I’ve struggled for awhile with what I think is low-frequency loss (cannot hear machinery well, cannot hear thunder unless it is very loud, vehicles outside). I also struggle with hearing in noisy situations and have tinnitus. I’m a hot mess I think.
I finally got the courage to make an appointment with an ENT and it is tomorrow. Someone suggested an ENT first, then maybe an audiologist or Costo (no HA coverage at all from insurance.)
Aside from a hearing test, what should I expect and will they recommend a course of action or will I have to go back. I’m just feeling nervous and not sure what questions to ask. I’ve read a lot on this forum and I appreciate the knowledge.
I would expect the emphasis to be on getting a good history from you and what brings you there. Also a physical exam of your ears. There’s a good chance you’ll get a hearing test, but it’s possible they might want to schedule one and have you come back. Further testing is based on what they learn from history and physical. I wouldn’t get ahead of yourself. Let’s see what you learn from this appointment.
IF hearing aids are indicated, Costco is likely to be the least expensive. Congratulations on taking this first step towards better hearing.
Welcome to the forum! When you made the appointment, if you told them it was because your hearing has been getting worse, they probably will do a hearing test. Expect them to speak words (for speech recognition) and play tones of varying volumes & pitches, all via headphones in a soundproof booth. They’ll ask you what problems you have noticed. Also they’ll look in your ears, they’ll probably do a bone conduction test, and maybe one or two other things. Most likely they will then sit down with you and talk it over, explain the test results, and make recommendations. The latter could very well be hearing aids, and expect them to explain which type they think will work best (receiver in canal, or behind the ear with a sound tube, or completely in canal, etc.)
Be sure to ask for a copy of your audiogram. That way if you have to shop elsewhere, you will have numbers to compare with tests administered at any other place. And you can post the results here and ask questions, of course; knowing those results will help the forum members understand your situation (everyone’s hearing loss is different).
Here is my audiogram. They have a 9 - 12 month wait at the clinic for an audiologist appointment. We have a Costco an hour away and at least one other hearing center in my city.
I would make an appointment at Costco. You get a 180 day trial with full refund if your not happy with the result. As long as you return them within the 180 days. Plus domes, adjustments and batteries. Good luck on your new hearing journey.
I am 58 now and had my first appointment at 57. I tried Costco, a small, locally owned chain of hearing aid stores (but with no degreed Audiologists) and a center with 5 degreed Audiologists. The center with the Audiologists did the most complete testing and they were the most thorough and the best equipped, but they were also the most expensive – and by a lot. I was very impressed by the care I got at my local Costco. It was between the other two. Everyone involved recommended essentially the same thing – Phonak P90’s or the Costco clone (which is no longer available). Prices ranged from $1500 at Costco to $7200 at the center with the degreed Audiologists. I am glad that I tested out all the options. I am also glad I went with Costco.
Congrats on getting an audiogram. Hearing aids should help quite a bit. You have good word recognition scores which means your brain can still make sense of the sounds. You don’t have a typical loss which might make getting a good fit more challenging. Costco is a reasonable place to start. You might ask if anybody has experience fitting reverse slope losses. Keep us posted. Good luck!
Looks a little like a cookie bite hearing loss.
Many members that started out with a cookie bite loss ended up with a more flat hearing loss in time.
I believe most any good hearing aids with good fitment will help you a lot. Your left ear has lost some word understanding so getting aids now is a very good decision.
It’s certainly not a run of the mill loss. I think in a cookie bite the “V” points the opposite direction. I called it reverse slope because that’s what the tester called it. In a way it’s a reverse slope and a ski slope.
