Hearing Aid Problem

[HearingLoss]

I’m 73 and have been wearing ITE HAs for 15+ years. My original aids were analog and were helpful but not very powerful, so after a couple of years I started trying to find something that would be better. All the audis wanted to fit me with digital aids but my old analog aids always did a better job for me. About 6 years ago, after many tries to find better performing aids, I finally found a pair of Phonak analog aids that performed better than my original analog aids. This was only after insisting that the audi give them a try. Due to poorly fitting ear mold I developed a feedback problem with my right aid (worst ear). So again I started searching for something better. About 4 years ago after many, many tries I found a Phonak digital that worked well for my right ear but the old Phonak analog was still the best for my left (best) ear. I have been searching ever since for something better with no luck. I have tried many, many different Has but nothing works as well as what I have and that is not very good. In addition to not helping me understand speech better, some aids like the Unitron Quantum Pro ITE aids that I just tried seem to significantly increase my existing tinnitus. (I also have concerns about the effects of the RF going through my head as the aids communicate with each other.)

I desperately need aids that will help me understand speech better than I can now. I don’t care how the aids look, style or type as long as they improve my hearing. Can anyone help?

Comprehension:
R- 12% @ 80 dB 45 dB masking
L - 72% @ 85 dB 45 dB masking

0250 Hz - R-35 L-40
0500 Hz - R-60 L-45
1000 Hz - R-70 L-65
2000 Hz - R-95 L-90
3000 Hz - R-115 L-85
4000 Hz - R-100 L-100
6000 Hz - R-n/r L-100
8000 Hz - R-n/r L-n/r

[Doc Jake]

unless you live out in the stick and never get to town you are getting hammered with RF all day everyday. the microscopic increase from aids communicating won't matter.

[saphus1007]

Originally Posted by HearingLoss

I desperately need aids that will help me understand speech better than I can now. I don’t care how the aids look, style or type as long as they improve my hearing. Can anyone help?

You may get a better response if you started a separate thread!

[C.L]

Originally Posted by HearingLoss

I’m 73 and have been wearing ITE HAs for 15+ years. My original aids were analog and were helpful but not very powerful, so after a couple of years I started trying to find something that would be better. All the audis wanted to fit me with digital aids but my old analog aids always did a better job for me. About 6 years ago, after many tries to find better performing aids, I finally found a pair of Phonak analog aids that performed better than my original analog aids. This was only after insisting that the audi give them a try. Due to poorly fitting ear mold I developed a feedback problem with my right aid (worst ear). So again I started searching for something better. About 4 years ago after many, many tries I found a Phonak digital that worked well for my right ear but the old Phonak analog was still the best for my left (best) ear. I have been searching ever since for something better with no luck. I have tried many, many different Has but nothing works as well as what I have and that is not very good. In addition to not helping me understand speech better, some aids like the Unitron Quantum Pro ITE aids that I just tried seem to significantly increase my existing tinnitus. (I also have concerns about the effects of the RF going through my head as the aids communicate with each other.)

I desperately need aids that will help me understand speech better than I can now. I don’t care how the aids look, style or type as long as they improve my hearing. Can anyone help?

Comprehension:
R- 12% @ 80 dB 45 dB masking
L - 72% @ 85 dB 45 dB masking

0250 Hz - R-35 L-40
0500 Hz - R-60 L-45
1000 Hz - R-70 L-65
2000 Hz - R-95 L-90
3000 Hz - R-115 L-85
4000 Hz - R-100 L-100
6000 Hz - R-n/r L-100
8000 Hz - R-n/r L-n/r

The more powerful and more wide frequency range HA does not always make user can hear speech more clearly. I suggest you to ask your audi to cut off all output frequency higher than 3,400 Hz in your existed HAs, or try the body worn HA with a larger receiver (dia. 16.5mm, SPL curve similar to the drawing URL below).
goo.gl/Uitz6

If it is possible, I suggest you to have the ABR test or have a more accurate (i.e. increase 100Hz each time) pure tone audiometry test for the range of 200 Hz to 4,000 Hz, thus your audi can know more details about your hearing.

One more thing, please do not wear hearing aid all day long, and better to take a rest (turn off HA for 5-10 minutes) every 1-2 hours.

[DocAudio]

Originally Posted by C.L

The more powerful and more wide frequency range HA does not always make user can hear speech more clearly. I suggest you to ask your audi to cut off all output frequency higher than 3,400 Hz in your existed HAs, or try the body worn HA with a larger receiver (dia. 16.5mm, SPL curve similar to the drawing URL below).
goo.gl/Uitz6

If it is possible, I suggest you to have the ABR test or have a more accurate (i.e. increase 100Hz each time) pure tone audiometry test for the range of 200 Hz to 4,000 Hz, thus your audi can know more details about your hearing.

One more thing, please do not wear hearing aid all day long, and better to take a rest (turn off HA for 5-10 minutes) every 1-2 hours.

Ugh....No...no....and no.

A lot of times the extended frequencies bring quite a bit to the picture for clarity. The OP might do better with a Hearing aid that uses some form of frequency compression or transposition technology.

An ABR doesn't test hearing, it only tests neural synchrony and you can only estimate hearing thresholds with data obtained. A behavioral audiogram (hear a beep, raise your hand) is more accurate.

Lastly, the advice to not wear the hearing aid all day is ridiculous. Where do you even come up with that??? Hearing aids are meant to be worn all day,every day. The advice you just gave is like telling someone to not wear contact lenses all day and to take them out for 5-10 minutes every couple of hours...it's just stupid. Plus they've been wearing hearing aids for 15+ years so what, exactly, are you trying to prevent from happening???

When people wear there aids all day, people find they are hearing better even tho in my case my loss never gets better.

I find if I don't wear my aids one afternoon, the next day, I can't hear as well.

[Dlighus]

well one should not take hearing problem lightly , these problems can be severe , so the possibly better step should be taken from the day one when the problem begins.