Hearing loss support - Glad I Found This Group

Author

Glad I Found This Group

Ronny TX

2005-12-28, 1:02 am

I was reading here and there online last night about hearing
loss,hearing aids,etc when I ran upon this group's link on another
webpage. Really glad to have found it. :-)

I've worn 1 or 2 BTE hearing aids for years;but always got them through
whoever Social Security sent me to. So I never thought that much about
the different kinds. Now I'm in the position to buy one on my own and
all I really know is I need one for a pretty severe hearing loss. And
I'm not for sure what you would call my loss of hearing as to its
severity? So I'm going to try and write something out here and see what
you all have to say on the matter? And I just started checking last
night on how audiogram charts work, so please bear with me on my
ignorance.:-)

I understand that 20 decibals or above in the 250 to 6000 Hertz range is
considered normal hearing. What I have on the last audiogram that I
have,for my left ear,is 55 db at 250 hertz,55db at 500 hertz and 75db at
1000 hertz. In my right ear it's 60db at 250 hertz,80db at 500 hertz and
85db at 1000 hertz. In both ears there was no response above 1000 hertz.
Onething I'm wondering is,is the above called a severe or profound
hearing loss or some of each?

And it seems to me my hearing loss has gotten a bit worse over the
years-that is it gets a bit more noticeably worse every 10, 15 year or
so. So at least it's going down very gradually. I can't see it's all
that much worse now than it was say 15 to 20 years ago.

And as I said before,I've always worn at least one BTE hearing aid for
years. Sometimes two;but mostly just one. And one thing I know of and
have read about too is that I can get feedback/squeal if I turn my
hearing aid up too high. I can't hear that;but I know it happens and I
hate to bother other people with it. So,since I'm going to be buying my
own hearing aid this time,I was wondering if I might do better buying a
body type aid instead of a BTE aid? I've read that those are more
powerful and also less likely to have feedback/squeal.

That's about all of the questions I can think of for now. LoL And
again,I'm glad I found this discuss group! :-)

Gary G

2005-12-28, 5:57 pm

You are the second person in the lastgmonth who has asked about aids with
your type of loss...Allow me to reprint my answer ....
Allow me to comment from a Dispensers point of view....I wear power
Oticon Syncros which work very well for me....Your loss is significantly
different but I have fit many power users such as yourself...Someone with
your experience truly needs trial periods to evaluate what works best...I
assume you have a corner audiogram with essentially no high frequency
hearing...Has anyone ever suggested trying a transposer aid?...I do not fit
them but if you can find someone who really knows the Sonnovation product it
is worth a trial...My bias in aids leans heavily with Oticon products and
find the Sumo DM to be a great device....That said Phonak also does a great
job....I hope you have someone who will let you demo a few models for a
while...Good luck...GG
"Ronny TX" <Acts17-11@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:29830-43B20F61-1199@storefull-3337.bay.webtv.net...
>I was reading here and there online last night about hearing
> loss,hearing aids,etc when I ran upon this group's link on another
> webpage. Really glad to have found it. :-)
>
> I've worn 1 or 2 BTE hearing aids for years;but always got them through
> whoever Social Security sent me to. So I never thought that much about
> the different kinds. Now I'm in the position to buy one on my own and
> all I really know is I need one for a pretty severe hearing loss. And
> I'm not for sure what you would call my loss of hearing as to its
> severity? So I'm going to try and write something out here and see what
> you all have to say on the matter? And I just started checking last
> night on how audiogram charts work, so please bear with me on my
> ignorance.:-)
>
> I understand that 20 decibals or above in the 250 to 6000 Hertz range is
> considered normal hearing. What I have on the last audiogram that I
> have,for my left ear,is 55 db at 250 hertz,55db at 500 hertz and 75db at
> 1000 hertz. In my right ear it's 60db at 250 hertz,80db at 500 hertz and
> 85db at 1000 hertz. In both ears there was no response above 1000 hertz.
> Onething I'm wondering is,is the above called a severe or profound
> hearing loss or some of each?
>
> And it seems to me my hearing loss has gotten a bit worse over the
> years-that is it gets a bit more noticeably worse every 10, 15 year or
> so. So at least it's going down very gradually. I can't see it's all
> that much worse now than it was say 15 to 20 years ago.
>
> And as I said before,I've always worn at least one BTE hearing aid for
> years. Sometimes two;but mostly just one. And one thing I know of and
> have read about too is that I can get feedback/squeal if I turn my
> hearing aid up too high. I can't hear that;but I know it happens and I
> hate to bother other people with it. So,since I'm going to be buying my
> own hearing aid this time,I was wondering if I might do better buying a
> body type aid instead of a BTE aid? I've read that those are more
> powerful and also less likely to have feedback/squeal.
>
> That's about all of the questions I can think of for now. LoL And
> again,I'm glad I found this discuss group! :-)
>

