Got my TransEar...I can hear you now!!!

[matti]

 Jean - My audiologist tells me that the 30 days is from TransEar and I did double check with TransEar and was told the same. When I first met with my audiologist she did mention 45 days, but then quickly said "oops, I forgot it was changed to 30"  She said that TransEar is the only manufacturer with a 30 day, the rest are 45 to 60. I wonder what Boppie's guarantee was?  I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you get the TransEar before your meeting!!!

Michelle - upsets me to hear what the audiologist told you about there being no help for SSD. Sad to think how many people leave her office believing that. Maybe the TransEar would be a better match for you, and hopefully the specialist will be getting on board with the company. Is this place closer to home for you?

hugs,
Cheryl

[Boppie]

I think the 30 days came from the audiologists office, but I was told via phone that TransEar would get the fit right for me regardless of the time.  Texas has a 30 day guarantee rule across the board for aids, I know that.  So I am not sure how much TransEar allowed.  I panicked and emailed Transear about rushing my kit and unit.  I mean the kit is fit in your ear canal with denture mold material.  Then the impressions are mailed to the lab at TransEar for the build.  I asked my audiologist to rush the mail.  I was sweating that 30 day deadline.  Funny thing, the final paperwork didn't get sent in for the insurance claim for a week or two after the 30 days.  I guess that doesn't matter though.  I think TransEar should extend the try-out time since the process is slow. 

I remembr the day the audiologist did my programming with a CD and cable hookup to the unit.  We had some difficulty understanding the interface on the CD.  Since it was 5:30 and we couldn't get TransEar on the phone, I agreed to go home (6 miles) and come back the next week for the program setting.  When I returned she explained that my unit was automatically programmed when she first put plugged it in and that her confusion was unwarranted.  TransEar GM told her we were adjusting the unit needlessly!  But you see, TransEar is so new to the audiologists.  That is why I think there should be some breaks on the try out time.

I wanted the aid so badly that I was willing to wait and work with the office.  A smoother and quicker transition time between assessment and fitting would be more fair and less stressful.  No hearing aid for SSD is inexpensive.  We get worried about risk and those $$$.

[Lorenzo]

Hi Cheryl (my only sister...  )! Happey new year to you too!

Did you say something that you weren't that happy with the audiologist at the California Ear Institute? I'm asking because Rick Gilbert suggested I could get something fitted there, and ass I'm going to California in November and travel a rather long distance, I wouldn't want to go to a place that doesn't necessarily give the best service.

NAother question: how does TransEar work in situations with lots of conversations going on at the same time? Right now in a group situation I can deal with maybe two conversations as a maximum. More than that, and it all gets jumbled and I can't 'hear' anything. I'm often in situations like that at work, so that would my main issue to solve with an aid. Also, lol wonder how it works with headphones? Still can't listen my iPod in stereo...   

Ciao, Lorenzo

[Boppie]

Lorenzo, As a TransEAr user I find listening to multiple conversations just as difficult as I did pre-op with my 65% hearing loss(AN side).  But the plus side is I actually hear on my deaf side.  The TransEar volume is not a full regular sound.  The quality is fine as it is digital but just not the full volume of a normal 100% hearing ear.  I believe it is common (at this time in technology) that aid users for SSD will be experiencing "summation" as a benefit.  The other plus is to have only one unit to wear and a good ear serves me well with the summation.  Stereo isn't there as you are still doing all of the pickup on one side.  I can hear the phone a bit with the aid, but I wouldn't rely on it to hear phone conversation in a busy room.

If my good ear sliips into poor hearing I will probably have to switch to a Cros aid.

[Lorenzo]

Hi, Thanks for the reply! Things are getting clearer now. Makes sense that hearing wouldn't necessarily improve in terms of recognition in noisy environments. Still only using one ear with TransEar. So, no stereo. Ok.

What do you mean with 'summation'?

Ciao, Lorenzo

[Static]

The audiologist I saw told me that the only thing for SSD is a cros.  I told her about the transear and she is supposed to look into it.  I think I'd rather use a transear than a cros so that my good ear didn't have to have something in it.  I was driving someone to an appointment, with stories I would have loved to hear and I think I only heard 3% of what she said to me   I kept having to ask her to repeat herself if she wanted a reply from me.  It really hit home that it would have been so much easier if I had some type of aid to help me.  Being deaf in my right ear and being a driver makes it difficult to hear people on that side which is where the passengers sit!  Tinnitus is extremely loud today too and I had a really noisy old car to use   I like this job but being able to hear someone when they say something to me would be nice.  Congrats on the hearing ability Cheryl.  Hope things continue to get better for ya!  Cherly, did either your or Boppie have symptoms of tinnitus and did the aid mask it at all?

[Boppie]

My tinnitus is the same since the hearing aid but I do not notice it during the wearing time for the aid.  I believe that my brain is busy processing the sound in the bone and in the good ear.  Pre-op my tinnitus only really annoyed me at bedtime and on very humid days...same now.  Post op I have acquired sound induced tinnitus on top of the hummmm.  I'd say my tinnitus is considerable but, I look at tinnitus this way...my busy brain doesn't have time for tinnitus so I'll ignore it.  It works for me!

As soon as anybody mentions the word 'tinnitus', it fires up in my head.  I know I don't imagine it.  But I can and will ignore it. 

