My name is Joanne Swinbourne and I have trust issues.
Don’t worry, I’m not getting all deep and personal here on Limping Chicken! But I do want to come out and say that I have deep trust issues – with audiology departments!
Watch a BSL translation of this article by Helen Foulkes below:
Why is it that whenever I visit my local audiology department, my hands feel sweaty, my hackles are raised and I have a strong feeling of uncertainty?
It’s because I feel an audiology department – for a deaf person – should be a place of safety and calm – purely because the staff who work there meet deaf people every day.
So, surely they should know how to communicate with us? Surely it should be a very stress-free experience?
But is it? No, it’s the opposite!
When I visit my doctor or my dentist, I go with a sense of reality. I know that the experience will be a bit hit and miss, and I am prepared for it.
The receptionist may be a bit difficult to understand, the computer system may not be working that shows your name or maybe the doctor may be a new one with no experience of talking to a deaf person. But I adjust my expectations so that I am prepared for any eventuality.
But the audiology department? Every time I go, the overriding feeling I leave with is one of disappointment.
I hope and pray that there may be an audiologist who can sign a bit, will speak clearly (without having to be asked to), and will tap me on the shoulder when they want my attention.
But I am constantly disappointed and angry when I leave (a bit like when I go to the cinema and find the captions aren’t working!!)
I have been to the audiology clinic twice in the last week, the first time to see the consultant and the second visit to the technician to fix a broken hearing aid.
The consultant always looks wary when he sees me because he knows that I will ask him awkward questions. In short, I make him work hard to communicate clearly with me (on purpose, why should I have to do all the work!?) but also his attitude stinks.
As a result of me having Pendred Syndrome, I have progressive hearing loss. So before, I was severely deaf, and now I am profoundly deaf.
In the audiologist’s eyes, it’s like I am on the scrap heap. For someone who has lost some useful hearing that I used a lot, I do grieve a bit for that bit of loss.
Do I get any empathy from my consultant?? Do I heck!
Basically, when I enquire about updated hearing aids, I am told that a cochlear implant is the only useful option.
I then ask for a hearing test, he tells me there is no point, but when I insist I want one, he dismissively says he’ll let me have a hearing test, but it’ll be “for my intellectual curiosity only”.
I explain to him that having a CI is a huge step, a big operation but also it has a huge impact on my family and work life so it is a big step to consider. I get a shrug in return!
In contrast, a few months ago, I had a full thyroid removal. In the months leading to the operation, I had many appointments with the consultant and the surgeon.
My options were clearly explained, they booked interpreters for my appointments so I would have full access and so on. They were empathetic, patient and understanding when I asked countless questions. What a contrast to my audiologist.
The audiology technician is another story.
I asked for a hearing test, I got a big sigh.
I asked for a new mould, another big sigh.
No smiles. No speaking clearly. Talking to my back, so I can’t lipread or hear that he’s talking to me. Looking irritated when I don’t understand. Looking at his watch.
How demeaning is this?
I want to know what happens when audiologists have their training?
My GP told me that when they have their training, they have a one day workshop with a deaf adult, learning some signs. They also have to have a conversation with a deaf adult.
But for audiologists, I wonder how much contact they have with deaf people while they are training? Are they taught sign? Are they taught deaf awareness?
It feels to me that they are trained to look inside the ear only. But for a deaf person, it needs to be a holistic experience.
They need to look at the whole deaf person, their background, their feelings about their deafness and be aware of cultural differences. Not just whether a hearing aid or a CI will do the job.
So I will continue to be the “difficult” patient for my audiologists. I have had 44 years of them and the only ones that I have met who sign are the ones who work in schools with deaf children.
I have never met one who can sign in a hospital …yet.
My consultant wants to transfer me from the Leeds borough to the Bradford borough, I think he wants to get rid of me (!) but until then, I will continue to be a thorn in his side and make him work harder at his job and to become better.
Audiologists need to be so much better. Don’t they?
Tell us what you think below in the comments!
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Pennybsl
August 1, 2017
These are real facts, brutally.
Deaf people and their deaf carers with serious health conditions would affirm to the irony in this heartfelt article.
