New to Hearing Loss

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Newgrl1980

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I am recently out of the hospital after contracting a virus that caused hearing loss in both ears. My right ear sustained moderate hearing loss and the left sustained severe to profound hearing loss. I am navigating this new world and I happened upon this forum hoping to make some friends. Maybe even find people to answer some questions. Anyway, just saying hello.
 
Hi,
I lost my hearing a couple of years ago from illness too. What kinds of questions do you have?
 
I am looking into hearing aids because I have some residual hearing. I have consulted an audiologist that has given me some options. She said the Phonak Nadia was the best and would help me the most. But, a friend of mine with a son that was born deaf said that sometimes the audiologists are just like salespeople.

Communication right now is very difficult and I am using my phone. Often people are telling me I am very loud when I am talking to them, and I find myself relying on my phone in most social situations. I feel like I am going to be forced into making a decision.

Also, are there any other iPhone features besides the light and vibration that could help me right now?

Learning ASL, is that something I could/should consider?
 
Some, but not all, audiologist are just trying up sell hearing aids. Do you feel like the Audi you went to was more interested in you or in making a sale?
Was it indeed an audiologist, did s/he have a medical degree? Some people who sell heating aids are hearing aid specialist. I personally would not go to one of those.
 
LoveBlue said:
Some, but not all, audiologist are just trying up sell hearing aids. Do you feel like the Audi you went to was more interested in you or in making a sale?
Was it indeed an audiologist, did s/he have a medical degree? Some people who sell heating aids are hearing aid specialist. I personally would not go to one of those.
Click to expand...

It depends on the hearing aid specialist. We have one where I live that is sooo good that an ENT in town did not replace the audiologist that he employed when the one he had left. The only problem is she has now reached the age of being semi-retired.
 
Thanks everyone. I have an appointment at my ENT tomorrow, and it seems that she has one in her office that she would like me to talk to. I am going to try that. The one I went to before was one that was recommended by the doctor in the hospital. They kind of gave me a pushy feeling. I trust this audiologist. I had a string of ear infections about 3 years ago and I started going to her then.

I've been finding it a little lonely the past few weeks since I have been home from the hospital. It's nice that there are people out there to talk to. I've put CC on the TV but its not the same and it is hard to get used to. Any recommendations on how to not feel like I am in my own world would be helpful.
 
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Newgrl1980 said:
I am looking into hearing aids because I have some residual hearing. I have consulted an audiologist that has given me some options. She said the Phonak Nadia was the best and would help me the most. But, a friend of mine with a son that was born deaf said that sometimes the audiologists are just like salespeople.

Communication right now is very difficult and I am using my phone. Often people are telling me I am very loud when I am talking to them, and I find myself relying on my phone in most social situations. I feel like I am going to be forced into making a decision.

Also, are there any other iPhone features besides the light and vibration that could help me right now?

Learning ASL, is that something I could/should consider?
Click to expand...

Not sure about which hearing aids are the best, as I don't use them. I do know you get a trial period of about a month to decide if you want them or not. If you don't like the first one you can always try another one. I'm surprised they didn't push for a cochlear implant.

Inside my house I use CaptionCall. It's a phone where you can speak and there will be captions (words) on the screen for you to read the other persons response back to you. CaptionCallnow.com You can get this phone free. My audiologist registered me for one. People from CaptionCall came out to my house and set it up for me. It was an easy process. Ask when you go to the audiologist the next time.

On my iPhone I use sprint relay, or innocaption+. Sprint relay is where you type and then someone will voice what you are typing to someone one the other end. Innocaption you can use your own voice and they type back to you so you can read the message. I've used both. With Sprint sometimes people don't understand relay and will hang up on you. Both apps are at the app store.

You will want to turn on the captions on your iPhone. Go to settings, accessibility and subtitles/captioning. When there is captions or subtitles it will automatically display them.

Learning ASL is a personal choice. No one can tell you to learn it or not. I am profoundly deaf. I didn't want to learn ASL when I first became deaf. I wanted nothing to do with deafness. I struggled and went to a very dark place. Years later with the help of my parents I've decided ASL is a good option for me. My parents and brother all sign to with me. If you want to learn ASL go for it. Do you know anyone that signs? Will your family learn to sign with along with you?

May I ask how old you are?
 
Valorrian said:
Not sure about which hearing aids are the best, as I don't use them. I do know you get a trial period of about a month to decide if you want them or not. If you don't like the first one you can always try another one. I'm surprised they didn't push for a cochlear implant.
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She has moderate loss in her other ear, and there are still deaf people who can get to HOH levels with hearing aids. Not all deaf people automaticly qualify for CIs.
 
