You know you're old when...

[UncleWede]

You put your dad's phonaks in, and can't believe what the world has done with SOUND!

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

You put your dad's phonaks in, and can't believe what the world has done with SOUND!

I bought a pair of Phonak hearing aids 6 months ago and I love them. These replaced my 6 year old Oticon Alta's. They have built-in rechargeable batteries and up to 6 Bluetooth pairings. Also, I have much control with a free app that allows me to set them for various environments such as restaurants, etc.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

You put your dad's phonaks in, and can't believe what the world has done with SOUND!

Originally Posted by 3.0L

I bought a pair of Phonak hearing aids 6 months ago and I love them. These replaced my 6 year old Oticon Alta's. They have built-in rechargeable batteries and up to 6 Bluetooth pairings. Also, I have much control with a free app that allows me to set them for various environments such as restaurants, etc.

Do these Phonaks help with tinnitus at all?

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Do these Phonaks help with tinnitus at all?

My dads seem to CAUSE it. But he just loaned them to me since he doesn't wear them much any more, after I mentioned I had been to the ENT for testing/review

Phonak wasn't even on the list when I left the office

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Do these Phonaks help with tinnitus at all?

Phonak has a free app for tinnitus. It doesn't make tinnitus go away. All it does is sort of mask it with background noise. I've had tinnitus since I was in the Army. I don't usually think about it unless someone brings up the the topic. So, I guess I've learned to "tune it out" so to speak.

I did try the various background noises that the app pipes in via Bluetooth and didn't find it to be much of an improvement. I think natural ambient "noises" work just as well.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Do these Phonaks help with tinnitus at all?

Originally Posted by 3.0L

Phonak has a free app for tinnitus. It doesn't make tinnitus go away. All it does is sort of mask it with background noise.

Generally speaking, hearings help with tinnitus by making other sounds louder and distracting one from the sound. My Siemens----errr, Signia aids have the background noise option, which I tried and detested. They also have what is called 'notch therapy', wherein the sounds right where the tinnitus is are attenuated. It's intended to de-sensitize the hearing of that frequency. I have that active on mine and believe it works, but it's enormously subjective; after all nobody can hear your tinnitus but you.

(40-something year tinnitus sufferer, 30-something year hearing aid wearer)

[M_Six]

My tinnitus is somehow tied to the range of hearing loss I have. Upper freqs, so my ears ring (or whine) all the time at a high pitch like I just came out of a rock concert. The thing about ambient noise with me is crucial because any ambient noise at all makes my ears ring louder. I often sleep with earplugs if it's raining or windy at night because that noise makes them ring louder. Same with flying. I always have to wear earplugs on a flight. I rarely watch TV except for the occasional baseball game, and those I watch with the sound muted. So drowning out the ringing with more noise is not an option.

It was once explained to me that my tinnitus is similar to the phantom pain an amputee feels, even though the foot or limb that "hurts" is no longer there. It's just the brain making up for the loss of sensation from the missing nerves. With my tinnitus, it's my brain making up for the loss of the high frequency noise range. The louder the mid-level and lower frequency noise, the louder my tinnitus gets, as if my brain was trying to match the sound level of the real noise. This makes sense to me because I can clearly hear my ears ringing above any music, not matter how loud the music is playing.

I know there are programs that try to induce a noise that cancels out the range of one's tinnitus. I can't think of the term off the top of my head, but basically it's an inverse frequency. It supposedly takes a fair amount of time to dial in the correct frequency. Trial and error, as it were.

[Littlebear]

...when your ear clogs with wax & you can't hear stuff on that side well.
But you don't really care.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Littlebear

...when your ear clogs with wax & you can't hear stuff on that side well.
But you don't really care.

That happens to me occasionally. For me it can be bothersome. I go to my ENT doctor for a good cleaning once in a while. Reminds me, I'm due.

Tried those home ear wax removal kits. Not as good as going to my doc.

[Littlebear]

Originally Posted by Esteban

That happens to me occasionally. For me it can be bothersome. I go to my ENT doctor for a good cleaning once in a while. Reminds me, I'm due.

Tried those home ear wax removal kits. Not as good as going to my doc.

