Hearing Aids

[paul456]

Hello all

Does anyone know if ataxia suffers can wear hearing aids as I’m getting mixed answers from different sources.

Thank you for any help 👍🏻

[wobblybee]

🤔 Someone in my local group was making enquiries about having hearing aids..but I haven’t yet heard about the outcome.

[Pussycat1]

I have had2 hearing aids for over 10 years and Ataxia diagnosed for 5 years, don’t see a problem

[Crisfromshipdham]

I have been deaf since childhood and have worn hearing aids for 40 years - I am now 76years old. I have had ataxia for over 20 years. I wear two national health aids and they enhance my life in so many ways. One of the biggest joys is hearing the birds sing,but there are a great many advantages if you are deaf.

[Jellybean75]

I've had hearing aids for a good many years. My latest ones are rechargeable which is fantastic because don't have to fiddle around with the very small batteries

[medea]

The hearing loss associated with Ataxia, auditory neuropathy, is not a problem with the ears but a neurological one so hearing aids would not be effective. You could, of course, have an ear problem as well as or instead of auditory neuropathy. I think that only an expert could advise.

[wobblybee]

🙂 I’ve heard back from my friend..

She’s wearing NHS hearing aids..and is managing ok

But..a friend of her’s ( no ataxia) has paid ££££ for hearing aids privately..and isn’t happy ..

[paul456 in reply to wobblybee]

Thanks for your help and thanks to all that replied.

Dead lucky me to have the most complex condition in the human race think I’ll stick to NHS ones and hope for the best or just stay half deaf as it has its advantages 😀.

Take care all and stay safe and happy 👍🏻

[wobblybee in reply to paul456]

I have ‘selective hearing’…it has it’s advantages 😉

[Piero]

Yes. I wear one and find no problem with it

[nigelrheath]

there’s a danger that we ascribe every ailment to ataxia or wonder whether it’s linked or will affect the outcome.

I treat every potential issue from an age perspective first. Often there’s a simple solution or GP fix available. (I’m 73).

I use nhs hearing aids. Take 3 pills, blood pressure, blood thinner and of course a statin!

I deal with usual age related problems with safe exercise and leave my ataxia to rumble away in the background. I deal with this by finding new ways to get around and keeping me safe. But above all by focusing on humour and what I have.

Good luck and enjoy what you can. Birdsong is definitely worth hearing.

Nigel

[paul456 in reply to nigelrheath]

Morning Nigel

Your absolutely right I do tend to blame Ataxia for all health dramas including my loss of hearing, I’ve been far to close to bombs and bullets in my early days that’s one of the reasons I left our council housing estate and joined the army at 16 it was much safer 😂😂👍🏻

You take care my friend

[penelope2]

Hi Paul, my balance problems were first put down to tinnitus and loss of hearing.The ENT department diagnosed bilateral vestibular hypofunction which is basically one ear slight hearing loss. Then referred to a neurologist and joy the ataxia journey started.

Went privately and now have one hearing aid which helps with my balance slightly. Interesting but I had nausea for 3 days when i first had it. But wouldn't be without it now.

Some private hearing specialists offer a free months trial.

Like all of us I would try anything to improve the ataxia.

Take care.

[Stagger]

Don't see any problem. I have a BAHA (British Association Hearing Aid). Had a bone anchor crossover operation around 10 years ago. A small titanium butt was attached to my head during the operation. I then attach my box shape hearing aid to this. I was diagnosed with Cerebellar Ataxia in 2010

[SueMillman Partner Ataxia UK]

Many people with ataxia find that their hearing problem is not that the noise they want to hear (usually speech) is too quiet, but that they can't pick it out from amongst the cacophony of other noises. My understanding is that there are hearing aids which can reduce background noise with a technology called Deep Signal Processing (DSP) using directional microphones in the device. Having done a quick Google it would seem there are a number available.

[paul456 in reply to SueMillman]

Thanks Sue I will look into that.

[Piero]

Yes Paul, at least in my case most definitely so. I wear a pair of hearing aids which I purchased at Boots and have never noticed any form of difficulty