Had a hearing evaluation this week because I’m seeing a difference in my hearing over the past few week. When it came time to do speech discrimination, I requested the audiologist use a different list of words, one that I am not familiar with. I mean, lets face it, after 30 years of being hearing impaired and taking innumerous hearing tests, I think I can recognize: hot-dog, white-wash, foot-ball, and so on. I felt it only fair to test my word recognition by using words I was unfamiliar with. Afterall, every conversation we get involved with daily is pretty much unfamiliar.
It was clear from the start that my word recognition had regressed. Don’t know whether to blame aging or my otosclerosis? The audiologist and the intern were extremely sensitive and approachable. I could have been their worst nightmare but because I am clearly savvy on my hearing loss and my expectations and what I want from the evaluation session, they were more than cooperative. Although they could have been difficult about my request for a different word list.
I requested that my hearing aid be reprogrammed to a few pitches higher which they did and I found a nice improvement in my hearing. I plan to return in two weeks to test out two hearing aids that may give me more benefit. In the meantime, I clearly saw a difference when I went out to dinner, in a noisy party setting and in the classroom. I am very eager to try out new technology and even discussed the C.I. and Baha with the audiologist. From what we can see, I am not eligible for either one of them. Oh well, on with life.
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March 1st, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I did that during my last eval. too. My audi didn’t mind switching word lists either, though he thought it a “funny” request. He explained about the lists, that they know we’ll recognize some words. Still, he cooperated, and I didn’t do as well with word recognition either– but I’m sure it’s because I have a progressive loss and my hearing had changed. It’s time for me to get new aids, but I’m putting it off until next year when we only have one in college instead of two. These will have to do. Luckily they’re both still working.