Tinnitus Support Group

I had a weird experience at the audiologist today and I am still processing it. I was getting my hearing aid adjusted with the fellow who sold me the set two years ago.

He went to some conferences lately and I started talking to him about developing technologies.

I told him I had been web surfing and that I had been reading up on newer hearing aid technologies, i.e. the aids are getting smaller and smaller - the programs are having more and more features and that they were attempting to make the aids more and more powerful.

I mentioned to him that one hearing aid was claiming to be more sophisticated in processing high frequency sound relative to someone's hearing loss and he said, "yeah, right - as if they could do that - the aids you are wearing do this - they amplify the frequencies you have lost and allow the other sounds to enter your ear naturally."

I thought, "well, that makes sense okay." Then I mentioned that there were hearing aid developers claiming they can stimulate the inner ear a certain way; therefore, resulting in less tinnitus.

He says, "that is every hearing aid made - of course, the inner ear is stimulated - it is actually receiving sound!"

He then begins laughing - threw his head back and laughed.

I left there convinced of what he said - it made sense.

But then as I sat here and reflected on the person, his office, his surroundings and personality, some things came to my mind. Now I want to share this because some of you are thinking of buying hearing aids and there are like 25 companies out there - numerous audiologists and countless models and types of hearing aids and the price variables run between $1500 an aid to $5000 per hearing aid.

I noticed the following things when reflecting on this office:

1. The office has wall paper from the 1980's - carpeting from the 1970's or 1980's.

2. The guy's computer had no USB Ports - it was a desk top and it had a floppy disk - with a gray floppy disk sticking out.

3. His computer crashed while tuning up my aids and he had to reboot and it took 10 to 15 minutes.

4. When it reloaded - the Windows XP logo came on.

5. Pictures on the wall showing people using hearing aids included Ronald Reagan, Phyllis Diller and several other people who either very old or dead. The poster said they were enjoying his hearing aids in the present tense.

6. He knew very little about tinnitus other than it exists.

7. He shared very little about tinnitus treatments and showed very little interest in the latest treatments and technologies and dismissed most things as pseudo science or rip offs categorically.

8. Described tinnitus categorically as something from cochlea hairs blowing out and transmitting random signals to the brain - everyone should wear ear plugs.

9. Has no way of examining the inner ear for problems or obstructions.

10. Diagnostic equipment on hearing aids told him whether batteries worked or not - beyond that he mails them off to be fixed.

I have been to two other audiologists after this experience. One was associated with an ENT and the other operates by herself.

For the most part:

1. They have current powerful computers.
2. They represent at least 3 to 4 hearing aid distributors
3. They are familiar with tinnitus and the multiple causes of tinnitus
4. They have attended conferences and can discuss most tinnitus treatments being offered
5. When they discuss tinnitus treatment options - they can give the strengths and weaknesses of each treatment and will state them - not just sell you on one and go on and on as if it cannot fail.
6. Have diagnostic equipment that can measure tinnitus intensity and loudness
7. Have experience with tinnitus instruments and know how they operate
8. Can look at the inner ear for obvious obstruction problems - and eliminate those types of reasons immediately.
9. Have been to the same conferences but seem more open minded and informed
10. Able to discuss that there are multiple theories and possible causes of tinnitus
11. Have some number of tinnitus patients at any given point.

If you have hearing loss and tinnitus - you might want to consider these things because if you plunk down $4800.00 like I did for some hearing aids and this is what every visit is like, you will end up frustrated and you will realize - if there are technological advances and options - you will have to do the ground work yourself -

Also, the last thing a tinnitus person needs to have happen - is someone blow off everything - call it snake oil and start laughing at other people's stupidity.

Also, he seems threatened if I suggest there may be other options for tinnitus sufferers with the price point difference being less that $2000.00.

This seems to aggravate him.

One time he just stopped talking and tossed me out.

So when you are shopping for hearing aids and looking at the service provider - look at everything - this is thousands of dollars - and you don't have that money laying around to toss at one person - say oh, darn, and just do it all over again a couple of years later.

I thought of a couple of other things. The aids I am looking at upgrading to - are much smaller than the ones I wear - also the tubing is thinner and the plug is smaller - it is lighter - yet it is able with a remote control to play soft white noise or not and able to play the zen chimes or not play them.

It has a voice program, etc.

And it is less than $2000.00 more than what I initially paid - and the ones I have - I can do nothing more than switch batteries.

So hopefully, what i have experienced so far can help people. Also, one audiologist I had seen has tinnitus -

This guy said to me, "I am so glad I protect my hearing and I don't have that." Another ENT said to me, "well, one day, you'll need a CI - but that's later."

So you got to go home and process the personality of these people and look at their office - the surroundings - everything - you will put out thousands of dollars - and will be hooked up with that person for probably three years getting repairs and such.

When I walked into this one place they had a display case with only three models from one company.
Posted on 11/05/09, 09:11 am