Hearing Aids - Where to begin?

StarSong

StarSong

Awkward is my Superpower
Location
Los Angeles Suburbs
In younger years my husband rode motorcycles, went to extremely loud concerts, listened to music with headphones blasting - you get the picture. At age 66 he has self-diagnosed tinnitus and increasing difficulty deciphering conversations when there's a lot of background noise. That holds true whether at a party or listening to TV when there's a fan going.

He asked me to reach out to this group for advice. Where do we even start with this process? His doctor's office? A hearing aid company (whose aim, of course, would be to make a sale)? What should we ask for or expect? Costco has a hearing aid center, I think. Has anyone tried them?

Thanks in advance.
 

I too have hearing loss. This topic was discussed at length earlier in the year
and much last year, if you want to check that.
Seems that most people thought they are a mixed blessing and expensive.
 
Thanks, Victor. I've looked through some old threads. Just don't know where to start.
 

Yeah, my lady has been pestering me about that.
I've got one good ear, and even with that one good one, if in a restaurant, with background noise, I usually just smile at what folks are saying.
My lady know to sit on my left.

Heh, bikes, rifles, early on, prolly did it for me.
That 30-30 Winchester was my constant companion from preteens to twenty.
I'd shrug off that ringing, knowing my hearing would return in a few minutes.

Now?
On a still night, I've got the ocean in my right ear

It sorta works for me, like when sleeping. Lay on that ear, no matter what noise...nite nite, I'm sleepin' tight.
Don't like listening to somebody jabbering about what they think they know but don't?
I just turn my head a few degrees and smile occasionally

I should get one I s'pose
Jus' not enough reason yet
 
First place is an ENT specialist, they usually have an audiologist in house and they can offer to fit him with an aid. The doctor will check out his ear canal, sometimes it could be nothing more than impacted ear wax. Do that. If he tries to sell a cochlear implant, do lots of research. Once the surgery is done, it could be 50/50 chance of good hearing or deafness on that ear. My very pushy ENT doctor kept trying to get me to get an ear implant, but I only have one ear with ANY hearing. When I asked if my hearing would improve a lot, he said ''a little". Not worth taking a gamble of losing THAT little hearing I have for just ''a little'' possible improvement.
 
Gary O', in my case it has been lifetime chronic mastoiditis, since I was 5 years old. After 4 ear surgeries I'm now completely deaf in my left ear and have a little hearing on my right. I have noises in my ear sometimes, but mine is orchestra music (no singing). LOL And it just comes, I can't choose the music. My ear doctor calls it ''earworm'' and there are studies being done for earworms.

Since you have one GOOD ear, you could try an aid on your bad ear and see how you like it before you buy one. BUT, have an ENT doctor check it first for impacted ear wax. When only one ear has hearing, all sounds seem to come from that side. It can be annoying, and maybe even dangerous.
 
I have high note hearing loss but my hearing aid helps with that. I have tinnitus and nothing helps that. I do ok the way things are and at my age I won't worry about a long-term solution for tinnitus (if there is one).
 
PVC said:
Since you have one GOOD ear, you could try an aid on your bad ear and see how you like it before you buy one. BUT, have an ENT doctor check it first for impacted ear wax. When only one ear has hearing, all sounds seem to come from that side. It can be annoying, and maybe even dangerous
Click to expand...
Huh, trying one before I buy it
I sorta like that

Yeah, did the ear wax thing...normal

Heh, when living at the cabin. critter noise would always be on my left
I learned not to trust that
 
PVC said:
First place is an ENT specialist, they usually have an audiologist in house and they can offer to fit him with an aid. The doctor will check out his ear canal, sometimes it could be nothing more than impacted ear wax.

Gary, since you have one GOOD ear, you could try an aid on your bad ear and see how you like it before you buy one. BUT, have an ENT doctor check it first for impacted ear wax. When only one ear has hearing, all sounds seem to come from that side. It can be annoying, and maybe even dangerous.
Click to expand...
So it sounds like (pardon the pun) some places might offer a trial period of some sort? Good to know. I'll look into that possibility.

Pecos said:
If you are a veteran, the VA is a good place to start.
Click to expand...

Neither of us is a veteran, but thank you for the tip. Surely that info will be helpful to another SF member who comes looking for similar assistance. Reviewing old threads has helped me on more than one occasions - others probably do the same. (y)

Based on all the good advice above, I'll approach this first with our medical group for a preliminary exam by an ENT who might then refer him to an audiologist.

Thanks, SF Peeps. I knew I could count on you for a roadmap into new territory.
 
StarSong said:
So it sounds like (pardon the pun) some places might offer a trial period of some sort? Good to know. I'll look into that possibility.
Click to expand...

One time they let me try a hearing aid and I didn't like it and was able to return it. When you see the ENT, they usually have an audiologist in-house, you can ask if your husband can try it out first before purchasing. I think they average about $1000 each, that's what I was told recently. Medicare does not cover the aid but does cover the audiology hearing test.

I had an Opticon analog one that was supposed to last 5 years and it lasted me 20 years! It just died last year. They don't make analog ones anymore, they're all computerized.
 

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