Has anyone found a hearing aid helpful?

I’ve had surgery for AN and lost enough hearing to make me a candidate for a hearing aid. Has anyone tried one? Did it help?

[Njd59]

Hello, there! I have very little hearing in my right ear, because of an acoustic neuroma. I was fobbed off with a couple of different standard hearing aids, but as there was so little sound to amplify they were useless. However, a few months ago I was given a CROS hearing aid, with a micorphone sitting on the poor ear which sends sound across to the good ear, I've found it really good - people speaking on my deaf side can be heard, although I do hear them in my left ear, which can feel starnge sometimes. All the best with pursuing this - remember, keep asking until you get a solution you're happy with - I started to get withdrawn and drift out of situations where I couldn't hear properly - now I can hear a lot more of what's being said, and stay engaged in conversations (unless they're boring of course!)

[Hidden in reply to Njd59]

Thank you so much! This is very helpful. I can relate to being withdrawn and avoiding situations where you can't hear properly. I had my surgery done at Mayo in Rochester, Mn. I'm fortunate to be within 90 minutes of them. They think I have enough hearing left where a hearing aid will be helpful. I'm waiting to 'hear' haha, when my appointment will be. I've also have memory and focus issues. I hoping that with time those will turn around. Again, Thank you so much for your feedback. It's truly helpful to be able to reach out to others walking the same path.

[Kristyll in reply to Njd59]

I found it hard to get used to am hearing aid and the fact a cros aid blocks my good ear, it takes time and trial . Good luck

[drdeanbellavia]

Yogi:

I have a 75 db hearing loss in my left ear from a 2002 AN; the ear was too damaged to get a hearing aid. In 2011 I decided to try a "behind the ear" (BTE) hearing aid in my right (20 db loss ) ear to improve my hearing. It helped, but I found problems with unnaturally strong high frequencies making everything sound "hissy". Aids have improved significantly since then. In early 2017 I tried the wi-fi crossover two-hearing aid setup and found the left side sound interfering with the right side so I dropped it. I did get the newest aid and it was still very "hissy", blocking sound I wanted to hear. This week, I had it adjusted to get rid of the hiss and for the first time I can hear clear sound even with moderate background noise. The key is to have the aid configured to what you feel is natural, not what the aid manufactures suggest you hear.

For a quick understanding of the types of hearing aids go to the following link and scroll down the page:

diversifiedhearing.com/prod...

I use the BTE type and it finally is helping.

Dean

[Hidden in reply to drdeanbellavia]

Thank you! This is very helpful

[6625]

Hi iv lost hearing in my right ear after op for Acoustic neuroma ,my dictor referred me to spec savers where i was told a hearing aid wouldnt help ,should i go to ENT department at hospital do you think they could help

[Njd59 in reply to 6625]

Yes! I have very little hearing in my right ear, so I have a CROS system, with a little microphone behind that ear that sends the sound to the better left ear. Ordinary hearing aids won't help if you have little or no hearing, because there's nothing to amplify, but keep pursuing it until you're happy. All the best.

[Hidden]

I think it depends on how much hearing you’ve lost. I would maybe consult with an ENT. Good luck.

[Jmingo]

Hi! I have 75% hearing loss in my left ear from an acoustic neuroma. I have been trying hearing aids in both ears as well as a Phonak cros hearing aid. Personally, I found the Cros better than the regular hearing aids as the one in my AN ear didn't pick up any extra noise because, I presume, of the nerve damage from the AN. I found the cross aid picked up the noise and speech from that side so didn't feel I missed as much conversation as before. I took back my loaner yesterday and my hearing tech told me they are just coming out with a new cross aid that will actually pick up more of the surrounding noise/conversations than the usual Cross, and I was already trying out the best one in the world. So, exciting news for SSD. Hope to have new one to try in next week or two. These are made by Phonak. Will keep you posted.

[colbe]

I teach in a Primary (Elementary) School so my hearing is very important. I lost all the hearing from my left ear (as expected) after my operation last year. I now use a tiny ReSound RIC in-ear hearing aid in my right ear to boost the sound. I have had no difficulty learning to hear with one ear. I often forget that I cannot hear with both ears and have to remember to take the hearing aid out when I have a shower or go swimming - I forget that I am wearing it as it is so natural.

I certainly think that it may be worth trialling one to see if it suits you. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to colbe]

thank you!

[Choke]

I have total hearing loss in my left ear from my AN surgery 6 years ago. My doctor suggested I get and use what they call a "Crossover Hearing Aid". It basically transmits sounds from my left side to receiver I wear in my right ear. They're very small and barely noticeable.

These are what I have:

phonakpro.com/us/en/product...