For goodness’ sake, good practice and allowing hearing-aid wearers have the best choice of available hearing-aids do SAVE money and well-being!!
But this is hampered by prevailing archaic attitudes about Deaf people in public healthcare, making deaf patients less informed about their ears than other areas of healthcare.
We need to know of good audiology departments as standard benchmarks across the UK.
It’s no wonder that people, even with moderate hearing loss, give up public healthcare’s ‘coldness & long waiting times’, instead they spend huge amounts of money with private audiology who provide more people-friendly service.
It’s imperative that TOP-UP training including positive deaf patient awareness is mandatory to audiologists and audiology technicians rather than more more techno skills.
But – seriously – we need to look closer at what the Jeremy Hunts of Government are doing to audiological services.
The Government is known to be keen in outsourcing and privatising “inessential services”, ignoring researched facts that the impact of mild hearing loss being as severe as profound hearing loss in society.
Sazzy
August 1, 2017
You go girl – I hate my local audiologist too and I am too making their lives difficult – my last visit was a snorting audiologist who suggested CI – I said to him – oh you do talk after asking about different hearing aids and a hearing test etc….
It’s always a painful and degrading experience – no dignity at all.
joverrent
August 1, 2017
Come to Bradford – I have had a much better experience here! I have met technicians who have really gone out on a limb for me when my hearing aid has broken (to find me a replacement somewhere in the system) and a brilliant nursing sister who helps arrange operations around busy work periods. They aren’t all perfect re communication but they definitely try and really care. Real people, real care. (my consultant still talks when I can’t see him but he does then apologise afterwards when I remind him that there is no way I can hear him with my hearing aid out and him looking in my ear).
Editor
August 1, 2017
We are in Bradford! I think Jo attends a clinic over the border in Leeds district though. She’s looking to transfer to one back in Bradford.
Robert Mandara
August 1, 2017
From my experience, I would say that the points you make in the article are all very true, not just in the UK but also in Europe too.
In your case however, my sympathy is a bit stretched because it has been suggested that you would benefit from a CI, yet it sounds like you dismiss that idea out of hand. While we can fairly expect others to make the effort to meet our needs, isn’t it also fair that we make efforts, where we can, to meet the needs of the hearing? I struggled like you before I got cochlear implants (and took 15 years to agree to have them…) but now there’s no looking back. If you’re a candidate for CI, for your own future happiness, don’t simply dismiss the idea. CI will probably do wonders for your hearing. Nevertheless, it won’t make audiology clinics any more deaf-aware.
Joanne
August 1, 2017
Hi Robert, I am aware that I would benefit from a CI but it’s a huge step and psychologically I would need to be ready. I have two young children plus a very busy Teacher of the Deaf job so having a major operation not only affects me but family and work. I am also culturally deaf so I have some inner conflicts about having a CI. So it’s not an easy decision that it might have been for you or others. But in the meantime while I am making the decision, the audiologist needs to give me my other options and give me service to the best of his ability. Just like I do in my job, give my deaf kids the best of my expertise.
Robert Mandara
August 1, 2017
Hi Joanne.
I’m sure we could have a very interesting discussion but it would be way off the original topic of your article. 🙂 If you’d like to discuss more away from this thread, please ask Charlie for my email address. I’m not spoiling for an argument – I’m just trying to understand your point of view and encourage you to consider the CI option. Implants have totally changed my life and I’m amazed every day at how easily I can converse now.
Obviously CI is a huge step, like many others in life, and you can’t know what the outcome will be. Everyone who takes the step has the same fear. But will there really ever be a right time to go under the knife and subsequent rehab? Going to operations will always be terrifying. There will always be reasons why “now” isn’t the right time. Or, even if the time feels right today and you get operated, you could still lose your job or a relative could die tomorrow – there’s no way of knowing. Alternatively, if you leave it until later, before you know it, you’ll have left it too late and wished you’d had it sooner.
As for the culturally deaf aspect, I didn’t really encounter any pressure from the deaf community not to get CI. Nor have I encountered any negativity since getting implants. As I see it, if you already wear hearing aids in an attempt to hear, there’s no difference in getting a CI. Both devices aim to “fix” us after all. You’d still be deaf (or probably even more deaf!) when the CI isn’t turned on, just like with a hearing aid.
