Aging and Hearing Loss: Can You Talk About It?

Good for you, You're on the road to better hearing. I hope the hearing aids you're getting from Costco (or anyone else for that matter) are equipped with both telecoils and Bluetooth technology. Systems that connect with telecoils and BT are often installed in performing arts centers. They send the dialogue directly from the stage/speaker to your personal hearing devices. No background noise; no interference. Telecoils do not add cost to hearing aids. Often the provider doesn't even mention them or even activate them if the buyer doesn't ask.

It pays to be a consumer of these products.

Costco allows a very good trial period. Be sure to use those new aids everywhere you like to go.

Not everyplace has hearing assistive technology installed even though it's mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act in public venues. Problem is they don't have to provide it unless it's requested, and once requested it takes time to get it installed. It also costs the venue $, but in the long run will draw more patrons who'll be able to enjoy using it.

Are you willing to advocate for hearing assistive technology at the next play you go to?

Yes, and I will call the DCPA, our local playhouse, to see if they have telecoils. I suspect they do. And Costco aids DO have the ability to listen through "the loop." And my smart phone can be used to control/make changes. The nice lady at Costco mentioned both of those and said I would get the full explanation when the aids are given to me.

That sounds good. Just so you know the right terminology to use. The venues don't have 'telecoils'. Those telecoils are in the hearing aids. The venues have loop systems, FM systems or Infrared systems if they provide communication access.

FM and IR systems require receivers. In order to use a receiver with your hearing aids telecoils, you need a 'neckloop', which is a device that you plug in to the receiver, put it around your neck and turn on your telecoils.

Without a neckloop, you have to use headphones that are provided with the receivers. To use headphones, you will probably have to remove your hearing aids. Ask the Costco provider about getting a neckloop. I don't know if they provide them. I recently purchased one on Amazon for $50. It's a handy device that will also allow you to use your telecoils with your laptop, cell phone, and other audio devices that have an input jack.

I've had good success with the neckloop made by Williams Sound. They do not require batteries. There are neckloops that do require batteries but cost more.

Without effort, I have begun reading lips of people around
me, tv actors and news reporters. The really big
problem is I can't hear well enough on the telephone to talk to my banker, broker, doctor or repair services. e=mail is
a huge help but is not enough. I am 91 years old and still
resist getting a hearing aid (because my first attempt was
a scam in which I lost money had to close my credit card
account.)

Get a CapTel telephone. In my area (and I assume all areas) the government pays for it. Not only does it enable you to read what the caller is saying, but acts as an answering machine. Another advantage is that the message and/or conversation is saved which makes it great backup to information received over the phone such as appointment dates and medication doses and other health updates. Beats trying to write down the instructions as they are given.

When I took my 98 year old mom (I'm so fortunate to still have her!) to my audiologist recently, we learned she's lost 45 & 50% of her hearing. Yet she refuses to even try hearing aids. "I have friends who've tried them and thought they were too difficult," she says. Any suggestions?

@pachab00

My advice is to not mention it to mom anymore. She is listening to her friends and not the doctor or you and you are not going to change her mind. I am assuming her friends are in her age bracket and probably have not tried to get any further help with their aids or even had them cleaned. They just don’t know or haven’t been told or don’t want to be bothered.

If all else is well, leave her be. People initially refuse to acknowledge hearing loss and any suggestions of wearing aids. It is usually a non family member who changes their mind.

FL Mary

@johnclick

Caption all is another free phone just like Captel…which is great. There is a wonderful cell phone app called Innocaption+ that works like Captel and you can download from the play store . Research it…you can also put it on your desktop computer or IPad and get help registering for it if need be. Ask someone how you can forward your cell phone number to Innocaption+

I use the app in place of Captel now…very accurate and great technical support.

FL Mary

Thanks for the advice & recommendation. All Mom's friends have passed.....
I like the idea of a trial from Costco. Maybe she'll agree to that. Otherwise. I'll let it go.

It's so common for elderly people to resist getting hearing help. The older they are the more likely that is. Much of that is due to the stigmas about hearing loss they have heard about all their lives. Hearing instruments have improved greatly in the last couple of decades, but they still cannot give a person perfect hearing. On the other hand, when fit well and used properly in a relatively quiet environment, they can make a big difference.

Another thing that might help your mother is a Pocket Talker. That is a device that picks up the desired sound from a microphone and sends it to a pair of headphones that are worn by the person who needs to hear. Many hospitals use this technology for patients who have trouble hearing.

I see they are listed on Amazon for prices between $179 - $220. If you go there, make sure you are looking at Pocket Talker by Williams Sound. There are other devices with similar names. Items purchased on Amazon are returnable.

Sorry your mother had a bad experience with a hearing aid years ago. A well fit hearing aid should be done by an experienced audiologist, who, by law, must allow a trial period with the policy the HA can be returned within that trial time.

Not being able to hear well enough to communicate with others is isolating. That leads to feeling lonely and even depressed. I agree you shouldn't nag your mother but hope that the Pocket Talker might sit well with her. It's a lot like listening to a portable radio with headphones. That might seem 'cool' to her. Good luck.