Hearing aids

Had a consultant appointment at ENT the other day and it seems that I require hearing aids to stop missing out on half of the noise around me!

Anyone ride with hearing aids? Any tips?

58 and falling to bits 😞

I’m 55 and have worn one for nearly 20 years now. So I fell to bits a long time ago. 🤣

Main tip – get one and use it! Don’t just pop it in when you think you need it. Mine goes in when I get dressed and only comes out when I go to bed.

…and you still won’t heat owt in pubs.

And NHS ones are fine – can’t see the point of spending £1000s. And you can get NHS ones through Specsavers etc.

54 and also falling apart. I’m waiting for an appointment with audiology after a test at Specsavers where they said I have considerable conductive hearing loss in one ear. Got a letter to say my appointment could be upto 52 weeks away 🤣

The other ear I already knew I had hearing loss from damage. I cat hear any high sounds like a watch alarm plus other general loss.

By the way not all Specsavers do NHS work, the ones where i am in Scotland dont. Their hearing aids worth having seem serious money to me. Especially if you need two.

Noisy places are a nightmare for me and I struggle to tell the direction of noises which is a pain on the bike.

I have worn hearing aids for almost 50 years, making me feel old now….

One tip is  to try wearing a headband to reduce wind noise. Modern aids are much better in wind but still not perfect.

Noisy, complex environments are a pain.

I have both NHS and private aids, mainly use the private ones as they are rechargeable. They are also waterproof which is very handy, I have swum out of a kayak several times wearing them and they still work.

55 and worn hearing aids for over 50 of those so started falling apart quite early on.. NHS aids are great and like LittleDave says, headband useful for wind noise. I find full face helmets a proper PITA though.

Thanks guys, probably 4-5 months before the next appointment so the wife will have to have to put up with me ‘ignoring’ her for a while longer.

Main concern is the 1 (today) year old deciding to to investigate what’s in Dad’s ears 😜

Thump wears hearing aids.  He struggles with wind noise when out on the bike so often just takes his hearing aid out and tucks it in his back pocket.

Then there was the time we got to the brewery and realised it had been dropped at the summit of the local hill. I had to head back up – and found it sitting where we’d been eating our sandwiches.

The NHS hearing aids are several years behind the new ones. Main differences seem to be in software for noise cancelling.

Thump is still at school and tunes his hearing aids for the surroundings. You’ll need an Apple phone to get the best out of the app.

the wife wears a buff band over her ears to reduce the wind noise with hers. Can just about have a conversation while riding if I shout.

The NHS ones are fantastic, but if you’re a very active person, in lots of different surroundings, meetings etc the private ones are definitely a lot better. More channels, more tech scanning the acoustics around you, bluetooth to phone, App controllable, directional mics, rechargeable etc. Expect to pay £2k- £3k otherwise you’re just as well with NHS. Avoid he tiny ones, ‘receiver in canal’ (RIC) are the ones to go for, SS will do with a 4 year warranty, which is about how long they will last.

58 and falling to bits

Some bits are working OK if you’ve got a 1 year old 😁

I can’t ride with mine, wind noise is too distracting, as is the amplified sound of it catching on helmet straps etc.  I do need to go get mine checked over, this thread is a timely reminder 👍

Avoid he tiny ones, ‘receiver in canal’ (RIC) are the ones to go for,

@jkomo Can you expand on this please? I suddenly lost hearing in my right ear last year due to ‘ear stroke’ – I’m told. Now have moderate loss which is almost impossible in noisy environments so I’ve become even grumpier and stopped going to them…🙃

I wear the RIC type aids… mine work perfectly now I’ve got rid of the specsaver branded ones and changed to a proper make photek

To cut down wind noise I wear a pirate bandanna…make sense towards these anyway…cool in the summer, bit of warmth in colder weather,  stops dirt sweat etc transfer to your helmet inside a d cuts down wind noise…win win

As with anything the more you pay the better it is… so with money aids with wind noise is cut right down even without a cover over my ears.

I had NHS ones about 20 years ago….I didnt get on with them…..so went private…but my wife just got her 1st NHS one last week ( only needed for 1 ear)  ..and I must say they do look impressive  and way better than the old versions

I might talk to my gp next time about a set…its always good to have a back up.

As far as riding with hearing aids go…you’ll get used to it

It will seem alien at first but once you notice the sound difference,  you’ll be glad .

