Don't say what, and don't say pardon.

[fluffworld]

I'm pretty sure most of my friends wouldn't do this but just in case you haven't given it thought...

When someone tells you they have hearing difficulties, saying "What?" straight afterwards is incredibly rude and hurtful - like pretending to be blind at someone with vision impairment, or exaggeratedly limping at a leg amputee.

It's incredibly common

Comments

[nenkah]

8 grand for hearing aids??! Blimey. Is that for tiny digital ones? Even if so, pretty darned steep.

Anyway, feel free to metaphorically punch me in the face if you know all this already and/or can't utilise it, but you can get amplifiers for phones, and radio aids for things like weddings/training sessions/meetings/classroom-y situations, and heaps of different loop systems for listening to TVs/mp3 players/etc etc. You can also get amazing flashing doorbells/firealarms, vibrating alarms for bedrooms, vibrating pagers to link up to car alarms/doorbell/whatever you want. Heaps of technology is out there, for realz. I only know about the UK stuff, and of course cost is a factor, but are there any hearing loss charities in Oz that you could tap into?

Sorry if any of that was patronizing and 'duuur, of course I know about this already' annoying, or your hearing loss it at a level where you can't use these items. (If you were wondering, I work for a deaf kid's charity atm - it's my job to be as clued up on this as poss so I can tell parents that being deaf is not The End Of The World).

[fluffworld]

No, no, no - info is great, as I am struggling through this alone a bit and could well be missing stuff. I hadn't even considered the flash-buzzer things existing but yes, now you say it, I realise they are probably out there. I'll have a look.

My last audiologist closed shop and took my records (I know, I should have hung on to a copy more carefully), so I am having issues telling how badly my hearing is going but it is definitely getting worse as close friends can attest.

My hearing is classic high-frequency loss, so digital aids are the only option - straight forward amplification isn't helpful. I am also acutely sensitive to the mid-to-high freqs I can hear (I have been known to cover my ears in pain, for example, at the sound of a regular flute being played nearby or people singing) so it need to be reasonably well calibrated. My old one is 7 years out of date and showing its age badly, in addition to needing to be re-adjusted.

Another downside is - as Oz is loaded at the moment - hearing aids and specialist apts here are very expensive, so something I need to look into is would it be cheaper to pick them up in Ireland. Of course, the downside to this would be my audiologist would be in Ireland.

I'm trying to find resources to help me, more with info than anything else, but there is stuff for people with terrible hearing and people who are severely economically disadvantaged, but not for people like me, and I'm having some issues puzzling my way through the system on my own.

[fdismorr]

I know there is Australian Hearing, also (this may sound a strange option) Costco actually have a hearing centre. You have to be a member, but it could be worthwhile. Also, speak to your Dr. The Dr's do sometimes have some good ideas.

[fluffworld]

I'm not eligible for assistance from Australian Hearing (under 26, over 65, veterans and a few other small groups, but nothing for adults who can hold down a job basically) but Costco is one option I'm looking at.

I'm going to head to the doc this weekend and will ask her too.

[brisbanite]

Just curious - is the $8k before or after the tax offset for medical expenses? Since you are resident now, I assume you'd be eligible for the 20%.

[fluffworld]

Before the tax offset - it is nice to get it back, it's true, but you have to find it in the first place.

DAMMIT STOP TRYING TO BE REASONABLE AND LOGICAL WHEN I AM GETTING MY SOOK ON.

:D