New to hearing aids. Phonak M

Me too! I got mine (Specsavers NHS) about 3 weeks ago. I can see that some people are advising just keeping them in all day to get used to them faster, which does make sense. But I struggled with that, so just put them in every day but for about half the day. I found it all a struggle in the first couple of weeks - even putting them in was a struggle! Week 3 and things are going much better, both in terms of putting them in and getting used to them. The echoey sound of my own voice is going away now and I can definitely hear much better. One problem still to go away is the sound of my own hair on the hearing aids! Has anyone else had this or is it just me? Just keep going Katyj, I think it takes a bit of time. I was told my brain will train itself to adapt to new sounds but could take at least a couple of months.

I have tinnitus and find HA do help as well as general hearing. It’s not perfect, I still don’t catch everything people say and I don’t understand the buttons, but they certainly make life easier when you are used to them.

My DH refused to have anything to do with them and after that frustrating experience, I’m willing to put up with the little trouble it takes.

I’ve had my NHS Bluetooth hearing aids for about 18months and wouldn’t be without them. They do seem to help with the tinnitus. Just stick with it and things settle down. Now need to persuade DH to get on with getting some

Curlycat

Me too! I got mine (Specsavers NHS) about 3 weeks ago. I can see that some people are advising just keeping them in all day to get used to them faster, which does make sense. But I struggled with that, so just put them in every day but for about half the day. I found it all a struggle in the first couple of weeks - even putting them in was a struggle! Week 3 and things are going much better, both in terms of putting them in and getting used to them. The echoey sound of my own voice is going away now and I can definitely hear much better. One problem still to go away is the sound of my own hair on the hearing aids! Has anyone else had this or is it just me? Just keep going Katyj, I think it takes a bit of time. I was told my brain will train itself to adapt to new sounds but could take at least a couple of months.

Yes I can hear my hair too as well as my very loud own voice, I feel as if I’m shouting but DH says not. Also when outside the hair thing is more of a problem because the wind moves your hair about
I understand the struggle to put them in, I have very small ear canals and have to really push them down. That’s why I’m leaving them in, can’t be bothered. 😳

My Specsavers NHS are not Bluetooth and my left aid has died for the second time. Thank goodness for subtitles on TV.

I have no idea if my new ones are or not.

I will let you all know how I get on after I pick up the £2K ones soon.

If you can 'hear your hair' you have the volume turned up too high. They aren't a miracle cure and you won't get your hearing back but they do help - if you persevere.
I've had mine for some time and have just persuaded DH to get some.
His are much more sophisticated than mine, they are rechargeable and connected to his phone too. All courtesy of the NHS.
But he won't wear them all the time Sonia struggling.

I don't know where Sonia came from! Should have used the Preview function.

I have NHs aids which I wear all day, every day. It took me a while to accommodate them but now OK. My advice is to establish a good relationship with the audiologist who fitted your aids. They should then be able to help you with any problems. Mine were fitted via the NHS through a "private" company, (in our area it's not SpecSavers) and I find the audiologist helpful.

Just home from having the private Specsavers fitted. Much more comfortable, hardly know they are in. A fair bit of fiddling to be done on the computer but now the sound is as good as it gets.

Using my phone I can adjust the direction so I can only eg speak to the person in front of me in a restaurant without hearing any other noise.

I doubt if I will have to adjust either aid but if I adjust one the other automatically does it.

I no longer have to clean the inside of the tubes, only wipe using a soft brush over the piece when it comes out of my ear before recharging.

I have to hold the phone above my ear.

In a couple of weeks I will make an appointment to be connected to Bluetooth. The audiologist did not want to overload me today!

I have discovered I have a working radio in my car and not a muffled sound.

I cannot hear my hair crackling and the flow of water in my ears has stopped. These are seriously good and do not feel I have much in my ears.

In a couple of weeks time

My main problem is accomodating my reading glasses which I tend to use perched halfway down my nose so that I can read/do crosswords/watch tv. I’m constantly having to fiddle with them now and they never seem to sit right, often slipping off completely!

Charleygirl5

Just home from having the private Specsavers fitted. Much more comfortable, hardly know they are in. A fair bit of fiddling to be done on the computer but now the sound is as good as it gets.

Using my phone I can adjust the direction so I can only eg speak to the person in front of me in a restaurant without hearing any other noise.

I doubt if I will have to adjust either aid but if I adjust one the other automatically does it.

I no longer have to clean the inside of the tubes, only wipe using a soft brush over the piece when it comes out of my ear before recharging.

I have to hold the phone above my ear.

In a couple of weeks I will make an appointment to be connected to Bluetooth. The audiologist did not want to overload me today!

I have discovered I have a working radio in my car and not a muffled sound.

I cannot hear my hair crackling and the flow of water in my ears has stopped. These are seriously good and do not feel I have much in my ears.