Except when the battery goes and you’ll feel off balance…but that’s another story..ha ha ha

Main differences seem to be in software for noise cancelling.

I tried some that were v expensive and marketed themselves as specifically good at wind-noise cancelling (Amplifon). They sucked just as badly as all the others I’ve ever tried. I don’t think any of them can in any sense of the word cut out wind noise, especially on a bike, I think you have to just balance out your priorities.

This is my NHS one – they’ve come a long way since my first one 20 years ago!

It’s a Signia one – and even has an app where you can tune the hearing direction/change settings/volume etc. Specsavers also put different pre-sets on for different room/location settings.

My advice would be get an NHS one first – you may find it does all you need. I suffer from otosclerosis where the bones in the inner ear are fused together (but only in my left ear!).

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/otosclerosis/#:~:text=Otosclerosis%20happens%20when%20a%20tiny,be%20passed%20on%20in%20families.

I’m a very new user, with NHS ones. Lots of independent and small audiology/opticians shops will also do NHS aids. You’ll get a list of nearest to choose.

I didn’t realise what I was missing until I got mine. Best pleasure, hearing the tinkle of water in a stream.

Windy, wear a buff.

Advice : take them out before you get in the bath. I have just smoked one of mine, waiting for it to be repaired/replaced.

Best pleasure, hearing the tinkle of water in a stream.

When having a slash?

To anyone wondering about whether to wear a hearing aid or not, I’d urge you to consider how your hearing loss affects others. My mum refused to acknowledge her increasing hearing loss for over 20 years. She claimed people were ‘mumbling’ or ‘talking too fast’ and other nonsense. Things reached a crisis point when doctors treating her cancer became concerned that she was unable to make informed decisions about her treatment, as it was obvious she wasn’t actually hearing and understanding what she was being told. She was very stubborn. So the ‘threat’ of treatment ending finally spurred her into actually getting something done about it. Even once she had had her hearing impairment assessed, she then often refused to actually use them, as she’d become resentful that I and others were right about her going deaf. It was an act of defiance. As she became more frail, I and others caring for her had to threaten her with things (like not cooking for her, not getting any food shopping in, etc) to get her to wear them, as trying to communicate with her was becoming impossible. I resorted to using an iPad with a speech to text feature to have a conversation with her. I understood her unwillingness to use them, as she said they produced too much background noise and going from her normal impaired state to a hearing one was alarming and confusing for her. A common issue with many hearing aid users I’m told. This all many that her relationships with myself and others suffered, and she became quite lonely. But this was entirely her own doing, she made no attempt to compromise and be less selfish.

A friend of ours is currently losing his hearing, and is also refusing to acknowledge this. Again, this is impacting on his friends, family and colleagues. It is incredibly frustrating trying to communicate with someone who refuses to accept they have hearing issues. It boiled over recently when a close friend of his lost it and had a right go at him, so now he is finally considering a hearing test.

So I urge anyone who might be experiencing hearing difficulties/loss, to have it checked out. Because not only could it be something treatable, it could also could help anyone close to you, or you work with, communicate better with you. I am having my hearing tested next week, as I’ve recently become slightly concerned that my left ear isn’t what it was. I also need to wear glasses; I can’t understand why needing eyewear/contacts is readily accepted by many people, yet hearing issues are often ignored.

I wear mine at work and when I’m watching tv, I don’t bother otherwise unless I’m visiting a doctor or something.

I put them in when I get to work, and remove them before I cycle home. Easy.

brownperson
Free Member
To anyone wondering about whether to wear a hearing aid or not, I’d urge you to consider how your hearing loss affects others.

+1 and please can someone tell my Dad?

+1 and please can someone tell my Dad?

Are you my son?? ;)

Went to an independent audiologist a couple of years ago and it confirmed that my hearing was …. impaired. Offered a trial but the aids they work with are a bit spendy. Supposed to be good and tuneable etc. Also encouraged me not to leave it too long as, apparently, the older you get the harder it is for your brain to adjust to the aids. Went a year later for a comparison test and, yup, they were a bit worse. Generally I’m not too bad but loud background noise is a bit of a killer. Recommended aid is the Audeo Paradise from Phonak. While I think I will benefit (Mrs BC certainly does!) I’m still reticent to jump on that treadmill though – the master of procrastination!

Just go for it Bikingcatastrophe, it’s not that big a deal.

