Hearing?

[pennypoop]

Has anyone got suggestions to help with hearing on the phone for people with ataxia? When face to face I can lip read and read faces. I'm not sure if voice recognition or pitch is more of a factor than actual hearing loss, as can mostly hear the sound but can't make word out

[cocoa]

I find if I put the phone on speaker mode it is easier. I never take a call any other way. I bought a new phone because I couldn't hear people and as a result landed up with a migraine after a lengthy call. Another thing I do is always make sure there is no background noise.

If I am making a call, it is better in the morning and I pick my time when the house is quiet.

I also have caller display and will only take calls when it suits me because some days are better than others. When I am tired it is out of the question.

[wildone]

Hi. It's a pain for me too. I think I have Auditory Spectrum Disorder - I can hear but I have problems tuning out background noise and have problems making out what people are saying when they're not particularly clear. And yet, people still try and talk to me while vacuuming...

I know it sounds stupid and it took me ages to work this out because it's so obvious, but while on the phone every so often I make sure the earpiece is actually on my ear. My hand tends to slip a bit without me realising. It's easier if I can see my reflection whilst talking.

[pennypoop in reply to wildone]

Oh, never thght of that, I'll give it a go!

[Wyndham]

I don't know if this will be of interest, but I have a small device which hangs around my neck and which connects the telephone to my hearing aids.

There are two versions (the Tek and the miniTek) and you can read about them here - hearing.siemens.com/UK/en/p...

Here is a YouTube video about the miniTek - youtube.com/watch?v=UdWfxSh...(Not working as expected?)

This article compares the two devices - digitalhearingcare.org.uk/b...

The Tek and miniTek work with the hearing aids supplied by the NHS, who will also set up and connect the device for you.

These devices use Bluetooth technology so you will need a bluetooth enabled telephone. I bought a Siemens Bluetooth telephone (you can have any bluetooth telephone but there are not many around), and of course they work perfectly with a mobile phone (if it has bluetooth which all the modern smartphones have). The devices also come with an attachment you can plug into your TV so you can listen to that directly through your hearing aids if you want.

One of the added advantages for me, is that I can now listen to an audiobook through my hearing aids when I am out for a walk in the park - or more usually on my mobility scooter. I use it every day and can't imagine being without it.

These are not available on the NHS, although the NHS will set them up and connect them as I mentioned earlier. They are not cheap either, but I wouldn't be without mine.

Perhaps someone can advise if there are grants available for this sort of thing...

[pennypoop in reply to Wyndham]

Thanks, I'm waiting for assessment, as had hearing aid years ago but too much background noise, but technology improved so maybe.

[Doralouise77 in reply to Wyndham]

Wyndham, I realize your post is over 2 years old but perhaps you are still around....I wanted to ask some questions about the Tek and miniTek so if I receive a reply from you I will elaborate.

Cheers

[Wyndham in reply to Doralouise77]

Hi animi

I'm very happy to help.

[Doralouise77]

Hello Wyndham,

Thank you so much for replying. I'm in Canada so the name of my "streamer" as we call it that hangs around my neck is different than Tek but the principle the same. I have had mine for several years and as you have said would be lost without it

I wonder sometimes if I'm using mine to the fullest so I was interested in how you were listening to the audiobooks while biking. Are you plugging a wire into the player and the Tek or are you using Bluetooth somehow for this?.

I also wanted to tell you in case you weren't aware that I have an FM microphone that responds to my streamer and hence my hearing aids that I use for listening to TV. This allows you to even be away from the TV and still hear what's going on in the program. It allows me to head to the kitchen for a snack and know when to return when I hear the program start. It can also be used when out for coffee by putting it in front of the other person or in the middle of the table to listen to the conversation without turning up your hearing aids and getting all that loud background noise.

I would like to hear any other ways you are using your Tek that perhaps I am not aware of. I use mine for listening to radio and talking on my cell phone. The phone is wonderful because I can't use a regular (even amplified) regular phone. Now that is a problem for me if I go away and am asked to talk to someone on a regular phone and can't .

I'll leave off now thank you. I don't know of anyone who has one .

Thank you,

Cheers