Ken

2005-12-28, 5:57 pm

I have similar, but rather worse, hearing than Ronny and there is no
question that my loss is profound. I too have been interesed in trying
transposition. My audiologist is sceptical and has recommended
evaluation for a cochlear implant, which I am having done at the moment
(and I will continue to report back the the group on how this unfolds).

I have seen little feedback from users of transposition aids (a good
term, incidentally - thanks Gary). Obviously the process involves
considerable distortion and it is surprising that noone has made
available sound files enabling prospective users to gain some idea of
how they sound (and whether they offer the prospect of significant
improvement in comprehension).

With both transposition and CI there is a need to re-learn hearing to
glean any improvement in comprehension. In the case of CI I am
satisfied that published research results and reports from users
demonstrate a clear improvement - in the case of people with profound
or even total loss they enable some hearing and comprehension which
would otherwise be zero or close to zero.

I feel that transposition should offer similar benefits for people with
profound high frequency loss but have seen no convincing data. As I
say, I would be interested in hearing some sound files.

It seems obvious that transposition, by definition, will not help the
deaf hear music. There is evidence that, for some people at least, CI
technology does restore access to music.

I hope this post will prompt users of transposition aids to report to
the group and I would be very interested to track down some sound files
demonstrating transposition.

One final thought, Ronny, one thing I am convinced of, as a long-term
HA user (with similar loss in both ears): you will achieve
significantly better comprehension with two aids than with one.

Gary G

2005-12-28, 5:57 pm

Although I have never fit transposers I worked with someone who did...It
really requires someone who understands the idiosyncrasies of the
device...Although it often failed,...some really had great improvements...I
think the limited knowledge base for many Dispensers is a problem...Some of
the folks at Sonnovation are terrific...Children as with most things have a
much greater ability to adjust...Please understand my knowledge is only
anecdotal...This technology must be demonstrated for users ability to
benefit...Many complained that although speech comprehension was better the
additional distortion or ambient noise was not very pleasant...GG
"Ken" <kkerrison@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:1135805325.035153.25860@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>I have similar, but rather worse, hearing than Ronny and there is no
> question that my loss is profound. I too have been interesed in trying
> transposition. My audiologist is sceptical and has recommended
> evaluation for a cochlear implant, which I am having done at the moment
> (and I will continue to report back the the group on how this unfolds).
>
> I have seen little feedback from users of transposition aids (a good
> term, incidentally - thanks Gary). Obviously the process involves
> considerable distortion and it is surprising that noone has made
> available sound files enabling prospective users to gain some idea of
> how they sound (and whether they offer the prospect of significant
> improvement in comprehension).
>
> With both transposition and CI there is a need to re-learn hearing to
> glean any improvement in comprehension. In the case of CI I am
> satisfied that published research results and reports from users
> demonstrate a clear improvement - in the case of people with profound
> or even total loss they enable some hearing and comprehension which
> would otherwise be zero or close to zero.
>
> I feel that transposition should offer similar benefits for people with
> profound high frequency loss but have seen no convincing data. As I
> say, I would be interested in hearing some sound files.
>
> It seems obvious that transposition, by definition, will not help the
> deaf hear music. There is evidence that, for some people at least, CI
> technology does restore access to music.
>
> I hope this post will prompt users of transposition aids to report to
> the group and I would be very interested to track down some sound files
> demonstrating transposition.
>
> One final thought, Ronny, one thing I am convinced of, as a long-term
> HA user (with similar loss in both ears): you will achieve
> significantly better comprehension with two aids than with one.
>

Ken

2005-12-29, 1:02 am

With nothing above 1000Hz (and not much below it) I would love to hear
recordings of words like 'success' straight and tranposed. The latter
is bound to sound weird but you ought to hear how sound emerges from
CIs - really weird - but that technology works - see my recent post
'cochlear implants - interesting report'.

