Am I OK?? or do I need a bit of help?

[KarenK]

I did a few free online tests which seemed to indicate I had a high frequency loss and should seek help. In my view I have no problem, but I am 60, so I am of an age...

I went to a Beltone storefront for a free test, and they said my hearing was normal for my age. The audiogram had me in the 20 range up to the 4000 range, after which it dropped off. He said I should check back every year or so.
So I am happy there is apparently not a problem, BUT I am wondering, as this test took about 10 minutes, and that is about what the online tests took.

Miracle Ear also offered me an appointment for next week and indicated the testing would take over an hour. Why the big time difference?? I will keep that appointment.

I have noticed only a few problems:
---at church, one pastor is hard to hear, in my view. With one of the others, I sometimes miss the joke, but not always.
---at a recent movie, I did not understand the jokes that others laughed at. And when there is "soft" conversation in a movie, I sometimes don't understand everything.
--I went to a Mexican restaurant with mariachis last night; I could barely hear conversations. My ears today are still ringing.

Watching TV I am fine. Conversations are generally OK. Phone is fine, except consistently with a few friends.
I am the youngest in my group and no one wears hearing aids. [I was going to write no one "needs"]

I am diabetic and have read that diabetics are quite prone to hearing loss.

Where am I at?? Any ideas, suggestions??

[Gary Hair]

You may not have a "hearing" problem, more of an "understanding" problem.

I would suggest you go to your local Costco and get a hearing exam. They can fit you with hearing aids pretty quickly and easily.

Now, why Costco? Because they allow you to return them within 90 days with no charge - most fitters/audiologists charge a return fee and it can be up to 10% of the cost of the aids. You can try them for 90 days and if you don't see a difference, return them and you are out nothing!

The other reason for Costco is that they have about the best prices I have seen when you compare similar devices. I have the Bernafon Verite and they are amazing!

Gary

[KarenK]

Costco is not an option --we do not have one anywhere nearby, except across the border in Canada.

I will go for the Miracle-Ear appointment to see what they say. I don't imagine I would ever buy anything from them, though.

My health care group has an audiologist group. At my next physical, I will probably ask to be referred for a hearing exam.

[MaM]

Costco is not an option --we do not have one anywhere nearby, except across the border in Canada.

I will go for the Miracle-Ear appointment to see what they say. I don't imagine I would ever buy anything from them, though.

My health care group has an audiologist group. At my next physical, I will probably ask to be referred for a hearing exam.

Having a baseline hearing assessment through your health care group is an excellent idea. You don't need to have to get hearing aids to want a thorough hearing assessment. Having a baseline test will also allow you and your doctor to see, over the years, how quickly, slowly, or stable your hearing loss is. Another good thing about getting a hearing exam through your health care plan, is that it is usually all paid for by insurance (even if getting hearing aids is not).

I think you should look at your hearing situation, first, simply as answering the question, "What, exactly, is my hearing and comprehension level right now?" A baseline hearing test should also cover speech recognition as well as a pure tone test, among other things. Under many health plans, you would get your referral through an ENT (Ear Nose Throat doctor) who would work in tandem with an audiologist. However, that is not the only route, of course.

Best wishes to you! :)

[NiChiBeiCo]

Miracle Ear also offered me an appointment for next week and indicated the testing would take over an hour. Why the big time difference?? I will keep that appointment.



The quick tests were probably just pure tone tests...in depth testing should include visual inspection of the canal, pure tone and bone conduction testing, speech dicrimination tests, as well as Tympanometry. The additional time will also be dedicated to explaining various technologies and how they pertain to you and your lifestyle.

Good luck!

[KarenK]

Yes, it was pure tones. First he looked inside my ears, and said they were fine, with a bit of wax, but nothing serious.

I think I remember that I was fine in the tones up to 4000, or maybe there was a small drop at 4000, and then the big drop.

I guess I need a hearing in noise test to see what happens there. The problem is not major, but it is there. I wonder how long I have had this and just did not have any awareness of it. I had dinner tonight with 4 women about my age, without a lot of background noise and I had no problem at all.

[Peter]

I got my HAs a yr and half ago after having increasing difficulty and reaching the unacceptable (to me and my wife - point)
I probably could have benefited years earlier.

Go to your ENT and have a full baseline evaluation.
Knowledge is power

Good Luck, Peter

[KarenK]

I have been reading a lot here and on other sites.

Is it feasible to wear aids part time, as at movies, in restaurants or other places with heavy background noise, and not at all when watching TV, at home alone, etc.? Or is it too confusing for the ears??

[KarenK]

I wonder if they have left this year, or am I just not hearing them?? They used to wake me up every morning. I haven't heard one this year. And I haven't hear any mourning doves this year either. Neighbors put in a pond with a birdbath, which is attracting them. I can't hear them.

Edited to add...I can't always hear the turn signal noise in the car at a certain volume, 19, from my car radio. Are all car radios the same regarding volume?

[NiChiBeiCo]

There is a program called LACE by neurotone.
LACE = Listening and Communication Enhancement.

Check it out on www.neurotone.com
( there's a good short video on hearing loss here ; "spotlight on hearing loss" http://www.neurotone.com/hearing-loss-prevention.html )

I definitely would recommend conjuring up as many questions as you can before seeing your hearing healthcare professional next week.

[EnglishDispenser]

I will go for the Miracle-Ear appointment to see what they say. I don't imagine I would ever buy anything from them, though.

Hmmm .... is that fair to the staff there who spend that one hour testing your hearing?

[KarenK]

English Dispenser - I would want more choices than they offer.

I just got back and they said all is fine, and come back in a year. They did an audiogram but no speech in noise test. Things fall off after 4000, not at 4000.