Ideas,
Comments,
Suggestions



May, 1997

So far from the emails I have been getting, I would strongly recommend checking out the local Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center in your area to get information and feedback on certain types of hearing aids. It is better to be able to relate to others this way and get ideas. Again, please treat your hearing aid like you would buy a car. You would ask your friends, people you know and do research. You would not just buy a car off the lot, so why would you with a hearing aid. Ask your dealer, doctor and audiologist.


April, 1997

To extend your current hearing aid, try using your old one when doing some outdoor activities, such as camping, biking, hiking and similar action. This way you save wear on your current hearing aid.

While at home, if you wish to take a break from wearing your hearing aid all day, take it out and place it by the phone. So you do not have to run around looking for your aid while trying to get your phone. What I do alot when answering the phone is say "Just a minute" and put on my aid. What I do is set the hearing aid beside the telephone and slide the battery holder open so you do not waste it. For parents of a child who is hard of hearing, let the child take their hearing aid off for awhile to give themselves a rest or break. Just like wearing glasses, it gets tiring wearing hearing aid all day.

Watch your neck! Do not look like E.T.! After years of forcing my neck forward to hear better, I am going to a chiropractor for that reason now. I'm lucky as it could have been worst. To hear the person, step forward abit or ask them to speak up louder. Do not tilt your neck forward to try to hear your friends. By all means tell your friends a hearing aid does not make you hear as well as them, just helps you hear better. Slowly overcome your shyiness one step at a time. Give them a pamphlet about hearing if you wish.

Take an active role in dealing with your hearing dealers. I remember the one hearing dealer who was the best I ever had. Why? He was hard of hearing too! So in talking with your dealers do take an active role as they are not hard of hearing and cannot understand what you are going through. All they did is take a certified course and sell hearing aids. There are some doctors who do not personalize their services with their clients, so the same goes with hearing aid dealers. If you are not happy find another one. Do not let them walk all over you. I was so upset my hearing dealer would not listen to me when I said I was not interested in an aid for my left ear. Guess they need a hearing aid, eh? I'm sure I could see $ signs in their eyes sometimes. So by all means ask around and friends before going to a dealer so you are informed. Also checking on this web site and other links might help you.

Check around for a nice container for your aid. I have a nice one since I was a kid and still use it. I have a small pouch that I use for carrying my aid around if needed. By all means, use the case that came with your hearing aid for carrying around when you wish to take a break from wearing your aid.

As for the ear mold, make sure there is a second tube to allow the air to go through to equalize the pressure of your earmold. Check out the page for the best earmolds.

Batteries are the worst thing to buy! It seems I could never find a good one. Sometimes I do but often after awhile they discontinue them. Makes you wonder! What ever happened to rechargable batteries? I would love to use them to save trouble and money! Today we have to use air batteries. They are not bad depending on the user. So far I have had good success. My first time experience with them was not good.

When encountering a noisy situation, by all means turn off your hearing aid. Save batteries! Save money! Again carry the case with you so you can use it if needed.

For TV, when you buy a new one, get one with closed captioning. This takes pressure off of trying to hear, especially when watching shows like Jeporady. I could never hear the questions from the contestants. Another way is to plug the TV into the aux of the stereo so you can use head phones. This is nice so you can watch TV and turn the speakers off. Then only you hear the TV/Stereo and not disturb anyone. But remember to turn down the volume when done! This is much cheaper than the hearing attachments those Hearing Dealers tries to sell you. One tried to sell me a piece of wire for $25! Yikes!



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