Hearing Aids

[SolveTinnitus]

Dear #Ambassador, I also have Audeo V90 and high frequency loss starting after 1K though but reaching 65 dB loss at 4K (ski slope). So far no success tuning the aids well. Can you share your audiogram, I can share mine. Do you use SoundRecover and does it make consonants like "S" sound unnatural like it does for me? Do you have feedback (squealing)? Do the devices help you in meetings with many people?

So far I haven't really worn hearing devices but I have a lot of stress due to missing some words at work and a highly responsible position in business... Not sure the Audeos or any aids can help with my loss but what is your experience?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Akk]

Hearing aid sound quality preference is a lot like speaker sound preference. Everyone has a different perception of what high quality sound is. Before I settled on Phonak I wore Oticon in a trial and wasn't happy with the audiologist so I returned them and when to a different audiologist and when he put the Phonaks on me I noticed, to me, a much richer sound quality.

That's true, altough little simplified (speaker sound is depend on source, amplifier, cabels and acoustic etc), but after all we head to natural / neutral hearing experience.

One guy here in Finland tested different hearing aids in a live symphony concert, (was it five years ago ?) and found that specific Widex modell was best for him then. Altough he tested "free" cheaper models, they worked actually pretty good. He also tested a top model (way expensive) and found that was best in sound quality, but he couldn't afford it.

I'm not sure if Phonak is available by public healt care here, they seem to favor Oticon, but what is/was your model ?

 

[Ambassador]

I don't know what SoundRecover is. My sounds, to me, all seem quite natural but my hearing loss was probably going on for years and who really knows what "normal" hearing is when you lose your point of reference. One of the advantages I believe in the Phonak is the auto switching according to your environment and I am able to hear quite well in crowded rooms. One thing I do notice is i can hear change in my pocket sometimes. I almost never have feedback, I say almost never because if I turn the volume up, I have six settings, and lay down on a pillow I will get a slight squeal but that's not normal use.
The model is Phonak Audeo V90 T, the 312, T is for what Phonak calls their Tinnitus Balance which is 2 levels of white noise, one louder than the other and the 312 is the battery size. For me these hearing aids are a life saver. Very expensive almost $6000.00 US dollars with lifetime battery supply.

 

[BuzzyBee]

Has anyone ever noticed their tinnitus changing tone with a hearing aid? I've been using mine for about two weeks now, and while I like the zen chimes and the way the amplification masks my usual crickets, I've developed a flat tone that is in addition to the crickets/hissing. I've only had the flat tone for a little over a day, but I'm wondering if the hearing aid could be causing that or if it's just a correlation and I would have had a tone even without it.

 

[Ambassador]

I can't say mine changes tone but I can influence my tinnitus several ways with either the white noise, the ComPilot which allows me to stream via bluetooth any sound I like or by stepping up the volume. If I step the volume all the way up it pretty much cancels out my tone but it's a very shrill high tremble tinny sound that is not practical for any length of time. I did have my audiologist adjust in hope I could cover my tone better but after a couple weeks I had him return it to previous level and I rely mostly on the lower sound of my white noise masker and it has returned me to an almost normal pre tinnitus life, I still struggle early in the morning so no more laying around, I need to get up, get the hearing aids in and start moving around.

 

[BuzzyBee]

I can't say mine changes tone but I can influence my tinnitus several ways with either the white noise, the ComPilot which allows me to stream via bluetooth any sound I like or by stepping up the volume. If I step the volume all the way up it pretty much cancels out my tone but it's a very shrill high tremble tinny sound that is not practical for any length of time.

I haven't learned how to use the bluetooth yet, but I'll be going in next week for a tutorial. Honestly, I love it when it is in my ear. The thing that worries me is that when I take it out the tinnitus will be worse. So far the only thing that has happened is this new tone, and I'm hoping the hearing aid isn't what caused it. For instance last night the aid helped while watching TV, but when I had to take it out for bed I had a new tone that I don't usually get at bedtime. Hopefully it's just a coincidence.

