I had a hearing test this morning. I need hearing aids for both ears.
In 1997 I had the seasonal flu and lost hearing in my left ear. Started hearing things tinny and muffled, can't use a phone with that ear. Saw an ENT at the local university hospital and was sent for an MRI to see if there was a tumour or something that was affecting me. I was 43 that year.
There was nothing to indicate a tumour, and when I saw the ENT for the results, he said, "well, you are just getting old". I was 43 that year.
So, I've put up with the problem, but now I am 67 and know that my hearing loss is getting worse, so I had a hearing test this morning.
Was very impressed with the 40-ish year old technician, who has worn hearing aids since she was 21 and has had 3 surgeries for tumours. After her first surgery she quit her college major and studied to become an audiologist. Things have changed since 1997, and it seems now they are not as concerned about mild or moderate hearing loss as they are about the loss of speech recognition. I have 92% speech recognition in my right ear, which is pretty good. But my left ear is only at 71%.
Speech recognition is never regained, and they are learning from brain studies that the loss of speech recognition can lead to dementia. She is, and now I am, frustrated that the ENT 24 years ago told me it was old age and there was nothing that could be done. If I had been fitted with an aid then, I would be in much better condition than I am now.
The new generation of hearing aids do not technically allow you to hear better, and they will not bring back any speech recognition that you have lost, but they DO prevent you from losing any more. My tech is convinced that people ought to be tested routinely just like a vision or dental checkup. For too long hearing loss has been viewed as "an old person's issue". I will now be going in every 6 months for cleaning and hearing aid check, and once a year for a hearing test.
The aids she has recommended are not the most expensive, are rechargeable, and the battery life is guaranteed for 3 years, at the end of which the battery will need to be replaced at a cost of about $50. They are small and she was actually wearing one very similar to it. It automatically adjusts for volume and the charge on the battery is good for 24 hours. I expect it could be charged overnight. So small and convenient and the cost of purchasing a box of batteries every few months is taken away.
So, has anybody else had experience with hearing loss and/or hearing aids?
In 1997 I had the seasonal flu and lost hearing in my left ear. Started hearing things tinny and muffled, can't use a phone with that ear. Saw an ENT at the local university hospital and was sent for an MRI to see if there was a tumour or something that was affecting me. I was 43 that year.
There was nothing to indicate a tumour, and when I saw the ENT for the results, he said, "well, you are just getting old". I was 43 that year.
So, I've put up with the problem, but now I am 67 and know that my hearing loss is getting worse, so I had a hearing test this morning.
Was very impressed with the 40-ish year old technician, who has worn hearing aids since she was 21 and has had 3 surgeries for tumours. After her first surgery she quit her college major and studied to become an audiologist. Things have changed since 1997, and it seems now they are not as concerned about mild or moderate hearing loss as they are about the loss of speech recognition. I have 92% speech recognition in my right ear, which is pretty good. But my left ear is only at 71%.
Speech recognition is never regained, and they are learning from brain studies that the loss of speech recognition can lead to dementia. She is, and now I am, frustrated that the ENT 24 years ago told me it was old age and there was nothing that could be done. If I had been fitted with an aid then, I would be in much better condition than I am now.
The new generation of hearing aids do not technically allow you to hear better, and they will not bring back any speech recognition that you have lost, but they DO prevent you from losing any more. My tech is convinced that people ought to be tested routinely just like a vision or dental checkup. For too long hearing loss has been viewed as "an old person's issue". I will now be going in every 6 months for cleaning and hearing aid check, and once a year for a hearing test.
The aids she has recommended are not the most expensive, are rechargeable, and the battery life is guaranteed for 3 years, at the end of which the battery will need to be replaced at a cost of about $50. They are small and she was actually wearing one very similar to it. It automatically adjusts for volume and the charge on the battery is good for 24 hours. I expect it could be charged overnight. So small and convenient and the cost of purchasing a box of batteries every few months is taken away.
So, has anybody else had experience with hearing loss and/or hearing aids?
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