My audiologist was, clearly, sceptical about tranposition - at least
for me (and I am the sort of case it is aimed at). I can understand
that adopting a new type of aid to those offered is a big step. But
with high-frequence loss so common (and so destructive of
comprehension) the fact that transposition technology has not achieved
more penetration makes me wonder about its utility. I remember a nice
lady - Carolyn, of Austin Texas, who was a member of the group about
eight years ago and was fitted with impacts - she was very optimistic
but she dropped out of the group.

But with transposition the only alternative to CI in attacking profound
high-frequency loss, the fact that this technology has not proved
itself and become widely used is discouraging.

Ronny

2006-01-02, 1:07 am

Gary G wrote:
> You are the second person in the lastgmonth who has asked about aids with
> your type of loss...Allow me to reprint my answer ....
> Allow me to comment from a Dispensers point of view....I wear power
> Oticon Syncros which work very well for me....Your loss is significantly
> different but I have fit many power users such as yourself...Someone with
> your experience truly needs trial periods to evaluate what works best...I
> assume you have a corner audiogram with essentially no high frequency
> hearing...

Ronny:
That does seem to be it. No response in either ear on anything over
1000 Hertz. And left ear 55dB/250, 55dB/500,75dB/1000 and right ear
60dB/250,80dB/500 and 85dB/1000.

And I agree with you that I should have a trial period with any aid I
might buy;but in a way I find it ironic that I've never really needed
such. As I said;I've always gotten a hearing aid through Social
Security/Medicaid. And of course,they never asked me what sort of
hearing aid I wanted or thought I needed. They simply told me what
audioligist to go to and get checked to get mine. And though I don't
know what sort I got,I was always happy with the one I did get.
Sometimes,early on,it took me a few days to get used to one because of
things being louder; :-) but then I could always turn one down a bit if
it got to be a bit too much.

Many times my HA would last long enough so that the first one was still
good when I qualified for a 2nd one. I think that must of been when
some audioligists put my left HA in my right ear and my newer HA in my
left ear. Mostly though I was always perfectly happy with one aid in my
left ear;but it was nice to have a 2nd one if the first one got to
acting up.

And it's been a number of years ago now;but I should add that I did
horrible then on my word discrimination test. (ha) Got mad at the Dr.
who gave that too as he was sort of a jackass! :-) LoL I started off
trying to say the words they were saying to me;but I was just guessing
nearly all of the times,so I soon gave up on that. Dr. got real curt
and told me to just guess. Had a nervous headache by then and really
wanted to tell him where he could go jump; :-) but I kept my mouth shut
and figured I would be out of his office soon. The older Dr. who gave
me my hearing test for SS was real nice though.

And with me,any amplification helps. That is any,if it is high enough.
I won't understand all of the words by any means;but will catch a good
bit through amplification,lipreading and other cues. And of course,the
more I am around some people,the better I can understand them.

Just thinking,I got my first hearing aid when I was 19yo. Was in
college a bit then and drawing SS on my Dad's disability. He was severe
to profoundly hard of hearing. As well as some of his brothers and
sisters and his Mom. Not sure how many HA I got back then over a period
of time? One or two at the most. Then didn't get another one until
about my mid 30's when I started drawing disability. Just thought of
that and the fact that those one or two first hearing aids lasted a
long time! :-) And surely those were analog as I got the first one in
1974? And the ones under my own SS disability starting around 1990. So
I would guess that all of the HA I've worn have been analog and none
digital?

> Gary
> Has anyone ever suggested trying a transposer aid?...I do not fit
> them but if you can find someone who really knows the Sonnovation product it
> is worth a trial...

