If you had a choice.....

ChicagoBlue2

ChicagoBlue2

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Would you give up wearing a hearing aide for better focus, or would you keep it to maintain communication?

I used to wear one, but kept getting distracted, so in 2011, I went hearing aide-less, and I found that I'm able to focus much better on my tasks and errands that I'm supposed to be doing.

However, giving up the hearing aide wasn't an easy decision. I had to teach myself to be more visual, and now that it's been nearly 3 years since I quit wearing one, I've gotten used to this way of life, and it's helped me a lot.

Now, I'm not trying to influence anyone here; I just want an opinion, that's all.
 
I have not wore hearing aids since 1989 or 1990. I would not be the best person to give advices on hearing aids.

I see the best in each person and I trust them to make the best decisions.
 
Same here. I find I make better decisions not wearing one than I would if I were, but then again, I wouldn't know that, cause it's been a while.
 
markengland29 said:
Same here. I find I make better decisions not wearing one than I would if I were, but then again, I wouldn't know that, cause it's been a while.
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You would always go for trial runs. Only you know the best. Cost is usually minimal for those runs. You would experience first handed what it is like today----right now in 2013.
 
It doesn't have to be an "either/or" decision.
I use my HA when it's helpful to me, and take it out when it isn't.

I tend not to bother using it at home, or if I go shopping etc because I don't feel it's helpful to me in those situations (and my HA is 10years old and lousy with handling background noise).

When I'm in a situation that the HA helps (conversations in certain settings, some phone situations, listening to music via the DAI etc), I use it.

It's a tool - I use it when I consider it to be the "right tool" for a given situation.
 
That's probably true, but my budget doesn't allow for trial runs. However, I am content the way I am now, but I know there will come a time when I'll need to go back, but hopefully I can go a few more years staying this way and being happy with peace and quiet (Aside from the occasional EEEE from those darn CFD ambulances, which is annoying)
 
markengland29 said:
Would you give up wearing a hearing aide for better focus, or would you keep it to maintain communication?

I used to wear one, but kept getting distracted, so in 2011, I went hearing aide-less, and I found that I'm able to focus much better on my tasks and errands that I'm supposed to be doing.

However, giving up the hearing aide wasn't an easy decision. I had to teach myself to be more visual, and now that it's been nearly 3 years since I quit wearing one, I've gotten used to this way of life, and it's helped me a lot.

Now, I'm not trying to influence anyone here; I just want an opinion, that's all.
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First of all, when you wore a HA, were you able to understand what hearing people said?

If not, then your HA has been useless all the times.
 
Oh, I understood them pretty well. It's just that the daily noises of the Metra going by my house (Along with an occasional horn-- STFU Metra on those horns around here), along with the ever-so-annoying ambulance noises from the Fire Department.
 
markengland29 said:
Oh, I understood them pretty well. It's just that the daily noises of the Metra going by my house (Along with an occasional horn-- STFU Metra on those horns around here), along with the ever-so-annoying ambulance noises from the Fire Department.
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My two HOH co-workers who wear HA all the times also understand what people say and they still wear it at work, USPS where there are plenty of loud noises, even hearing people can't stand it. I guess my friends turn the volume down while they work.

What's most important is that if you don't feel comfortable with your HA, take it off so you feel much better. I took it off when I was little due to headaches.
 
I just turn my HA down or put it in mute mode if I want to cut out unwanted sounds. I had my HA turned down when I was out walking my dog today and found myself reading a person lips. If I can't read someone lips I will turn the sound up.
 
It happens. I'm always trying to read lips, and people will catch me trying to see what they're saying.... talk about awkward.
 
It is your choice whether you wear an aid or not.

I'm curious about the distraction. How does the aid promote the distraction?

So, what have you done about the communication? How are you handling that part?
 
The distraction from my hearing aide is because of the Metra that rolls by here on a daily basis, and since they have a bell in the back, if I'm focusing on errands, it can be annoying (Where's a Quiet Zone when I need one?), along with an occasional horn (For track workers from Union Pacific, which owns the tracks).

As for communication, I use a variety of methods; it depends on where I go or where I am headed to. For example, if I am headed to Chicago Union Station, I'll call Amtrak first to reserve my tickets, and then hop on that same Metra to go and pick them up. If I'm in a business or a place to pick up food, I'll either use my phone or a menu (If provided) to order my food. As for family, I use a combination of text and VP.
 
markengland29 said:
It happens. I'm always trying to read lips, and people will catch me trying to see what they're saying.... talk about awkward.
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The guy I was talking to had no idea I read his lips. When I had my hearing dog Finlay I would read people lips all the time to see what they where saying about my dog . He wore a gentle leader and a lot of people thought it was a muzzle and where saying ' my dog bite'. I would correct the person as I lives in a small city and there where not a lot big black poodles wearing an orange vest with 'hearing dog' on it . I did not want a rumor to be spread around the city that my dog wore a muzzle because he bite people.
It's was not awkward for as the person would also be pointing at my dog and me , I would made it an awkward moment for the other person.
 
When you say you are calling Amtrak, are you using a hearing aid for that call?

There are no rules here. Whatever works best for you is the way to go.

Personally, while I do get distracted by noise(everyone does), I find the benefits of the aid outweigh the distractions. I can always turn the aid off.
 
No. I use a VP. I can no longer hear on a regular phone-- my hearing is too diminished for that these days. I use the VP system exclusively these days.
 
No. Just because not wearing one doesn't give me better focus. But I grew up hearing perfectly, noise in general doesn't distract, it feels normal. Granted the background noise I heard as a hearing person is certainly different than the background I hear with my aids, but still, heck I'm never doing anything that requires such degree of focus that I would need absolute silence.

Music in the background helps many many hearing people focus. Some surgeons like to have music plying in their operating rooms.
 
It varies by person. My ears are very sensitive, and distractions make it harder to concentrate. That's why I quit wearing them-- the sensitive parts were affecting how I could focus. Without them, I can focus a whole lot better.
 
markengland29 said:
It varies by person. My ears are very sensitive, and distractions make it harder to concentrate. That's why I quit wearing them-- the sensitive parts were affecting how I could focus. Without them, I can focus a whole lot better.
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I'm with you. I prefer without them to focus better. Example: Few times I tried playing a game online with sound and I couldn't concentrate on the game because my mind was focusing on the sound/music.
 
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