I'm hearing strange sounds....

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terryf

terryf

Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2010
Messages
1,276
Location
Pretoria, South Africa
Well today was a new day for me......

I had my hearing aids fitted and now can hear the higher pitched sounds I couldnt previously hear due to explosion damage to the ear drums.

Quite an experience although ecerything now sounds a lot more plasticky, if that makes sense.

I'm not entirely convinced its a good thing though - yes, I can now hear typing on the keyboard and all the birds outside but...

my car has more rattles than I thought,
the wooden floor at the office isnt as sturdy as I thought,
I can now hear the neighbours kid squeaking and
a common house fly now sounds like an F16 coming in to land!!

Any of you guys experienced the plasticky sounds??
 
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That sounds normal to me. My main problem is that I'm totaly deaf without the hearing aids so I also have to put up with the drawbacks from them. When a normal person stands outside a enjoys a nice breeze it's like hanging your head out the car window going 70mph for me. I guess the biggest problem is the aid is like a small sterio system with a mic, reciever and a speaker. It only take a small drop of water to short them out then I deaf while I'm paying a few hundred dollars to have them rebuilt. People complain about getting old, that doesn't bother me. I just can't stand being wore out. Good luck with them they take some getting use to.
 
Yes you will get use to it and not even notice it,I have bad tinitis constant ringing of the ear,at first i thought the new hearing aids from the va were usless,now on my second pair and ready for 3rd pair,the VA replaces them every 5 yrs,at first i only had to wear them in my left ear, now in both ears,sure did take time to adjust to them
 
Thanks for the inputs so far. On average, how long does it take to get used to them?

I also have the tinnitus but the audiologist said it may, with the use of the aid, decrease somewhat but then again it may not. So I wont hold my breath!
 
Terry,

I can't share in your experience yet....but I will say when I read the title, my first response was "Those are the voices in your head......":biggrin::tongue:

I am sure it could be a little overwhelming at first but I think it will be more natural as time goes on.....
 
I know what you mean. My ear canals were almost completely blocked due to allergies, and subsequent blockage, then a double ear infection. My ears were messed up for about a year. When things were healed and cleaned and the docs were amazed that there was no hearing loss I walked around telling people to whisper. I swear I could hear a cricket fart three houses down.
 
I find that when I wear my hearing aids (both ears), that I avoid talking because it sounds so different. Mainly because you hear yourself through both bone induction and your own voice going through the hearing aid. I have been wearing them for 7 years and I am still not really used to it. It is amazing how much more I can hear though when I am wearing them. The T.V. definitely goes down several levels and I am able to hear the kids better. I can't wear them in the shop though, it makes every tool sound like a jet engine, and ear muff hearing protection makes them whistle.
 
PTownSubbie said:
Terry,

I can't share in your experience yet....but I will say when I read the title, my first response was "Those are the voices in your head......":biggrin::tongue:

I am sure it could be a little overwhelming at first but I think it will be more natural as time goes on.....
Click to expand...

hahahahaha, well "those" voices are a very friendly and supportive bunch of blokes! Can't imagine what would have made you think that though :tongue:
 
John Pratt said:
I find that when I wear my hearing aids (both ears), that I avoid talking because it sounds so different. Mainly because you hear yourself through both bone induction and your own voice going through the hearing aid. I have been wearing them for 7 years and I am still not really used to it. It is amazing how much more I can hear though when I am wearing them. The T.V. definitely goes down several levels and I am able to hear the kids better. I can't wear them in the shop though, it makes every tool sound like a jet engine, and ear muff hearing protection makes them whistle.
Click to expand...

Well surprisingly I didnt find them all that much louder for sounds I could hear OK before the aids. It was from the 5000hz onwards that I couldnt hear. Now those sounds are quite overwhelming. My voice didn't bother me at all or change that Im aware of. (perhaps a tad louder but not that noticable)

TV volume hasn't changed at all. I just dont have to add in my own words along the way :biggrin:
 
I've had my 2 for about 4 years and the only problem I get now is having to get out of the shower quickly when I feel them still in my ears.
What you must do is keep wearing them all the time you are up.
You don't get used to them when they are in the drawer.
Persevere and you won't feel normal without them.
I got mine after taking a hearing test to prove to my wife I wasn't deaf and she should speak up!!!
Regards,
John
 
terryf said:
Thanks for the inputs so far. On average, how long does it take to get used to them?

