This isn’t something I expected to write about, or perhaps not in my fifties anyway, but earlier this year I took myself off for a hearing test and came out with a recommendation for hearing aids. It wasn’t a complete shock to me as I’d taken an online test before booking the appointment, and quite honestly I’d known that I was struggling to hear for a while, as I’d regularly ask MOH to repeat what he’d said, and even then I wasn’t sure all of the time.
The catalyst (pun not intended) was at a sewing group meeting when someone shared her sad cat news, and I knew it took that second too long for the news to register and for my face and speech to react. Exactly.
I was about to discover that there’s a whole host of different types of hearing aids. The type recommended for my hearing loss was RIC, or Receiver-in-Canal which has a microphone behind the ear and delivers sound close to the ear drum. Unfortunately my local NHS trust doesn’t offer their services through independent suppliers, so my options were to proceed independently or to seek a GP referral for the NHS route. I chose to proceed independently as once the problem, or my hearing loss had been confirmed I was keen to get a speedy resolution.
Though this meant choosing a colour for my hearing aids, which wasn’t as simple as it seemed.
The samples above were the choices available, and quite quickly both black options and the dark matte grey were ruled out. This left the most commonly ordered metallic grey, and the metallic bronze. After much umming and aching, and a second visit to the shop to make sure, I opted for the bronze which the audiologist wasn’t convinced by, but as I was the one who’d be wearing them I was happy with my choice - and still am.
Though I did end up getting a referral in the end as my hearing loss was asymmetrical but more on that in a moment.
Getting used to wearing my hearing aids
A few days later I was back to collect my hearing aids, have them adjusted for me and to have my first lesson on how to put them in, take them out and to care for them. It was a lot of information, but nothing too tricky. We were off to a concert in Nottingham that evening and the audiologist recommended not wearing them for the first time there, as the whole experience might be overwhelming! I took the advice, but realised it might be the last time I’d ask MOH “what did they say” in the speaking parts - I’m sure he’s not missing that at all!
I’ve been lucky in that I haven’t found wearing them uncomfortable at all, though I did need to check how far into my ear they should go - the advice was, so that the connecting wire isn’t loose, but it’s all been good. Initially my voice felt echo-y when I spoke, but that was explained as me learning what my voice sounded like again, and the echo-yness didn’t last. I’ve got the rechargeable sort so every evening as I take them off they go straight onto the charger ready to use the following day.
I have them paired to my phone, and now I no longer miss a phone call because I don’t hear it. The times I do miss a call is when I don’t have my hearing aids in, and of course those ever increasing spam calls which I purposely miss. I can even answer my phone by tapping my ears, well the hearing aids - who knew?!
There’s other apps that connect directly to them which are also beneficial, though there was a leaning curve and many times I asked MOH “can you hear this” during that period. But hearing the doorbell is great, being able to listen to a podcast surreptitiously - and especially while gardening is also a plus. I’m less keen on Facebook and Instagram blaring reels and stories at me full blast, but I’m using other ways to mute the sounds I don’t want.
The other thing I found useful was asking my opticians to slightly change the fitting of my prescription glasses so that they are more comfortable to wear and don’t hinder my hearing, which they did at my annual check up, but I’m sure would have done on an adhoc basis if I’d thought to have asked them.
I’m still working out the best setting for ‘hearing in noise’ and if it’s best to opt for the noise filter or speech clarity, but that may take a while to get a definitive answer for me as every situation seems different, which makes sense really. We’ve been in restaurants that have been overwhelming by the commotion so the noise filter option works as well as the speech clarity, but we’ve also been in restaurants where the table next to us has been a bit loud and so the speech clarity isn’t ideal - unless of course I’m relaying the conversation to MOH!
There’s much more functionality to them that I haven’t even broached yet, but I recently learnt there’s an airplane setting so I guess I should work out what that does and how to use it soon - and if I can’t I know I can book a follow-up appointment so the audiology team can help me!
The NHS referral
Remember I said that my hearing loss was asymmetrical, well that meant that the audiologist needed to inform my GP. A follow up call was arranged where my GP tried to ascertain if there was an obvious cause for this - could it have been down to my job, unlikely as I worked in an office, could it be excessive headphone use - also unlikely as I rarely wear headphones and then the most “country” question I’ve ever been asked, and which in London could likely have an entirely different meaning - did I shoot for a hobby?! I don’t, but I can see why it was asked where I live now and how it would be unlikely to be asked had I still been living in London!
But anyway, as there was no obvious explanation as to why my hearing loss was greater in my right ear, a referral was made. Recently I’ve had the outcome of that, following an NHS hearing test. But as ever life threw a complication in its path. I was once again at a sewing group and found myself unable to hear the group chat as we sat there hand sewing, so much so that I warned the group to nudge me if I didn’t respond.
It hadn’t improved after a few days, and after changing the filters so I went back to see the audiologist. They took a look at my good ear, and then at my troublesome one which again was the right ear and told me I’d now got fluid in the ear, which is relatively common and home remedies such as swallowing as you do when your ears pop on a plane usually helps. They confirmed it also wasn’t there a few months before which was good to know as my consultant appointment was fast approaching. Thankfully after another week or so that eased and my hearing improved, and I was less likely to be seen holding my nose and blowing to clear my ears. This was great news as after regaining my hearing, and realising what I was missing I wasn’t about to let it go again.
At the NHS hearing test they told me I had a retracted eardrum, and the consultant would explain fully at my next appointment a few days later, googling that left me none the wiser so I waited as patiently as I could for the next appointment. That’s where I learnt I have a “text book” case of Otosclerosis, which is basically where the “stirrup” bone in my ear has fused so it no longer moves, or amplifies sound vibrations. My consultant doesn’t recommend surgery, and agreed that hearing aids are the way to proceed - she also told me to consider the NHS route when I need to update my hearing aids, as the GP will be able to do a referral especially with this diagnosis. We’ll see when I get to that point, but it’s reassuring to know it’s an option.
And remember this pouch?
Well, it was made with my hearing aids in mind and that’s why I was so keen to finish it before our holiday back in May. It’s worked out perfectly for what I wanted, and there’s even space for my glasses too which means keeping everything handily together.
Reclaiming my hearing through wearing hearing aids has meant more than I ever realised, I’m not sure I knew before just how much I was missing - and I guess the best bit is that if there’s stuff I actually want to miss, then it’s easy to just switch off, or take them out!
In fact many people don’t even realise I’m wearing hearing aids, they’re that discreet - though since I’ve been wearing mine I’ve noticed many more people, of all ages, also wearing hearing aids which given that almost six out of ten people in the UK live with hearing loss isn’t surprising. It’s also one of those health things that people are more likely to ignore - often leaving it between seven and ten years before seeking help, which is crazy when you think of it as none of us would leave it that long before getting say an eye test. There’s research too that hearing loss impacts our lives more than we think, and the longer it’s left then clearly that impact is greater, which isn’t great for anyone.
Given my experience, which has been wholly positive, if you’re concerned about your hearing then I’d recommend getting it checked out - there’s discreet ways of doing this, with many independent providers offering online tests and free no-commitment appointments, I mean what have you got to lose?
