Hearing Aid advice

[tkappeler]

TXDON;

They require to be removed at night and to be stored in a Jar containing a drying agent. This is an absolute must do.
If this is not done, they will fail after about a year. If it is done, they will last an average of five years.

Moisture can be an issue but not for everyone. My daughter never uses the drying agent. Granted, she is not in high moisture environments most of the time. I do not believe that her situation is the exception. Hers are going on seven years with no issues except the occasional broken horn

 

[mikim]

The BTE's have a hollow tube to transmit the sound.
My BTE aids do not have a hollow tube. They have a wire going to a speaker that is in the ear canal with a soft cone that holds them in place. My batteries don't always last a week. I use my phone clip a lot and it reduces the battery life. The bluetooth is always pinging between devices to maintain connection and that wears the batteries. BUT - that phone clip is so great I wouldn't want to do without it - I'll pay for the extra batteries - it's worth it.

 

[txdon]

In the BTE's is the RIC (receiver in canal) Terminology used in for both types: 1.) hollow tube and 2.)thin wire in tube?
I was under the impression (maybe wrong) that:
BTE-RIC = thin wire
BTE = hollow tube

The Brochure is kind of vague.

 

[tkappeler]

In the BTE's is the RIC (receiver in canal) Terminology used in for both types: 1.) hollow tube and 2.)thin wire in tube?
I was under the impression (maybe wrong) that:
BTE-RIC = thin wire
BTE = hollow tube

The Brochure is kind of vague.

While both RICs and BTEs sit behind the ear, the RICs generate the sound in a tiny speaker that sits in the canal. The wire is thin because it is only carrying an electrical signal like speakers in a car or home. RICs generally do not have custom molds but an open mold that lets some natural sound in for a more natural sound.

The traditional BTE generates the sound in the unit behind the ear and carries the sound through the hollow tube to the earmold and into the ear. Since there is no electical/mechanical component in the ear itself, the mold is formed to fit the ear exactly with the hollow tube cast into it. The molds then connect to the horn (plastic piece that is attached to the top of the BTE unit and provides a connection to the replaceable mold.

 

[txdon]

tkappler, thanks for the clarification. I won't have many questions to ask the audiologist with all the help I'm getting here.

 

[pacerron]

In the BTE's is the RIC (receiver in canal) Terminology used in for both types: 1.) hollow tube and 2.)thin wire in tube?
I was under the impression (maybe wrong) that:
BTE-RIC = thin wire
BTE = hollow tube

The Brochure is kind of vague.

Don,
Mine are the hollow air tube type. The Behind The Ear receiver/amplifier allows for more microphones, larger electronics, and in some cases bigger batteries. Mine uses the Size 13 which is a common size. They last about 3 weeks. There is a beeping indication when they get low because when they quit, they quit.
I normally put mine in at 0600 and they are in till 2400 unless I am working outside on/with machinery which is significant in the summer months but not a lot from now till about March.
I really don't notice much difference in battery life either way. The type of batteries used in hearing aids have a tape over one side. Most folks think it is only a handle to help you put them in without dropping them but it is really an anti-oxidation film. Once the tape is removed the batteries will begin to drain even if not used at all.
Moisture/sweat while wearing can be a big problem to the electronics as well as wax, dirt, etc. They make stupid looking little socks to put on the BTE part but I have not tried them.
I just open the battery compartments when I go to bed and leave them on a cabinet in the bedroom to dry out overnight. We do have forced air AC and heat so the indoor humidity
is rather low.
When I change the batteries I swab out the battery compartment with a Q-tip moistened with Alcohol to get rid of any oil that has accumulated from my hair.
If I see moisture in the air tubes I unscrew the tube attachment piece from the receiver and blow a bit of canned air through the tube.
I've worn aids for about 10 years now, ( on my second set) so these are just a few tips that most folks who haven't had the experience have to learn the hard way.
Ron

 

[jix]

TXDON:

I cannot tell you if there is a difference between battery brands as to their longevity. I use only one kind, supplied to me by my audiology clinic. I doubt that there are many differences, however. Shelf life is one issue..it is about three years unopened. I would avoid buying batteries at a dollar store, as those are cheap because their shelf life is about expired when they are sold. I use fresh RAY-O-VAC zinc-air batteries number 312 size. When I remove the aids at night, I always open the battery doors so they do not expend themselves uselessly sqeauling away to each other in the dry box. If I forget to do that, they last only two days.

