Hearing Assistance

[terisandler]

I have appointments tomorrow afternoon with the audiologist and otologist to explore hearing aids.  I'm thinking BAHA, Cros, and Sound Bite.  The Sound Bite rep was given my insurance information ahead of time to see about coverage.  I am thinking the BAHA might be covered, not sure about the Cros.  Any input about these options?  I have heard from some who really like the BAHA but not too much about the others.  Thanks!

[terisandler]

Had my appointment with the audiologist this afternoon.  Since I still have some hearing in my AN ear I am not a candidate for BAHA or Sound Bite.  Going to try a BiCros system and see if it works for me.  Not sure what options are left if I don't like it... 

[nftwoed]

Hi; There is 'Transear'. I'm unsure if your AN has been treated and how severe ( or, even if ) the loss is in your good ear? No loss, and you should be fitted with a straight cros, it seems. If that's your case, you may wish to ask your Aud.

[arizonajack]

I still have some hearing in my AN ear

How much hearing do you have left in your AN ear?

If it's serviceable by amplification, a pair of Phonak Audeos might work.

If it's not serviceable, then the bicros is a potential solution.

My AN side hearing was 90% gone when I got my bicros and 100% gone by the time I had my GK.

You can learn more about Phonak's equipment and features on the website:

http://www.phonak.com/us/b2c/en/products/hearing_instruments/cros/overview.html

[terisandler]

Thanks, Jack.  Not sure exactly how much hearing is left in the AN ear but my word recognition is down to 12% from 40% prior to CK in May.  My otologist thinks some may come back.  The other ear has hearing loss in the high frequency range, which is the reason for BiCros.

[arizonajack]

Thanks, Jack.  Not sure exactly how much hearing is left in the AN ear but my word recognition is down to 12% from 40% prior to CK in May.  My otologist thinks some may come back.  The other ear has hearing loss in the high frequency range, which is the reason for BiCros.

My word recognition on the AN side was Zero in Feb 2012. All I could hear were faint, tinny, far off sounds. By Oct 2012 when I had my second MRI the hearing on that side was totally gone and my tumor was smaller than yours.

One of our members, PaulW, has had significant hearing recovery after CK but I think his hearing loss was only slight by the time he had CK.

I guess it's kind of a toss up. All you can do is wait and see.

Meantime, Bicros (or the like) is a good bet.

[terisandler]

Not really counting on hearing returning so if any does, it will be a bonus.  I haven't been able to hear well out of my right (AN) ear in years.  Hoping my left ear maintains status quo!   

[arizonajack]

  Hoping my left ear maintains status quo!   

Same here.

I also have high frequency deficit in my good ear. That part has remained unchanged but the lower frequency .5K to 1K dropped by about 5 db from 2012 to 2013.

I don't notice the difference but I'm going to get audiograms annually from now on just to keep track. Plus, those annual visits give me an opportunity to have the audiologist adjust the BiCros programming and see if there is any new tech available for them.

If you get the Phonak equipment make sure you get the MyPilot remote control. When I first got my hearing aids the only option was volume control and I had to do that by pushing a button on the hearing aid. One side raised it, the other side lowered it. Drove me nuts until I found out about the MyPilot on Phonak's website and had my audiologist order me one. It's very versatile and you can switch from a variety of programs depending on the circumstances.

http://www.phonak.com/us/b2c/en/products/accessories/mypilot/overview.html

A lot of vendors will make you a package deal and include the MyPilot at a discount.

[james e]

"Explore" sounds like a good decision. I had translab and knew I would be SSD, so a BAHA was in my future. It is an excellent product. It might be the right idea to explore hearing devices, and then wait for some difference in your current hearing. It might be an error to pour a lot of money or insurance coverage into a hearing device an have your hearing change in your AN ear. I am not in your shoes, and I know you are anxious to hear well again, but I just thought I would throw in my opinion.

Jay has a BAHA on his AN ear and he has some hearing there. Maybe he can pop in here and give you some advice.

James

[terisandler]

I picked up my BiCROS an hour ago.  So far, so good!

[arizonajack]

I picked up my BiCROS an hour ago.  So far, so good!

Did you get the MyPilot remote control?

[terisandler]

No remote.  The Aida are supposed to automatically adjust.  We'll see.  I am test driving for 30 days....

[Petrone]

Hi Teri,

Please let us know how you feel about the BICROS. I'm thinking of trying it myself. 

Jack, your experience with BICROS has been positive, yes? 

Thanks,
Petrone

[arizonajack]

No remote.  The Aida are supposed to automatically adjust.  We'll see.  I am test driving for 30 days....

Make sure you test drive it frequently in noisy restaurants and other noisy environments.

[arizonajack]

Jack, your experience with BICROS has been positive, yes? 

For the most part, yes.

I still have some issues in noisy restaurants and other noisy environments but I don't know of any hearing aid that completely cures that.

The MyPilot remote and the different noise reduction programs gives some flexibility in fine tuning the equipment depending on the noise scenarios. The automatic (default) setting just doesn't cut it.

Suggestion: If you wear eyeglasses look into getting the inside the ear equipment instead of the behind the ear equipment.

As small as the hearing aids are my glasses sit on top of the hearing aids so the glasses are always in danger of sliding off.