Huh?

[Scott]

Huh?

That's what I've been saying for years! Through a combination of too much loud rock-and-roll, gunfire, and a genetic hearing disorder, I found myself increasingly without perfect hearing over the past couple of years.

So I took myself to an audiologist and had a test, and I sure did have some high-end hearing loss. Gee, and my Wife thought it was just selective! They recommended a neat little hearing aid that doesn't involve filling up my ear with a big plastic plug - it still lets in the sound so the parts of the frequency range I can still hear are not blocked out. Seems to work great with a phone since that sound still passes into my ear without being blocked out.

I think they are called a ReSound Air 60. The insurance person where I work just snorted when I asked if they were covered by our insurance - guess not! But they're worth it. I can hear things that have been gone for years! And there are very few "huh's" anymore.

If you have some hearing loss, you owe it to yourself, and to the people around you, to visit an audiologist and get tested. It's one of the best things I've done in a long while!

Scott.

 

[JimGo]

I've worn hearing aids for the last two years, and I'd be lost without them. The ones you're talking about are a new design, and offer some major improvements over the older-style aids, not the least of which are less feedback and better low frequency transmission. I still have a couple years before I'll be ready to upgrade, but when I do, if those are powerful enough for me, that's what I'll be looking into.

I also want to second Scott's comment - if you have, think you may have, or others have told you you have (regardless of whether you believe them) hearing loss, or if you have ringing in your ears, get to an audiologist or an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat Dr) ASAP - had I gone when the ringing in my ears started, they may have been able to better diagnose my problem, and suggest alternatives that would at least have slowed its progression.

 

[ryannmphs]

hehehe, I KNOW I have hearing loss. I am, for the most part, totally deaf in my left ear []. How do I know this you might ask? Well after 4 tympanoplasties (replacement of the eardrum), reconstruction of the middle ear due to decay and countless ear infections, and the fact that I cannot hear even a dial tone in my left ear, yeah, my hearings pretty much shot. And since my last doc (about 10 years ago) informed me that there is also some nerve damage to that ear hearing aides prolly will do no good, but I can look in to them if I want to.

RYan

 

[BogBean]

I have the very same problem but when but when the audiologist wanted to sell me a pair of aids for $4,000 dollars I said wow and went home. I did not want to spend that kind of money so I went to the VA hospital for an exam. They told me that they could help me so I asked how much and they said free. Now that is the price I could live with... I now have better hearing at no cost plus free batteries for life. I am sure the aids are not as good as the ones for 4K but they get the job done. So if you are a vet and have a hearing problem try the VA first. I am not sorry I went that that route...

Originally posted by Scott
<br />Huh?

That's what I've been saying for years! Through a combination of too much loud rock-and-roll, gunfire, and a genetic hearing disorder, I found myself increasingly without perfect hearing over the past couple of years.

So I took myself to an audiologist and had a test, and I sure did have some high-end hearing loss. Gee, and my Wife thought it was just selective! They recommended a neat little hearing aid that doesn't involve filling up my ear with a big plastic plug - it still lets in the sound so the parts of the frequency range I can still hear are not blocked out. Seems to work great with a phone since that sound still passes into my ear without being blocked out.

I think they are called a ReSound Air 60. The insurance person where I work just snorted when I asked if they were covered by our insurance - guess not! But they're worth it. I can hear things that have been gone for years! And there are very few "huh's" anymore.

If you have some hearing loss, you owe it to yourself, and to the people around you, to visit an audiologist and get tested. It's one of the best things I've done in a long while!

Scott.

 

[ctEaglesc]

Sometimes I enjoy the silence that many years of playing and singing in bars or beating on sheet metal bestowed upon me.
Also I have noticed that a lot of people do not speak clearly.

 

[smoky10]

Scott you started a good thread because most of us are getting to the age where we are having problems with our sight and hearing. As for me I don't hear a ringing, I hear crickets constantly. Does anyone else hear them?

 

[ctEaglesc]

Originally posted by smoky10
<br />Scott you started a good thread because most of us are getting to the age where we are having problems with our sight and hearing. As for me I don't hear a ringing, <b>I hear crickets constantly. Does anyone else hear them?</b>

Huh?!!!!!!!!!!!Hear what?

 

[JimGo]

Tom,
There are many different kinds of tinnitus, or ringing, including chirping, rushing, and ringing. I actually have a combination of rushing and ringing - I used to think the air handler for our heat pump was so loud I could hear it even without my hearing aids. Then my wife told me differently!