My hearing aids are BTE digital Starkey VI 70 (analogue hearing aids are way obsolete) with a remote volume control and four noise environment programs, There are no tubes into my ear, only a very thin wire that terminates in the canal speaker element. That speaker is about the size of a grain of rice, but is has a skirt made of some kind of black rubber (Not silicone) that looks like a little parasol. It is an open mold type and is easily replaceable and cleanable with soap (not hydrogen peroxide, which is a carcinogen) I clean my ear canals, against doctors orders, with the looped end of a bobby pin. It is necessary for me becoz I have Ecxema on my ear canals..nothing helps with that, except open molds. I have tried everything available. Ecxema causes itching, which causes a lot of ear wax. If it gets bad, I have a prescription medication called VIOSOL, which is are antibiotic drops with a little vinegar in it. The doctor tried me with hydrocortisone ointment, but that stuff promotes fungus and fungus in the ears is really nasty. I find the best thing is to keep my ear canals cleaned out with a bobby pin, and dry inside.
if you do get a hard wax buildup way deep in the canal, warmed mineral oil drops will soften it so you can get it out with a bobby pin...VERY CAREFULLY..

DO NOT USE Q-TIPSs..they only push the crud in farther, until you have to goan ENT doctor for a hospital visit..and that removal is painful, by crikey!

Of course, you must be very careful with bobby pins,too. Only do it if you are seated, relaxed and can concentrate on being delicate and careful. Sterilize the bobby pin with alcohol and a tissues before and after, then wipe out the ear bell with a baby wipe tissues... My wife says you only need baby wipes if you have poop for brains.. Ha Ha. Bless my dear, dry-humoured, long-suffering wife. She can hear me thinking.

My doctor always scolds me for doing my ears with a bobby pin. But he cannot get me any other kind of a fix, so I do it anyways... Have been for thirty years...no problem. Itchey ears are a definite curse.

Somebody said, use yoghurt like the girls do...NO COMMENT...don't go there..and no smart-*** remarks either, please.

Ok boys, that is me done about hearing aids...and about time too. Rather be playing with my Kubota tractor. Gosh I like the sound of a little diesel rattling away, using hardly any fuel and happily gobbling up the hard work for me. I used to work with a team of Percheron horses, which are much, much more trouble, but still, they are enjoyable beasts to talk to, as you plow, harrow, mow, rake, and bind the grain, a thousand acres of it a year. Talking to a tractor, not so much. My problem is that I loved farming, but didn't like all that hard, hard work. Dairy is better income, but cows do not like a poor farmer to get much time off... Now I only farm snow...and mow grass and weeds

Darn trouble with a little Kubota is that you like it so much you look for things to do..eventually you are busier than you want to be somedays, so you go out and get a bigger tractor to keep up with the work you created for yourself..and it is a never-ending circle,....until you run outa money.

So I swear..I am NOT NEVER going to get a bigger tractor. Farming snow is enuff!

JIX

 

[Bird]

I've been wearing hearing aids all day every day for a little over 20 years now (current ones are my 4th pair). Like Ron, I take them out when I get ready to go to bed, wipe the exterior with a facial tissue, open the battery compartment, and leave them on the desk over night. Never used a drying agent. In the morning, I close the battery compartment, and brush both the outer surface and the wax guards with a soft bristle tooth brush before putting them back in.

 

[pacerron]

I've been wearing hearing aids all day every day for a little over 20 years now (current ones are my 4th pair). Like Ron, I take them out when I get ready to go to bed, wipe the exterior with a facial tissue, open the battery compartment, and leave them on the desk over night. Never used a drying agent. In the morning, I close the battery compartment, and brush both the outer surface and the wax guards with a soft bristle tooth brush before putting them back in.

Bird,
That's the way I like it. Keep it simple.
They gave me a little plastic jar with a desiccant pouch in it but the pouches don't last long. There are all kinds of goodies you can buy over the counter, approved at high prices to do simple things. i.e. a little dropper bottle with a mix of peroxide and olive oil in it to loosen the wax or little bottles of colored witch hazel to sooth your ears without burning as alcohol does. Vinegar and sweet oil ( olive oil ) have been used for centuries in ears.
I do like the little plastic sticks with a flexible wax spoon on one end and a rotary ring brush on the other. Using them with care will really help get the wax out. They always look in my ears with a lighted scope every time I go in for free air tube replacements and they usually don't find any wax build up.

Don, you must be sure there is no wax build up before taking a hearing test.
The tester should look in your ears to make sure before giving you the test, as a little wax build up deep in the drum will falsify the results.

I just finished moldboard plowing our garden to help it break down over winter and the rain is now here.
Will be a good time for a nap this afternoon.
Ron

 

[QRTRHRS]

Here is a link to the drybox that I got with my aids. I have the Global II which uses a disposable "brick" (3 to a pack for about 10 bucks, change every two months) to absorb moisture. It has what I assume to be a UV lamp that cycles to kill germs. This model runs about 108 bucks.

