Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

@h2h @daveshaw

You will find information about a successful advocacy situation for CART at this link.
https://mcusercontent.com/db1b918a1a4d8dcc3960f07c1/files/971919aa-28b5-5b15-d32c-0d277bd3e24c/Tremmell_CART_win.pdf

@julieo4 I appreciate you sending me that information.
I just hope when Auracast is ready to launch on a nationwide basis that it is required just like handicapped bathrooms are required.
These Phonak I90 Sphere Ultra hearing aids are the best hearing aids on the market hands down. Let’s hope AI continues to improve on hearing aids. They will never replace our original hearing but they are moving in that direction.

@julieo4
Yes, this is the case I was referring to. Thanks for finding it and sharing it.

@h2h
Sorry, realized I hadn't referred to this case, but I knew about it. One of the HLAA groups had the individual do a presenation for their meeting a few weeks ago.

@h2h and others...I wonder how many people who tune into MCC know what CART* is?

It's been fascinating watching this type of communication access evolve via participation in HLAA. I remember way back when a person at meetings actually wrote a summary of a presentation on a whiteboard as it was happening.

Then it graduated to writing on a slide that was projected on a screen. Then to being typed from a laptop that used an intermediary device to project it on a screen.

In time it was done by court reporters who used special equipment to project it on a much larger screen.

Court reporting skills are still being used for CART but we also have speech to text available now. Not as accurate as a qualified CART provider, but it helps in many situations.

It wasn't until 1993 that TVs started being required by law to include the equipment to pick up captions. Think how that has evolved. HLAA was deeply involved in all this happening. I can't imagine how my life had been without captions.

CART is done independently when it's used for communication access. People who attend meetings should learn about it and request it. NOTE: The involvement and job the person who succeeded with this lawsuit had. He obviously 'knew the ropes' when it came to personal advocacy.

*CART Computer Assisted Realtime Transliteration

@julieo4 Perhaps the same effort that required captions be available on all TV broadcasts should be applied with the advent of “ Auracast” This technology could be life changing for those of us who are hearing impaired.
I once heard that a majority of people that watch TV whether it is network TV or other channels like Netflix use captions. Even those who are not hearing impaired complain about the inconsistent sound quality on different shows. Perhaps in an attempt to make new TV’s even thinner something had to give and sound quality was sacrificed.
Ironically hearing aid manufacturers are constantly trying to make hearing aids smaller and more discrete. It is no secret that the new Phonak I90 Sphere Ultra are bigger than other hearing aids. I for one chose this hearing knowing it was larger and packed with more technology. Maybe they will be able to make them smaller as AI advances continue but until then I would rather hear better in crowded restaurants and other venues.
I would love to hear others thoughts about this.

I had a stapedectomy in my right ear that failed three years - one year from the initial operation. The operation was complicated by having a mobile foot plate on my oval window and failed either due to trauma or possibly a
short piston attached to the footplate that failed. I am considering a second operation on the right ear and have several questions. First is it possible to initially conduct forensics in the middle ear during an operation and cancel if conditions indicate that a second operation would fail. Second, has anyone experienced a second operation and can share insights/perspectives on their own experience. Third, I'd like to get some referrals nationally for a neuro-ontologist who has experience with my specific context and a great track record on success with second operations. I understand a referral may be beyond the scope of this forum. Thank you for your help with this.

@daveshaw It is too bad that there is such a negative stigma, embarrassment, whatever one might have, for admitting they have hearing loss and then wearing hearing aids that are "obvious" behind the ear ones. Even the industry promotes "low profile", "in the ear, hidden, nearly invisible...." reinforcing this negative thinking. These smaller HA won't have a telecoil. I want a hearing aid that still has a telecoil in it and eventually the new Auracast bluetooth LE. But several things have to also have this Auracast in them to work seamlessly with my hearing aids. Unfortunately, several HA maufacturers are starting to not make telecoils available with their HA and instead just putting in Auracast, which to me is very unsupportive of those who still want and need telecoils. Of course one likely has to ask their AuD to put in telecoils as it seems to be a rare AuD that automatically includes them or even tells their customers about them, frustrating. There are still thousands of places with hearing loops that won't be going away and it's still going to take years for Auracast to get installed in places. And when installed any current system should stay in place as well. Auracast will be wonderful when fully available and integrated, but it is still years away. The final criteria for it isn't coming out until Dec 2027 even.

Obviously I put hearing well before vanity. My Phonak I90 Sphere Ultra hearing aids are bigger than most or all hearing aids but I can actually hear in crowded venues. I am sure Phonak will work on making them smaller but until then they are the best thing on the market.
Sure they are more noticeable but it sure beats saying what did you say all the time.
Try them. They have telecoil and can add Auracast when it is widely available.
I got mine for $4,200. Including a charger, custom ear moulds and a device to stream sound directly from my TV to my ears.
I have a seven year old granddaughter that has some hearing loss and she has no problem with wearing hearing aids.
People just have to own the fact they have hearing loss.
Good luck to you.

I lost my hearing overnight last July. Woke up on a Saturday morning and thought something was wrong with the TV until I realized it was me. Had had marginal hearing in one ear for years but my "good" ear just seemed to quit. An ENT put me on Prednisone for a week and then injected steroids through my ear drum. No help. I now wear hearing aids (manufactured by Signia, serviced by Truhearing) but at 77 I am slow to adjust. At the gym the background noise seems to make hearing people difficult and music played through them cuts out frequently in one or both aids. Exercise is my hobby so life isn't as much fun. New to this sight so any recommendations on other hearing aids or any ideas to make this adjustment more pleasant would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.