So, as far as your hearing is concerned, I think that your audiologist could argue that he’s given you the best of his expertise too, albeit not in a deaf-aware manner.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck!
Renee Downs
August 2, 2017
Joanne, I don’t know you but I am an audiologist. Yes, I sign. The only reason I can see for an audiologist not wanting to retreat your hearing is if you have no response to sounds. If this is true, he is correct; there’s no reason to test you. If you have been told the CI is your only option, what else do you expect him to do? Create more? He may have given you all options and excellent service and you rejected it. I would suggest you see someone else, too, if you were my patient as, obviously, you aren’t getting what you need. But don’t blame the audiologist because you don’t like the options.
Editor
August 3, 2017
She does have response to some sounds. Ed
K Bodamer
August 1, 2017
Been there, worn the t-shirt and turned into a thorn in their caseloads at my audiology clinic (adult) and Deaf daughter’s children audiology clinic. I sound like a broken record while they offered CIs that I do NOT want. I became a ‘thorn’ because, like you, stick to our beliefs and opinions what we want. I have NEVER seen an audiologist using BSL during 50 years. Half a century!! Only way to qualify people audiologists is to have mandotary criteria to use sign language as a pendulum to swing communication from Deaf BSL patients to HoH oral patirnts. I just hate visiting them ….
John
August 1, 2017
In most audiology clinics I’ve been to in my lifetime, they still continue to call out your name while you’re in the waiting room! They don’t bother to hold up a paper with your name on it, or get your attention by better means. It’s just stupid.
Deirdre
August 1, 2017
When I first registered with my local audiology, I was told the sad news- that’s I was indeed Deaf… erm okay! Got pitying looks when asked about deafness in my family and I proudly said my parents and siblings all are deaf.
I asked for better access and they told me they would book a BSL/English interpreter for my appointments and provided me with an email/text number to arrange an appointment… Obviously my emails and texts has been ignored so i have to use text relay to call and the person on the other end is often very rude.
Having a BSL/English interpreter in my appointments has made life a bit easier in terms of having some company when waiting and clear access but the audiologist will often ignore my questions, talk really loudly like I’m an elderly patient, and will do things without asking me smh as referring me to an ENT to talk about a cochlear implant when I said i didn’t want one and gave me a dirty look when i said i prefer to wear one hearing aid when i feel like it.
One classic example of the audiologist not listening to me was when I said I needed more batteries as i tend to lose them when turning them off (opening the battery case and they fall out), their reply was ‘Oh your hearing aids are high powered, that’s why the batteries tend to run out quickly’.
The BSL/English interpreter will often tell me that the audiologist ignored them too and will talk about me to other members of staff taking advantage of the fact I wouldn’t be able to hear them.
I honestly miss my old ENT consultant from when I was a kid, he might have not been able to sign but always ensure someone was around to interpret and was lovely to my mother listening to her and answering all of her questions, and took time to talk to us.
CharlesG
August 1, 2017
While I was waiting for my appointment, an audiologist stepped out her office and just about whispered a name. I had no idea if it was me or if she was ordering a sandwich. No tickets, no display board, no signs, just some muttered name. She walked up and down quietly saying the name. Not one person in the clinic signs or makes accommodation for their clients. It’s disgraceful. I mention it every time; every other clinic in the hospital has display boards… but not audiology.
Maybe next time I should just sign to the audiologist and look at him like he’s an idiot.
Jason Drobig
August 1, 2017
Joanne, I very sorry to hear about your poor service and shoddy treatments. I wondered if you might consider writing a letter to complain about the standard of service at the audiology? If you go over the heads of the audiology clinic and communicate with the management of the hospital its likely that something will be done if you made it official? Basic standard of service must be maintained if we don’t complain they will just carry on staying the same and it’s simply just not good enough. That’s why we have customer service and questionnaires to improve services if we don’t use it then the standard will drop. Our biggest fear is that we will get even worst service if we complain, I think that is a myth. By reading the comments I think this is a common problem within the deaf community catchment area audiology department. Lastly, I use the Hearing The Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service (YAIS) at Bradford Royal Infirmary and never had any problems and found them very helpful and a joy when attending appointments there.
