I got Oticon Intent 1 hearing aids back in June, when i got them they seemed more effective than previous hearing aids. Unfortunately, they seem to have lost their effectiveness, i.e it’s harder to hear voices over background noise, whereas when I first got them I was able to hear my sister while standing in the kitchen with the kettle boiling.
Im hoping someone might be able to advise me as to whether this means my hearing is getting worse or if i need to get my audiologist to turn my hearing aids up.
You are getting use to them and maybe your hearing changing. You need to have a follow up appointments to get your aids farther adjusted. Never make the mistake of thinking that you don’t need to get extra adjustments. The odds are your hearing aids aren’t changing but you are changing as you adjust to the aids.
Yes, I have been cleaning the domes, . And no I dont really use a hair dryer/hair spray but if i do, I make sure not to wear my aids while doing so. Thanks for the suggestion though.
And keeping the wax s changes is important as well as the microphones. As for as using a dryer I haven’t used one since starting to wear rechargeable hearing aids. That is the latest 6 or 7 years. I do sweat a lot as it can get very humid in this area. And I do a lot of hiking.
If you stream some music to your aid does it sound ok? If it does I would suspect the mic or the mic opening which needs cleaning, drying out or a service. If it’s affecting both music and speech via the hearing aid I would suspect wax or the tubes.
I meant a hearing aid dryer/dehumidifier, not a hair dryer. The receivers can get moist and a dehumidifier helps some keep them performing well by evaporating the moisture.
I have the same issue. I was wearing for a number of years part time on and off and never got used to them as a result. Mostly never letting people know i had them due to vanity.
Last year I decided to go full time because of links to dementia and untreated hearing loss, and like you they were wonderful. But now after a year it seems like they are not “effective”. I regularly clean them deeply. I do believe I’m just getting used to them and actually need them in all situations.
I will go and get them adjusted - and checked i guess - to see if getting used to them is the “issue”.
I am 78 years old and I keep my mine fresh by reading instead of watch television. I take supplements mostly for my eyes. I found a tablespoon of local honey after my even meal refreshes my brain and keeps me sharp. I do brain teasers. I love doing complex math problems, doing research just to do it. I love reading novels that keep me guessing and that has a very complicated plot. It keeps my mine in high gear and functioning at a rate much higher then setting around watching mindless television..
When I had aids that used disposable batteries, I kept my aids in a dehumidifier at night. Since I got rechargeable hearing aids I haven’t used a dehumidifier. Actually my audiologist said not to. My aids go into the charger, I close the top of the charger over the aids, and the mild heat of the aids charging is enough to dry the aids. I have been using rechargeable aids for about 7 years and haven’t had one go bad due to moisture.
Hi, that sounds like it is working well for you. I too love to do puzzles especially sudoku, i like to race people by printing out 2 of the same and seeing who finishes first . I am 30 years old and an accountant, so i feel like my job keeps my brain active enough. That honey tip is very intriguing, i’m going to research that and see about any known benefits, thanks
I also have the Oticon1s and a similar problem. I’ve been to the audiologist I initially purchased from and also the (which I have since been covered by, long story). Neither seem to make any adjustments that improve my hearing and comprehension. I would write it off to actual hearing changes but test show similar readings in both ears. I also use apple AirPods with hearing assist turned on when I go to the gym, while they have never been as effective as the Oticons their effectiveness doesn’t seem to have changed. Not sure what to do next. Currently looking at transcription glasses.
I use a Perfect Dry Lux daily to dry moisture and kill pathogens. I got it on line from Costco for about $40.00. Manufacturer Site: Perfect Dry Lux - MG Développement1
The hearing aid manufacturer and the audiologist said that Perfect Dry Lux device is excellent for both rechargeable and disposable battery devices. (The manufacturer also sells it, but for a whole lot more money than Costco.)
One hint is to clean the cerumen when the devices have cooled for hours instead of after removing the aids from the ears or dryer. The wax is hardened when cool and will brush off easier.
And, as others mentioned, adjustments are necessary, As time goes on, you will want adjustments less frequently, but at first it may be helpful every couple of months while neuroadaptation settles and new neutopathways establish. Don’t be shy about asking for adjustments. The audiologists are expecting it and often remind one of the importance.
Paul
Good day to you, I have to say, I have moderate to severe hearing loss, and hearing people and there voices clearly isnt just the devices fault per say. If you have a frequency loss (in simple terms tone type loss of certain sounds and tones of peoples voices) its very difficult to hear like you did say when your hearing was excellent just guessing when your 40 years old. I’m in no way saying this is your case, however I want to share with you some issues I have had that can be very frustrating with hearing aids. And that being said I have one of the state of the art set that is out on the market today in which is very compatible with answering a phone automatically in your H.Aids via bluetooth, as well as with the help of a connected transmitter can connect to your television automatically as it comes on, or…manually through its App, that you download from Google Play store on Android or the apple app if you have an I-Phone. Tech stuff there…but once its all set up no issues for the most part, all these apps and connections through Bluetooth are not perfect, but most of the time they work pretty good, and once you get the hang of using them you’ll be somewhat satisfied.
Here’s mainly why I wanted to respond to your post,
9 times out of 10 if your hearing aid performance isnt the greatist and you have only had them for a short time, the culprit is a couple things,
Get in the shower, and if you dont have one get a handheld shower wand and wash your ears out one, by tipping your head to the side soap it up with a good body wash soap that DOES NOT HAVE LOTION IN IT, and rinse out thoughoughly by tipping your head downward rinsing with the wand , and pulling on your ear lobe wiggle wiggle it take fore finger and place it ove your canal where it covers the canal wiggle your fore finger several times release your fore finger cover/release wiggle/cover release wiggle, do this several times till you dont have a plugged feeling in your ear, do the same thing with your towel when you exit the shower, and a big tip here! Using a cotton sock to dry your ears after getting the majority dry with a towel, and using the COTTON athletic sock afterwards to dry again, WAIT A GOOD 20 minutes TILL YOUR EARS ARE COMPLETELY DRY AND FREE AND CLEAR OF WAX before you put your H.Aids back on.
If you havent done this there are tiny in your little ear transmitting speakers behind the ear domes, you may or may not know this, VERY IMPORTANT, if, they are full or partially full of wax you possibly wont hear ANYTHING or just slightly. I change my wax filters myself, over a well lit dining table on a clean surface with a very simplified tool and clean the domes with a very small bit of rubbing alcohol, and a can of air, blowing any wax out of the transmitter wire, and making sure all holes in dome are clear before replacing new wax filter with little simplified tool which comes with the filters. Your hearing aid professional will go over this with you on how to change the filters, very simple!! Just make sure you take your time, and be patient, you will be amazed if you follow these techniques in your hearing loss future, trust me this is what you have to do to hear like you want to hear with hearing aids, best of luck….and oh, by the way if your hands shake a lot, well, get a young relative to help you with the wax filter task, or have the hearing aid office help you with this, but keeping your ears clean is 50% of what the malfunction is, and generally the wax filter is the other. and make sure your ears are clean and dry before putting them back on, hope this helps…
Wes ( Owner of STARKEY Chargeble 16 Hearing Aids New edge style hearing aids Love them!
I have been wearing aids for 20 years. It is very important to do daily cleaning of the aids. It is important to have your yearly hearing exam. It is important to have your audiologist or hearing tech. do at least every six months a complete cleaning and check up of your aids. And to check your ears to make sure you don’t have ear wax issues.