melissa
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- Sep 17, 2006
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Today I had the morning off work to go to audiology and collect a new mould as my old one had a chip which irritated my ear.
I don't know if this is of interest to anyone, but I'd like to share my experience.
I wrote down things I wanted to ask about while I was waiting. The woman got the mould then went out of the room for something for 5mins or so. I noticed while looking at it that the part which goes into my ear canal was very short compared to the old mould, but I'm ok with that as the old one was sometimes painful to put in. It was interesting as the not-nice-head-of-audiology who took the impression for the originals was quite rough and asked if I'd had any surgery as my ear looked scarred- I haven't.
She came back and we talked about what I'd written down. I wanted to know if I could have programs as well as a volume control- when I asked for the volume control it got rid of the programs, which I never used at the time. When I'm in the pub every week for a meal with my friends, it's very difficult for me to follow/understand even on full volume so I usually just end up with my boyfriend talking loudly to me and me looking sadly into my drink while everyone else talks to each other. Yet other times I'm turning them down/off because things really hurt, like Loud Nigel at work, or a crowded cafe. Its like being assaulted by sounds. She put a directional setting on them so I can try this when I'm out.
I mentioned that it's very loud when I'm eating crunchy things, but her solution was to decrease the low frequencies and I didn't want this so I'll just live with it. I get some occlusion still but she said this would be worse with a soft mould.
I mentioned that the head audi said I couldn't have pink earmoulds as they were for kids, and she pulled a confused face and said I can have them next time...when my earmoulds crack or go hard..(I'm thinking, No Melissa, it's going to be so obvious if they mysteriously crack very soon!).
She also gave me an email address for contacting them but said they don't check much so it's best to call, then if I don't understand to say I'm going to email them.
Then she showed me how to change tubing, which I've never done before as I've only had BTEs with earmoulds since December just gone. The old tubing cracked when she took it out- she pointed out I'd notice it had gone hard if I washed them...!! She gave me 2 sets of extra tubing as well and told me how to wash them- weekly, with warm soapy water and rinse them thoroughly.
Finally, I asked for an audiogram with my aids in, as usual she asked why and I said just for my records, I want to see what I'm hearing with them in as opposed to out. She pulled a face with puppy dog eyes (same face as when I ask for audiogram printouts) and said they don't usually do them, and did I really really want it...she said they can't test the usual way with headphones as the aids will be in so they have to do a 'free field' test (I've never heard of this) in the childrens unit as they don't have the equipment. So, I'm getting an appt at the childrens unit for this test.
That's it really- I'm not used to dealing with people who actually listen to me and don't fob me off. I noticed afterwards that the new mould has a chip but it doesn't irritate my ear. I'm looking forward to trying the new program on Thursday night out (also my birthday!).
I don't know if this is of interest to anyone, but I'd like to share my experience.
I wrote down things I wanted to ask about while I was waiting. The woman got the mould then went out of the room for something for 5mins or so. I noticed while looking at it that the part which goes into my ear canal was very short compared to the old mould, but I'm ok with that as the old one was sometimes painful to put in. It was interesting as the not-nice-head-of-audiology who took the impression for the originals was quite rough and asked if I'd had any surgery as my ear looked scarred- I haven't.
She came back and we talked about what I'd written down. I wanted to know if I could have programs as well as a volume control- when I asked for the volume control it got rid of the programs, which I never used at the time. When I'm in the pub every week for a meal with my friends, it's very difficult for me to follow/understand even on full volume so I usually just end up with my boyfriend talking loudly to me and me looking sadly into my drink while everyone else talks to each other. Yet other times I'm turning them down/off because things really hurt, like Loud Nigel at work, or a crowded cafe. Its like being assaulted by sounds. She put a directional setting on them so I can try this when I'm out.
I mentioned that it's very loud when I'm eating crunchy things, but her solution was to decrease the low frequencies and I didn't want this so I'll just live with it. I get some occlusion still but she said this would be worse with a soft mould.
I mentioned that the head audi said I couldn't have pink earmoulds as they were for kids, and she pulled a confused face and said I can have them next time...when my earmoulds crack or go hard..(I'm thinking, No Melissa, it's going to be so obvious if they mysteriously crack very soon!).
She also gave me an email address for contacting them but said they don't check much so it's best to call, then if I don't understand to say I'm going to email them.
Then she showed me how to change tubing, which I've never done before as I've only had BTEs with earmoulds since December just gone. The old tubing cracked when she took it out- she pointed out I'd notice it had gone hard if I washed them...!! She gave me 2 sets of extra tubing as well and told me how to wash them- weekly, with warm soapy water and rinse them thoroughly.
Finally, I asked for an audiogram with my aids in, as usual she asked why and I said just for my records, I want to see what I'm hearing with them in as opposed to out. She pulled a face with puppy dog eyes (same face as when I ask for audiogram printouts) and said they don't usually do them, and did I really really want it...she said they can't test the usual way with headphones as the aids will be in so they have to do a 'free field' test (I've never heard of this) in the childrens unit as they don't have the equipment. So, I'm getting an appt at the childrens unit for this test.
That's it really- I'm not used to dealing with people who actually listen to me and don't fob me off. I noticed afterwards that the new mould has a chip but it doesn't irritate my ear. I'm looking forward to trying the new program on Thursday night out (also my birthday!).
I got white this time, blue/green tie dye last time, "black" with rainbow sparkles before that LOL. I don't know what depth mine are- but it hasn't seem to have changed?