I have considered kicking coffee but I don't want to.

[Static]

Boppie,
I used to be able to tune out the tinnitus but it seems to continually get worse.  It's raining today so it's a real HUMdinger!  The only time I can make it lessen is if I lay in bed on my good side and block out all sound so I guess you could say mine is sound induced as well.  I find that lately it has been interfering with my hearing more and more!  I go through my daily functions with housework and work so it doesn't stop me from doing things, but it is very irritating.  They can send a man to the moon but don't have a solution for ringing ears   Stuff happens, life goes on! 
Karen

[Boppie]

I know exactly what you mean about hearing in the car.  My right side is deaf and when I pick up my grandsons and strap them in the back seat I have the most trouble getting them to tell me about their day since I can't always respond or participate.  It is a bit better with my aid in my ear but the aid picks up the sounds most close and that would be the road sounds.  Six year olds are so sweet.  They know I have a hearing problem so they won't yell around me.  ;D  If I could get them to speak very loudly in the back seat, I know my aid could pick it up. 

When my husband and I ride together, he often asks me to drive so I can practice listening with the TransEar.  He and I enjoy the hearing aid the most when we are in a restaurant.  I can hear the waiters too!  Also, my aid helps a great deal in my sewing group and at club meetings when people are speaking from their seats.  I have worn my aid to church many times and find it very helpful with choir singing.  I like to go shopping with the aid in too.  It is like having my old bad 35% hearing back in my ear.  I was functioning on 'summation benefit' then, too!

I didn't know how much that "useless" hearing was worth.  That's why the expense for my aid is justifiable. 

[ixta]

For those looking for trans ear audiologists, I would go right to the source, (the webpage) call them and have them give you the name of a known transear audiologist in your state, That way, you don't have to bug other audiologists about new technology they never heard about.

Ok NORTHWESTENERS, LISTEN UP.

They referred me to Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle-a Kristina Quiket-206 223 8802
and I talked to her about it.
She just found out about transear a couple months ago from a magazine article and has one patient only.
She also told me that in a few months transear will be designing the back of the ear part, a little smaller.
I told her that I would wait a couple of months after full recovery from my AN surgery and will look into it in the spring.
Will keep you posted.

KRIsTINA QUIKET-COOL AUDIOLOGIST!

[Battyp]

You can actually pull up local vendors on their site..my closest one was 3 hours away..that was why I was bugging my audiologist to get with the program  LOL

[matti]

Static - I do have tinnitus 24/7, but do not notice it as much when wearing the TransEar. I agree with Boppie that our brains are so busy processing new info that the tinnitus sort of takes a back seat.

I also get frustrated with trying to carrry on conversations in the car. My SSD is on the left, so while driving I am OK, but as a passenger it sucks >:(    But now my TransEar does seem to help (but radio can't be on)

Lorenzo - In some noisy environments I have found that I acutally need to turn off my TransEar as there is too much sound coming through one ear for me to process, too overwhelming, but perhaps that will change as I use it more. As far as the California Ear Institute, they do have other audiologists, but currently mine seems to be the "go to" for aTransEar. I see her this monday and I am NOT leaving her office until we get this right. I have been extremely patient, but am anxious as heck to move forward.

Cheryl

[Battyp]

Cheryl let me know if I need to fly out and give you some back up!  I'll bring my pirate gear! 

[Palace]

Hello:


How frustraiting!  I will be thinking of you on Monday.  Yes, stay until they get it right for you.

Molokai dog is going in for another evaluation on Monday; two lumps on his arm at the joint area.  Talking monies, Molucca's surgery to remove a few lumps cost a few thousand dollars.  (one of her surgeries.....as, she has had some before that)  I would imagine this might be about two thousand for the littermate.  GR's get tumors or fatty tissue to be removed.  (not uncommon)

We spent about one hundred thousand dollars on our first Golden Retriever on everything in her lifetime.  (meaning her pills, toys, food, surgeries, heated dog-house, when I was working very long hours, etc.)  People don't realize how much having a pet can cost.  (especially if they are treated well over the years)  This dog (a relative to the pair we have now) lived to be almost 15 years old.  We got her at, 15 months old.  We can't afford more animals after this pair is gone.  It just cost way too much for an average person.  If you keep track of what it cost (well treated, I'm referring to) it is amazing.  (and hopefully, they live a long and healthy life)  We are getting broke now.  Oh, I haven't gotten my bill for my CK, yet.  (still don't know where I stand on that)

My thoughts are with you and yes, you have been patient.




Sincerely,



Palace

[matti]

Michelle - Can you be here on Monday at 9:30 in full pirate gear...PLEASE!!! and we'll take your car because you are the "pirate princess".

Palace - Cosmo has several lumps, some of which are fatty tumors, but he has recently developed a large mass in the shoulder area. My vet want us to bring him to the Iams center in redwood city for an MRI. That should be interesting! Some days cosmo can't turn his head to the left and now has a constant limp. Everytime I bathe him I feel more little tumors pop up. Boy can I relate to spending a fortune on pets. I can't begin to count what we spent on our first lab, as had he so many sugeries on his paws and the last year of his life, we were doing at home IV's, 5x per week, plus several different medications. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.


hugs,
Cheryl