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Still struggling with first hearing aids to understand

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Edited

Hello,

I’m new to this site and to the hearing aid community. I never thought I would be wearing hearing aids, but here I am. I always struggled as a kid watching tv, and everything I watched always had subtitles. Even with music, majority of times I couldn’t understand what artist were saying depending on the words. I always had to listen to music super loud on my headphones, but my parents never took notice of this. Not sure if this made things worse. I’m not 38, and a few months back I started to suffer from tinnitus. Long story short, I went to the and got and done. I was told I had severe hearing loss, which made me really depress, as I’m already always struggling to understand what my 3 year old and 5 year old are telling me half the time. I can’t understand what someone tells me when they whisper, and even worse if there’s background noise. I work at a factory in an office, and half the time people ask me questions and because of the noise I have to ask them to repeat themselves. I also get words mixed up or I might someone might say something and I hear something totally different. I got these Oticon Intent 1 hearing aids, and I’m still struggling with them. I don’t know when to lower or raise the volume. If I increase the volume everything sounds too loud and still can’t comprehend, and if I lower the volume it’s the same. I have gone back and forth my audiologist dispenser, and still nothing. I have explained to her that I am still struggling in noisy environments as well as quiet ones. She’s done some slight changes, and added 3 programs. General, Speech in Noise and comfort. I have tried all 3 of them, and still can’t notice much of a difference. I’m also still struggling to hear certain words and sounds on my left ear, like beeping’s from fridge door or thermometer I don’t know why. Are these hearing aids or me or should I give them some time as my 90 days will expire at the end of the month. Please see my hearing test.

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Did you check your speech recognition threshold () ? I noticed that you mention you were struggled since you’re as a kid. Maybe your brain hear the sound or word but dont recognize them.

I would say it would be better if you could do this test before buying the hearing aid.

Edited

Very similar to me and sounds like you need a different hearing aid. About 12 years ago (40 yrs old), I started getting tinnitus with significant hearing loss. I was diagnose with having Meniere’s disease - and have been using a device until recently. My hearing has worsen and I have major problems with word recognition.

I was about to give up on my hearing (left ear) and seeking cochlear. Went to a new audiologist with different testing and we found a solution. YESTERDAY - I switched to a device (ReSound Nexia 9) with a custom mold and I can hear words again. It’s not perfect…but it was a game changer for me. The BTE device is better suited for profound hearing loss.

Regarding wearing new hearing aids (in general), it takes 4+ weeks for your brain to adapt. You just need to keep wearing them. I would also recommend a custom ear mold given the severity of your hearing loss and comfort.

THAT SAID, you should have noticed some improvement with your new device. I would seek out a new audiologist during your current 90 day trial (just an opinion).

Edited
@cfournier said:

I got these Oticon Intent 1 hearing aids, and I’m still struggling with them.

OK, hopefully you’ll get many more replies here to get the broad view and perspectives, but I can only weigh in with my own experience using Oticon Intent. First: my is flatter ‘n a snake belly, so I don’t have the unique fitting challenge you have with higher frequency loss, but dang good in the lower freqs. I’m guessing you have difficulty with the little ones cuz they tend to talk in HIGHER frequencies. Whispers would also be a challenge.

In any case, I was looking to try out an aid with improved speech recognition over my 3-yr old Phonak Lumity Life rechargeables. I got a terrible audi who couldn’t be bothered to work with me to even set these up right for the trial! So, it’s possible you can still work with the Oticons if you can find someone to work with your challenging audiogram.

That said, I also had HUGE trouble understanding what anyone was saying even 6 feet away! The newer, Oticon Intent aids were worse than my older Phonaks. So I lumped along using the Phonaks and about 18 mo ago, Phonak came out with the newer Lumity Life 312 aids. I think just the newer chip set made a difference, cuz I seem to understand about 15-20% more of what I’d hear with the older rechargeables. I have not tried the newest Phonak Sphere cuz they are just too bulky for me, but wanted to say, “PERSEVERE!” Don’t give up yet or get discouraged. Look at your audiogram like a merit badge: some qualified audi should be proud to help YOU hear optimally! You just need to keep looking. Whether you can work with the Intent or need a new make/model, don’t stop looking and trying out models. I hope you find a pair to help with speech clarity so you can gain confidence with the kids and other situations.

Are there any mics you could use to enhance the performance of the Intents? I use a Roger V2 mic for speaker phone calls and TV viewing. Life altering!

In reply to @MDB

It’s really difficult to know in this situation whether there is a problem with the device/fitter or whether the trouble is that the OP is just having a really difficult time adapting after 10+ years of auditory deprivation, possible present during a time of auditory development depending on when it started.

But I would agree with mpd, if the OP is not experiencing at least some benefit from the hearing aids towards the end of the trial, or feeling like the clinician is supportive and communicates with them clearly, then I would go somewhere else. Really, the only way a clinician can fix your problems (or let you know if they cannot be fixed) is if you clearly tell them what your problems are and it’s totally reasonable to say, “I’m struggling with the volume but also just not experiencing any benefit yet”. If they work with you and you feel comfortable, keep going. If they give you a glassy-eyed deer-in-headlights stare, they don’t have enough experience yet for your particular problems go somewhere else. But I cannot tell you how many times patients say, “I hate to complain. . .” PLEASE complain. I mean, don’t be mean about it. But give me a chance to fix the problem whether by changing something or explaining something or cheerleading you through something or whatever.

I would also encourage the OP to talk to siblings, children, nephews/neices about having their hearing tested. This is likely some sort of progressive genetic hearing loss that started in childhood and for which the OP should have been given more support earlier. Presumably the 3 and 6 year old passed their hearing screenings at birth. I would get them tested again prior to school entry entry (so, the 5 y.o. now if that hasn’t been done, sooner for the 3 y.o. if there is any speech delay) and then every few years thereafter up until they are old enough to notice and report a change themselves/understand that it is somthing that could happen (~mid to late adolescence).

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