Author Topic: Shopping for a hearing aid  (Read 16001 times)

Syl

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Shopping for a hearing aid
« on: December 03, 2008, 01:20:25 pm »
Hello friends,

Both my Dr. and audiologist said that I am not a candidate for a regular hearing aid. BAHA is out of the question because I do have some hearing left. I made an appt. to get a hearing aid or at least test some out. Anyone else out there who wasn't a candidate for hearing aids but proved the Dr. and audiologist wrong? Am I wasting my time thinking that there is a device out there for me?

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.

Syl

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2008, 02:32:54 pm »
So I ordered a hearing aid. I'll get it in 3 wks and will have a month after that to work with the audiologist to program/adjust it for my needs. It may not help me at all, but I have to try.

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.

Sue

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2008, 06:03:08 pm »
Usually AN patients need to direct their hearing to the other ear.  Croslink is one type of hearing aid that may work.  But, maybe you'll find something else that will do the trick for awhile.

Good luck,

Sue in Vancouver USA
Sue in Vancouver, USA
 2 cm Left side
Diagnosed 3/13/06 GK 4-18-06
Gamma Knife Center of Oregon
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LADavid

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2008, 08:56:15 pm »
Hi Syl

I went throught the hearing aid process a little over a year ago.  One thing I would suggest is to get a loaner from the audiologist to try it out.  Hearing aids are a little shocking at first.  They don't just amplify what you want to hear -- they amplify everything.  Since my hearing loss in my good ear is so severe, I opted for the best aid - a Widex Inteo   A good audiologist can tune that thing to perfection -- or close to it.  Other than that, you may want to consider a CROS.

David
Right ear tinnitus w/80% hearing loss 1985.
Left ear 40% hearing loss 8/07.
1.5 CM Translab Rt ear.
Sort of quiet around here.
http://my.calendars.net/AN_Treatments

sgerrard

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2008, 10:04:14 pm »
Hi Syl,

I think it is a good move to give it a try. You may find that while it falls short of perfect, it provides enough help to make things more manageable. I hope you also find that headaches and other pains lessen as the weeks and months go by.

Steve
8 mm left AN June 2007,  CK at Stanford Sept 2007.
Hearing lasted a while, but left side is deaf now.
Right side is weak too. Life is quiet.

Syl

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2008, 01:30:51 am »
What I'm getting is the Resound Ziga which fits behind the ear. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a loaner. Will have to pay $1500 before I can take it home.

Sue and David: Isn't the CROS or Croslink for patients with total hearing loss in the AN ear? I googled the Widex Inteo. It looks just like the one I'm getting.

Steve: I'm weaning myself off of the otc Tylenol. I was taking the max of 4000mg/day. I'm down to 1150mg on bad days and about 650mg other days. I do wake up with a soar neck everyday, but find that the headaches occur less frequently. It is getting better. Thanks.

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.

jazzfunkanne

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2008, 09:00:35 am »
yes , i have a cros aid for SSD, the digital is good for cutting out some of the background noise
over 4.5cm AN removed dec 06

leapyrtwins

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2008, 10:33:17 am »
Syl -

good luck with the hearing aid.

Keep us posted.

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

Syl

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2008, 03:37:32 pm »
Thanks you all for your input. I will keep you posted.

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.

carter

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2008, 11:55:37 am »
it may be only oklahoma law dor consumer protection?   but in Okla, we have a time frame after we get the hearing aid that we can return it for a full refund.   this is a cooling off period.  i also know tha toregon and ny have simular laws

my audiologist had demo aids.  she put me in the cheapest variety.  i wore this for a week.  then a grade up for a week.  when i expressed what i liked and did not like, she asked if i wanted to try an oticon pro ... the most expensive so far.  i did not try to next level up.

she said that she always starts with the least expensive and only goes up with the request of the patient as they might like what they are not  willing to spend.

i paid a security deposit of a few hundred dollars.   when i made my final selection, i paid the remainder and this si when the cooling of period started.  i believe that it was 4 weeks?????   no she made 3 sets of adjustments before she actuially sold me the unit ... teh audiologist gave me booklet on my consumer rights as i made the purchase

then all costs for the first year were also included.   you may wish to check consumer laws to see about a back out period if you have to pay before you leave. ... i believe that the audiologist could keep a percentage of the returned fee for their srevices????

so if you do not like it - you wish to look at your options.
Diagnosed in fall of 2008 with 1.6 * 2.9cm AN on left side. 

Scheduled CK at Oklahoma Cyber Knife in December, 2008 and decided not to proceede on 2nd date that CK was scheduled.  I fired them.

CK performed at St John's Hospital (Tulsa)Jan 2009

Syl

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2008, 01:24:53 pm »
I have 30 days to test my hearing aid. I will get it Dec. 29, and will have to pay for it in full. I will have til Jan 29 to decide if I want to keep it or return it and get a full refund.

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.

leapyrtwins

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2008, 05:35:22 pm »
I know here in Illinois you have a 30 day return policy on hearing aids. 

Maybe this is standard in all states?  Anyone know?

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

Kabe

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2008, 06:00:36 pm »
Ohio is the same.  I wouldn't be surprised if all states had the 30 day grace period.

Syl

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2008, 06:25:17 pm »
I'm out in Califonia.

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.

Syl

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Re: Shopping for a hearing aid
« Reply #14 on: December 19, 2008, 06:33:42 pm »
Hey, when do I get my 4th star? Seems like it's been forever that I've had 3 stars.

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.