newbie

loulou · Mar 9, 2020

Hi, I have been meaning to join for a long time and finally am. I am 70, hoh, have been for many years, progressive loss. I have the most powerful hearing aids and have been struggling. It is so frustrating not to be able to keep up in conversations and not able to hear grandchildren well. One on one I can still get by but am missing so much, can't use phone, no plays, avoid noisy places. Even if the volume is ok my word discrimination is really bad. I have been debating checking into a cochlear implant, but am so afraid if it doesn't work I will be worse off.. any words of advise would be appreciated!!! Hard decision to make.

gretaelise · Mar 9, 2020

http://www.lifeprint.com/ this is a very helpful website, I used it to teach myself some stuff. Learn the alphabet first, then continue onto that site, if your interested in learning ASL.

loulou · Mar 10, 2020

Thank you for the suggestion. I had taken a few classes in ASL years back and did learn a lot... unfortunately no one in the family or my friends know it and were not interested in learning. I think what I am trying to figure out is whether to keep with the hearing aids or go for an implant. I am getting by but from what I hear the implant makes a huge difference.

loulou said:
Hi, I have been meaning to join for a long time and finally am. I am 70, hoh, have been for many years, progressive loss. I have the most powerful hearing aids and have been struggling. It is so frustrating not to be able to keep up in conversations and not able to hear grandchildren well. One on one I can still get by but am missing so much, can't use phone, no plays, avoid noisy places. Even if the volume is ok my word discrimination is really bad. I have been debating checking into a cochlear implant, but am so afraid if it doesn't work I will be worse off.. any words of advise would be appreciated!!! Hard decision to make.

Old Analog · Mar 17, 2020

CI personal decision, many pro. many con. me personally, if you have any residual hearing,learn to live with it, accept it, adapt, because if you go that route and there's problem then your worst, no going back, and sound not same, this just me, I know some like, some disappointed, some regrets, maybe future be better, then maybe I change my stance, there's threads on here that discuss this, try under Our World Out culture go to adjusting to late onset deafness, hope this helps, don't give up, be strong, be happy with the best self you can be, on the other hand, nothing wrong with trying to improve yourself, :welcome:

loulou · Mar 19, 2020

Thanks for your advice, I see so much pro CI and want to see what can go wrong so I can make a decision. I was all set to set up an appointment for evaluation with CI audiologist and the coronavirus hit... can't help wondering if it was an omen, it has given me time to really do my research. I have been looking on cochlear implant sites and have found problems that could happen that I had no idea about. I have been working with programs to find how much discrimination I actually have in my bad ear, I don't test well. Again, as you have said there is residual hearing to work with and I am getting by! Would rather take time and explore options and not rush. Again, thanks for the advice!