Oh, and it's not age dependent - I started losing my hearing at 29!

 

[Rifleman1776]

Chuck, those VA hearing aids are every bit as good as the ones that cost $4000 at a private office. Don't knock it. I use VA health care and, irrespective of price, consider it excellent care. Personally, I don't consider the care "free". We paid for it with our service, this is part of the contract with America for our serving. It accept my care proudly with no apologies.
Yes, we must watch our hearing. As a sport shooter, I have long used hearing protection. Mostly I use silicone plugs because they are effective, cheap and handy. Even if you have some hearing loss, protecting what is left is important.

 

[ryannmphs]

Jim,
I've got ya beat!! My first surgury to replace my eardrum (and that's when the doc found the infection on the middle bone of the 3 in the middle ear) was around 10.

At 18 I had my last surgury and that eardrum finally took ( I went from 13 to 18 with NO EARDRUM in my left ear!!)

My first doc (and the worst one of the group) said I should learn sign language. Maybe I should start that one of these days []

Ryan

 

[BogBean]

Rifleman...I was not knocking my aids. If fact they work very well. The employee's at the VA hospital are great to work with. That is why I said to go to the VA first. I do have to pay for some of the services at the VA so that is why I used the word "free".

Originally posted by Rifleman
<br />Chuck, those VA hearing aids are every bit as good as the ones that cost $4000 at a private office. Don't knock it. I use VA health care and, irrespective of price, consider it excellent care. Personally, I don't consider the care "free". We paid for it with our service, this is part of the contract with America for our serving. It accept my care proudly with no apologies.
Yes, we must watch our hearing. As a sport shooter, I have long used hearing protection. Mostly I use silicone plugs because they are effective, cheap and handy. Even if you have some hearing loss, protecting what is left is important.

 

[MikeM]

Chuck: I alo go to the VA for all my medical needs. Yep it's slow going and at time frustrating as all get out, but like ya said it's free. At 100% I do not have to pay copay and from what has been done to me there i would be in debt for three lifetimes if I had to pay. so any of you guy's and gals have a percentage rating, go there and ask. If ya don't ask they will not give you any information.I had just requested an electric scooter and was notified yesterday that it's been approved. all I got to do now is wait for them to tell me where and when to pick it up. I will be able to go out more often.
Mikem

I paid my dues a long time ago

 

[JimGo]

Mike, Frank, and Chuck, as a taxpayer, I think it's a small price to pay for the service you provided - thank you!

 

[BogBean]

Jim, Thank you very much and Mike I am so glad they approved your scooter. I have a friend that got a scooter from the VA and he loves it. He is always running around in his yard now...

 

[Rifleman1776]

I might have come across a bit abrasive. I get ticked off with both some Vets and some ordinary folks who do nothing but gripe about VA health care. Some vets complain constantly even though they are getting close to the best care in the world. Some ordinary folks who never served in the military gripe about us getting the care. When I enlised (voluntarily) for four years free health care for life was one of the benefits promised. It just took Washington forty years to fess up with that promise. BTW, I have a pair of practically unused hearing aids (my mothers) that cost $5000.00 and am told they are now worthless. Oh, well.

 

[smoky10]

Even though I have great insurance from my employer of 31yrs(I'm retired now) I should go sign up for VA medical even if I will never use it. All VETS should. They get appropriations for the number of people signed up for it, I believe.

Frank, I know accidents happen in all hospitals but a tragedy happened to my brother in a VA hospital last year. Their care is not great all the time. If the doctor had just checked his medical history It could have been avoided.

 

[Bev Polmanteer]

Tom, that happens in ALL hospitals and with many doctors! Mike, great to hear you are getting a scooter, mine has allowed me so much more freedom and I only need it when walking more than a couple hundred feet! ALL VETS, Thank you sincerely for your sacrifice to give us the freedom we all enjoy!

 

[Scott]

Hi Everybody!

I'm glad everybody enjoyed this topic! I'm really enjoying hearing again! I did think of the VA - I asked the people who do the hearing aids for the VA locally, and they said it could take a year to get them approved since I'm not service connected, and they don't have the new aids yet. Probably by the time these I bought wear out, they will have them then, and I'll check them out. The VA really is a great resource!

Mike, I'm glad to hear you're getting the scooter! My Dad would be homebound without his. As it is he's still able to go drop a few dollars at the indian casino a couple of times a week - keeps him young! []

Scott.