Hearing impairment and hearing aids.?

Question

hi, I'm in my early 20's and have a hearing impairment.
I'm having a test in a couple of weeks to see if I need hearing aids.

My hearing is bad enough that if I'm not concentrating or looking at the person who is speaking I either don't hear them speak at all or I hear their voice but not the words.
I have to have the subtitles on when I watch the T.V and I have terrible trouble hearing people on the phone.

The strange thing is I speak quite softly and quitely and I can hear myself speak no problem, which makes people think I don't have a hearing problem, but am just being rude and that I only hear when I wish to. Neither of these things are true but that is what people think.

My question is, from what I've said above do you think I will be offered hearing aids?

Also, how much hearing loss must you have to have hearing aids?

Answer 1

HI!!
I can answer you only from my personal experience...
I lost my hearing very suddenly and unexpectedly due to a virus. I was tested and deemed to have moderate to severe hearing loss.
I couldn't hear most things, I lost speech completely.
Hearing aids were offered to me, but it was said that they would not help improve the CLARITY of what I was hearing, only increase the volume.
It is likely that you will be offered the chance to try some hearing aids, really, any improvement is good, but it must be said, a normal hearing aid only increases the volume, and it still has to go through the damaged part of your ear that is/has caused the hearing loss. So, it doesn't fix what is broken, just tries to make it a bit better.
In terms of "how much do you need to have", that is something you and your audiologist will discuss-only you know what your hearing loss is doing to your life and confidence, whether it is seriously interfering or not...
Reading your story, it seems that you have become seemingly well adapted to lip reading. That is a very big thing for someone with a hearing loss of any sort.
I ended up going with a cochlear implant-not everyone agrees with them, but before the operation, even with 2 hearing aids I couldn't understand what was being said to me without looking, definately couldn't use the phone, had to use subtitles etc...
My implant has on been switched on for just on 3 months now, and i can just about always understand what is being said to me, use a phone-mobile and land line-watch TV...
It is just another option, depending on what has caused your hearing loss, but a hearing aid trial is always done before any impant surgery anyway.
I have only had my hearing loss for just over 18 months now, and up until that point, I had had great hearing for 30 years...if you have the chance to do something,anything, to improve your hearing, take it!! It is amazing how much it is taken for granted by those who can easily do it, I find even now I am doing that again.
You saying that you speak softly etc. is so true. I now have people asking me to speak up because they can't hear me-that amuses me greatly!-that obviously happens because your ears are so close to your mouth, but again-until you experience a hearing loss, you just aren't aware of the little things.
Very very best of luck to you. I do understand in my own way...It"s a struggle, but life is still there and it's still good!

Answer 2

Yes it does sound like hearing aids would probably benefit you. As someone else said hearing aids will improve the volume not the clarity. However, a lot of people just need an increase in volume. The hearing aids can also be tailored to your specific hearing loss and amplify only the frequencies you need a boost in. The newer hearing aids are much more advanced and designed to help in more listenening situations than ever before. It used to be that hearing aids only helped in quiet situations. Now they will help even in situations where there are background noise. As far as how much hearing loss is needed to get hearing aids - that depends on the person. Person A could have a very mild hearing loss and not perceive themselves as having any trouble although their spouse may not agree. Person B could have the same loss and be experiencing a lot of social isolation due the hearing loss and choose to get a hearing aid. It is truly a personal decision. Basically any amount of hearing loss can be helped by hearing aids. If you perceive yourself as having trouble hearing in certain situations (which it sounds like you recognize that) then it will certainly be worth it to give hearing aids a try. You should be sure to see an audiologist. The audiologist will explain your options to you.

Answer 3

Gemstone - sympathies. I don't know the answer to your question - I think it's going to depend on the tests and the doctors.
I also have hearing loss to the point where I am technically deaf - but my hearing loss is not 'age-related' but a combination of serious infections in my 20s plus the result of damage in a car accident. Hearing aids are designed to help people with 'age-related hearing loss' and, if you don't fit that bill hearing aids may not be the answer.

One of the tests they may do is to use a musical tuning fork and put it on the top of your head - if you can hear that clearly then the damage is probably not age-related. I can hear the fork clearly but am still deaf. I also speak softly but can hear my own voice - but not other softly spoken people.

It's awful when you can't hear - very frustrating and people think I am stupid because I keep asking them to repeat information - particularly buying train tickets in a big echoey hall, that kind of thing.

Hope they can help you!

Answer 4

In tinnitus, the sounds a person hears are actually perceptions. Since there's no actual source, they are often referred to as "phantom noises". I read that about 8% of all people in the US suffer from tinnitus so you are not the only one who hears these strange noises.

Tinnitus is actually not a disease. It is actually a symptom of a problem that is rooted deep, somewhere within your body. The problem could be a simple one like an infection in the ear, or even simpler, such as ear wax. Just clear the wax and get the infection treated, and the noises could go away. In some people, it could even be the result of a side-effect of a drug they took. Or it could be more complicated.

If you want to know more about this condition and wnat to learn how to solve naturally your problems with these annoying noises you should read this ebook: http://tinnitus.toptips.org

It helped me a lot.

Answer 5

Hearing Loss can be temporary due to infection/wax etc.Consult an ENT specialist.Hearing loss due to conductive deafness can be corrected by Stapdectomy or stapdotomy.
In case surgery is not desirable you can buy a hearing aid to hear properly.Audiological test is required to decide right type/power of hearing aid.They are effective.Low cost boxtype to high cost concealed Hearing Aids are available.Do not loose hope.There is a way out always.Good luck.

Answer 6

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