I suffer from mild/moderate high frequency hearing loss which was picked up by the Audiologist when I had two severe bouts of vertigo last year. I can hear ok most of the time but find it hard to hear/understand voices clearly on the television and sounds in the distance like church bells. I also suffer from tinnitus since having microsuction done on my left ear last November. The hospital have given me two hearing aids (Phonak) with Bluetooth technology, a week ago, and have advised me to wear them for six hours a day and more, if I can. I have been doing this but at the moment I have noticed no real difference/improvement to my hearing when I have been wearing the hearing aids. When watching the television with my hearing aids it has made no difference to the clarity of the voices and I am still experiencing the same problems as before. I have turned the volume up on the hearing aids and although it makes the voices louder, it does not make them clearer. I feel so disappointed by this and although I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to wear the hearing aids, I am starting to wonder if I really need them and if they will help me.
I am going back to see the Audiologist in September for a review but in the meantime I would be so grateful for any comments or advice anyone can give me.
Thank you.
Best wishes to all.
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Choralmusic
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I can only tell you of my own experience, which may not help at all, but at least it is a response.
In 2017 I was NHS diagnosed with moderate hearing loss in my left ear (the seat of my T), and less loss in my right. I was prescribed the Phonak aid + masker then used by my NHS Trust, for my left ear only. The aid worked well and the masker helped my T (which is rather severe), to some extent.
Recently that aid was approaching its end of life (masker button stiff in particular), and I felt that my hearing in both ears had deteriorated a little. I self-referred for reassessment and on Thursday last week I was fitted with what I think is probably the same Phonak Nova aids as you have - this time for both ears (models vary though, mine are battery powered, which I happen to prefer).
Obviously it has been only a few days, but I am very impressed. I can certainly hear better than with the old aid, and the Bluetooth works well . The Phonak Android app (my first time using the app), is unimpressive, but it does work, and I find it helpful to be able to see where my volume and masker controls are set.
I have a fine tuning / sign off appointment in October, which I suppose is the same as your September review.
My entirely personal, utterly inexpert feeling is that you may be expecting too much / trying too hard, and it is also possible that it will take a while for your brain to adjust to the aids' input. Also, and again just personally, I would not want to change the volume at this stage. The range of adjustment is quite narrow and, if your hearing loss was properly assessed and your aids set up accordingly, I don't think you should need to take advantage of the volume control at this stage. I would wait a week or two before even considering that.
There are more experienced wearers of aids than I here, maybe some of them will add their opinions / advice.
From ten years ago until recently I had NHS hearing aids which were fine.
I see an audiologist privately for micro suction (as it’s the only way I can get my earwax dealt with). While I was there has my NHS aids were due to be changed) the audiologist gave me a trial of Phonac. These were so superior to my previous aids that I bought them. I can now hear tones within a voice that were not audible previously, and the organ at church is an absolute joy to hear.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I am pleased that you have had a good experience with your hearing aids. Hopefully, in time, it will be the same for me.
I find your post really interesting and I’m looking forward to reading the responses you get.
I was given one hearing aid a few months ago for what appears to be mild to moderate high frequency hearing loss. I was referred to ENT as the audiologist who did my microsuction noticed something in one of the photographs that hadn’t been there before. I got the impression the consultant I saw couldn’t think why I was referred but when I mentioned hearing aids he agreed that I could try. The trouble is it might be nothing t him but I just can’t hear properly which is quite frustrating and socially isolating.
When I was fitted with an Oticon behind the ear aid it turned out I was only to have one in my left ear. I am finding what you say about not hearing anything more clearly. I listen to the TV and keep saying ‘What did he say?’ Because I just can’t catch what is being said. I miss conversations around me when I go to a class I attend which is what I hoped the hearing aid would help. So my aid doesn’t appear t make conversations any clearer and it doesn’t amplify the sound. I know it works because if I switch it off on my phone I can tell the difference between it being on or off.
I think it helps with the tinnitus in that ear though. I have had tinnitus for years, so long I can’t even remember when it started or what the cause was - it varies from a high pitched whine to hearing what sounds like a car parked outside the house with its engine running when I lie down to go to sleep - either that or there is a radio on somewhere.
Meanwhile I find every time I get a build up of wax I need my ears microsuctioned again as the hearing aid stops working and unlike you I don’t know when I will be reviewed.
