It was getting really noticeable so I decided to get it sorted a couple of months ago, did it all through the NHS - from testing to diagnosis, to hearing aids in both ears - and so far so good. I was thinking that if they weren't then I'd maybe look at a more expensive options but these are fine, and really helping (which is now much more evident on the rare occasions that I forget to wear them!) It's a bit crap at 52 years of age, but at least it's due to doing stupid things like watching Motorhead and Manowar rather than some industrial accident or something! 
As they are the high-end, things like crackling/rustling and beeping are sometimes much louder but the most noticeable thing for me at the moment is when I first use them in the morning, the second I switch them, on my ears are flooded with birdsong from the garden that I literally wasn't aware of seconds before! 
Previous Message
At 62 after many years of listening to loud music (and occasionally making loud music) I’ve lost a lot of high frequency hearing. However, I’m technically diagnosed as having mild hearing loss. Because of the loss of the higher frequencies it means my difficulty is hearing conversation when there is other ambient noise around me. You know, you go a social function, lot of background chatter going on etc and I’m having to try reading lips or smiling and nodding but not hearing the actual words.
So, I started to investigate hearing aids, did 3 tests with BlackBerry, Hidden Hearing and Specsavers (really!). All results showed the same graphic evidence of the hearing loss. Then I was told the prices :O.
If you want really good hearing aids the pricing is between €3k and upwards (this includes application of a government ‘grant’ of €1k). The ones that worked best for me in tests were to cost me €4K+.
Anyways! Here’s something that I found out after I upgraded my old Apple AirPods to the Pro version. There is a hearing aid function in them! And it works! Same principle, amplification of sound directly to the ear etc. The other half went upstairs and spoke to me out of sight and I heard every word.
Now, no-one wants to be walking around with AirPods in all the time etc but I’ve been using them while watching tv, (I was in that group who need to have subtitles on without turning the volume up to 60 - again, tv speech also falls into those missing frequencies).
I just want to put it out there that if you have the occasional need to wear a hearing aid this might be a temporary or intermediary solution that doesn’t cost thousands
Responses
on May 24, 2025, 2:20 pm, in reply to "