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Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others
Hearing Loss | Last Active: May 16 7:36pm | Replies (1456)Comment receiving replies
I have the same concern you have, Bob. I have been using Widex Evoke hearing aids for nearly four years. They were recommended by two different audiologists, who both seemed to have some sort of business agreement with Widex. I still see the audiologist from whom I purchased the hearing aids, and she still insists that Widex will be the best choice for me in the future when newer models are released. My hearing has deteriorated in the past four years since I’ve been wearing the hearing aids, and I find myself frustrated in many situations, particularly noisy backgrounds, as I simply cannot function as I used to. I no longer attend concerts and other live performances or go to many large gatherings because of my inability to hear and the fatigue that results from trying to listen. I have almost completely lost the ability to enjoy music, something that was always very important in my life, both as a listener and a singer/player.
Like so many other things in our hypercapitalist era, the dedicated, effective treatment of hearing loss is, I’m afraid, being sacrificed on the altar of greater and greater profits. It is difficult to know how to find providers and practitioners who are genuinely interested in doing the best thing for their patients rather than seeing to their own profitability first. Audiologists, I’m afraid, are no exception.
Replies to "I have the same concern you have, Bob. I have been using Widex Evoke hearing aids..."
The candidacy for cochlear implantation has been changed a great deal in the last year. CIs are no longer available only for profoundly hard of hearing people but can be an option for people with less profound hearing loss. The time to consider a cochlear implant is when hearing aids are no longer providing the help a person needs and expects. I use both a CI and a hearing aid. They work very well together. Without the CI, I hear virtually nothing. The CI has been a miracle for me.
Because of my involvement in HLAA (www.hearingloss.org), I have met many other people who have chosen to have cochlear implants. Lives change dramatically when someone is able to remain in the hearing mainstream comfortably with this remarkable technology. It's important to know that cochlear implants are covered by insurance and by Medicare.
If hearing aids are not working well for you, ask your provider about cochlear implants. If they discourage you, ask why. I hate to say this, but there may be a few out there who don't like the possibility of losing a hearing aid customer.
It may be worth the time and trip to schedule an appointment and testing at a cochlear implant facility to see if this is an option for you.
Aside: My other thought about your hearing aids no longer doing all you expect them to, is wondering if your audiologists have counseled you on the assistive technology that can work with them. Hearing assistive technology is way more than BlueTooth. Telecoils, which are usually in those costly hearing aids, but sometimes are not activated, can connect you to assistive technology in venues like theaters, performing arts centers, worship centers, etc. If you are not using that feature, you are getting 1/2 the value of your hearing instrument in my humble opinion. NOTE: BlueTooth and Tcoils can connect to streamers that can be used in noisy social settings.
Do you use hearing assistive technology that goes beyond your hearing instruments?
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Re: audiologists putting profit first: Costco has its plusses and minusses, but its people are not on commision, so you stand a better chance of them putting your needs first,