Ronny:
I've never so much as heard of transposer aids until you mentioned them
here. I did a Google search on them though and that's one reason I've
been so long getting back to this thread. :-) Plus,one search led to
another and I was also searching for info on other HA's. So I spent a
lot of time online searching for the last 3 or so days!

And transposer aids certainly are interesting in how they amplify low
and mid frequencies and convert high frequencies to low. From what I've
read,they don't do a lot percentage wise for many people;but as one guy
rightly put it,even a little improvement is a lot when you have a large
loss! (ha)

One thing that bothers,me in reading about them,is where I would have
to get used to hearing differently through them. Differently from how
sound sounds to me through an analog HA. Seems the transposer aids have
a lot of distortion when they transpose the high frequencies to low.

And though I don't doubt at all that they are good for some people and
might even be good for me-the deal breaker for me is their high price.
Only found one mention of that online where a guy said he paid $2500
apiece for his! $5000 for his two! So two are out of bounds for me and
even one would be a problem.

> Gary:
> My bias in aids leans heavily with Oticon products and
> find the Sumo DM to be a great device....That said Phonak also does a great
> job....I hope you have someone who will let you demo a few models for a
> while...Good luck...GG

Ronny:
Thank you. :-)

I've not even heard of the brands you mention;but then that's not
surprising. I strongly assume that all the ones you mention are
digital? And I assume that all the ones I've gotten through SS are
analog?
And one problem I have with the digitals is hearing of people having
problems getting them fitted right so that they can hear well with
them. Over against that is my being used to analogs and my knowing that
those type help me a great deal with understanding the spoken word. So
you can see why I'm still biased towards analog HA's. They are simply a
known to me. A known that I know helps me with my particular hearing
loss. Plus,of course,they are a good bit cheaper than digatals.

And I mentioned it before;but one thing I don't like about any BTE aid
I've had is that they squeal/have feedback if I turn them up too high.
Now I can't hear that;but I know a lot of other people can,so that
bothers me. (BTW,can anyone with a high frequency loss like I have hear
that squeal/feedback? Or is this just something that we can't hear
because of our hearing loss?)

But because of the above you can see why I was condidering getting a
body aid. As I understand it that would cut out most if not all of the
feedback problems I've had. And a body aid can have higher
amplifacation than a BTE. (Anyone in here use a body aid? Or know of
anyone that does?) Higher amplification is important to me to since I
know my hearing is just a bit worse than when I took my last audiogram
and got a BTE after that. (I have seen one power BTE and one body aid
online that I'm really interested in.)

It would be nicer-that is more convenient-to have a power BTE;but my
real concern is that such would simply not provide enough amplification
for me with out a good bit of feedback and or if it did,I would not be
able to afford such. Not if the BTE was a digital. And with that I
would also have to get used to a new way of hearing,since I am used to
analog HA's. (BTW,wearing a body aid would not bother me a bit as far
as cosmetic reasons. That is simply way,way down on the scale of
concern for me. I simply desire an aid that helps me hear and that at a
price I can afford.)

It was interesting to learn though that less than 1% of HA wearers wear
a body aid. I can understand some of the whys of that. But,the good
part to me,from what I've read,is that it seems body aids do a good job
for what they are meant to do.

I've written a lot tonight. :-) Just working somethings out by talking
about them. That helps me. And of course,I will be interested in what
you have to say. Mind if I ask you,in general,what you think of a
couple of HA that were not among the ones you mentioned? :-) See if you
think they would be of a type that would help me with my particular
hearing loss? I can understand some about them;but not nearly as much
as I would like.
Ronny
[vbcol=seagreen]
> "Ronny TX" <Acts17-11@webtv.net> wrote in message
> news:29830-43B20F61-1199@storefull-3337.bay.webtv.net...

Ronny

2006-01-02, 1:07 am

Ken wrote:
> I have similar, but rather worse, hearing than Ronny and there is no
> question that my loss is profound.