I got mine from the NHS, they were great and it din’t cost me a thing.

Loud background noise is noticeable for a little while, then disappears (it’s a good idea to wear them a LOT when you first get them, as you get used to it faster). It’s actually quite amusing as everything sounds loud – keyboard clicks, overhead birds sound like they are really close, keys going into locks … as I say, you get used to it.

They really help when there is a group conversation going on. I find that people talking just to me raise their voice a bit, but when they are pitching it to the group I cannot hear – this is where they are useful.

As i said just go for it, you’ll forget you have them after a month or so.

Thanks for the input, it’s being able to follow conversations and not lose track when there’s background noise/other conversations going on that’ll be the revelation.

Left it far too long as I’m a tight git and didn’t want to spend my own money on private aids – I’ve an expensive bike habit to maintain after all 😂

I’ll try not to lose then in the woods or down the bog.

Meant to say I’ve also been told I speak really quietly though I think I’m speaking loud. Apparently with conductive loss it’s because you hear everything in your head loud, just not the outside noises.

Anyway, as I said earlier, possibly 52 weeks until I’m seen by audiology. The letter says don’t hassle your GP to get an earlier appointment as it won’t happen 🤣

Boblo- the tiny ‘completely in canal’ (CIC) hearing aids are very small so have less room to pack in the tech, the speaker and mics are closer together so aren’t as good, and because the whole thing goes right in the ear are more likely to suffer from moisture ingress and go wrong. The best ones sit behind the ear and have a thin wire to the speaker which goes in the ear canal.

@jkomo

That’s not entirely true, the best hearing aid is one that is suitable for the hearing loss and RICs might not always be appropriate.

I did have an in ear jobbie when I was ‘mild’. I’m now ‘moderate’ after something they called ‘ear stroke’ – sudden loss on one side a week or so before all hell broke loose on the DVT/embolism front but that’s another chapter in the ‘how fdcek up am I?’ saga…

The in ear one is old so I don’t have the app to mess with it. Other than that, it’s better for wind noise and exercise induced sweatyness etc which swamps my round the ear jobbie.

Finally got and appointment with audiology next month, I got a letter in January telling I’d be seen within 52 weeks, so yeh them lol!

I am a bit confused though, I thought I’d be getting my ears ‘looked at’ as the left one apparently has conductive hearing loss which is what got me referred i think, and there potentially could be a treatment for it.

But from the questionnaire I have to fill in for the appointment it sort of  assumes I’ll be getting hearing aids/s as they’re asking do I want it just set up as is,  what sort of mobile I have,  or would l want an app to control it and bluetooth from my phone/TV etc.  I assume loke Bluetooth headphones?

So, for those of you who know, do I want all the bells and whistles? Or do I want to just walk away with something to stick in my lugs and forget about?? I genuinely haven’t a clue and kinda hoped they’d ‘fix me’ without hearing aids/s.

My right lug is also down on how much I hear and missing loads of top end sounds, but it seems the other one that’s got me referred.

Was amusing at another hospital appointment the other day when my name was called out and I couldn’t tell where it was coming from so stood up turning around trying to see which member of staff in which direction it was to go to lol! I’m also constantly gluffed by people ‘sneaking up on me’ which causes family amusement and used to at work with a friend deciding to rattle change in his pocket as he approached to stop me jumping. It didn’t work lol!

If it’s free on the NHS get the ones with the most features – you don’t have to use them.

As for ‘fixing’ it it depends on the condition wether you want to go down that route. I suffer from Otosclerosis in one ear (fusing of the bones of the inner ear). In theory it can be treated but there is a small risk that it could affect my balance if it went wrong. As I still have one good ear I stuck with a hearing aid in that ear.

Yeh, I guess anything to fix it is going to be invasive unless it’s just sticky blocked eustachian tube, but I’m not thinking that as I can pop my ears no problem.  I get dizzy from time to time on uneven ground and oddly when I’m chewing I can all of a sudden get really dizzy.

But yeh, I guess get the best I can on offer (NHS)  with the option not to use options. Was just a little worried about it relying on my phone I guess.

As it’s an NHS one your phone will only control a few settings anyway. You certainly aren’t tied to your phone. Full bells and whistle only come with proper spendy ones.

Once you get it I’d see if you can get transferred to Specsavers (or similar). The ability to pop-in to you local store is far more convenient than hospital appointments.

