Hi
Day two of my new NHS hearing aids to improve my hearing which has deteriorated at high frequency, and hopefully help my continuous tinnitus which I’ve had for years and has recently ramped up.
I’m determined to give the hearing aids a good go and get used to them. Any advice on how long it takes? I understand it my not help my tinnitus but does anyone have a good news story about the positive effects of using hearing aids.
Thank you all 🙂
I was advised to start slow and add an extra hour a day for a couple of weeks. All this was nine years ago so I’ve forgotten exactly how long it took but I do recall I was given full advice on what to expect, and that the advice given was helpful and correct.
It does take your brain a while to adjust, and they are hearing AIDS and do not bring the hearing exactly back to what it was when you were at your peak.
And as far as T goes, the real world is louder so T has to fade a bit into the background
Many thanks for taking the time to reply. I was given a lot of good advice but not as to how long I should wear them every day to get used to them, so that’s very helpful. I’ve been battling on today so perhaps I should give myself a break and give my ears a rest. Keep well, and thanks again.
My situation may have been easier, because I was NHS prescribed only one (for my left ear + masker), about 7 years ago. I attended an excellent Audiology Centre, and I don't recall (memory may fail me, I was generally unwell at the time), being given any advice about getting used to it. As soon as the audiologist had programmed it, I wore it home and it has been in daily use since then. I do find that it helps somewhat with my T and the masker can be a boon.
We are all different. I hope it gets better and better for you.
Hi
The first time I got my hearing aids I hated them
Running tap sounded like Niagra Falls ,when I walked I heard my clothes swishing together everything felt so loud , but you have to persevere now I put them in as soon as I wake to drown out the T & hear all these other things instead .
Took me a few weeks. Good Luck
Ah thanks Yogachamp. I can hear my hair sort of scratching against my ears! Good to hear this calms down. I’ve heard people give up on them but I will definitely persevere. As you say, so good to hear sounds that we’re lost to us. Keep well.
Hi,
I've had my HA for 5 months now. I have some high frequency loss both sides (more on left) and T since 2012. I got used to them very quickly, but the initial problems I had were due to the audiologist not explaining enough about how they work. Mine have a white noise which I can turn on and off on the left HA, but doing so puts the volume control on the right HA up to max. They didn't tell me this, and with the volume on max, every sound is too loud, hair, footsteps etc. I also found fitting them difficult, they go in a lot further than you think! They work better and you are less aware of them when they are in properly.
I think improved hearing helps to hide the T, and the white noise too, although sometimes the white noise becomes more intrusive and so I turn it off (re-adjust the volume) and the T seems quieter for a while. Overall, definitely worth doing. I firmly believe that a cure will be found in the not too distant future, but for now I find HAs are a big help.🙂
Hi
I had HA fitted about 8 months ago . They are the Starkey brand and therefore sound is sharper than I understand the Phonak brand and they do tend to favour the environment rather than voice, so a chair being moved or something being dropped can make me jump. However I use the Thrive app which comes with them and was programmed by the audiologist so white noise, stream boost, direction and other adjustments can be made through that depending on what situation you are in.
It took me about a month to adjust to having them and I also take them out when I feel they're getting a bit too much for my ears.
I like them for playing white noise and other calming sounds through them and listening to the radio , using them with my phone for social media and watching films. Outdoors or on the train I'd need noise cancelling headphones as well to be able to really concentrate on these.
Have fun with them!
That’s really helpful, thanks. I think once I’ve got used to my NHS ones I’ll definitely have a look at buying some more refined ones, like yours. Love the thought of playing calming sounds through them. I’ll have a look at Starkey. Many thanks for the comprehensive advice. Take care.
I picked up a set of NHS aids (Phonak) a few weeks ago.
It was not to do with tinnitus. I was seeing my doctor about something else and I mentioned my hearing was getting worse. Within a week I was in Specsavers having my hearing tested. I can hear very little above 6k these days (playing in rock bands and riding bikes for years!)