 

[Ambassador]

In my experience my tone varies in volume and that can seem like pitch changes but it's difficult for me to truly evaluate. Every ENT or Audiologist I have seen always asks which ear and I honestly don't know, it's more of an in my head source. My tone is a lot like white noise. For me mornings when I first wake up are the worst. It's evening here right now in NJ and I barely notice it. I'm fully expecting to continue to improve. The bluetooth function is quite easy. I paired it to my iPhone and it works well. I can stream music too which is nice.

 

[Ron Robles]

I tried hearing aids doesn't really help I have that white decks with the same program the masking is a white noise which I use at home at night and it's the same thing that I hear I don't know if they're white noise is making my hearing worse

 

[Tigo]

I know that Siemens hearing aid has an option for notch therapy. Has someone on this forum tried this?

 

[Ambassador]

I use a notched white noise file on my iPhone that I stream via bluetooth to my aids. I am undecided wether or not it's more effective than plain white noise.

To SolveTinnitus, I have to photograph my audiograph if you're still interested in seeing it but it's pretty standard drop off at 4K with my left slightly worse than my right.

 

[SolveTinnitus]

Hi Ambassador, thanks for your answers. Yes, I am still interested in your audiogram as you sound like a satisfied user of the Venture 90 which I also have but I am not satisfied. SounRecover is a feature which moves some sounds from high frequency to lower frequency where you hear them better but thus makes it not so natural..

 

[Ambassador]

 

[SolveTinnitus]

Thanks, Ambassador, well yes, your hearing is much better than mine. You start losing after 4K. Are you sure you really need hearing aids? Don't you hear well enough without them?

 

[Ambassador]

You're right on with that assessment. I don't need them for hearing although they do help with a little assist with the high frequencies I wear them only for the tinnitus benefit they provide.

At my ENT and Audiologists recommendation, by filling in the missing high frequencies, they help cover my tinnitus. In addition the white noise feature is a big help as well when tinnitus becomes particularly bothersome. Then I discovered the bluetooth feature, I ignored it in the beginning, and now I enjoy streaming whatever I like from my iPhone to the aids, masking sounds as well as music.

I have six levels of volume that I can step through and I find when I turn them full up my tinnitus is virtually gone but it's not a practical setting, everything else is amplified and it's probably not a healthy level of sound.

I am going to see a new Audiologist on Friday who specializes in tinnitus and get a new frequency match, my old level was 4K but I suspect the pitch has changed over the last couple years. I also want to be sure I am optimized for covering my tinnitus with the settings as well as the white noise.

 

[SolveTinnitus]

Good for you! My bigger problem is the hearing loss, not the tinnitus...

 

[Akk]

View attachment 13223

That audiogram looks exactly like as mine left ear. If it's due agening (im 52) will my right "normal" ear follow it as one of my ENT predicted ? SolveTinnitus asked if one have HL in high frequenzies, is hearing aid then necessary ? Of course, if you want hear normally, and I do. Reducing T beside it is a great relief.

 

[Paulmanlike]

Went to the audiologists today, hearing test came back as normal hearing - no dips or anything,

However have the T in one ear, and I asked for a masker. I have a hearing aid with built in masker on order (£1000) where I can control it from my phone. Anyone had experience with this? Will it help me? Got a night bedside masker for sleep which has helped greatly taking the anxiety away during the night.

 

[Ambassador]

I can control my hearing aids with my iPhone and it has been a big help. I am in a pretty good place at the moment after 5 months of misery where I depended heavily on masking and have gone several days not without any masking. I believe it's quite worthwhile and you can't beat the convenience of an ear level device.

 

[Paulmanlike]

Sounds like what I have ordered all iPhone controlled. Even take phone calls with my hearing aid - cool! Can't wait to have something comfortable in instead of headphones with low level white noise playing in them inside the house.

 

[Bleep]

I was wearing a hearing aid in just my left ear: it helped my T in my left ear, today I received my right hearing aid as well...and...well..it helped fixing my right ear and reducing the noise in my left ear even further! It's not totally gone but it definitely softened my T, yes even in quiet rooms!

