Hearing aids

[Farm boy]

My industrial deafness claim is completed and apart from some money i am getting hearing aids for the term of my life.
does anyone on the forum use them and what tips could they tell me on looking after them and getting use to them
are any brands better than others as i have $4800 to get a set with

thanks
greg

[DJ’s Timber]

G'day Greg

Have a look at the Siemens range, out of all the aids that I have worn, I reckon the Siemens have been the most reliable and also very efficient in battery use as well.

Basically the number one rule with the aids is don't get them wet.

You just need to give them a wipe down with some tissues and cotton buds every now and then to keep them clean.

Every night you should put them in a Dehumidifier to get any moisture out of them. You will get one of these with a Siemens aid, it is to stop any corrosion which is the biggest killer of aids.

By looking after them you can get a good five yrs out of them and you should get them serviced at least once a year

[Farm boy]

thanks dj
i will check them out

[abitfishy]

I'm pretty sure the style of aid depends on the specific reason for the hearing loss so I don't know if this is going to help, but I have a friend who has recently had one 'installed'. Although it looks freaky (I nearly dropped dead when he showed me), some sort of amplifier was installed in his skull with only a press stud type thing showing outside (told you it was freaky), and he just pushes his aid on off when its time to adjust it or whatever. He absolutely loves it best thing since slice bread he reckons!

[ptc]

I have Widex (two)
Deaf as a post with out them
They get better every year ( they are mini computers.)
They tune them to what you can hear.(hearing range)
Try be for you buy (style)
Be patient You get used to them. Like false teeth.

[Howdya do that]

They will drive you mad for the first few weeks but this is not the hearing aids fault you will be just hearing what you have missed for years, so my advice is persevere.

I have a set of Bernafon hearing aids for eight years and have had no problems with them.

There's a famaliar piece is of advice that is offered often on these forums, You get what you pay for!!

[rrich]

I've had digital top of the line Siemens and Widex. Neither seemed to help that much. My problem is too much time in commercial computer rooms and the fan noise.

The problems with most hearing aids is that they can not deal with my type of loss. I can't remember the exact frequency, but my loss dropps off like a cliff. My low frequencies are 10-15 db down and then the cliff drops the higher frequencies to 60-65 db down. The problem with aid technology is that they can't deal with the cliff. Yes they can boost the sound the 40-50 db but they can't do it to eliminate the cliff. The aids want to give too much boost to the frequencies that don't need the boost.

The other problem is that most aids amplify ALL the sound. In a noisy environment, like a restaurant, the ambient noise can be very irritating.

Regardless of the type of aid that you decide upon, remember that mechanical things fail and electronics don't. My wive has worn an aid for 35 years. She has more problems with switches and volume controls. Her aids seem to expire with the warranty. She gets a new aid about every 3-4 years. All of my aids have been digital without external controls and I have not experienced a failure. I've had mine for about 15 years and only got a new set to try to get around the ambient noise thing. I've found that by listening carefully and some lip reading I can do reasonably well with out using the aids. (The ambient noise thing is just too much.)

[ozwinner]

Be patient You get used to them. Like false teeth.

:o What the hell are you doing putting false teeth in your ears for? :?

Al :U

[ptc]

No comment !

[ubeaut]

Got common every day male problem of selective deafness, hear only what I want to hear. Don't need hearing aids...... yet!

But wish they could do something with the incessant, sometimes overpowering, ringing in the ears.

[Groggy]

But wish they could do something with the incessant, sometimes overpowering, ringing in the ears.Tinnitus is a pain in the proverbial, I know what you mean Neil.

[Toolin Around]

doesn't grog seriously aggravate tinnitus

[Groggy]

doesn't grog seriously aggravate tinnitusThat's gout mate, gout! Although, when someone wants me to shout the tinnitus has been known to kick in...

[bookend]

I have 2 Widex aids and my greatest piece of advice, if you can find out about it locally, is to find out how quick their repair service is (ie queues, some parts may need to be ordered interstate, or the aid may need to be sent interstate to a head office) at the firm you are considering buying from and find out how easy it is to get to their service technician as they may move the tech's from store to store on different days of the week.

I don't know that there is too much difference between the aids but you can guarantee that something is going to go wrong with them and you will need the aids straight away.

[Farm boy]

thanks graeme
that a good tip and will check that out about there technicians when i go in
greg