Ronny:
At first,as is my way, :-) I wanted to just have a one word description
for my particular hearing loss; but then I found that wasn't so easy to
do and then I found it was impossible! LoL So I began calling my
hearing loss severe/profound. That is some of both. Then over the last
few days I've read a good number of webpages on all this and it seems
to be truly accurate I would have to say I have a moderate, severe and
profound hearing loss! :-) And which one it is determined by what
decibal loss I have at a particular frequency. And I rather dislike
that since I'm always on the lookout for one word that will cover a
particular situation! :-) But then one word simply won't do in some
situations! Bah! LoL
I more or less knew that a long time ago;but I was more or less
determined not to admit to it unless forced to! :-){BG}

> Ken:
> I too have been interesed in trying
> transposition. My audiologist is sceptical and has recommended
> evaluation for a cochlear implant, which I am having done at the moment
> (and I will continue to report back the the group on how this unfolds).
>
> I have seen little feedback from users of transposition aids (a good
> term, incidentally - thanks Gary). Obviously the process involves
> considerable distortion and it is surprising that noone has made
> available sound files enabling prospective users to gain some idea of
> how they sound (and whether they offer the prospect of significant
> improvement in comprehension).

Ronny:
>From what I've read online,the last few days,there is some improvement
in comprehension for some people. Not a lot;but as one fellow said,a
little is a lot when you can't hear or understand that much to start
with. And that is so true! And like you said as well,it would be so
nice to hear firsthand from people who have actually had the experience
of using a transposer hearing aid.

> Ken:
> With both transposition and CI there is a need to re-learn hearing to
> glean any improvement in comprehension. In the case of CI I am
> satisfied that published research results and reports from users
> demonstrate a clear improvement - in the case of people with profound
> or even total loss they enable some hearing and comprehension which
> would otherwise be zero or close to zero.
>
> I feel that transposition should offer similar benefits for people with
> profound high frequency loss but have seen no convincing data. As I
> say, I would be interested in hearing some sound files.
>
> It seems obvious that transposition, by definition, will not help the
> deaf hear music. There is evidence that, for some people at least, CI
> technology does restore access to music.
>
> I hope this post will prompt users of transposition aids to report to
> the group and I would be very interested to track down some sound files
> demonstrating transposition.

Ronny:
>From what I've read and the best I understand it,there is also a need
to re-learn hearing when going from an analog HA to a digital HA. And I
would like to hear more about this from people who have done that.

An ironic thing about music. I really enjoy it. Mostly I enjoy just
hearing one thing played at a time or at the most two or three. I
really enjoy hearing a piano played by itself. Especially when such is
played simply. But then I also enjoy hearing a cousin of mine playing
and he adds in all sorts of notes to a regular musical piece as he
plays. :-)

> Ken:
> One final thought, Ronny, one thing I am convinced of, as a long-term
> HA user (with similar loss in both ears): you will achieve
> significantly better comprehension with two aids
> than with one.

Ronny:
I don't doubt that. I know I have been helped with two before. Of
course,sometimes it's been a bit much :-) and I would only leave the HA
in that was in my better ear. My left and right ear are pretty much the
same at 250 and 1000 Hertz;but then at 500 the left ear is 55dB and the
right is 80dB. And with just that one change,I can notice a much better
hearing ability,with a HA,in my better ear. Still,I like the idea of
using two aids or of using a body aid that would go to both of my ears.

And right now,the main person I need to understand is my Mom. She's
85yo,has Alzheimers and I'm her main caretaker. I'm her only
caretaker,except for 15 hours a week,when someone else comes in to do
that. With her I get by OK if my BTE HA is working allright;but then it
isn't working so well at all right now! :-( Thought I would have a
mixup with SS sorted out by now and could go get another HA;but then
everything isn't quite sorted out yet. My fault on that. Then,this
winter,I came into some money-not a lot;but enough to buy my own HA.
And enough so that I can't get a HA now through SS/Medicaid. The
trouble is I also have to stretch that extra money and use some of it
to also buy another used vehicle and pay for a few other things. So you
can see why I'm not too much for the idea of spending a great lot on
one hearing aid! LoL

So for awhile I've been searching online for some places that sell
hearing aids directly to the public. So far I've only found one HA
business that I'm really interested in and that's Lloyds. One is a
power BTE and another is a body aid. I can't remember for sure now;but
I believe the BTE is digital? Will have to check that again. And the
other is a programmable analog BA. Would like to post the links to
those two and see what you folks think about them?