Good luck too you and I hope you can find the solution to your problem.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and for letting me know what you have experienced with your hearing aid, I really do appreciate it. I am pleased that your hearing aid has helped your tinnitus but I am sorry, like me, that you are not hearing anything clearer. I was watching television tonight and missed a lot of what was being said, it’s very frustrating. At the moment I seem to manage ok when I am having conversations, although, I do find it harder to hear if there is a lot of background noise. I will persevere with my hearing aids and will let the Audiologist know the problems I have encountered when I have my review.
I got my Oticon hearing aid on the NHS but I experiencing the same as you.it very unclear and the sound is like metallic which is very frustrating. I wonder if other makes are different or better
I don’t think Oticon are a cheap make and it is a make you come across when you look online. I’ll persevere for a while then see if I can get a retest or a refit.
I am sorry to see that you are experiencing the same problems as me, it is very frustrating. I watched a drama on television yesterday and I found it hard to keep up with it because I just couldn’t hear properly what was being said.
As I am new to wearing hearing aids, I don’t know whether other makes of hearing aids are better, but I know it does make you wonder if that is the case
I have have been given some very helpful advice from members of this site, regarding my problem and if you have a moment have a look at this thread as it might help you as well.
I hope you manage to resolve the problem you have with your hearing aids.
Thank you for replying. It is indeed really frustrating when you can’t hear the television clearly. At least you are ok with conversations. A few days after I got my hearing aid went to my Pilates class - only six of us - and told them I had got one.
The lady next to me asked me a question and I said ‘What?’ At which point everyone burst out laughing - sort of said it all really.
I hope you can find the answer to your questions. I think I should maybe contact them again and see what they say. Let us know how you get on.
Good morning Choralmusic. It sounds to me (unintentional pun!) that your hearing aids weren’t programmed properly, else they would compensate correctly for your ‘missing’ frequencies and you’d not have the trouble you’re getting. I’d go back for a re-test and re-programme since they’re clearly (oh Lord, another one) not giving you what you need - and what they are certainly capable of providing.
My situation is almost a carbon copy of yours - oops; just given my age away … with frequency losses and tinnitus on top. My first aids didn’t provide any benefit, but a re-test made a significant difference such that I wear them all the time.
We’re allowed a second opinion: I’d advise you to go for one. Good luck!
I wear phonak ote in both ears for hearing loss and tinnitus. When you have audiologist test they should have shown you a graphical representation of your hearing loss, the frequencies affected and the % loss.
For mine, it's in the noise spectrum that covers speech - I can hear some noises okay still but speech is a challenge.
When I first got hearing aids I firstly refused to admit I needed them. I'm not what I would consider to be of an age to need them. Also I found them uncomfortable to wear at first. I had CIC HA on trial. I found these very problematic. Then I got a pair of old Phonak Nova from NHS, and whilst much better I now have a pair of Phonak Lumia from Boots. These are rechargeable and deliver sound via and electronic cable into the ear, not by air tube (as NHs ones do). This results in better clarity and faster sound processing.
What I would say:
1. It takes time to get used to HA and the brain to adapt - I think mines still adapting Months later!
2. My loss was quite pronounced - I couldn't clearly hear someone standing next to me. That being said I can still have issues if someone mumbles, or turns away from me when speaking. It's not going to be 100% clarity
3. Agree on earlier comment on volume - I rarely use this and try to stick to my default setting which is comfortable
4. I found the bud size affected my ability to get on with the HA at first - maybe try a few different ones?
Hi yes I do. There's all different shapes and sizes and the ones the audiologist gave me were too large and uncomfortable. I brought some more online and found that I needed a size smaller. Ive also tried some of the different types of cones (not sure on name) but this didn't work for me either. Felt uncomfortable in the ear. I'll see if I can find the name of that cone.
I've had tinnitus for over 30 years and my latest hearing test showed that I've lost most of it above about 7k. I was given the Phonak aids and they are blue toothed to my phone. I should say I previously had some hearing aids on a free trial from Amplifon. Very expensive and although more sophisticated than the Phonak I didn't get on with them and gave them back.
The way it was explained to me by an audiologist years ago is that voices are rich in different frequencies. So, if you're missing certain frequency ranges the voices become less distinct. I have no idea if that is actually true but it does make some sense.