I also have the tinnitus but the audiologist said it may, with the use of the aid, decrease somewhat but then again it may not. So I wont hold my breath!
Click to expand...

I've had tinnitus for the last 30 years-- too many years walking the fuselage of airliners with their engines running - even with muffs and hearing protection was still loud... the doctors I've seen say there's no help for it and just to get used to it... I hear a high pitched tone at all times... most of the time I just tune it out and ignore it... if I get really tired or my blood pressure goes up a little, it gets louder.... advantage is I've also lost about 20% hearing in the high and low ranges... and voices in a noisy environment like a restaurant or crowd are really hard to hear and understand... haven't considered aids yet.
 
I thought my wife had the problem at first and I couldn't get her to go to the doctor. I called the Dr. office and they told me a test to do at home to see how much hearing loss she had suffered. They told me to stand 20 feet away and ask a question and move up 5 feet each time until she was able to hear me talking to her. That evening she was cooking and I stood 20 feet away and asked what was for supper. No answer so I moved up and asked again with still no answer. After 2 more times I stood behind her and asked whats for supper and she spun around and yelled "For the 5th time chicken". I was fitted for my hearing aids the next week.
 
TellicoTurning said:
terryf said:
Thanks for the inputs so far. On average, how long does it take to get used to them?

I also have the tinnitus but the audiologist said it may, with the use of the aid, decrease somewhat but then again it may not. So I wont hold my breath!
Click to expand...

I've had tinnitus for the last 30 years-- too many years walking the fuselage of airliners with their engines running - even with muffs and hearing protection was still loud... the doctors I've seen say there's no help for it and just to get used to it... I hear a high pitched tone at all times... most of the time I just tune it out and ignore it... if I get really tired or my blood pressure goes up a little, it gets louder.... advantage is I've also lost about 20% hearing in the high and low ranges... and voices in a noisy environment like a restaurant or crowd are really hard to hear and understand... haven't considered aids yet.
Click to expand...

Hearing in crowds or any environment where there was a lot of background noice is a nightmare for me. Apparently the aids will solve that to a degree. If I was prepared to buy the really top end model then it has special built in spatial omni directional hearing and eliminate it all together. The ones I got were $3000 and the high end were just under double that.
I can live with partial spatial hearing :biggrin:

The worst part is having to take them out to wear ear protection all the time. The electronic muffs help with the hearing and cut out the hard noise. They have fancy spatial omni hearing etc but only cost $200. In todays electronic world of nano-technology (and I'm thinking mobile phones) why do such simple little hearing aids cost so much? Its absurd!
 
My new ones are ordered at a cost of 5000 bucks I hope they are better than the first ones technology is much better I am told than 7 years ago 90 day trial so if not I can return them. Wish me luck. I hope yours do well 4 you
 
OLDMAN5050 said:
My new ones are ordered at a cost of 5000 bucks I hope they are better than the first ones technology is much better I am told than 7 years ago 90 day trial so if not I can return them. Wish me luck. I hope yours do well 4 you
Click to expand...

Yip, best of luck considering they're 5k - you could have bought a lot of pen supplies for that!! :eek:
 
Terry, I've worn hearing aids now for ten years – I'm on my third set. They've gotten better and better. Now in a restaurant, I can hear every word from everyone at the table, instead of lip reading (and usually being wrong...). :rolleyes:

The latest set even has a transmitter that plugs into the TV, and sends the sound directly to the aids. I can hear very word now, clearly and easily (this after hearing very little of the dialogue in TV dramas). :laugh:

I remember the first day with the first set. Driving home, I discovered that my turn indicators click – had never heard them before. Learned that my wife's car 'pings' under load. Heard mosquitoes and crickets for the first time in many years. But the one the blew me away – my first whiz. Sounded like Niagara Falls....! :eek::biggrin:

Hang in there – they take some getting used to, but they'll change your life.
 
hahahaha I can relate to the indicators and the toilet experience!! :biggrin:

Which are you using, Beltones? I ordered the Beltone 9 dw63 which has the wifi and can attach to all the modules for phone and TV but the audiologist ordered the wrong set and I cant change it.

My problem is that everything has a plastic sound to them, even a bunch of keys. Im going back to the audiologist to see if she can alter the settings a bit for me.

