Hearing Loss

[oldcolner]

I wonder how many of us has hearing loss,
Age-related hearing loss (or presbycusis) is the gradual loss of hearing in both ears. It's a common problem linked to aging. One in 3 adults over age 65 has hearing loss. Men have it more than women. Because of the gradual change in hearing, some people are not aware of the change at first.

I was told I lived in a very quiet world by my audiologist and hearing aids have helped but I still don’t hear birdsong, the washing machine beep, the burglar alarm warning noise or my wife especially when she talks in the car or doesn’t look at me. (Sometimes a blessing!)
I think it goes back to my youth, lots of ear infections, then going to the Imperial in Nelson when al you heard were girls screams, or working in a cotton mill or football matches? I had a great aunt who went totally deaf overnight and my mother heard nothing without her hearing aid.
I hear 5% of what’s said in higher frequencies so you can’t resurrect the dead. I hear vowels but not consonants leading to mishearing p for b and vice versa struggle with 2 or 3. Mumbles and quiet talkers are a nightmare and when any whispers I can’t make it out.
Just wondered if there were more like me ( with deafness) out there.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Pardon?

The Child Bride says I only hear what I want to hear - she's dead right!

On a serious note do earing aids actually work for you OC? My father-in-law has no end of bother with his.

[oldcolner]

Pardon?

The Child Bride says I only hear what I want to hear - she's dead right!

On a serious note do earing aids actually work for you OC? My father-in-law has no end of bother with his.

I say that a lot BT and said the same to my wife and daughters.
Hearings work for me in quiet environments, they are not so good in a strong wind as they whistle or in a room with a lot of people as everything is amplified, or the battery fails!
Older ones used to whistle if you put your hand over your ear. My ones are not obvious as I wear glasses and the tiny aid looks like the end of them, they seem reliable provided you clear wax from the shell cover and don’t let it get into the speaker, that’s the most common problem with them. I got mine at Boots but they were £2k each luckily a 2 for 1 offer helped.

[barrie_burn]

I have had trouble since the age of 4 or 5.I was on the point of swimming when the Dr told my parents that I should not go in water.This has never changed and is the reason I can't swim and have never been able to go into the sea or a hotel swimming pool.Over the years I have had multiple operations,I have false eardrums and for years I was on friendly terms with the senior ENT consultant at the University Hospital of Wales.I have hearing aids which I sometimes use but all my friends and relatives know I'm deaf so they speak up.The radio I can hear if it is turned up but if my wife is listening I can hear a sound but not make out the words.I rely on my wife to hear the phone and after she has gone to bed I wear headphones if I want to watch TV.

Face masks are a nightmare for me,I have no chance of hearing what someone says behind a mask.Fortunately I have good eyesight so I notice things but I only hear what I want to hear or so my wife says,very useful

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Honestly barrie, I have never heard of false eardrums. Sound bloody awful.

[sinkov]

My hearing has definitely gone worse over the years, but it's not really a major problem. I can still hear OK, but I often can't tell exactly what people are saying, it sounds indistict, especially watching films on TV. Often I have to rerun a film back and then cup my ears with my hands and this makes it clearer, but obviously this isn't an option in the pub or a restaurant, I just have to sit there and try as best I can to understand what's being said, often without much success. But if this makes me keep my mouth shut and not offer an opinion, maybe that's not a bad thing.

[Supersub6]

I have the musicians affliction ---tinnitus, which is not pleasant but something that you learn to live with.
In addition, I picked up an ear infection in Cyprus in the 1980s and this has led up to the production of a lot of ear wax. It used to be no problem because they use to syringe my ears regualrly at the GPs, however, a few years ago they stopped doing this because they were afraid of damaging my eardrums and me suing them.
You can have it done privately, however, this has not been the case since the virus reared it head so -----pardon?

[oldcolner]

I have had trouble since the age of 4 or 5.I was on the point of swimming when the Dr told my parents that I should not go in water.This has never changed and is the reason I can't swim and have never been able to go into the sea or a hotel swimming pool.Over the years I have had multiple operations,I have false eardrums and for years I was on friendly terms with the senior ENT consultant at the University Hospital of Wales.I have hearing aids which I sometimes use but all my friends and relatives know I'm deaf so they speak up.The radio I can hear if it is turned up but if my wife is listening I can hear a sound but not make out the words.I rely on my wife to hear the phone and after she has gone to bed I wear headphones if I want to watch TV.

Face masks are a nightmare for me,I have no chance of hearing what someone says behind a mask.Fortunately I have good eyesight so I notice things but I only hear what I want to hear or so my wife says,very useful

Did you get ear infections as a child, I did and think my eardrum may have burst but healed over. Don’t hear much of earache these days. That must have been hard at school and in meetings. I struggled at University lectures with 90 others there, then lectured a lot and struggled when folk asked questions also attended lots of meetings some very big with similar problems.
Somehow I never realised how bad I was till going to Boots on my wife’s request 10 years ago. Just think of all the wrong answers I must have given!!
We’re off to France send reinforcements became we’re off to a dance send 3 and 4 pence in WW1 trenches - no wonder with all the shell fire!!
Lol

[barrie_burn]

Honestly barrie, I have never heard of false eardrums. Sound bloody awful.

Could be worse,think that's the only bit that's false.

[alfinyalcabo]

My hearing has definitely gone worse over the years, but it's not really a major problem. I can still hear OK, but I often can't tell exactly what people are saying, it sounds indistict, especially watching films on TV. Often I have to rerun a film back and then cup my ears with my hands and this makes it clearer, but obviously this isn't an option in the pub or a restaurant, I just have to sit there and try as best I can to understand what's being said, often without much success. But if this makes me keep my mouth shut and not offer an opinion, maybe that's not a bad thing.

Mines the same Sinky. Nothing wrong with the hearing it's just the base what needs turning down and the treble turning up to make the voices clearer. I'm sure these programmes are made in some silly sound mode.