Anon
August 1, 2017
As a hearing impaired audiologist, I understand that you have come across others that do not seem deaf aware. However I feel this is generalizing and it doesn’t apply to all audiologists. Although Audiology degrees have different focuses on deaf awareness, much of it depends on the individual. I agree audiology degrees could have emphasis on deaf communication including bsl and maybe this needs to be further discussed with universities.
Have you considered talking to you local audiology department or patient advice liaison service (pals)?
Natalya D
August 1, 2017
I can’t think of a single group of deaf clientele that audiology depts are routinely good at dealing with.
It’s a shame cos some audiology depts are good, my current one is excellent, they have a screen for calling appointments (although it doesn’t work for drop ins for broken hearing aids) and in nearly 9 yrs the audiologist hasn’t in my memory turned away from me and talked at me. In fact I like my current audiologist, she gets the idea that some of us turn our hearing aids off when not talking to folk cos it’s so tiring and she isn’t judgemental about that, but recognises it as a valid coping strategy…
I wonder what would happen if more of us complained formally about bad deaf awareness. Just wrote a polite letter (or sent a BSL video) and explained what happened and why it’s not OK. A few complaints from different people would shine a light on bad practices.
There is NO excuse for audiology depts:
* not having email/SMS contact
* relying on us hearing our name called out
* staff turning away from us while talking
* not having basic sign language skills
Caro
August 1, 2017
I cringe when reading this as it resonates on so many levels! My own clinic back in Chester was lovely, but they too would come out & shout names and if you weren’t looking, you missed it. Having worked since in 2 London Audiology depts myself, I saw the good & bad there as well. There is no one perfect clinic, but they should all be able to communicate in whatever form a deaf person needs, as a basic requirement/capability for starters. In the CI Dept I worked in, they were brilliant! Everyone could use BSL, and they had text,email as alternative contacts if it was preferred too. Yet the attached Audiology section is appalling.. Staff aren’t easy to lipread, they mumble into their chest and generally are clueless. Why can’t they all be inclusive?! As always, I recommend people go to their PALS dept to register their dismay at the inaccessible nature of Audiology depts, and who knows, they may have to listen(pun fully intended) one day, if enough of us complain via that route??
Tracey
August 1, 2017
I would like to say that I have found the audiologists at Trafford General extremely helpful. I’m severely deaf and can just about get by with hearing aids but my hearing is atill deteriorating. The audiologists are very supportive and take the time to explain things. But since I don’t sign (yet – am learning BSL now) I don’t know whether they sign.
The audiologists are friendly and helpful and did refer me to CI centre in Manchester when I asked about it. My hearing is not QUITE bad enough to qualify yet, and as most of you on hear suggest, it would be a big decision.
They could improve things like the calling out of names, particularly sincerely half the seats in the waiting room have their backs to the consultation rooms. An electronic display would be far better.
I have a different experience with the ENT consultants though. They don’t speak clearly and generally talk to their computers so I can’t lipread.
So I will fill in a feedback form when I go to give them some pointers – if we all do this then maybe we can get them all to improve.
Liesl
August 2, 2017
Most of your points are great and definitely things the field needs to work on (I tell my coworkers all the time they need to look at me when they talk to me just in general). But speaking as an audiologist with lifelong severe hearing loss, while I’m fluent in ASL because I sign for myself, I run into FAR more French and Spanish speaking patients than I do signers. It’s just not practical for someone to learn every language they will come across. In my five years, I’ve needed to use ASL with patients four times. I need a Spanish interpreter about twice a month.
Nathan
August 2, 2017
The vast majority of an audiologist “patients ” are hard of hearing people – which might explain why they keep treating those of us who are profoundly deaf like a hard of hearing patient .
This is a fine example of the failure of the socialist NHS system – in other words we need to do more to open up the audiologist market to competition. Why are we restricted to one specific department based on our postcode ?