I haven't gotten my hearing aids adjusted yet so who knows what will happen if they match my hearing loss.

I wonder if my hearing aids will help in the healing process of my T even without wearing them to be honest...Any veterans here to share their story?

 

[BuzzyBee]

Does anyone have issues with a feeling of ear fullness or blockage when they remove the aid? I have an open fit which is fairly comfortable at first, but after a couple of hours wearing it my ear feels strained or sore. When I take it out my ear feels blocked and full for hours. I'm thinking this treatment might not be for me, but I also hate the idea of giving it up because I want to do everything I can and like to think that the acoustic stimulation is really rewiring my brain. I do have hearing loss, but the aid doesn't help much and the loss never really bothered me. I bought it for tinnitus relief.

 

[Ambassador]

If your ears are hurting there are a couple things you can do. There are 3 different size cones for different size ears, small medium and large and you may need a smaller size. In addition there are different length tubes that go from the behind the ear unit to the cone and a longer one might be better for you. A good hearing aid provider should have no problem properly fitting you. I can't comment on the blocked or full feeling, that's not something I experience and have a similar situation, moderate hearing loss but mainly wear aids for tinnitus. Finally if you're new to wearing them, there is a period of adjustment and you will get used to wearing them after a while. I am so comfortable wearing mine that I frequently catch myself getting into the shower or even one day about a week ago, jumped into a pool. Good news is they are a little water resistant and no damage was done, I immediately got out and opened them up to dry.

 

[BuzzyBee]

If your ears are hurting there are a couple things you can do. There are 3 different size cones for different size ears, small medium and large and you may need a smaller size.

Yes, good idea. I did switch to the smallest and for a while it seemed to help. The weird feeling is kind of a pressure or a strain or soreness type of feeling. It's hard to explain, but it's as if the sound somehow affects the fluid in my middle ear (behind the drum) and causes it to collect. I know that doesn't make sense. It's weird because sometimes I think the aid is helping and the zen tones are relaxing, then other times I just want to stay "forget it" and return it. I still have another week or so of the trial.

 

[Riya]

Hi @BuzzyBee

I too have blocked ears once I remove my aids which is a white noise masked.. I use audifon Sueno S and it has been 2 weeks, I don't know if there is an improvement. Also, I don't have significant hearing loss. I have constant tone in my left ear and pulsatile T in my right. I am not sure if this makes a difference with the aids to cause blocked effects? Does anyone with Pulasating T use aids?

 

[BuzzyBee]

Hi @BuzzyBee

I too have blocked ears once I remove my aids which is a white noise masked.. I use audifon Sueno S and it has been 2 weeks, I don't know if there is an improvement. Also, I don't have significant hearing loss. I have constant tone in my left ear and pulsatile T in my right. I am not sure if this makes a difference with the aids to cause blocked effects? Does anyone with Pulasating T use aids?

Sorry to hear that. I sometimes get the feeling after wearing my noise cancelling headphones for a while too, but with the headphones it usually goes away quicker.

 

[Reinier]

A cognitively controlled assistive hearing device.
I think this is pretty amazing: http://naplab.ee.columbia.edu/nnaad.html
(We still need a working inner ear though )

I start to wonder if technology improvements are going a lot faster than knowledge about biology. (cell regeneration in the inner ear)

 

[Danjfoley]

Haven't had time to read through all of the messages in this thread. I have tinnitus and it is worse when I wake up. It gets very annoying when I wake up early and I want to go back to sleep but can't. I have been to the audiologist and I have hearing loss with a drop at 8k in both ears. They are suggesting I look into hearing aids.

Do hearing aids actually help the sound go away. Mine is a constant high-pitched tone.

There are times when I hardly notice it for hours on end. Like I said it's worse when I wake up.

Would I be able to put my hearing aids in when I first wake up and then go back to sleep if they take care of the sound? When you take them off at night does it make the sound even more noticeable?

Just starting my journey into thinking about getting hearing aids and hopefully getting rid of this annoying tone.

