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Best Hearing Aids?
Hello new here... my husband is in need of hearing aids, and I wondered which ones might be best? I would like to hear about your experiences with the different devices? Don't want to have to buy them twice! Thank you
Oh, also keep in mind that you have 30-90 days to try out hearing aids. He could return them for a full refund if he hated them.
Hi and welcome to the Hearing Loss community!
Do you know what kind of hearing loss he has? Hearing aids depend on the type of hearing loss. A great hearing aid for one person might be totally wrong for another person.
If he has been to an audiologist, there are some details the audiologist may have mentioned. If you know any of the following, it would be helpful:
-Central, neural, sensorineural, mixed, conductive? (perhaps presbycusis, which is age-related hearing loss?)
-How many dB at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 4000 Hz?
-One ear or both? Are they about equal?
-Did the audiologist mention a certain brand or model?
-How much can he understand without looking at the person he is talking to?
The last question is probably the most helpful to know.
If he has not been to an audiologist, you may be able to tell how much he understands by speaking while standing behind him. If he doesn't understand anything without lipreading, of course do not bother with this.
Quick test, if he is game. First quiet any background noise (turn off the TV, etc.) Stand about 6 feet behind him and have him repeat these sounds:
-mmm (like mm, tastes good)
-ahhh (like stick out your tongue and say ah)
-ssss (like a snake)
-shhh (like be quiet)
-eeee (as in eek)
-oooo (like a ghost)
Then have him repeat these words:
-pit
-book
-mat
-seat
-win
-fine
-rake
-bush
-let
-hose
Don't speak up, just say everything at a normal conversational level. Write down which sounds he didn't get right. See how many words he gets right.
I also encourage anyone making recommendations to say what kind of hearing loss they have. (ex. sensorineural profound, mixed moderate)
Hope to hear from you soon!
BC
Do you know what kind of hearing loss he has? Hearing aids depend on the type of hearing loss. A great hearing aid for one person might be totally wrong for another person.
If he has been to an audiologist, there are some details the audiologist may have mentioned. If you know any of the following, it would be helpful:
-Central, neural, sensorineural, mixed, conductive? (perhaps presbycusis, which is age-related hearing loss?)
-How many dB at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 4000 Hz?
-One ear or both? Are they about equal?
-Did the audiologist mention a certain brand or model?
-How much can he understand without looking at the person he is talking to?
The last question is probably the most helpful to know.
If he has not been to an audiologist, you may be able to tell how much he understands by speaking while standing behind him. If he doesn't understand anything without lipreading, of course do not bother with this.
Quick test, if he is game. First quiet any background noise (turn off the TV, etc.) Stand about 6 feet behind him and have him repeat these sounds:
-mmm (like mm, tastes good)
-ahhh (like stick out your tongue and say ah)
-ssss (like a snake)
-shhh (like be quiet)
-eeee (as in eek)
-oooo (like a ghost)
Then have him repeat these words:
-pit
-book
-mat
-seat
-win
-fine
-rake
-bush
-let
-hose
Don't speak up, just say everything at a normal conversational level. Write down which sounds he didn't get right. See how many words he gets right.
I also encourage anyone making recommendations to say what kind of hearing loss they have. (ex. sensorineural profound, mixed moderate)
Hope to hear from you soon!
BC
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