Also it annoys the heck out of me that I cannot programme my own hearing aids . Why can’t i just plug my aids (or wirelessly connect them) to my laptop and fine tune it myself ? It’s insulting my intelligence that hearing aid companies decide to restrict this ability to audiologists .
Robert Mandara
August 2, 2017
Nathan, have you checked out my articles on The Limping Chicken about programming your own hearing aids? It can be done but does depend on various factors, some of which may be out of your control.
http://limpingchicken.com/2013/03/28/robert-mandara-programming-your-own-hearing-aids-part-1-why-you-should-do-it/
nathan
August 3, 2017
thank you for reminding me! off to read them again! I did look into it in the past but equipment was a pain to get. I have oticons.
BridgeTheGap
August 2, 2017
I am a student who is studying Audiology, and these situations right here are why I chose to go into the field. I fell in love with sign language and through taking classes, I decided to go into audiology as a profession. Communication IN ANY WAY is something I thing is so important for everyone. I am going into the field as an advocate for the d/Deaf community and plan to try to start bridging the gap for my fields professionals. Our job is hearing – why are we neglecting our patients? Nobody deserves to feel the way you did in your experience, and I feel like it’s my job to take away some of that unpleasantness and provide support and offer myself as a resource, instead of a burden, to the d/Deaf community.
Dawn Heiman, AuD
August 2, 2017
As an audiologist, let me first apologize for my colleagues and what you have been experiencing. I’m sorry. Truly sorry. Personally, I did seek out extra sign language classes in my undergraduate and graduate school training, but my signing severely lacks. I do know many audiologists who sign here in the States, but we may only converse at the level of a Four year old.
However, not all audiologists or their office staff treat their patients like this.
I hope all audiologists read this blog and learn from this. I am sorry. 😔 Thank you for sharing.
Molly Berry
August 2, 2017
There is no excuse for the way you are treated, audiologists and ENT staff and doctors should be really good at communicating with you, however, if you are being offered a CI, it is because there is nothing else they can offer you.
Believe me, if they had another hearing aid to offer they would, CIs are much much more expensive than hearing aids. You can have hearing test after hearing test, it won’t change that hearing aids are not powerful enough for you any more.
You need to decide before you go to audiology again whether you are going because you want to hear better, and if you do, then the only option at this stage is the CI you have been offered. The other thing to think about is that the sooner a CI is done, the easier it is for your brain to adjust to it. You will probably get as good an outcome, but will have to work harder to achieve it.
The staff at the CI centres are much better, they are used to their patients being very deaf, they don’t get to a CI centre until they are no longer managing with hearing aids.
Sorry if this sounds hard, but a CI is brilliant, and we are so lucky to live at a time when these are available to us. All the very best of luck for the future.
Anna Pugh
August 2, 2017
As Audiologists we should certainly be demonstrating the good communication skills we preach. Disappointing that this is your experience. Perhaps a note to the service manager and suggesting some deaf awareness training? Or go through PALS patient liaison services. Or Health watch. Am sure if it was brought to their attention they’d ensure they did better. In the private sector we have “secret shoppers” whosee comments are taken seriously, as I’m sure this would be too
David J. Schmidt, Au.D.
August 2, 2017
So sad to hear of your situation. I have an undergraduate degree in Deaf Education, and do plenty of hours of Video Relay Interpreting as my avocation in the States. So, although I am Certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., I will admit a personal flaw. I am a recovering audiologist. Audiology is my full time job here in the United States. I was driven to study audiology by my experiences in other aspects of Deafness. My Deaf patients are few, because I work in a very rural area. But they do report that for the first time in a long time, they feel like they are treated as equals. When a Deaf child comes in with their family, I migrate to the CHILD’s preferred language mode: voiceless ASL, Sim-Com, or whatever (well, I do not know Cued Speech). I cannot explain the behaviour of other practitioners, and cannot apologise for their terrible training. I do not work with cochlear implants, but I have seen people benefit from them once THEY ARE READY to take the plunge. RESPECT 101 is probably the course most Audiology trainees need. Although I see much benefit in hearing aids and CI’s for adults with progressive hearing loss and Deaf children with supportive families, at the end of the day, a Deaf person is not just an EAR! I hope through the years I have become a little “Deaf Impaired” … I mean, I believe Deaf people CAN do anything but hear. Deafness does not have to be “the” barrier. Language and Communication are gifts, but not necessarily hearing per se. Keep up the good work! Make a loud enough roar that Audiologists have to take notice.