Mine broke a couple of weeks ago and I walked into Specsavers – said it’s broke, they confirmed it was broke. A few hours later I got a call to say they’d got a new one in from another branch. All sorted in the same day. Can’t fault them.

Batteries – walk into Specsavers and walk out with a box of new ones!

I’ve had my NHS Phonak Bolero hearing aids for about 8wks. Easy to get on with, they are rechargeable which is great for day to day use, not so for bikepacking etc. I asked for max windnoise protection and don’t have any issues with that. They connect to my phone and calls and podcasts etc come straight into my ears which is fabulous! There is an app which allows some further tuning. After a bit of practice can get my fullface helmet on, no problems at all with ordinary helmet or glasses. My only issue is forgetting to take them out when showering!

It has definitely improved my ability to follow conversations in a noisy environment.

Cheers , that sounds positive. I’ll have to mention about wind noise as cycling would help me know there is traffic and where traffic is coming from!  Plus I like to be outside generally. Yeh cafes/shops/trains/stations. I guess I’m fooling myself I don’t need them :/

The hospital is a good way away so ‘transferring’ to specsavers would be useful. How’s that work?? Scotland btw.

Next thing is to see if I can get an off-loader knee brace off knee physio (NHS) as the walking stick they gave me is too painful for my knackered wrists. As per the OP I really am falling apart at only 54 :'(

A question re Bluetooth to TV…

If I connected Bluetooth hearing aids to the TV would it stop anyone else hearing the TV? Like when you Bluetooth headphones/speakers to a digital radio/phone no sound comes out the radio/phone?

Our current TV doesn’t have Bluetooth anyway, but it would be potentially good for when I’m up stupid early and want to watch it with out disturbing others,  but not so good during watching with my wife if she couldn’t hear it (but it wouldn’t need to be so loud for her). I can’t hear properly/hardly when I’m eating so to have it loud if we decide to eat while watching something and it would potentially save this issue too I hope.

The hospital is a good way away so ‘transferring’ to specsavers would be useful. How’s that work?? Scotland btw.

You will have a local audiology clinic.

For Stirling, all the big assessments (CT scans etc) and ops are done at Forth Valley Hospital.

For hearing aids, Thump gets them fitted and tuned at the audiology clinic at the local community hospital (in Stirling). They have a daily drop in clinic ,run in part by volunteers, so if he snaps a tube or something he can cycle up and get sorted the next morning.

Tuning a new hearing aid is done at the audiology clinic too, It’s only the fine tuning that is done with the phone app.

Yeh the clinic I’m going to is still 20 miles away with no bus from where I am and due OSA I’m not currently allowed to drive, so it’s half a day off for my wife to take me.

Anyway, just remembered last night that our specsavers doesn’t do NHS hearing aids, when I had my initial appointment with them  they were very clear that any hearing aids from them would have to be a private purchase. Not sure if that’s a Scotland limitations or just our area.

It’s not a “proper” hearing aid, but I thought I’d drop this link here – like many I find conversations in noisy environments increasingly hard to follow, which is of course a PITA at times. Apple has a (relatively) cheap solution, having got FDA approval for using their latest AirPods Pro as a hearing aid:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/12/24241960/apple-airpods-pro-2-otc-hearing-aid-health-industry

Limitations: shorter battery life, it’s a bit more obvious you’re wearing them – and people might think you’re just being rude and listening to music instead. I’m not sure if the technology is as advanced. But as an intermediate step they could be of interest to some people. They’ve certainly got me considering a move to iOS :)

That apple aid does  sound cool, but as someone who uses cheap brand android smartphone that cost £100 five years ago I’d not be moving to i$$$

There are apps that allow you to use Shox bone-conducting headphones as hearing aids too.

Not ideal but a useful emergency tool when your hearing aid is currently in a jeans’ pocket in the washing machine….

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On the plus side apparently I can get cheap train travel as Thump’s carer (as he’s hearing impaired). Who’d be looking after who is anyone’s guess.  :)

That apple aid does  sound cool, but as someone who uses cheap brand android smartphone that cost £100 five years ago I’d not be moving to i$$$

Definitely – you obviously do need an iPhone to use them, and iPhones are premium products with prices to match. I don’t doubt Samsung and Google will be quick to bring this to Android, and from there hopefully the technology will filter down to cheaper models.

Top tip. Take them off before you get in the bath.