Originally Posted by Andy_Jen

I really am going to go to bed after this

I know what you mean about hearing loss not being really understood... particularly the comparison to vision. The organ of hearing is wonderously complex and the processing required to 'hear' something is awesome (in the UK usage of the word). Once the hair cells are damaged and particularly when your hearing loss becomes severe or profound the quality of the sound you hear can vary incredibly. And no hearing aid, no matter how expensive or techinical can 'fix' it. All hearing aids, from basic to grande, have to work with the hearing system in its damaged state. When people compare hearing to vision it's not a good represntation as you pointed out. Other people can close their eyes and imagine what it would be like not to see.... people cannot alter their sensitivity of hearing at selected pitches and therefore the empathy is harder to generate.

I really wish you the best of luck and let's hope the medical requests / PRs come quickly for all of us

Jen

Originally Posted by batty-x-ray

thanks for the info there HWPs - is that per aid or for both ears??

maybe if you u can get yours reprogrammed they may suit better? its an art form juggling the settings.

Originally Posted by Rete

You must remember there is an Ontario in the US as well. It is in California.

Originally Posted by batty-x-ray

so as for canada its a risk trying to move and get a job when you are partilly deaf- i would find it hard to get one here, but i do find that canadians are more helpful and dont get embarrassed at being asked to repeat themselves, or to rephrase.

Originally Posted by Andy_Jen

people cannot alter their sensitivity of hearing at selected pitches and therefore the empathy is harder to generate.

Originally Posted by Rete

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Batty. I often meet up with the looks, like today, when I'm unable to hear. For instance, myself and another legal secretary share a cubby. Inbetween us is the printer. Well two of the attorneys, the techonology head and the other secretary were chatting up a storm and my back was to the phone. I never heard it ring and one of the attys pointed it out to me but by that time it had gone to voicemail. I watched the facial expressions between both attys and the secy.

Originally Posted by hot wasabi peas

People generally are softer-spoken here in England than in Canada and it can make it very difficult for me to hear. Plus many people here seem very reluctant to speak a little louder (embarrassment?) so I can hear them which has, for me, meant not getting to know a few people that I would have liked to.

Originally Posted by Andy_Jen

I really am going to go to bed after this

I understand where you're coming from. And there are a number of people with not brilliant experiences of NHS hearing aids and audiology departments. But there have been a lot of improvements in the past few years. The NHS modernisation programme for hearing aids has been doing great things for what audiology services can provide, however there can still be quite a bit of variation in departments... some have embraced the changes to digital and some have found it more challenging. And some audiologists / departments have more experience fitting the digital aids than others. I work solely in the NHS and I have the same or very similar computer programme that allows me to show the fitting range of all the different hearing aids overlapped with the client's audiogram. The NHS does have the advanage of bulk buying to allow us to reduce the price to the department (therefore the taxpayer) of the individual hearing aids. For instance, I can get a top of the range, high-powered, third-generation digital BTE hearing aid for less than £200. Now, I'll leave you to make your own decisions regarding how much you think the NHS could actually get off the trade price of a hearing aid and compare it to the price you're being quoted. Saying that, I'll quickly note that I don't have the trade price for the Perseo at my fingertips, although I could find out if it would help you.

I know what you mean about hearing loss not being really understood... particularly the comparison to vision. The organ of hearing is wonderously complex and the processing required to 'hear' something is awesome (in the UK usage of the word). Once the hair cells are damaged and particularly when your hearing loss becomes severe or profound the quality of the sound you hear can vary incredibly. And no hearing aid, no matter how expensive or techinical can 'fix' it. All hearing aids, from basic to grande, have to work with the hearing system in its damaged state. When people compare hearing to vision it's not a good represntation as you pointed out. Other people can close their eyes and imagine what it would be like not to see.... people cannot alter their sensitivity of hearing at selected pitches and therefore the empathy is harder to generate.

I really wish you the best of luck and let's hope the medical requests / PRs come quickly for all of us

Jen

Originally Posted by Rete

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Batty. I often meet up with the looks, like today, when I'm unable to hear. For instance, myself and another legal secretary share a cubby. Inbetween us is the printer. Well two of the attorneys, the techonology head and the other secretary were chatting up a storm and my back was to the phone. I never heard it ring and one of the attys pointed it out to me but by that time it had gone to voicemail. I watched the facial expressions between both attys and the secy.

If only they were to realize that most times I would rather have lost the use of my legs than my hearing. I miss so much in life. The songs of birds, of water in a foundation, a child's little voice, and my classical music. It is so frustrating to be so hard of hearing and no one with normal hearing understands what it is like.

I wish you luck in the job hunt. Perhaps Canada will be easier than it is here in the States. Since I'm only 8 years from retirement, I am trying my damnest not to lose this job unless I'm let go because of the hearing loss and then I will sue. In fact the atty who made the face was the one who wanted to have me fired three years ago. I have the e-mails and rebuttals to him. If only he would, then I would not have to worry about the cost of a hearing aid or holding down a job.

Andy, thank you for contributing to the discussion. It was informative and enlightening. BTW I am looking at Oticon as their reputation is excellent and I am waiting on a small inheritance which should cover the cost retail for me.

Night
Rete

Originally Posted by hot wasabi peas

And there's a California in Ontario (I think).

Originally Posted by ClareBC

This is one of those subjects where, for us, Canada has been the right place to move to.

My eldest child, who passed two hearing tests in England BTW, is severely deaf in one ear, but fortunately only mildly deaf in the other.

In England the hearing aids and batteries would be free. Mind you, as his hearing challenges were not picked up in Blightly that is a bit moot.

His one aid here cost $1300. It is by Oticon. With that I have 3 years insurance. It covers full replacement (up to 3 times I believe). However, I have extended medical and they picked up 70% of the cost.

I am thrilled to bits with the hearing clinic in our home city. My child has a speech therapist (who is also a qualified teacher) to to his school once a week. I get regular reports on his progress. The school has bought speakers for his class and a microlink for the gym (for assemblies).

Now, if anyone can pass on any tips to make him turn the darn thing on (he is at the "I don't need it anymore" stage) .

Clare

Originally Posted by hot wasabi peas

... and they're louder and speak slower!

To be honest, my hearing problem is one of the reasons I'm returning to Canada. Though I know I am hard of hearing, it is far less noticable to me (and other people) in Canada than it is here in England. In fact, I didn't even realize the extent of my hearing loss until I moved here. In Canada, my difficulty in hearing things is an irritation, in England it's a problem that affects me.

People generally are softer-spoken here in England than in Canada and it can make it very difficult for me to hear. Plus many people here seem very reluctant to speak a little louder (embarrassment?) so I can hear them which has, for me, meant not getting to know a few people that I would have liked to.

Originally Posted by hot wasabi peas

Very good point!

A few years ago, I once found (and had a link to) a website that had audio files of what various things sound like to people with various types of hearing loss. I had a mishap with my hard drive and lost it but it did help friends of mine who listened to some of the files, get a sense of how I hear and what they could do if they wanted to be heard by me (better). I would love to find that site or similar again, as I found it very useful.