Like you, I don't really find the hearing aids help my hearing too much. I've tried changing the settings on the phone but it doesn't seem to make much difference. As far as I can see there isn't a way of adjusting what frequencies you hear. However, I do find them useful for phone conversations and listening to podcasts! Not anywhere near the quality of airbuds but good enough for what I need.
TV has been an issue for me for years and subtitles have been a life saver. Not much use for live TV but essential now for everything else where they are available.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and for the very helpful information you have given me, I really do appreciate it.
I too, find the hearing aids helpful for listening to my music and podcasts. I have struggled for quite some time with listening to voices on the television and like you I have found using subtitles a lifesaver. Whilst trialing my hearing aids the audiologist has asked me not to use subtitles, as a consequence, because I am still struggling to hear the voices on the television this is proving to be quite challenging.
That seems rather strange to me. Maybe just initially to get an idea of what you can and can't hear but to continue to avoid subtitles seems unnecessary.
I must admit, at the moment, it is a bit of a struggle watching the television without subtitles, but I will continue doing so until I have had my Review, at least then I know I’ve done everything the Audiologist has asked me to do to try and get used to wearing the hearing aids.
I will be getting my hearing aid in 2 weeks, (6 months after initial appointment), I will let you know my thoughts, I am hoping for some relief but trying to remain openminded as a private consultant told me not to waste money on hearing aids as they would not help with my deafness/tinnitus, although NHS seem confident that I should be able to notice some improvement.
Thank you for taking the time to reply, I really do appreciate it.
I wish you all the very best with your forthcoming appointment and I hope the hearing aids help improve your hearing and help with the tinnitus, it’s encouraging to hear that the NHS seem confident that you should be able to notice an improvement .
I look forward to hearing your thoughts once you have had your hearing aids fitted.
I too have similar symptoms with tinnitus and hearing loss in the high range. I was given some nhs hearing aids which weren’t Phonac and didn’t help much. I went privately to Boots hearingcare and purchased 2 Phonac hearing aids which I can adjust from my phone. Not great for the tinnitus, but if I’m on a bad tinnitus day I can play music or nature sounds directly into my ears. This helps distract. What I do find useful is in a noisy environment I can switch both hearing aids to restaurant settings and this reduces the background noise whilst allowing you to concentrate on your companions. This has had a huge impact on my quality of life and I can use it in other occasions too. There is a tv setting too and if you have difficulty there is an additional bit of kit you can purchase to enhance this.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and for the very helpful information provided, I really do appreciate it.
It’s great that you are getting on well with your hearing aids from Boots and the settings you have on your hearing aids sound ideal and this has definitely given me food for thought, and something I will talk to my Audiologist about when I have my review. Like you, at the moment, the hearing aids haven’t helped me with my tinnitus, but the Bluetooth aspect of the hearing aids is helpful as I too can listen to music, podcasts etc and it is a good distraction from the tinnitus.
I received my Widex hearing aids a couple of weeks ago. I have had tinnitus since I was a child due to a series of ear infections that left me with significant hearing loss in my right ear. That ear has gotten steadily worse over the years, although I was pretty vigilant about hearing protection. It didn’t help that I played drums and worked mostly in factories, the last 24 years of my working life spent in a foundry primarily in the finishing department. My tinnitus spiked in my early 50’s, and then again this winter when I had a series of sinus infections. Prior to this it was right ear only, now it was both ears, with the added “bonus” of hyperacusis. I saw an audiologist and an ENT, and the right ear was bad enough that they said that I was a candidate for a cochlear implant. I also had fairly mild hearing loss in the left ear.
The audiologist recommended the Widex, and while the hyperacusis makes it somewhat challenging, the tinnitus is usually less noticeable, and I can actually hear the TV distinctly at lesser volumes. I’m going back for a follow-up next Friday. My only complaint so far is that the ear tip is uncomfortable sometimes in my right ear. Hopefully, your audiologist can get your hearing aids EQ’d properly.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and for sharing what you have and are going through with your ears
I am glad that the audiologist has recommended hearing aids that help with the tinnitus and it’s great that you can hear the television distinctly at lesser volumes.
I wish you all the very best with your follow up appointment on Friday and I hope the audiologist can sort out the ear tip in your right hearing aid so that it’s more comfortable for you to wear
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