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QUESTION
My mother has been issued with an NHS hearing aid but does not use it.
She has recently become withdrawn and seems quiet. We find it difficult
to communicate with her. I think she needs some kind of support. What
do you suggest?
ANSWER
There are a number of options. Probably the first thing to do is enquire
at the Audiology dept where the aid was issued for more support – many
have trained hearing therapists specifically for this task. You could
talk to the many charitable institutions that help [some are listed on
this site]. Alternatively it might be worth accompanying her to an independent
hearing aid audiologist who would be able to advise and demonstrate if
her hearing could be improved by better quality instruments. It is important
to ensure that a purchase of private aids is accompanied by a planned
rehabilitation programme and a refund option.
QUESTION
I am a young person who feels self conscious about my hearing aid and
being hearing impaired. I have stopped socialising with my hearing friends
because they don't know how to communicate with me. How can you help me?
ANSWER
Firstly if you do not have a copy of a current audiogram [within the last
2 months] you would need a hearing test. This would allow an audiologist
to assess your amplification needs who would then be able to advise if
a more discreet hearing aid would be available. If this was possible you
would generally need to visit a private hearing aid specialist as the
NHS is rarely able to prescribe small aids free of charge, however there
a funding schemes available to assist with up to 80% of the cost.
It
would also help if you could persuade your hearing friends to visit a
hearing practice with you to gain I=sight into your particular problems.
Many of the better full-time independent practices have programs that
demonstrate to hearing people some of the difficulties you face.
QUESTION
Why do people tell me my TV is too loud?
Why
do people mumble more than they used to.
Why
do I keep asking people to repeat, especially women and young children?
You
notice increased difficulty following conversations in groups and noisy
places.
Family
and friends comment on your inability to hear.
ANSWER
Often because the TV is much louder than you perceive. You are probably
turning it up in an effort to understand clearly what the actors and presenters
are saying.
People
appear to mumble and you need it to be repeated when you have acquired
a degree of high frequency hearing loss, which affects your ability to
hear many of the consonants in speech, which in turn defines the clarity
of speech. This is especially noticeable when in a noisy environment,
which masks the speech, you are trying to hear. These symptoms are usually
more noticeable to others because if you don’t hear something how would
you know you’ve missed it?
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