My paternal grandfather was stone deaf. Couldn’t hear a thing. He wasn’t born that way. My dad had really bad hearing. I suspect that a good bit of my hearing loss is hereditary. Shooting firearms without hearing protection, and a lot of rock concerts in the '70s didn’t help either. So, i’m in my 50’s and I had severe to profound high frequency loss. It went untreated, and more or less unnoticed. Then, I started having difficulty understanding people. Especially women. I went to an ear, nose, and throat doctor, and had a hearing test. The Audiologist told me I had severe to profound high frequency loss, and that there wasn’t much that could be done about it. A while later, I bought a used set of Phonak aids off eBay, got the software, and interface, and began trying to program my aids. Nothing I did really provided any real benefit. I got a newer model, and had the same results. Some time later, I got a set from the VA. Same thing. Then, a set of Phonak Marvels. I really wanted them to work. I wore them for months. They actually made things worse. Then, I got a set of Paradise aids from the VA. Same thing.
The area where I have the most problems is with background noise. I recently went back to the VA, and they adjusted my aids. Didn’t do anything. So, I am through. I won’t be wearing my aids because they don’t help. I won’t be going back to the VA, because they don’t really seem interested in actually helping. I am retired, and will soon be 77. I think it is time I gave up. I still hear well enough to enjoy movies, and music, so it isn’t like I am totally isolated.There are a lot of folks who have great success with aids. I envy them. But, I am one of those folks for whom aids are just a waste of time.
John,
I have followed your hearing struggles for a while and “believe” I understand a little of what you might be feeling…it sucks to be unable to hear AND have aids which do not improve your ability to do so.
My loss is nothing like you have, yet I also have moments where I want to stop wearing my aids, especially in very noisy situations with someone speaking in a low voice. However, I continue on because every new hearing aid I’ve received has improved my ability to hear in one way or another - they seem to be trending upward although not always in hearing speech alone.
I only listened to piano Jazz for almost 50 years because I couldn’t understand the lyrics when a Jazz vocalist sang. All that changed when they used SoundRecover2 with my P90’s. It taught me to hang in there and keep trying.
May I suggest you give it one more try after November when the VA should begin furnishing the new Phonak Audio Sphere aids. If even half the hype is accurate, the Sphere’s might be enough to help all of us old buzzards hear better.
Good Luck
David
I was born with hereditary hearing loss that just kept marching down, down, DOWN to my snake belly audiogram of now.
Even so! I’ve had HUGE success with Phonak Lumity Life aids. I have both the rechargeables (now 2 yrs old) and the 312 battery ones (from last March). One key is finding an audiologist who can truly understand your issues and goals. Perhaps with my flatter audiogram I’m not as much of a challenge? But my high freqs are in the profound range, and I’m not kidding, wearing these Lumity Life aids actually helped improve my speech comprehension test cuz they deliver on the “enhanced speech” ability.
I just read about the Phonak Sphere yesterday, and that’s a great suggestion from berettadm1 above. GIVE IT A TRY! You have nothing to lose, many more years to enjoy a better hearing experience and perhaps even coverage for the aids through the VA.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU! Keep us posted.
Your aids aren’t fitted properly. I suggest that you find a audiologist that follows best practices and will make sure that your hearing prescription is fitted properly to the hearing aids you are using. Go to hearingup.com
The OP is a veteran with considerable hearing damage who has described his ongoing difficulties dealing with his hearing loss.
I assure you the VA uses ALL the best practices available AND knows how to program the best hearing aids available in the US.
VA AuD’s are very experienced dealing with veterans whose cochleas are fried by explosions, gunfire, artillery, flight lines, carrier decks, etc… but as hard as they try they can not restore every veterans hearing.
Please search this forum for some of John’s previous discussions about his ongoing hearing issues.
I appreciate your obvious attempt to assist John with his hearing frustration, however let me assure you the VA is FIRST CLASS when it comes to their Audiology Departments.
In the past many veterans were forced to wait too long with service connected hearing damage before finally gaining access to VA care, through no fault of their own.
Sorry for sounding so grumpy…
David
I am not a veteran and never visited any VA. Not all of VAs have very experienced audiologists or hearing aid specialists. It’s true not every veteran can get help with hearing aids due to hearing damage from their military service. I don’t know how many VAs follow best practices and doing real ear measurements. It’s not perfect.