Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

My Rexton hearing aids help with volume but I sometimes have difficulty discerning speech. The audiologist at Cosco said this difficulty is a problem in the auditory system and not "fixable" with hearing aids. Is there any solution out there?

Unfortunately probably not. Hearing aids don’t fix hearing loss in the same way that eyeglass fix vision. Hearing aids use microphones to pick up sound and amplify it in a complex way that is adjusted to your specific hearing loss. But your ears and auditory nervous system transmitting the signals to your brain may not be fully functional. So between all that you are missing the clarity you need to understand speech. That’s generally the frustration with hearing loss.

Many thanks for an honest reply. I'm getting pretty proficient at lip reading:)

I have PET - patulous Eustachian tube deficit - my Eustachian tube stays open so I hear my voice in my head when I speak- it’s like talking in a barel.
I wear hearing aids since I have moderate severe hearing loss - so I have a double whammie !! The hearing aids actually make sounds worse at times.
Any one have PET ??? 70

Hello
I found your experience to be disconcerting.
Almost ten years ago, my mild (now severe) Sensorineural Sloping Hearing Loss was diagnosed by an excellent audiologist. For various reasons, including affordability, I delayed obtaining hearing devices until last year. I own my decision and would advise anyone who experiences hearing loss to do differently and address the issue of correction as soon as practicable.
That said, I have continuously experienced difficulty in speech recognition. I have been examined by four audiologists, in an addition to an ENT physician referred by my primary Dr.
No one added any value beyond the initial audiologist's service.
Due to the speech recognition difficulty, I finally gathered the funds and purchased a pair of Starkey Edge hearing aids at the most advanced technology level (24). I received excellent service from a buying source called ZipHearing. The representative was experienced and very helpful.
In less than two weeks of use, I have experienced a significant improvement. Recently I was able to hear and communicate in a noise filled restaurant environment which would have been previously impossible without the hearing aids.
I am in the early stage of my brain becoming adjusted to the hearing aids, which will take some time. I am hopeful and regret my self-imposed delay in taking action.
My experience is being offered only as background. What may be more relevant is my personal experiences with family members and friends who have suffered hearing loss. The most common barrier to correction has been the lack of service in fitting an appropriate device and following up with adjustment(s) as needed. This leads to frustration and lack of use. The problem only becomes worse after the hearing aids are abandoned.
FYI, I am a Costco member who would have obtained hearing aids at the local store except that the hearing center is not in operation. They do not know when they will staff an audiologist. Other Costco locations within 200 miles could not offer an appointment sooner than two months from now.
I just wanted to advise that you should be mindful in addressing your problem and consider getting additional evaluation if you feel it may be necessary. Unfortunately, access to competent medical care in an affordable and timely fashion is a critical problem now.
Participating in this forum may be useful and I would suggest exploring some of the other hearing aid forums as well. Good luck!

Thanks! I'll check out Starkey Edge hearing aids at the most advanced technology level (24) at ZipHearing and report

I observed that ZipHearing represents most hearing aid brands with transparency regarding their discounted pricing. Whichever brand and model provides the most benefit for you will probably be available. They will advise which audiologists in your locality are under contract to work with the company. That's when the work begins to select a practice that will provide adequate service to address your individual need. It is good to remember that the audiology practice receives less economic benefit than if you simply appeared and they sold the hearing aids to you directly. Be careful if you hear a recommendation to accept a brand of hearing aid that does not inspire confidence that you will receive ongoing technical support.
If this is relevant, note that ZipHearing will also handle the documentation needed for insurance reimbursement. Other vendors may not be willing or able to do this. It was an important factor for me.