Digital Hearing Aids

[dingaling]

Hello, I am new to 'health and fitness' just found it today! I would like to ask if it is possible to be totally unsuited to digital hearing aids. Audiologists just say. oh, you will get used to them it takes a while, (six months one said!) I have tried four different audi's and various aids, ( mostly Phonak I have to say, )and no one seems able to programme them properly. The NHS seems to have thrown the towel in and are suggesting cochlear implants, which I am loth to do. I would like to hear if anyone else has similar problems. Thank you for reading.

[Sqad]

More information please.....I assume that you have a fairly severe bilateral sensori-neural deafness.

What is the cause.......how old are you and at what age did you become deaf....which Hospital do you attend?

Cochlear Implant?.....blimey that is drastic.

[dingaling]

Thank you for answering sqad.Yes, no intention of having an implant. I have been deaf for about 20years, am a senior and am severe to profound.My mother and grandmother were also deaf, but yes, it is sensorineural, so I guess mostly an age thing.I have had analogues of course, but have had digis for about three years, decided to go the private route, as the GNresounds were not too good and I got the impression that the hospital were a bit fed up with me, but I have tried so many I wondered if I am just not suited to digis. I have one private analogue ite but as it is six yr.old, it will be giving up the ghost soon so hence the desperation as analogues are thin on the ground now.

[McMouse]

I have Oticon digital hearing aids which work perfectly and have improved quality of sound. However the inserts cause my ears to itch and so I tend to take them out for most of the day, just putting them in the listen to music or tv. Have tried many things to reduce the irritation but so far nothing has worked.

[Sqad]

Right...McMouse has give you practical comments which cannot give as my hearing is normal.BUT:
Analogues are out.
Do not submit for cochlear implant.
So we are left with your Digital Aids.
Depending upon which hospital you are attending NHS audiologists are too busy, so if you can afford it, go private to the firm that sold you the aids.

With your degree of deafness, please do not expect normal hearing and please do not raise totally unachievable expectations.

http://www.searchwave...use_hearing_aids.html

This may help.

Good luck.

[dingaling]

Thank you both for your prompt replies. I hope you get something sorted for the itch,McMouse, you will miss a lot outdoors thro' not wearing them. Thank you sqad for the advice. I really don't have unrealistic expectations, I don't think. I have given up on music, the theatre,use subtitles etc. I would just like to hear what my grandchildren say to me, it is difficult to explain to them why I can't. I really don't expect aids to dance and sing, but of course clarity of speech is the hardest thing to ask for. The private audi I got my analogue aid from has retired now, I have tried the big two, (Boots and Specsavers) to no avail, so it is back to the drawing board I guess.Thank you for your interest, and no, definitely no implant. regards Shirl

[bednobs]

where do you live? Have you tired mary hare hearing centres? They dont do hearing services as an ADD ON but hearing servics in their own right. they also do work with children with hearing problems, so have a lot od exprience with all sorts od causes for deafness

[dingaling]

Thank you for your reply, bednobs. No, I haven't heard of the Mary Hare centre, but on looking them up, they are in the south and I live in the north east. They look very good tho', pity they weren't up here. Thanks again, shirl