I wasn't given any specific instructions about usage but to wear them every day to get used to them.
The Phonaks are relatively sophisticated with different programs on an app.
I don't find they've really helped my hearing that much but maybe I'm not setting them up correctly.
They've made no difference to T unfortunately.
I tried some very expensive Amplifon ones last year and hated them. Everything was too loud (as I've seen in other replies) and despite trying several settings on the app I couldn't change it and neither could Amplifon. Luckily it was a trial and I got my money back. Saved me £3500.
Good luck with the hearing aids, I hope they help.
Wow, thank goodness you got your money back on the Amplifon aids! I do want to try some non NHS ones sometime in the future but will be very careful about which ones to try. It’s a minefield out there isn’t it! My NHS ones aren’t programmable, just basic ones. I’m persevering but at the moment feel very tired and headachy by the end of the day. Onwards and upwards as they say!! Thanks for taking the time to respond. Keep well.
If they bother you that much it might be worth going back to the audiologist for their advice.
Is there an app for your aids because that will have limited adjustments. Mine has a setting for music, restaurant, TV and automatic but they can be adjusted. Someone posted a while back about hearing aids they tried which made their tinnitus disappear but they were £9000 iirc!
Good luck in your search.
I trialled 2 different ones from Specsavers. 90 days each time. Didn't wear them much. The second pair had a T program that sounded exactly like my usual T . So I didnt see the point. So am waiting for the NHS ones.
My initial appointment with an NHS audiologist advised my to try NHS hearing aids first and not go to a high street provider, which I’ve done. Then perhaps think about a private provider for better ones if I get on with wearing aids. Good luck with trying your NHS ones when you get them.
Well at least they are free . SS ones were £2000
Wow! £2,000! Lot of money if they don’t suit.
I'd rather go on another holiday. 😀or have a go at acupuncture.
Hi i am giving hearing aids a go, so far in the day they have def improved my T, so its good news.
How to cope sleeping is my problem i wake every morning 6am to my ear/head screaming its so loud ! Then i resort to putting on sleep music on my phone and using my earpods.
Good luck
Your experience sounds so close to mine. I’m getting more used to them every day, and it’s good to hear properly again. I didn’t realise how muffled my hearing was until I got the hearing aids. Like you I wake up with my T screaming!! Can’t wait to get in the shower and mask it! Thanks for responding and keep well.
Have you tried the sleep music all night ? or running water on youtube ?
I use sleep music, so off to sleep last night with the help of sleep music, it usually plays for 1hr. Woken at 12.15 screaming T tried music calmed it down evenually prob back to sleep at 4a.m.Its exhausting to say the least i have to find an answer. !!!
Wishing you all well on your journey so miserable at night. I dread going to bed .
Maybe thats the problem. You might need some sounds all through night . I have LBC , guess I get more interested in what they are talking about than listening to my T. Music never worked for me.
We’re great LBC listeners too! That’s my going to sleep radio station. 👍🏻
I’ve had 2 hearing aids with masking sounds for several years and I find them useful in helping me become distracted from my T. The T never goes away but if I keep myself busy and go out often for walks then I’m distracted from my T as well. It’s only at nights I find my T worse as I’m without my hearing aids in bed. Hopefully you find your hearing aids useful.
Thanks HissingSid. Like you I can deal with daytime and I’m determined to get used to my hearing aids. Night times the worst isn’t it! I can normally cope with it but every now and again it drives me to distraction so I get up and read for a bit. Can’t just lay there. Ah tinnitus, our unfriendly friend!! Take care.
Have you tried the radio on all night ? Very low. If its too quiet , Mr T tries to fill the gap .
I do have the radio on for about 90 minutes. Over the years I’ve had to turn it up a bit louder to mask Mr T. My poor other half puts up with a lot!! If I have a really bad night and I’ve had to get up for a while, when I go back to bed I put my iPad under my pillow and play chill out music and hopefully fall asleep.
hearing aids
tinnitus and altered hearing (kazoo/robotic)