In a couple of weeks time

Charley girl. That all seems very positive, what make are they ? Are they smaller tubes than the NHS ones ?
The problem I’m having today is I don’t know how far to push the tubes down into my ears because I have very small canals, too far and it feels very full if I pull it out a bit the sound isn’t as good. Their itchy today too 😵‍💫

It appears to be the same size it is the length of the tubing which seems to be shorter and feels as though over time it may break. I watched the Scotland match and I did not have to adjust anything, I am so thankful.

A friend is popping around for coffee tomorrow. We met last Friday in a restaurant and I heard almost nothing so tomorrow should be back to normal.

I have had NHS hearing aids for 20 years (I am 70 now). Never had any real problems. Couldn't manage without them.

Two years ago I was issued a pair to connect to Blue Tooth. This was a game changer, as now when I receive a call on my mobile it goes directly to the Aids. No need now to hold the phone above my ear (couldn't hear the call very well anyway) If I adjust the volume on one it automatically adjusts the other.

Mum has both private and NHS, and there is not a lot of difference between them. The private ones cost 4K!

My family were so fed up with my turning up the TV volume that they made an appointment for me at Boots. I knew that my left ear was very deaf but thought I could manage with just one good ear which turned out to be not quite as good as I thought. I've had my bluetooth aids for 18 months now. Yes, they were expensive (I got a lot of Boots Advantage points!) but not £4K. I can answer the phone by pressing the top of the transmitter behind my ear and adjust the settings for different situations - I find the 'restaurant' setting particularly useful. And, unlike older types of aids, they aren't dependent on fiddly little batteries, but spend the night re-charging in their little box.

I thought hearing aids would be a doddle after false teeth but as other posters have rightly said they need perseverance.

Katyj my latest hearing aids are Specsavers Advance. I was told if one has itchy ears it could mean excess wax.

I can hear Alexa today but it will be interesting to see if there is a marked difference when a friend pops in for coffee shortly.

I was also told to push mine in as far as possible. I also have narrow canals.

I could watch TV last night for the first time in months without adjusting anything. I am partially sighted which is extra helpful.

Charylgirl Thank you for your reply. I’m pleased you’re doing well with your new aids it’s so important for you to be able to hear well. Hope you have a successful coffee morning.
I’m having a better day today, ears less itchy, thank goodness. Had my ears vacuumed before I had my aids fitted. If I push my aids in as far as possible it seems to cause a vacuum then I can’t hear as well, if I pull them back out a little it’s much better, maybe that’s because of narrow canals. Anyway must keep going. They are helping with everything so far so good 🤞

I have not the faintest idea what Bluetooth is. It would be much easier to adjust my hearing aids than wave my iPad at them (or whatever you have to do) Could someone explain very simply, please?

Watermeadow Bluetooth is where you can connect a Bluetooth enabled appliance eg hearing aids, phones, tablets etc remotely without wires or plugs. If using your phone and want to connect them to your hearing aids, first they have to have to be Bluetooth enabled.
Then you have to go to settings on your phone turn on Bluetooth and pair it with your hearing aids it does this automatically.
I’m not very good at explaining. I hope you can manage it, is their someone that could help you ?
The hospital that fitted my hearing aids set it up for me.

Specsavers appear to be the cheapest, a fiver under £2K. My friend also paid £4K for hers. The audiologist set up my phone because it is beyond me for me to adjust face to face in a restaurant, cancelling out all outside noise.

Apparently I will get mine set to Bluetooth in a couple of weeks. It will have to be done for me because technology passed me by.

I leave them to recharge for as long as possible- for me, I have my life returned.

That’s brilliant news Charleygirl. I’m slowly getting used to mine, not doing too bad considering it’s my first time. I love that they connect to my phone, only problem is I have to connect them again if I swap to my iPad. It’s very much trial and error.

I have ordinary NHS hearing aids and they are a great help but of course nothing is perfect and I feel my hearing is deteriorating as I get older. When I heard about Bluetooth ones from friends who had them I asked the audiologist about getting mine upgraded but was told it wasn’t possible.

I have had a domestic loop system installed on my TV and it has made a huge difference, I don’t need subtitles anymore which is wonderful, especially for watching older programmes which can’t have subtitles.

I have had NHS Oticon Bluetooth H/Aids for nearly 4 years. Couldn't and won't do without them. There is a growing body of research evidence that even minor uncorrected hearing loss hastens dementia, probably through lack of communication (the same is apparently true of vision). Not sure why anyone pays £4k for private h/aids, other than waiting list to be seen! The answer to getting used to them is just to wear them - your brain will accommodate, just like getting new specs such as varifocals or bifocals. Just persist - took me a week. Not so big an ask for the benefit, is it?

I’ve had mine for about 6 months and wear them when I go out, but not so much in the house, unless I’m listening to an audio book or a radio play. (I love that I can do this while pottering around the house or garden!) It did take a while to get used to them and the way your head feels like it’s made of paper when you scratch it! I think they have helped a lot when out , but hate the way glasses clinking , plates clattering, crisp packets rustling are all amplified!

Also agree - put them in and leave them all day. Remove them if the dentist is going to drill. Don’t give up with Bluetooth.