New to the Forum, introduction and a couple questions...

[willie1280]

Hello everyone!

My question is in bold below, but some background in case your interested:

My name is Matt and I am 30 years old. I was born with hearing loss in both ears. I am trying to track down a copy of my last Audiogram so that i can share exactly what my loss is. I currently wear 1 ITC aid in my right ear, it is a Siemens LS. I am still trying to understand why I have only worn 1 aid all my life. My current audiogram shows my hearing as being very similar in both ears.

Anyway, only until recently did I really start paying more attention to my hearing loss. Mainly because it finally came time to where I had to be financially responsible for my aids. I was fortunate enough to get my parents to purchase an aid before college, then my employer that i worked for right out of college paid for a new one. Now 8 years later since that aid was bought, i am in need of a new one.

I have seemed to luck out again because as i was going through the hearing aid evaluation process on my own dollar, i was told about a state program that goes by your need/loss vs. income. So 3 months later i was qualified and my file was activated. They will cover the cost my aid(s) in the most economical fashion. So basically if it comes down to a 700.00 aid vs a 2000.00 aid and the 700 will meet my need, that's the one they will purchase for me.

So last Friday I had my hearing aid evaluation at the audiologist. The reco'd an aid for both ears and the suggested the Oticon Vigo RITE. So I will ask for details on that aid in the appropriate category.

However, my question here is, What is my transition from a single ITE/ITC aid all my life to 2 BTE aids going to be like? Am i going to hear things i never heard before? Am i going to struggle during the "learning" process in my left ear which has never had an aid? What are going to be the biggest differences in my lifestyle with a BTE vs. ITC?

I am excited and scared at the same time because it is somethign new for me. I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Thanks
Matt