 

[tkappeler]

Bird,

I just finished moldboard plowing our garden to help it break down over winter and the rain is now here.
Will be a good time for a nap this afternoon.
Ron

thanks. Rub it in why don't you.

 

[radioman]

I can tell you guys this -- the medicare and health insurance companies do not want to cover HA's. If you are lucky to work one hour a month, you might be able to get medicaid buy in program to have a way to get HA's paid for. The biggest problem is where can you get ha's covered by medicaid. usually its a not for profit organization of some sort in your area.
Right now I am looking into aquaris models from siemens as they are waterproof and they are the only ones waterproof on the market right now. Phonaks makes a water resistance ones, but I have no idea about the sounds quality between the two.

 

[Bird]

Will be a good time for a nap this afternoon.
Ron

I decided that was a good idea, Ron. I seldom nap during the day, but today I took our my hearing aids, put on my CPAP mask, and went to bed for 2 hours.

 

[txdon]

I had my first visit with the the Dr. Audiologist today. That was one long, hard test. The final graph of my hearing looks like a ski slope and she described my hearing loss as severe and profound. She chose the Phonak Brio 321T with ear moldings. These are the small hearing aids that fit behind the ear and a small wire in a tube goes inside the ear to the ear mold and in the ear mold is a tiny speaker. I really did not want the ear molding but she said I needed them, but If I did not like them after using them they could be refunded and exchanged for a bud. I took her advice.

I had my wife go though the colors that looked best and both her and the Dr. agreed that the Blue was the best looking one. It kind of looks Techy against my gray hair and glasses.

I also order three optional items with it for a bundle price. The com copilot, the TV adaptor, and the remote mic - also called the wife mic. The optional 3 bundle cost $299 and I can return any one I don't think I will need up to 90 days. The hearing aids were $1299 each, (and $40 extra each for the ear molds) the exam was free.

The hearing aid is warranted for three years this also includes lost or damaged (once for each hearing aid). I have a 90 day trial and can change anything during this time and can also return it all for a 100% refund. Total drive out was $3K.

I'll pick them up in a little over two weeks and have them fitted. I forgot about the dryer (if it was included) and will be sure to ask about it then.

So far I am impressed and I'll report back about the hopefully improved quality of life improved hearing brings.

 

[hslogger]

So many members have hearing aids, so many don't. I am on my third set. Previous ones were in the ear. A little over years ago I was fitted with the newest Phonak BTE Solara in both ears. Also included is a remote. I gotta tell you really, these are the best I could imagine having. The real key gents, is SERVICE and professional programing that only comes after extensive testing and sometimes modifications on the frequencies.The remote saves so much grief. I can operate the adjustments from my pocket or the palm of my hand instead of reaching back and monkeying around with some leeetle switch. These Phonak BTE are just super. You will always find someone to sell you something cheaper, but will you find someone who services you better? I have mine in blue so I can find them when I set them down. I have to wear them. I also have to be careful if I put on headphones that I don't knock them off when removing the headphones. When you wear them like I do, they ARE A PART OF YOU.

 

[jix]

Good deal, both of you gents will be very happy with your decisions. It is most important that you went to an audiologist to get your hearing aids. Service is key to success over the long term!

Do take the time for a couple of follow-up visits. The audiologist will be better able to set up the aids once you have had a brief period of use. Little small tweaks in the programmes, tips on use.
If the audiologist specified molds rather than ear buds, that indicates that you truly really need the aids. Ear molds produce stronger sound pressures within the ear canal than the ear buds do, but they require greater attention to the issues of ear allergy reactions, mostly because the ear canals get moist inside from being sealed by the molds.
I myself cannot wear ear molds, my ears are too sensitive to skin issues. The audiologist will have medication that you put in your ears at night to help. EARGENE, is one of those. It does not work for me, however, as I have developed eczema and it makes my ears itchey and scaley inside. Eczema is not curable Btw..and cortisone ointment against itching causes rapid run away ear fungus to develop. The only thing that helps that is VIOSOL, a prescription ear drop medication that contains a little vinegar, but worsens the itchies.

The key seems to be to try to keep the ear canals dry. Plug them when you shower or swim to keep water out..and clean the inside of your ear bell with a baby wipe tissue each time that you remove and reinsert the aids. Keep the ear molds clean the same way, with baby wipes, which contain a little alcohol and gycerin. Let the ear molds dry for a few minutes after you wipe them, because alcohol burns if you put that into the ear canal...and alcohol promote eczema.