The other key thing is that I can still hear perfectly up to 5500hz but from there to 8000hz is where it goes pear shaped. The tinnitus obviously doesnt help.

Thanks for the input :smile:

islandturner said:
Terry, I've worn hearing aids now for ten years – I'm on my third set. They've gotten better and better. Now in a restaurant, I can hear every word from everyone at the table, instead of lip reading (and usually being wrong...). :rolleyes:

The latest set even has a transmitter that plugs into the TV, and sends the sound directly to the aids. I can hear very word now, clearly and easily (this after hearing very little of the dialogue in TV dramas). :laugh:

I remember the first day with the first set. Driving home, I discovered that my turn indicators click – had never heard them before. Learned that my wife's car 'pings' under load. Heard mosquitoes and crickets for the first time in many years. But the one the blew me away – my first whiz. Sounded like Niagara Falls....! :eek::biggrin:

Hang in there – they take some getting used to, but they'll change your life.
Click to expand...
 
I can't help but laugh at the comments....I thought I was the only one having those problems adjusting to wearing them. After having them for a year now, I think I've finally adjusted to wearing them comfortably all the time. On my last visit, they changed my hearing aid domes to a smaller diameter and now I can actually hear myself talk! I found it hard to describe to my specialist what I was hearing....it was more like being inside a tunnel and not being able to tell where the noise was coming from.
Be patient and keep wearing them. Before long, they'll feel so natural, you'll forget you're wearing them.
 
The Tinitus will always be there, I sleep with a cpap and it drowns out the ringing,right now its driving me crazy ringing while watching tv,nothing can be done, some days i dont even notice it much,some days like today its worse withthe tv level.u will get rid of the aids,just watch out for geting them wet, or damp, I get a dehumidifier from the va every 6 months,and when i sweat so bad i have to put them in every night,its time for new ones,but just dont want to go thru the hassel with the va again when there still working ok,good luck and just try not to focous on the ringing and it will help some
 
carpblaster said:
The Tinitus will always be there, I sleep with a cpap and it drowns out the ringing,right now its driving me crazy ringing while watching tv,nothing can be done, some days i dont even notice it much,some days like today its worse withthe tv level.u will get rid of the aids,just watch out for geting them wet, or damp, I get a dehumidifier from the va every 6 months,and when i sweat so bad i have to put them in every night,its time for new ones,but just dont want to go thru the hassel with the va again when there still working ok,good luck and just try not to focous on the ringing and it will help some
Click to expand...

Ive actually heard that certain foods can aggravate the tinnitus. I know caffiene is supposed to make it worse.

I was given a little tub with some dehumidifiers (small bags) inside which I have to put the aids in every evening to prevent moisture.
 
bjbear76 said:
I can't help but laugh at the comments....I thought I was the only one having those problems adjusting to wearing them. After having them for a year now, I think I've finally adjusted to wearing them comfortably all the time. On my last visit, they changed my hearing aid domes to a smaller diameter and now I can actually hear myself talk! I found it hard to describe to my specialist what I was hearing....it was more like being inside a tunnel and not being able to tell where the noise was coming from.
Be patient and keep wearing them. Before long, they'll feel so natural, you'll forget you're wearing them.
Click to expand...

haha, just wait till I have to try and explain to the specialist that I can now hear the fish whispering to each other from 10ft away :biggrin::eek::biggrin:
 
Hearing aids, hearing aid buying coop.

Gentlemen,

I can agree with most all the statements you are making about hearing new sounds. Have been using them for 2 years.

Tried the mid grade Siemens units with the cell phone/TV connection device. Absolutely incredible. It's a joy to be able to answer your cell phone without ever picking it up. They had nothing for the Tinnitus.

I then went to another brand with a Tinnitus supression program. When the 10 seconds initialization ends, briefly, it sounds like water flowing from the aereator at the kitchen sink faucet. Then that sound diminishes. They do reduce the tinnitus volume, they do not eliminate.

The drug "Quietus" worked for me in a hit or miss fashion. Some days it worked some days it didn't. They said just take more, that can be expensive. They will make you a deal if it works, if you require more than the two pills per day. Give it a try under their refund your money policy, which they did do for me.

