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My Audiologist has Abandoned Me!

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Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum and hearing aids so looking for any helpful advice you can give me as I am having many problems unfortunately….

From birth I have had an ossicular anomaly with my left ear. I have known for a long time my hearing wasn’t the greatest but in general I could manage ok. Now 42 and recently started a new office based job.

The new job in a busy office has made me realise I need hep with my hearing. In the office I find it so difficult to hear, yet outside of work I can still manage.

So, knowing I had a problem I booked in to see a experienced local audiologist who was highly recommended. Did all the tests and she confirmed moderate to severe loss in the left and mild to moderate in the right. She really wasn’t sure how I managed to this point! Sorry, I don’t have a copy of the .

So after some discussion and looking at options, budgets etc I opted to initially go with the Signia Silk 5IX – left side only to see how things would work out.

Started to wear them Early March. After this arrived and was fitted, I very quickly started to feel as if I had a head cold. Stuffy nose, etc. Family members mentioned my voice sounded as if I was congested.

My audiologist said she had never heard of or had any experience of this and advised to give it time to see if I adapt to it. This went on for a couple of months before I asked if wearing one hearing aid in the left only might be for some reason the issue. Tried a demo in the right and my had cold symptoms cleared, so then ordered a right 5IX. That’s sorted that problem.

Next issue was occlusion. I was initially wearing tulip domes as she had suggested. I had to revert to open domes to eliminate the occlusion effect.

At this point I was seeing the audiologist every couple of weeks and she would comment every time that my ears were gooey/mucky due to wax and dead skin. She suggested it was possible water was getting into the ear canals. I don’t swim and on her advice after the first couple of visits I started to wear ear plus when showering etc. This issue never went way.

The domes where not a good fit from day 1. I seem to be between sizes. A smaller one is too loose and the next size up is too big / uncomfortable.

By this stage we were getting into the warmer weather and it felt like my ears were sweating when wearing the hearing aids. Both ears were starting to get inflamed and I was getting a very watery yellow discharge from the right ear. Phone call to the GP and given medication which seemed to clear it up.

Few weeks later same issue. Attended GP for a swab and a fungal infection was confirmed. More medication and a few weeks later clear again.

By this stage my audiologist was considering the prospect that I was having an allergic reaction to the domes and was now aware that the fit of the right in particular was causing me some major issues.

Based on this we started to look at Titanium custom moulds. Minerva UK was quoting £600-£700 for these and they would have to be shipped from Germany and if they had to go back for adjustments it was going to be an issue. It was decided this wasn’t a viable option.

Then we looked at Phonak Virto Titanium . We did moulds and sent them off. It turns out my ear canals are too narrow for them.

Its now about 8 months since we started with the Signina IX and my audiologist has said she is out of suggestions, can do no more for me and will fully refund me the costs of the Signia IX.

That came totally out of the blue, I’m back to square one, looking for another audiologist and a solution…

Obviously at the time she didn’t know I was going to be bothered by ear infections, but I have read online that CIC are not recommended for those with narrow ear canals or prone to infections?

Anyone have experience with any of the issues I have had above and any advice how to address them?

I am wondering of a / hearing aid would be better suited in my circumstances? Assuming they will let my ears breath more?

I’m really lost at the minute after the experience so far and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you :smile:

4 people in this conversation6 min readJump to latest

Others will have better input, but here are my thoughts. Your model of looks like it sits more inside the ear. Given your tendency to have ear infections/ issues, I agree that a different style of HA that doesn’t block your canal as much may be better. It is possible that glue sells only the brand you currently have, so they don’t have other options. Not sure how the system works in your neck of the woods, but another type seems a good next step.

Your hearing does seem bad enough in both ears that you definitely need HAs in both ears. Hearing does not get better, but can get worse with time, so don’t give up on HAs.

Looking forward to what our providers have to suggest.

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it. :slightly_smiling_face:

The Audiologist I was with is Independent so I do believe she was not tied to any specific brands. I know she certainly had access to a number of the major brands.

Yes, the Signia Silk IX sits entirely in the ear.

I now know my ear canals are narrow and I have issues with infections I will not go down that route with my next Audiologist.

My big concern is if I do in fact have an allergy to the silicone domes and the fact I have not found a good fit as yet. I think that’s a big reason as to why my Audiologist didn’t want to work with me any longer. She didn’t want to spend the time or take the risk of something else not working.

Purely from online research I understand allergies to acrylic custom moulds are even more likely? It also looks as though Titanium moulds are not a option for me now.

Its been a stressful start to my journey. I really need a solution…

I hope our registered providers weight in here. Don’t throw in the towel. It can take a lot of tweaks to get things right. I am surprised your did not offer a / style as you mentioned - that’s what made me think they don’t offer them at that office. If you can request your and add it here to your profile, it will be much more useful for providing suggestions. I eventually went the cochlear implant route in my worse ear, and it’s been a great help.

Thanks for the reassurance!

Yes, I am puzzled by how she has handled the situation. I had been with her for about 8 months. Only every tried the Signia Silk IX and had lots of problems!

Never given opportunity to try any other device or any custom moulds.

I know she did spend quite a bit of time looking into Titanium options. Once those options were ruled out that was it.

I will see if I can get my from her. If not I will request it from my new Audiologist when I see them Mid November.

You’re in a difficult spot with your hearing and allergies, but don’t give up. From the sounds of it you’re going to need a mould. They do make moulds with “non allergenic acrylic” and I would have vents to keep from getting occlusions and allow a bit of air into your aural canals.

Don’t give up, finding a really good is one of the great challenges we people face. It’s not as easy as just walking into a clinic and bingo you have a good one. When you do come across a good AuD you bite the bullet and work with him/her. Good luck.

In reply to @Morgan1946

Thank you. That is something I discussed with my Audiologist when I set out on my journey. Im on the waiting list to see an since March but the waiting list is well over a year unfortunately.

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