Hearing Aids, questions

[H Richard]

Age 69, have hearing aids for the first time, and have questions if these are normal or if the aids need adjustment. I have Siemens behind the ear type, furnished by the V A.

Sounds sound "hollow", like in a well. When walking down a hallway, or entering a room.

Certain sounds are ultra loud, like eating cereal. The crunching drowns out the TV sound, (and nearly everything else).

Bells ringing. Now hear a several second reverberation, instead of just the "ring".

I can hear conversation now very well, but the noise in a restaurant is nearly overwhelming.

Outside in the wind, whistles through the aids and is quite loud.

My tinnitus now seems louder when the aids are in. Also as loud as ever when they aren't.

Are these normal results? It's been a month, and while they really seem to help with conversation, other things kind of "bug" me.

I use electronic earmuffs to shoot, and find I have to take the aids out when using the muffs, or everything is way too loud.

 

[Capt Steve]

I have been wearing hearing aids for 12 years now and yours sound (no pun intended), like they need adjustment. Mine are Siemens in the ear and work pretty well. There are limits as to just how much improvement one can reasonably expect but from what you are describing yours are not performing anywhere near their capability. If anything they may be cranked up to high and backing off on the sensitivity could help.

You said you got yours from the VA, is your hearing loss service related? I am applying to the VA for help with mine. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[H Richard]

Yes, my loss was service connected. I waited nearly 40 years to file and get a benefit. I was a Jet Engine mechanic in the early 60's, USAF.

I had the local Veterans rep assist me and he did a great job filing the initial paperwork. Took about 6 months and a trip to a VA Hospital for testing. My hearing loss had been well documented in my records. I had been told when I got out in 63 that I would have qualified then for a partial disability then, but would have required me to stay in another week or two, and would amount to ten dollars per month, and I was in a hurry to get home (been overseas 3 years). I didn't think I really had a problem then (you know, young and stupid).

When I was approved, they started paying me $123 per month (Ammo money), I waited nearly a year, (my choice) then they fit me with the hearing aids, plus they furnish the batteries and tubes etc. at no cost.

I was wondering if were adjusted too loud also. I have to drive 100 miles to the nearest VA Hospital for adjustment, so didn't want to have to make another trip if wouldn't do any good. Unfortunately, didn't do anything for my tinnitus.

 

[R Cubed]

I have two pair - one behind the ear - I use them for TV and Music (if I'm not playing or singing) I find wind noise from driving with the window open is horrid - I agree with the comment to have your audiologist adjust them - It takes a few months to get things right - do not dally with this - you paid for the service use it until you are satisfied.

My other pair are real hi-tech - They are in-the-ear type. They also have a "Remote" for them - I can adjust the volume for each ear separately or together. There is also a filter adjustment - I can filter out the din of the room to hear the table talk better or bring the din level up as in movie background sounds. These aids are also Blue Tooth compatible (Yes!!). I have them paired with my cell phone - when the phone rings voice sounds goes right to the hearing aids - my voice is picked up by a small device I carry in my shirt pocket which I press to answer or end calls. My phone does not leave my pocket - This is too cool.

I found talking on the telephone the bothersome task with hearing aids - This hi tech pair solved that!!!

 

[H Richard]

With the behind the ear, I have no problem with phones. Either land line or cell phone.

 

[Capt Steve]

As far as I know nothing can be done for your Tinnitus. There are a number of products out there that claim to cure the ringing but I have my doubts. Anybody tried "Quietus" or any of the other snake oil remedies?

 

[Phideaux]

Sounds like yours need some adjustment. I have the behind the ear models (Starkey brand) and have not noticed your problems, at least not much. Some wind noise but it only if it's really blowing and some sounds seem very high. All this seems to go away as you get used to wearing them. I also suggest wearing them most of the time, once you get used to them they are hard to do without.

 

[don95sml]

You should definitely go back for hearing aid adjustments, as the first fitting never is quite right. How much adjustment is possible will depend upon your hearing aid model. You will find, however, that one complaint can't be fixed: many mechanical sounds will still be annoying. I'm talking about sounds such as crumpling a piece of paper, eating cereal, coins jingling in your pocket, and even shoelaces bouncing on your shoe tops. You would think you shouldn't be hearing sounds like that, but they occur in a frequency range that good hearing aids pick up and amplify.

 

[Nightowl]

I have had mine adjusted several times. It is to be expected and I would think that you would have been advised of such. Mine have four different conditions that the aids change to to maximize their usefullness. it can get complicated to get them adjusted, I don't think I am there yet. Make a list of the different conditions that bother you, like the restaurant noise, wind noise, tv etc so the specialist can have an idea of what you are experiencing.

 

[Iggy]

My Dad Seimens in the ear models.. They had 3 levels of reception.. One on one conversations.. loud rooms with lots of noise... and Telephone.

If he could remember to adjust them, he got along pretty well, but it took a couple of adjustment sessions to get them to optimum reception.

I was told that the in the ear models tend to block all incoming sound, thus there has to be extra amplification to compensate and that causes internal sounds such as chewing to seem louder than normal.

I have Resound behind the ear models.. They too have 3 levels of adjustment and a volume control. I went back after a week and had them tweaked a bit with great improvement. I have been quite pleased with them so far.

They had a more expensive model that is supposed to filter out Tinnitus, but I couldn't see the additional expense. I've dealt with tinnitus for over 40 years and gotten use to it.

The tweaking eliminated some and improved some of the conditions and sounds that HRichard mentioned in his first post.

When you go back for adjustment, be sure and describe as best you can and give examples to the technician to aid him/her in tweaking them. They should be able to help with the background noise to some extent. Now chewing cereal? I don't know about that one.