mjfahey
August 2, 2017
As there are a few audiologists aboard it may be a good platform for my fears. Old age and deafness. Many of the people here have much more experience of deafness ,having lived a full life with it. Personally my deafness was from birth, I am now coming up to 60 years old and have experienced deaf predjuce throughout all stages my life. I am well versed in fighting it, however the one place that frightens me is the old folk home where carers haven’t a clue how to deal with a person with hearing problems. I have seriously decided to jump off the nearest bridge rather than submit to going into a home. And that is through seeing older members of my family go through it. Deaf awareness is not something to be brushed off as one of the little things… it makes a major difference to people’s lives and it would pay off if everyone pushes it as a massively important thing whether deaf or working with deaf and elderly… after all everyone is going to grow older… except maybe me.
nathan
August 3, 2017
Please do not jump off the bridge. Life is far too precious.
It is not too late to make a difference to the world. Perhaps when you retire, you can volunteer an hour a day at the old age home, perhaps at meal times and at the same time raise deaf awareness among the staff?
If enough of us do this sort of thing, we can make an overwhelming positive contribution to the world.
Robert Mandara
August 3, 2017
I have a similar concern, perhaps a bigger one. Staff in an old folks home can at least potentially listen to a hearing aid to tell that it is doing something. With cochlear implants, they have nothing to listen to. What worries me is that, because they won’t be able to hear anything, they’ll likely assume that the implant processors don’t work and not even bother to put them on.
Perhaps the best thing to do is to make sure that whoever is paying your nursing home fees, knows not to pay the bills if the staff don’t make sure your aids are working and in place – I’m assuming that you have hearing aids although that’s not clear from your post.
In your retirement, I wonder if you could set up a voluntary organisation (in conjunction with one of the deaf charities) to visit old deaf people in old peoples’ homes (especially in a local one that you could expect to end up in), primarily to check that their hearing aids are in good order and that staff are deaf aware. Something like that would help to bring about positive change for all of us wouldn’t it?
DeffyUK
August 5, 2017
*CLAP CLAP CLAP*
It’s about time Joanne put it out in the open because I’ve had to put up with a major issue with my tinnitus since 2007 when I met one of the audiologists from the NHS South replaced my old analogue hearing aids for digital hearing aids.
For the last ten years, I’ve had to put up with this horrible white-noise feedback in my head and I thought it was stress-related. I have tried many times to explained the audiologist techs that I want my old analogue hearing aids back but I was told that it was no longer available. I was gutted and the audiologist tech said if I have a cochlear implant then none of this would have happens. But I refused!
For the last 10 years until January 2017, I had an appointment with a Senior Clinical Audiologist and he investigated and examined further with me because of the issues with my digital hearing aids. I mentioned that I wish I have my old analogue hearing aids back but his tech explained the old hearing aids are no longer active. He looked at me with a surprised, telling me there are two spares in stock. I told him that I want it back and he then went and fetched the hearing aids to replaced my digital hearing aids for two brand new analogue hearing aids. I was over-the-moon when I got it back.
I realised there are some graduated thinking we are the same as others but we’re not! So far, I have had no further issue with tinnitus as the digital hearing aids have cause nothing but a problem. It was so powerful for me. To be frank with you, I personally felt like I am like a rabbit in a laboratory lab, treating me like I am a robot.
Because I paid my tax and I do have a doubt about TRUST for these kind of specialists.
mjfahey
August 5, 2017
I recently had a cochlear implant and I know that there are indicator lights fitted which flash when the processor is switched on or adjusted, so really that should not be a problem for staff (even tho mine are switched off at the moment) Your suggestions are good but it’s like anything involving staff… train one up and they move on leaving behind those who are unaware or don’t care. I went through all this with my family member and made sure staff were aware of their needs over and over again, but you can’t be there 24/7 and on surprise visits I was shocked/ and saddened by the lack of awareness and the gradual withdrawal from life of someone who was always the life and soul.
