I have moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. As a result, I struggle understanding speech, but find music impossible to understand.
Classical music has been a huge part of my life, but is now a closed book.
The recent Phonak Sphere has transformed my ability to understand speech. The inability to ‘hear’ music remains.
I have two questions for the group:
Has anyone found a way to cope with this affliction? Complex music now sounds atonal and random. I understand that my cochlea is damaged beyond repair, but cling to the hope that something may be possible.
is the best coping technique simply to close the book on music? I have tried reading scores to listen in my head, but the frustration (and depression) of being unable to hear is immense. I can follow music where there is a strong rhythm (eg some Beethoven), but I am fearful that the experience destroys my ‘memory’ of the real sound. I would be very interested in other’s experience; There seems less awareness of this aspect of hearing loss.
Hi. First of all I am very sorry for what you’re going through and I do feel your pain. I have cochlear hydrops which means the lower end of my hearing has gone and in fact continues to go. Over the years, music has become less and less bass heavy until now, although I can feel the speaker vibrating next to me with the bass notes, I can just hear the trilling bits and even those are starting to go.
Like you I find most notes a-tonal now and I also had perfect pitch, but now my entire hearing range has shifted up a semi-tone. So I hear a g but it’s actually an f sharp that is being played. All very weird.
There are a number of headphones out there with graphical EQs that you can change, for example the sony series. I personally use these and tweak the EQ, then turn them up really loud. music is kind of doable for me at those sorts of levels but it is fading fast. I’m really sorry to say that music is probably a bit of a lost cause for us, it just contains too many complexities, harmonics and overtones that really have to be heard to be understood if you see what I mean. Not to mention vocals in music which are also really hard to pick out.
The widex hearing aids offer really good music listening programs, but to be honest they are not miles above the Phonak spheres. so if you don’t hear music well with the spheres, it’s very unlikely they’ll make a difference to you.
I should say I am totally blind and I cannot see your audio gram, it’s possible someone else on here might have a better idea given your hearing loss, but from what you’ve said, it seems unlikely. I am really sorry. I’m trying to find another hobby to replace the sound based ones I used to have but it’s not easy. I imagine for you music was how you relaxed. for me, sound, great films, music etc was my way. replacing that is hard.
Hey, please dont close the book on music! You have totally got this! I went through something very similar, I my self am a performing cellist and almost closed the door on my career as I thought it was over. I then met the amazing Stephen Ambrose of Asius Technologies and all was changed. He has helped restore the careers of Brian Johnson (AC/DC) and KT Tunstall and many more (me!) from my journey I have become the UK Rep and now want to help others. and to any others that may find this interesting Please get in touch! calum.ingram@asiustechnologies.comwww.asiustechnologies.com
I have profound hearing loss and streaming is the answer. When I listen to music live, I don’t get enough treble sounds but the equalization in streaming can do miracles and with my Phonak Lumity the experience is very satisfying.
My loss is moderate to severe. Does your loss look a bit like mine? When I set up any Phonak hearing aids (I self programme), Sound Recover 2 is enabled as default. I’m surprised by this, as I rarely use domes. I have full moulds and some slimtips too.
The first thing I do is switch off Sound recover, as it shifts frequencies. I can get decent gains throughout the range, without it, and can music well enough to enjoy it.
I would investigate your fitting, as this “may” be the problem.
I really appreciate your experience. I cannot imagine the loss of sight on top of hearing problems; as always, it is actually good to realise that some are far worse off than me and that I should be grateful for what I have, My best wishes to you.
I understand that some sufferers lose trebble or base etc; my problem is that the loss of a number of frequencies has removed my ability to understand tonality. As a result, music simply sounds like a mush (strings in particular) or random and atonal. However, it is true that some instruments still ‘work’: I appear to hear and understand a saxophone, which seems strange!
But thanks for your suggestion.
I went through something very similar, I my self am a performing cellist and almost closed the door on my career as I thought it was over. I then met the amazing Stephen Ambrose of Asius Technologies and all was changed. He has helped restore the careers of Brian Johnson (AC/DC) and KT Tunstall and many more (me!) from my journey I have become the UK Rep and now want to help others. and to any others that may find this interesting Please get in touch! 