Three centuries later

A bit cumbersome

I am pretty sure that my mild hearing loss would not have caused me to resort to such a contraption as this one I snagged off the internet. In the 17th century, someone decided to try to create a device that would amplify sound. Of course, all it does is take a larger area of sound that is then compressed down to fit over the ear. You can get the same effect by cupping your palm around your ear or ears to make sounds a little louder. Not to mention this device is quite heavy and probably didn't do much to help one hear. But if you're really deaf, any little amplification would help.

Today's much better version

This is a picture of a Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid, which is what I have. When I returned from my last visit to Florida, and being chastised for trying to keep conversations going and missing much of the words, well, the first thing I did was get my hearing checked. Yep, missing a lot of the high-frequency sounds, which is pretty normal for someone of my advancing age. My Medicare Advantage provider sent me to get a set of hearing aids, and although I didn't get to choose the type or price, I was given a set by an audiologist that looks much like this picture. There is a part of the device that sits behind the ear and gives me control of rejecting or receiving a phone call.

It took me awhile to get used to inserting them properly, and then to learning how to use them. They are linked by Bluetooth to my iPhone, and I ended up paying around $2,000 for both, along with extra amount for a charger, rather than using batteries. I am so glad I did the whole thing, and my insurance covered the majority of the cost, leaving me with that final number. I paid them off a few months ago, and I also have two years of maintenance covered with my audiologist. She has already cleaned them for me once, and of course she set them up so that I can get the best hearing out of them. Everyone's hearing loss is a little different, and I seem to be harder of hearing out of my left ear. I only know this because when I take them out in the evening and put them in the charger, everything sounds much quieter, with the left ear allowing me to notice my hearing loss.

There are only two times during daily activities that I take them out: one, when I am getting a massage I don't want them to get in the way, and two, when I take a bath or shower. They don't like water, but so far they haven't shown any problems with the little bit they get wet when I'm out in the rain. I am careful to wear a rain hat or whatever I need to keep them from the worst of the rain.

I am mostly unaware of them, but I do know they have made my family members and coffee shop companions stop mumbling all the time! And I remember when I first heard birdsong again. Now I am used to them, and I would definitely recommend anyone of a certain age to get your hearing checked. It's worth it. And I do know there are cheaper ones out there, but I don't know anything about them. Perhaps some of my readers do, and are willing to share. I am happy to have them, and to receive my phone calls inside my ear, rather than out there... 

Life is good.

:-)