Opt for BTEs. Those are the most powerful and can give you the best sound. Yes, try ASL. ASL and deaf culture are a lot more fun for younger dhh people, rather then the Hearing Health 101 approach that's like reading one of those pamphets that you get from the audilogistss.
 
deafdyke said:
She has moderate loss in her other ear, and there are still deaf people who can get to HOH levels with hearing aids. Not all deaf people automaticly qualify for CIs.
Click to expand...
I do realize that. I was one of those people that didn't qualify. I am just surprised that they didn't offer that as an option for her other ear that is serve to profound. That's all.
 
As for the learning ASL part a good deal of the decision will depend on if you have anyone to use it with. I took beginning courses a long time ago and have forgotten most of it because I still don't know anyone to use it with.
 
Welcome :wave:

For hearing aids you may want to check out Costco if there is one near you. The people can vary from full audiologist to hearing aid specialists. they are not working on commission so it is less of a used car salesman approach. they have lower prices than most other places which is good if your insurance doesn't cover them. Also in the US you get a 6 month trial and full refund if you return them - no stocking fee. They are a version or two behind the latest release and some have less features but for me I don't need all the extras anyway.

Everyone is different so go with what works for you. You need to be realistic and not expect it to be like glasses that can be an instant "fix". Don't expect to hear like you did before. It takes time to make sense of the sounds coming in.

It is up to you but I think learning some ASL can open up more options to you, e.g. access to interpreters and use of videophone. Like any new language it does take time and there will be some frustration but the earlier you start the sooner you will gain some conversation ability. If you need to work on your own until you can find someone else or a class look at Dr Vicars site lifeprint.com.
 
Thank you all! The feedback has been amazingly helpful. As for a CI, for whatever reason I’m not a candidate. Not sure why, either way, I have not had the best luck with my family and major surgery. It would not be an option no matter what. (Don’t really want to go into details on that). My appointment today was eye opening. The audiologist at my ENTs office was great. I had met her before when I had my hearing tested after a string of ear infections.

I’m going to be trying out the Oticon Open S BTE hearing aids. Like you said, she told me that I could try them without worrying about a fee if I don’t like them. She fitted me today for the molds and said that it shouldn’t take more than 2 weeks.

I know I won’t hear the way I did before and my right ear tested in the moderate to severe range when she tested today. (I trust her more than I do the others I went to) her test was also more in line with what the hospital was coming up with.

I went on my first outing with friends today. Keeping up with the conversation was almost impossible. I was trying to rely on my better ear to pick up words, using my phone when I could but I didn’t want to disrupt the conversation. They were super patient. Shopping at the mall for a few hours before was tougher. Asking for sizes and trying make out what was going on was difficult. Everything was like a low muffled rumble. I bought one or two things but left any store that required interaction. Any input?
 
Maybe carry a notepad & pen and ask sales clerks to write down things you can’t comprehend. Be upfront with your hearing loss. Tell them it occurred recently and you’re still adjusting.
 
Newgrl1980 said:
I am recently out of the hospital after contracting a virus that caused hearing loss in both ears. My right ear sustained moderate hearing loss and the left sustained severe to profound hearing loss. I am navigating this new world and I happened upon this forum hoping to make some friends. Maybe even find people to answer some questions. Anyway, just saying hello.
Click to expand...
I’m new to hearing loss, too. Mine is mild, but I have an auditory neuropathy that makes hearing nearly impossible when there’s any kind of background noise regardless of volume. It’s been difficult for me to adjust to as well, especially around my loud family who doesn’t try to understand.
 
Newgrl1980 said:
Thank you all! The feedback has been amazingly helpful. As for a CI, for whatever reason I’m not a candidate. Not sure why, either way, I have not had the best luck with my family and major surgery. It would not be an option no matter what. (Don’t really want to go into details on that). My appointment today was eye opening. The audiologist at my ENTs office was great. I had met her before when I had my hearing tested after a string of ear infections.

I’m going to be trying out the Oticon Open S BTE hearing aids. Like you said, she told me that I could try them without worrying about a fee if I don’t like them. She fitted me today for the molds and said that it shouldn’t take more than 2 weeks.

I know I won’t hear the way I did before and my right ear tested in the moderate to severe range when she tested today. (I trust her more than I do the others I went to) her test was also more in line with what the hospital was coming up with.

I went on my first outing with friends today. Keeping up with the conversation was almost impossible. I was trying to rely on my better ear to pick up words, using my phone when I could but I didn’t want to disrupt the conversation. They were super patient. Shopping at the mall for a few hours before was tougher. Asking for sizes and trying make out what was going on was difficult. Everything was like a low muffled rumble. I bought one or two things but left any store that required interaction. Any input?
Click to expand...

nice! hopefully I can try those hearing aids soon (unless one craps on me LOL)
 
Valorrian said:
I do realize that. I was one of those people that didn't qualify. I am just surprised that they didn't offer that as an option for her other ear that is serve to profound. That's all.
Click to expand...
People can still benefit from hearing aids if they're severe/profound. A deaf loss doesn't auotmaticly qualify you for a CI
 
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