Experience with Natural Hearing, HA and CI over 3 years
My experience with Natural Hearing, HA and CI over the past 3 years.
For me, over the past 3 years, I have gone from pretty good natural hearing through both ITE and BTE digital HA along with an Analog BTE loaner while my BTE digital came in and now to a CI so I can say I have done it all almost since I have only experienced one brand of CI but both HA technologies. No, I have never had a Bone Conductive Hearing device so I have no idea what that is like. I can say that it has been over 17 years since I have heard in Stereo so I don't know if I want a second CI unless that will wipe out the remaining tinnitus I have in my RT ear.
My opinion is that any type of HA or at least my current CI, hearing in noisy environments is not easy. I most of the time have to look at the person speaking. Yes, there are advantages to CI's and HA's (digital) over natural hearing in that I can turn the noise OFF if I choose. Not so with natural hearing, you can plug your ears but that will never totally shut off the noise. I can talk on the phone if I want to during a concert and I can hear the person on the other end perfectly. Not so with Natural hearing.
As far as asking the question or making the statement of why settle for HA's and not going for the newest technology of CI's. I can say that with a CI, if the battery goes dead, you can't hear anything. If it breaks, you can't hear anything. At least with a HA, you still have some hearing.
In regards to quality of sound from a HA vs CI. The two digital HA's I had, if they were programmed correctly, It was pretty much like I heard before I started loosing my hearing. If my hearing loss stabilized, I never would have opted for a CI since what I could hear with a HA was so good over not being able to hear well. My CI, after 2 months of programming to adjust the sensitivity, I can hear as well as I use to be able to before I lost my hearing. I have trouble with background noise mainly if there is a constant noise of 1000 hz at 60 db and that noise is turned down and no longer amplified, if someone starts speaking, any noise at 1000 hz and under 60 db, the processor does not send the signal. Over 60 db, it will send the signal. Maybe some of you will be able to understand this, maybe not. The processor can only process the signals it receives so if the microphones are muffled by water or dirt, it will not "hear" the sounds right just like if someone had an ear infection, things just don't sound right.
Lastly, if you refer to comparing Analog HA's to CI's, there is NO comparison. There is also NO comparison from Analog to Digital HA's but you will need to pay some $$$ to get a good Digital that has enough processing power to make noises sound right. The Analog HA I used as a loaner was much more powerful than my ITE or BTE Digital HA's and also used a much larger battery that had more kick. The Digital HA's have pretty much the same analysis software as a CI in my opinion since my good Digital HA sounded the same as my current CI which is all digital.
Either way, I am thankful that I had the opportunity to extend my hearing with a HA as it allowed me to hear things I otherwise was unable to hear. I am also extremely thankful that my insurance company and Dr. approved and allowed me to get a CI. I know my hearing will never be as good as my wife's but at least I can hear her. I will also never know what my daughter's voice really sounds like with natural hearing but based on everything I hear sounds exactly as it use to when I could hear, I believe I am hearing her voice as it really sounds.
Anyway, that has been my experience. Maybe it will help some of you in your search for information to help you decide. I spent a LOT of time reading posts here when I was on my search for information.
Steve