It is interfering with my music appreciation, though.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by M_Six

My tinnitus is somehow tied to the range of hearing loss I have. Upper freqs, so my ears ring (or whine) all the time at a high pitch like I just came out of a rock concert. The thing about ambient noise with me is crucial because any ambient noise at all makes my ears ring louder. I often sleep with earplugs if it's raining or windy at night because that noise makes them ring louder. Same with flying. I always have to wear earplugs on a flight. I rarely watch TV except for the occasional baseball game, and those I watch with the sound muted. So drowning out the ringing with more noise is not an option.

It was once explained to me that my tinnitus is similar to the phantom pain an amputee feels, even though the foot or limb that "hurts" is no longer there. It's just the brain making up for the loss of sensation from the missing nerves. With my tinnitus, it's my brain making up for the loss of the high frequency noise range. The louder the mid-level and lower frequency noise, the louder my tinnitus gets, as if my brain was trying to match the sound level of the real noise. This makes sense to me because I can clearly hear my ears ringing above any music, not matter how loud the music is playing.

I know there are programs that try to induce a noise that cancels out the range of one's tinnitus. I can't think of the term off the top of my head, but basically it's an inverse frequency. It supposedly takes a fair amount of time to dial in the correct frequency. Trial and error, as it were.

It might be noise-cancelling technology. It's built-in to high end aviation headsets and works pretty well. Even some newer airliners have it built into the cabin.

[Littlebear]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

It might be noise-cancelling technology. It's built-in to high end aviation headsets and works pretty well. Even some newer airliners have it built into the cabin.

I thought it was in some cars now?

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Esteban

That happens to me occasionally. For me it can be bothersome. I go to my ENT doctor for a good cleaning once in a while. Reminds me, I'm due.

Tried those home ear wax removal kits. Not as good as going to my doc.

Don't tell my audiologists, but I learned how to clean my ears with Q-tips without touching my eardrums. I do it daily. This reduces problems with my hearing aids plugging up. Also, if I don't keep on it, I will go completely deaf in 6 months or so.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

Don't tell my audiologists, but I learned how to clean my ears with Q-tips without touching my eardrums. I do it daily. This reduces problems with my hearing aids plugging up. Also, if I don't keep on it, I will go completely deaf in 6 months or so.

I don't have a hearing aid but I use Q-tips every day in my ears. It helps, but the doc works best for me.

[UncleWede]

No direct compensation, but look at Clinere as a replacement for Q-tips. OHHH, it itches your ear canal SOOO GOOOODDD!!!!

Audiologist told me to also put a dab of a light moisturizer in the bowl of my ears. Surprisingly good advice.

[Littlebear]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

No direct compensation, but look at Clinere as a replacement for Q-tips. OHHH, it itches your ear canal SOOO GOOOODDD!!!!

Audiologist told me to also put a dab of a light moisturizer in the bowl of my ears. Surprisingly good advice.

Oh good! I bought some this morning, but the stick with plastic feathers scared me.

PS: Will do tonight.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Littlebear

Oh good! I bought some this morning, but the stick with plastic feathers scared me.

ROTATION, not in/out.

I haven't had enough wax available to use the scoop.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

No direct compensation, but look at Clinere as a replacement for Q-tips. OHHH, it itches your ear canal SOOO GOOOODDD!!!!

Audiologist told me to also put a dab of a light moisturizer in the bowl of my ears. Surprisingly good advice.

Those look like some of the tools my doctor uses. Would probably work better than Q-tips. Might get some.

[Littlebear]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

ROTATION, not in/out.

I haven't had enough wax available to use the scoop.

Mine came with some weird oil, when I was expecting a peroxide fluid.
If you got it, do you like the oil?

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Littlebear

Mine came with some weird oil, when I was expecting a peroxide fluid.
If you got it, do you like the oil?

Don't recall any oil included.

For the record, I've been using the same one for about 6 months. Wash, and run my fingernail thru the grooves, it doesn't "wear out"

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Littlebear

I thought it was in some cars now?

I wouldn't be surprised. If BMW can pipe in fake exhaust sounds...

[rwheels]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Don't recall any oil included.

For the record, I've been using the same one for about 6 months. Wash, and run my fingernail thru the grooves, it doesn't "wear out"

A used dental floss pick (string side) works just as well.