Thanks for you responses.

 

[Telis]

Hi everyone, I've been considering trying hearing aids for a long time now. My only reservation is that I have really bad Hyperacusis.

I haven't had my hearing tested in a while, last test showed loss starting around 7khz-20db 8khz- 40db and then sloping further down, I'm at about 60db loss by 10khz.

I'm 43 years old, I have had tinnitus and hyperacusis for almost four years now after a ear injury caused by barotrauma, and then further worsened with antibiotics. Prior to this injury I had absolutely perfect hearing.

I'm wondering if they can fine tune to exactly where my hearing loss is, but also set a max output limit of say 75db?

I know I don't have a lot of hearing loss in the speech range but my head feels like it's under pressure, especially while doing things that involve listening like watching TV, my brain feels like it is really straining to hear like it used to. I have absolutely monsterous tinnitus, it gets loud enough that the pitch and intensity actually hurts. It seems to be all over my brain, multiple screeching type tones, along with very high pitched beeps (again in the head and ears).

Anyone, have any advise for me? Or in a similar situation? Thanks so much.

 

[GregCA]

@Telis - I'm in a somewhat similar situation except I got my ear injury because of a disease, and my ski slope loss starts at 1 kHz, down to 55 dB loss at 8 kHz, and keeps going down as we go up in frequencies.

I used to have horrible H, but after my surgery most of it is gone. I still have horrible T.

I've tried a hearing aid for a year and wasn't too convinced about it. I recently went for an adjustment and I've turned on a "white/pink noise" feature that I can use on one of the selectable programs. I think it does help, although I don't use it constantly as I'm unsure about the long term effects of it.

If your state allows for trial periods, it seems it's worth a shot.
The audiologist should be able to adjust your aid so it doesn't go any louder than some threshold. They can adjust the compressor on them to make sure things don't get over amplified.

The other thing is that you don't have to use it 24x7: you can ramp up slowly and see what effects you see on your hearing. If it's not going the right way, you can discontinue its use.

Good luck!

 

[Telis]

@Telis - I'm in a somewhat similar situation except I got my ear injury because of a disease, and my ski slope loss starts at 1 kHz, down to 55 dB loss at 8 kHz, and keeps going down as we go up in frequencies.

I used to have horrible H, but after my surgery most of it is gone. I still have horrible T.

I've tried a hearing aid for a year and wasn't too convinced about it. I recently went for an adjustment and I've turned on a "white/pink noise" feature that I can use on one of the selectable programs. I think it does help, although I don't use it constantly as I'm unsure about the long term effects of it.

If your state allows for trial periods, it seems it's worth a shot.
The audiologist should be able to adjust your aid so it doesn't go any louder than some threshold. They can adjust the compressor on them to make sure things don't get over amplified.

The other thing is that you don't have to use it 24x7: you can ramp up slowly and see what effects you see on your hearing. If it's not going the right way, you can discontinue its use.

Good luck!

Thanks Greg, I think the reason I would like to try also, is that my hearing just feels so unbalanced, perfectly fine in the mid and then basically drops of a cliff once you get up high. I feel this is doing strange things to my head, maybe this is where the pressure feeling comes from, I don't know. The last time I asked about hearing aids I was dismissed fairly quickly because I could hear properly in the speech range, and had white noise gens pushed on me, I wonder if things have changed in the last couple of years. I know that the bandwidth is pretty good on some of the units now, up to 10khz, the manufacturer surely did this for a reason.

My head goes haywire if I listen to white noise, or anything like that, it's like my tinnitus gets more power and really ramps up to these levels that are just unbelievable. Hoping a hearing aid can balance things out more naturally for me, maybe my brain readjusts.

And yeah, for sure, I would just use them for some of the day, wouldn't need them 24x7. Just would be nice to hear things half way properly again at least some of the time.

I think I can do a trial for 30 days so I guess I have little to loose.

Sorry to hear about your hearing loss, I'm sure that's tough, hope you are doing okay.

Thanks for the advise