easy as I'm the person who keeps up our small acreage and very old house.

As a group, we hard of hearing folks have to understand that our hearing loss affects other people too. The comments on this thread also show that while we are all different, we are also very much the same. When we misunderstand and ask for clarification we are trying to remain in the conversation. When we bluff by nodding and smiling we can get ourselves in big trouble by agreeing to something we totally disagree with. Asking for people to repeat or re phrase often leads to the dreaded "Never mind, it wasn't important' response. That sets us back a pace or two. It's also a put off that makes us feel 'not important'. But, it is a reality with hearing loss, and unless a person has hearing loss themselves, they never completely understand this.

There are ways to help ourselves that only a handful use. I'm thinking of streamers and BlueTooth or direct audio input microphones that we can use in noisy settings. I never leave home without my Mini Mic, a device that can sync with both cochlear implant processors and specific hearing aids. It makes it possible for me to hear when I'm out for dinner, at a party, etc. Is it perfect? No, I still miss some things, but it helps tremendously. That technoology has kept me from becoming reclusive. It has also helped my relationships with family, friends, etc.

Why don't more people use these devices? A couple of reasons: 1. They don't know they exist because hearing healthcare providers don't tell people about these options. 2. they show when they are being used, and many people spend more energy trying to hide their hearing devices than actually trying to hear. 3. They cost money to purchase. Yes, they are add ons. People who sell hearing aids don't want to discuss these things because they are already trying to sell a product that is extremely expensive.

I have learned more about these types of devices from other hard of hearing people than from all the professionals I've seen in the 50 years that I've had hearing loss.

How many people in this discussion are using assistive technology that goes beyond your hearing aids?

I have paid the extra $$$$thousand and have a mini mike. It works well in small group settings. When my husband and I go out to eat he hooks it on his shirt pockets and then I have no problems hearing here above the rest of the noises going on. I have tried it in the middle of the table when there happens to be a group of us. At that time it helps some. The only thing is that I forget to take it along most of the time. It really works slick while watching TV.

I have 5 year old Phonaks that do not have bluetooth so I bought the Compilot II for hearing better on the phone...I love it! I can also use it for ZOOM meetings which works out well also. We also have installed a hearing loop in our church which also is very useful...it is just tough getting other people to buy into using it or they don't understand the technology. I tried the mic but did not find it that useful to me. I will be getting new hearing aids by the end of the year so will make sure I get the bluetooth technology along with the T-coil. Anything else you suggest while I am upgrading?

Basically, that is what sensorineural hearing loss is...distortion. We can hear but we cannot understand. We have trouble with speech discrimination rather than loudness. With conductive hearing loss, the volume is often the problem, which is why hearing aids can help conductive hearing loss better than SNHL. The majority of hard of hearing people have a combo of these two types of HL, It usually starts with SNHL, and over the years it starts being conductive (volume related) as well. SNHL begins when the hair cells in the cochlea (inner ear) start to die off, one level at a time, over time. Conductive HL is middle ear related. Cochlear implants bypass the cochlea to stimulate the auditory nerve directly....which is why they are so successful. How many of you were told at one time that your auditory nerve was 'dead'?

joyces... i missed something ... may I ask which "hormones" you got which helped somewhat with your ear issue/s? J.