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How do I choose the best hearing aids?
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Feb 1 8:00am | Replies (143)Comment receiving replies
I have genetic hearing loss too. I have so much difficulty hearing people sitting across from me in a restaurant. Also in a car when I am sitting in the front and the person talking is in the back seat. Is there any brand of hearing aids that perform better with genetic hearing loss.
Replies to "I have genetic hearing loss too. I have so much difficulty hearing people sitting across from..."
Social situations tend to be the most frustrating places when we are dealing with hearing loss. Unfortunately, people often just stop going to restaurants, parties, and other places where ambient noise is part of the environment. Self isolation can lead to more serious issues, so it's best if we can be upfront about our hearing loss. Learn what helps us, and let others know what helps. Simple things like sitting in a quieter area of a restaurant can help. Make sure the light from windows or other sources is not in your face. Assistive technology that goes beyond hearing aids can help a ton.
I have used assistive listening devices that work with my personal hearing technology for years. Those devices have helped a great deal. There are streamers that work with hearing aids. There are hand held microphones that can connect to hearing aids and cochlear implant processors. There are speech to text apps that can be used with a smartphone. These all require a willingness to be open about your hearing loss because they are visible.
Has your hearing aid provider explained or demonstrated those add on technologies to you?
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Well Hello, to another 'rare' one! The deepest part of my 'cookie bite' is at the sound of human voice, so I understand the restaurant and backseat talkers problem.
The explanation I have been given is restaurants and cars are high in 'distraction noise'. In a restaurant I try to sit in a corner against the walls. I have removed the one hearing aid that was facing away from my party.
In a car, I put my head between the seats, with no radio and no open windows.
I have been told there is no technology that will fix these problems.. yet. In a restaurant, my best bet is lip reading.
I tried (Biocore?) with controls on the phone to focus the 'hearing area" more towards the front centre or the sides... but you could not work the aids independently, other than turning it off. I did not find this useful.. just fancy.
With my now profound loss at human speech, I am to hone my lip reading skills.
It is a sorrow to realize this cookie bite will advance. We can hope that the technologies will continue to advance for us, and without delay.
Please let us know if you discover any new advances.
All the best.