I better go for now after writing out another one of my "short" post
replies. :-)

Ronny

2006-01-02, 1:07 am

Gary G wrote:
> Although I have never fit transposers I worked with someone who did...It
> really requires someone who understands the idiosyncrasies of the
> device...Although it often failed,...some really had great improvements...I
> think the limited knowledge base for many Dispensers is a problem...Some of
> the folks at Sonnovation are terrific...Children as with most things have a
> much greater ability to adjust...Please understand my knowledge is only
> anecdotal...This technology must be demonstrated for users ability to
> benefit...Many complained that although speech comprehension was better the
> additional distortion or ambient noise was not
> very pleasant...GG

Ronny:
I did read somethings online that really sounded good about
Sonnovations transposer aids. About the same as what you've said here.
And the only real two things that would stop me from getting such would
be lack of money and the distortion. Although I'm sure after a bit the
distortion would probably sound normal to a person? Another thing with
me is simply wanting to stay with what I know helps me,that is an
analog type hearing aid. That part is very important to me,especially
at this particular time. The reasoning;best to stay with what you know
helps, than to get into something you're not sure of,that might or
might not help you and would take a good bit of time and trouble to get
used to even if it did. But then my situation is more that I simply
need a HA quickly and of the type that I already know is a help to me.
So that means I'm pretty set on not making any drastic changes right
away. :-) Later on might be a very different deal though.
[vbcol=seagreen]
> "Ken" <kkerrison@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
> news:1135805325.035153.25860@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...

Ronny

2006-01-02, 1:07 am

Ronny

2006-01-02, 11:00 am

Ken wrote:
> With nothing above 1000Hz (and not much below it) I would love to hear
> recordings of words like 'success' straight and tranposed. The latter
> is bound to sound weird but you ought to hear how sound emerges from
> CIs - really weird - but that technology works - see my recent post
> 'cochlear implants - interesting report'.

Ronny:
I've read that the CI sound is really weird to a lot of people when
it's first turned on;but most soon adjust to it. That seems reasonable
to me as the added sound of many HA's has sounded strange to me at
first;but I soon got used to them.

Just thinking of my first HA! That was around 31 years ago now. They
put that one on me and I could even hear and understand what some
people were saying in another room. Now that shocked me! LoL Ah, to
have hearing and comprehension that good again!

> Ken:
> My audiologist was, clearly, sceptical about tranposition - at least
> for me (and I am the sort of case it is aimed at). I can understand
> that adopting a new type of aid to those offered is a big step. But
> with high-frequence loss so common (and so destructive of
> comprehension) the fact that transposition technology has not achieved
> more penetration makes me wonder about its utility. I remember a nice
> lady - Carolyn, of Austin Texas, who was a member of the group about
> eight years ago and was fitted with impacts - she was very optimistic
> but she dropped out of the group.
>
> But with transposition the only alternative to CI in attacking profound
> high-frequency loss, the fact that this technology has not proved
> itself and become widely used is discouraging.

Ronny:
Still and this is only my opinion from what little I've read lately;but
still I would love to see someone like you try transposer HA's and be
able to report back on them! :-) OK,so I'm sort of like the little boys
in the commercial who don't want to try a new cereal and say;let Mikey
try it! LoL

And I know I'm wrong on this;but personally I just hate the thought of
CI's! Why? Mainly because I hate the idea of losing what little natural
hearing I have and I understand you do lose all of that when you go to
CI's. Of course,I'm sure I would look at it differently if BTE aids
were of little or no use to me! But too,I have this fear of knives and
of anyone,even a doctor,cutting on me! :-) Think I got that when I was
10yo and managed to cut right down into one knee ball joint with a
butcher knife! Scared the you know what out of me when the blood
started flowing! LoL I know,I know,that's nothing like getting a CI
implanted! Still I don't care that much for knives and care nothing
about the thought of me actually being cut on with one! LoL

Ronny

2006-01-02, 11:00 am