Despite the fussing, hearing aids are so worthwhile that I cannot overemphasize how important they are.

One thing I have noticed is that wearing good hearing aids will greatly reduce emotional stress and save you mental distress. You will not need so many naps, and will enjoy interacting with people a lot more, and get grumpy less frequently. They will change your life very much for the better, plus you will have better balance when you walk and be more alert to the small things in your world that you never noticed before.

As I began to say, in my first post on hearing aids, they will be one of the best investments that you have ever made

You were very wise to go to a competent audiologist and get tailored aids, made just for you. Any other kind or service will be a frustrating waste of a good opportunity to tune up your world. You get what you pay for, if you deal with a dedicated professional audiologist.

Congratulations!

PS: I must add a final thought. Using earmolds often produces slight irritation inside the ear canals, such as itching. This causes the ears to increase wax production (which his really a form of sweat). In my own case (and everyone's is different) the wax build up is tremendous and intolerable when it mixes with the scaled skin. It can become infected, It can become a locus for ear fungus, It makes your ears intolerably itchey. It must be removed..by an ENT doctor in the worst case..ands that hurts plenty.
I developed my own solution.. becoz no doctor had one that was workable. my ears produce so much wax and scaled skin detritus that they must be cleaned out at least once a day, so I use (against doctors orders) a bobby pins blunt end. By gently inserting that, and a scooping motion the wax and the crud are removed easily and effectively. I use a babywipe on the bobby pin to clean it afterwards.

Note that this is a dangerous procedure, if you are jolted and slip while you are putting the bobby pin deeply into you ear canal. You can hit the ear drum and damage it if you are not careful. You can easily feel when the bobby pin is too far in, and way before you contact the ear drum.

You can also easlly feel when the bobby pin has contacted hardened dried ear wax inside the ear canal. If that occurs, reapeated GENTLE scaping of the hard wax will usually scoop it out. If not, put some warmed glycerin oil drops into the effected ear, then try again later. In a day or so.

You cannot have another person, except an ear doctor, do this for you......Because only you can tell if the bobby pin is too far into your ear canal

I Must stress that I do not recommend this procedure to you..but it is the only way that has worked for me...and I have been doing it for twenty years without a mishap. You gotta have a delicate touch..and you gotta be desperately itchey.

 

[pacerron]

Don,
"Sounds" like you are on the correct path. The ear mold requirement is probably because you have a lot of high frequency loss. The bud type will not retain the high frequency as well.
The fitting of the mold is the key plus the size of the air hole. I didn't like the sound when mine first came back and felt a little discomfort with the length being too deep in my canals. Taking a bit off the bottom length solved both problems. Real world versus text book world again.
Keeping the wax out of your speakers will be important and I'm sure she will give you instructions and little tools to do so.

Enjoy hearing the birds sing again, at least for a while.
Ron
Ron

 

[Bird]

It is most important that you went to an audiologist to get your hearing aids.

Not necessarily. The first audiologist I went to many years ago was good, I think, but I did have to go back a couple of times before she got them fixed so they didn't hurt my ears. The second audiologist I went to, and the doctor in whose office she worked, were nothing short of lying thieves, and incompetent at that. So now my Beltone dealer, and her assistant, are audioprosthologists. They don't have as much college education, but a lot more experience, and they're honest and know their business.

 

[pacerron]

Not necessarily. The first audiologist I went to many years ago was good, I think, but I did have to go back a couple of times before she got them fixed so they didn't hurt my ears. The second audiologist I went to, and the doctor in whose office she worked, were nothing short of lying thieves, and incompetent at that. So now my Beltone dealer, and her assistant, are audioprosthologists. They don't have as much college education, but a lot more experience, and they're honest and know their business.

Bird,
I agree. I doubt if many have seen a true audiologist with a masters degree or higher plus the technical certifications to fit hearing aids. Audiologist Definition
They used to warn that a person with suspected hearing loss or tinnitus see a medical doctor first, Eye, Ears, Nose and throat, to be sure it wasn't just wax build up or some more serious medical problem. I think most companies that sell hearing aids, in most states, require you to sign a waiver, if you have not done so before getting fitted with aids, to protect them against
possible lawsuits.
The training, experience, and desire to do the best job possible for the customer is the most important, as it is in any technical job.

 

[txdon]

Ron, I singed a waiver. I answered all the questions on the pre-papperwork. If I would have answered any of the questions differently the Dr. in Audiology would not have fitted me for hearing aids until I saw a medical doctor first. With her visual exam and my answered questions she did not see the need for me to see a medical Dr. first.