Some good comments here on getting HAs or not on potential benefits when you can sort of still hear reasonably well.
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These are inherently unsuitable for a mild HF loss. Seems like the OP is going the right way looking at RIC devices. I’d suggest trying a few RICs which suit his phone usage. Personally if size is a major issue, I’d consider non-rechargeable options too. You can have a peep at the apps beforehand as well.
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Here is what your loss looks like compared to the sounds of speech. As you can see, the higher frequency speech sounds are being lost to you. Over an extended time of not hearing these sounds your brain can start to lose the ability to translate them to words, and speech recognition especially in noise can deteriorate. I would agree that you should use hearing aids.
If you are paying, it is hard to beat Costco. Their current Kirkland Signature RIC aids are $1500 a pair. They are a premium level Phonak aid that will stream to both iPhones or Androids.
You loss is such that you are likely to get away with open off the shelf fittings. I would ask about trying a DSL v5 correction. It is used for younger people and attempts to restore the higher frequencies more than some of the other formulas like NAL-NL2. Here is an example of what the gains would look like.
Hope that helps some
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The speech banana that Sierra pictured with your hearing loss is an excellent visual to understand why you are having a tuff time understanding people.
It is also important that you do something about this sooner than later. I can vouch for waiting is a bad thing. I have a tuff time with speech recognition all because I waited too long to wear hearing aids.
You have come to a great place to learn about your hearing and aids.
I will second trying Costco, great service and warranty.
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Yeah, I wear RICs as well. I prefer not having my ear canals all blocked up and I like the bluetooth connectivity. I also have a pretty active lifestyle and haven’t had any problems with my hearing aids yet.
Yes. Definitely.
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Wow! I appreciate all the responses and information. I have a follow up appointment soon to go over possibilities and such. I’m just having a little trouble accepting this at 29. I just keep thinking that it could be worse. Cheers.
I recently came across this article: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/amp/324995 Sounds like the guy in the article was pretty exactly your age when he got his first hearing aids as well. Seems like there are quite a lot of younger people on this forum as well. Hearing loss in young(er) adults is actually not a rare as it might appear …
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Hey everyone! First off, I appreciate all the replies, it makes me feel very supported. Also, I am “trialing” a pair of oticon opn ric hearing aids. Got them today and WOW! I have a bit of a headache, and I got a bit stressed on the way home trying to identify what I was hearing while I drove! I was missing so much, I’m hoping to learn how to operate the Bluetooth and such soon. For now I’m trying to figure out what I am hearing.
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P.S. I am using standard dome tips right now. They feel weird, like they’re tickling my ear (making it feel very itchy)! Anyone else have this issue, any possible suggestions? Might ask for custom ear molds if it continues.
Thanks
Eth
Curious what you’re basing the recommendation of DSLv5 on? Most people new to hearing aids have a hard enough time adjusting to high frequencies again and complain of “tinniness.”
Dslv5? I don’t understand what this is. I have noticed things seem a bit “tinny”. I figured it was just how things sound.
To be honest, these things are a blessing, I heard the lady at Starbucks yell my name, I heard a bunch of birds singing in a tree (I broke down in tears, it was something I forgot was so beautiful)! I now have a headache from trying to figure out what I was hearing. I’m a bit upset with myself for waiting this long.
Now, once I figure out what I’m hearing, I can familiarize myself with all the technology these things have!
I never thought at 29 I’d be super excited about my hearing aids, but I am!!!’
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There are different fitting formulas that determine how much gain the hearing aids add at different frequencies. Most manufacturers have their own and there are two main standard ones: DSL v5 and NAL-NL2. This is not something you need to worry about unless you want really make hearing aids a hobby. If you’re able to understand people and don’t have any situations that are real problems, all is good.
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Seems like every time I get new domes or earmolds I get the itchy ear. A little rubbing alcohol on a Qtip used to clean the ear out usually stops the itch. Also clean the dome with alcohol.
When I first started using aids I got the itchy ear all the time, drove me crazy. I ended up buying a hearing aid dryer that had the UV light in it for sanitizing and the dryer also had a desiccant brix with warm circulated air. The dryer pretty much stopped all itchy ear issues.
My suggestion is to try it and see if you like it. It can restore the very high frequencies (6-10 kHz) which I suspect are not what people hear as tinny. I suspect the midrange is what makes the tinny sound, and it is often boosted to improve speech recognition. But the proof of the pudding is always in the eating.
Edit: My other reason for suggesting DSL v5 is that it often uses much less compression. Some will like that, and some will not. The only way to know is to try it. This said it is not for everyone, and not for myself. I have way too much high frequency loss for it to be reasonable. It is more suitable for those that have only moderate high frequency loss or minimal. I think it could have advantages for those that suffer from “cookie bite” losses.
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DSL v5 is a fitting formula that determines how much gain and compression is considered “best” for you specific loss. I think it is a very important issue, and potentially the most important aspect that determines how a hearing aid will sound to you. Many hearing aid users focus on the brand and model of hearing aid, and the latest bells and whistles that they have. My conclusion in being new to this, and learning, is that the fitting formula is much more important than the brand and model.
When you shop for hearing aids the fitter will let you try different aids, but probably does not tell you what fitting formula is being used to program the hearing aids. It can be the proprietary formula from the manufacturer, or it can be an industry standard formula like NAL-NL2 (Australian), or DSL v5 (Canadian). They will all sound different. However, it is hard to tell you in advance which will sound best to you. That is why I recommend at very minimum finding out what formula they are using, and to what experience level it is being set at. And if possible trying different formulas to see which sounds the best to you.
Here is the DSL v5 formula which I posted earlier. It shows how much gain is applied to soft (top light line), normal (middle heavy line), and loud sounds (lower light line), across the frequency range.
This is the NAL-NL2 formula applied to your loss. The wider separation between the lines means that more compression is being applied. Loud sounds are amplified less, and soft sounds amplified more.
This is the Rexton SmartFit formula which can only be used in their aids.
So you can see there are very different approaches to how the loss is corrected.
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Not sure if anyone is still following this thread, but, I LOVE MY HEARING AIDS!!! I’m getting used to them and all the weird sounds I hear. Thanks for all the support! The oticon opns are amazing in my opinion! Bluetooth is amazing!!! I’m glad I got them.
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Thanks for getting back with us about your hearing and aids.
Congratulations
That’s great I’m happy for you.
A lot of people have difficulty adapting to hearing aids. I think I’m fortunate in that I took to mine immediately.
I like that I have a community to share my experience with. It really helps me on my journey.
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