Any of you who are somewhat younger and have Tinnitus, I do know of a Tinnitus specialist in suburban Atlanta, GA (only one on east coast USA I'm told) who can train you to ignore the "whistle". You get to spend one day with Dr. to learn the techniques needed.

If you need 'em don't do without, life is better the way it was meant to be heard. Between health insurance and e-flex health care accounts, and the buying co-op below, they're affordable.

There is an organization, hearpo.com, they are a hearing aid co-op. You do not need health insurance to use them, they guarantee to save you a minimum of 5% off the list price, they also have an incredible battery program. I believe you can just buy batteries (Rayovac) at a discount too. You receive 180 free batteries with hearing aids, and two years later, another 180 free batteries. The warranty is also 3 years 100%. Have had two replaced at NC so far. The only catch is you must use a local provider of their choice. Mine was close to work and first class.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Charlie
 
Thanks for the input Charlie.

My Beltone 9's have the masking system in them for the tinnitus but I chose not to activate it as I cant switch it off without going back to the specialist.

I have no idea how long the batteries will last but she said around 7 days at 12 hours a day. So 8 batteries a month at just under $10

We dont get free anything in South Africa, not even air :smile:

I put new ones in yesterday so I should get an idea within the next few days.

CHARLES STOPCZYNSKI said:
Gentlemen,

I can agree with most all the statements you are making about hearing new sounds. Have been using them for 2 years.

Tried the mid grade Siemens units with the cell phone/TV connection device. Absolutely incredible. It's a joy to be able to answer your cell phone without ever picking it up. They had nothing for the Tinnitus.

I then went to another brand with a Tinnitus supression program. When the 10 seconds initialization ends, briefly, it sounds like water flowing from the aereator at the kitchen sink faucet. Then that sound diminishes. They do reduce the tinnitus volume, they do not eliminate.

The drug "Quietus" worked for me in a hit or miss fashion. Some days it worked some days it didn't. They said just take more, that can be expensive. They will make you a deal if it works, if you require more than the two pills per day. Give it a try under their refund your money policy, which they did do for me.

Any of you who are somewhat younger and have Tinnitus, I do know of a Tinnitus specialist in suburban Atlanta, GA (only one on east coast USA I'm told) who can train you to ignore the "whistle". You get to spend one day with Dr. to learn the techniques needed.

If you need 'em don't do without, life is better the way it was meant to be heard. Between health insurance and e-flex health care accounts, and the buying co-op below, they're affordable.

There is an organization, hearpo.com, they are a hearing aid co-op. You do not need health insurance to use them, they guarantee to save you a minimum of 5% off the list price, they also have an incredible battery program. I believe you can just buy batteries (Rayovac) at a discount too. You receive 180 free batteries with hearing aids, and two years later, another 180 free batteries. The warranty is also 3 years 100%. Have had two replaced at NC so far. The only catch is you must use a local provider of their choice. Mine was close to work and first class.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Charlie
Click to expand...
 
Nothing is free, someone always pays.

Terry,

Living in South Africa, you cannot use the information on the purchasing co-op, perhaps someone here in the US can. I too get good battery life, about 1 week per pair is about right.

On my hearing aids I can tap the program switch to go into the Tinnitus mode or out of it. Dr. cautioned me that I might want to use the standard mode in restaurants. In tinnitus mode they work just fine for me.

Take care,

Charlie
 
My first set were inserts -- sucked. The 2nd set were 'behind the ears' and quite a bit better -- but fussy. They always seemed to fail when I needed them the most. The 3rd set which I've had for 8 months, are fantastic -- Phonaks like this...

images


The TV/Bluetooth unit looks like this...

images

You remove the remote unit from the charger and hang it around your neck. The base/charger transmits to the remote (from the TV), and the remote to the aids. The technology just keeps better and better.

I wouldn't describe the sound of these as plastic-like. The technician spent a lot of time 'fine tuning' them to my hearing damage chart -- if anything, they are a bit metallic. The sound of tin foil crinkling, sounds like bloody thunder. I am extremely fortunate in not having tinnitus -- yet... :beat-up:

Hope you like yours....


terryf said:
hahahaha I can relate to the indicators and the toilet experience!! :biggrin:

Which are you using, Beltones? I ordered the Beltone 9 dw63 which has the wifi and can attach to all the modules for phone and TV but the audiologist ordered the wrong set and I cant change it.

