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.
3 Likes
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!!!’
7 Likes
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.
1 Like
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.
1 Like
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.
1 Like
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.
11 Likes
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.
1 Like
Totally agree. I was there 10 years ago, should have got aids much sooner.
We all share common issues.
You are doing good.
Good to hear! (pun intended!)
I should have started earlier like you’re doing.
Wonderful to hear! Glad you went ahead with them.
Good for you Ethan… I would say though, depending on you’re loss it can be very challenging when you first use hearing and dare I say, very tiring… Sometimes it is better for certain folks to start off gradually and then increase your usage time on a daily basis, but you seem to have taken to your HA’s like a duck to water 
30 years ago with bilateral sudden hearing loss in the severe/ profound threshold it took me weeks to adapt to HA’s , back then with analog aids which basically amplified everything I was met with a wall of sound… cheers Kev
I like the bluetooth as well! I love listening to audio books and it’s great to be able to do that through my hearing aids.
I had hearing loss similar to yours since I was a kid. I didn’t get hearing aids until age 50 when it got a little worse. I enjoy self-programming because I buy 2nd hand and gray market hearings aids dirt cheap. I live a very active lifestyle so I certainly don’t want ridiculously overpriced hearing aids from an audiologist. I use RIC Siemens Pure BX 7 and I don’t give a rat’s ass if people see them. You can always grow your hair to hide them.
1 Like
So, another update. I guess the “honeymoon phase” is over. I’ve been having a very love/hate relationship with my hearing aids recently. Everything sounds fuzzy, I will see the audiologist early next year. Has anyone else experienced this? My hearing might be getting worse, I was warned that was a possibility.
You’ve changed the wax filters?