Yes it is down to us all to really fight for this awareness now because in the future your well-being may depend on it. Normally homes have audilogists visit to check on health of residents… but if they don’t make it a MAJOR issue for general health and mental health of residents with hearing problems why should the carers be bothered.
So far this scenario is not for me… I will reconsider at a later date. 🙂
Jimmy Hughes
August 13, 2017
The best article I’ve read here for a while . Patronising gits ain’t they ?
Audiologists are pushers for Cochlear Implants. This is the Medical Industrial Complex. There is a hierarchy of lucrative contracts for this set-up.
I’ve asked for better digital “over the ear” aids only to be told that they aren’t designed for profoundly deaf people. I’ve been constantly met with a wall of resistance when asking to make them louder. I’m sick of that sigh as if I’m beyond help !
Retuning the hearing aids has brought benefits but because I have them on full I have to change my batteries every day . This isn’t practical as they aren’t designed for profoundly deaf people . This made me think why there is no rechargeable digital aids?? It would be eco-friendly. Alas audiologists know much more than us don’t they (!)
How come there’s been significant improvements in mobile phones, computers , etc etc but over the ear hearing aids are much worse than when I was a kid?!?! I can tell digital hearing aids are much better in shutting down background noise but I have trouble straining to hear .
This leaves you wanting more and gives the opportunity for your local audiologist pusher to say “Do you want to go down the cochlear route?” I find this extremely insulting when I’m asking for better digital hearing aids.
I’m not anti-cochlear implant here. I want more choices as at the moment they won’t help you unless you go down the ONLY road available for profoundly deaf people i.e. to get implanted .
mjfahey
August 15, 2017
I must say here that my audiology dept did not push me anywhere… and I was the one who asked about CI… but as for more powerful aids… they went through all the more advanced aids available and maxed out the volume with all of them. I could hear the volume but it was distorted and of no use for me whatsoever. I have had aids most of my life and the technology has come on in leaps and bounds since the 1960s when you where carrying box aids around everywhere. If you really really can’t live without sound (clear sound) you SHOULD go down the CI route… because a massive part of this route is just giving you information and choice… the final part is having the operation… which is your choice when you are fully informed. You can walk away… but you will be better informed.
justaddguineapig
August 21, 2017
I have to say I was horrified by Joanne’s description of the way she has been treated by audiologists in the UK. One of the things I say quite often to our speech and hearing clients is that they don’t need to be worried about coming into our service because we are used to people with speech and hearing problems and we have strategies to communicate with them.
This doesn’t seem to be the case elsewhere. My lovely colleague Sandy signs and it is on my list of things I want to learn to do. Our audiologists are truly good people and I count myself lucky to work somewhere where people believe in ethics and putting the clients first.
I know that our students are taught to be conscious of the needs of people who are deaf and hard of hearing but human nature being what it is, there are always some people who don’t make this a priority. I have seen students excluding a class mate who had a hearing impairment. If anyone should be considerate of a person with hearing challenges it should be students studying in the health sciences, let alone that the person is a colleague.
Bad manners and thoughtlessness are not restricted to any one group of people. It is on all of us to call that behaviour out when we see it, as bullying at worst and unprofessional at least. One of our audiologists reminded me that it really was irrelevant that the student being ostracised had a hearing impairment. The issue for Joanne is not that she is hearing impaired. The issue is that the student was a person who was being bullied and Joanne was receiving poor quality health care.
The fact that both Joanne and the student are hearing impaired makes their treatment by others who should know better, more appalling. However we should look beyond the person’s physical characteristics and see the person first.
Lance Olenius
August 27, 2017
I’ve been accused of lying about being hard of hearing by an audiologist before. I have severe tinnitus so I can’t always tell if I’m hearing a tone in the booth or it’s just my ear fairies making noises. So I usually raise my hand as if I heard something and the test might not have even started. Or maybe I guessed correctly. Needless to say it hurt pretty badly to be refused service by a recommended audiologist.
LO
August 27, 2017
Can you maybe post that anonymously please?