My problem is that everything has a plastic sound to them, even a bunch of keys. Im going back to the audiologist to see if she can alter the settings a bit for me.

The other key thing is that I can still hear perfectly up to 5500hz but from there to 8000hz is where it goes pear shaped. The tinnitus obviously doesnt help.

Thanks for the input :smile:

islandturner said:
Terry, I've worn hearing aids now for ten years – I'm on my third set. They've gotten better and better. Now in a restaurant, I can hear every word from everyone at the table, instead of lip reading (and usually being wrong...). :rolleyes:

The latest set even has a transmitter that plugs into the TV, and sends the sound directly to the aids. I can hear very word now, clearly and easily (this after hearing very little of the dialogue in TV dramas). :laugh:

I remember the first day with the first set. Driving home, I discovered that my turn indicators click – had never heard them before. Learned that my wife's car 'pings' under load. Heard mosquitoes and crickets for the first time in many years. But the one the blew me away – my first whiz. Sounded like Niagara Falls....! :eek::biggrin:

Hang in there – they take some getting used to, but they'll change your life.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the pics :)

Mine are Beltones which, on the model I ordered (Trutone 9 DW63), have the wifi built in so no need for the neck loop. Just need a unit which transmits from the TV to the BTE itself.

The ones I got don't have the wifi but are half the size of those Phonaks. (Trutone 9 DW62)

There are apparently a new generation just out which are light years ahead of the previous generation. I'll look at getting a set of those early next year.

I must go back to the specialist and get her to re-tune these suckers.

islandturner said:
My first set were inserts -- sucked. The 2nd set were 'behind the ears' and quite a bit better -- but fussy. They always seemed to fail when I needed them the most. The 3rd set which I've had for 8 months, are fantastic

You remove the remote unit from the charger and hang it around your neck. The base/charger transmits to the remote (from the TV), and the remote to the aids. The technology just keeps better and better.

I wouldn't describe the sound of these as plastic-like. The technician spent a lot of time 'fine tuning' them to my hearing damage chart -- if anything, they are a bit metallic. The sound of tin foil crinkling, sounds like bloody thunder. I am extremely fortunate in not having tinnitus -- yet... :beat-up:

Hope you like yours....


terryf said:
hahahaha I can relate to the indicators and the toilet experience!! :biggrin:

Which are you using, Beltones? I ordered the Beltone 9 dw63 which has the wifi and can attach to all the modules for phone and TV but the audiologist ordered the wrong set and I cant change it.

My problem is that everything has a plastic sound to them, even a bunch of keys. Im going back to the audiologist to see if she can alter the settings a bit for me.

The other key thing is that I can still hear perfectly up to 5500hz but from there to 8000hz is where it goes pear shaped. The tinnitus obviously doesnt help.

Thanks for the input :smile:

islandturner said:
Terry, I've worn hearing aids now for ten years – I'm on my third set. They've gotten better and better. Now in a restaurant, I can hear every word from everyone at the table, instead of lip reading (and usually being wrong...). :rolleyes:

The latest set even has a transmitter that plugs into the TV, and sends the sound directly to the aids. I can hear very word now, clearly and easily (this after hearing very little of the dialogue in TV dramas). :laugh:

I remember the first day with the first set. Driving home, I discovered that my turn indicators click – had never heard them before. Learned that my wife's car 'pings' under load. Heard mosquitoes and crickets for the first time in many years. But the one the blew me away – my first whiz. Sounded like Niagara Falls....! :eek::biggrin:

Hang in there – they take some getting used to, but they'll change your life.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I have the behind the ear and they are OK.
Worst part - I have to take them out when I'm turning or sanding. They attract dust like a magnet. Did a lot of mesquite projects and they turned red and clogged up inside. Another trip to the repair shop for them. :frown:
The plastic sound is there, along with feedback, but they do help.
gordon
 
Good point about the shop!! Thanks :)

I still need to try them on when Im wearing electronic ear protectors - Im pretty sure there will be some feedback.

Anyone tried this?

flyitfast said:
I have the behind the ear and they are OK.
Worst part - I have to take them out when I'm turning or sanding. They attract dust like a magnet. Did a lot of mesquite projects and they turned red and clogged up inside. Another trip to the repair shop for them. :frown:
The plastic sound is there, along with feedback, but they do help.
gordon
Click to expand...
 
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