Mom won’t wear hearing aids - just a vent

[Anonymous]

There is a type of disposable hearing aid called Lyric made by a large hearing aid company called Phonic. https://www.phonak.com/en-us/hearing-devices/hearing-aids/lyric

It is inserted into a person's ear by an audiologist then swapped out every 6 to 8 weeks. So there is no charging them, no taking them on and off in the morning and most importantly they cannot be seen since they are inserted into the ear canal.

I went to Costco and got my mom hearing aids but she rarely wore them. She didn't want anyone to know she was wearing them, she wouldn't remember to charge them and she thought they were hard to put on. It was annoying to go and knock on her apartment door in her senior independent/assisted living community and she couldn't hear the door. And she couldn't hear the phone ring.

The hearing aids cost $300 dollars a month all included. Totally worth the price! Her quality of life is better and so is mine. I am puzzled why these type so hearing aids aren't more popular or more well known.

[Anonymous]

There are closed caption phone available that might help (if she is willing to read).

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=closed+caption+phone+for+seniors&hvadid=557270383910&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9005966&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=466856079316544323&hvtargid=kwd-1098111669282&hydadcr=7440_13184033&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_mzrcsbwry_e

[Anonymous]

PP and my much younger sister wears a hearing aid at 50. She learned we have a genetic hearing loss and that made me get screened. I don’t have the condition.

You can’t even see her HA and she says her life immediately improved - she is a HS principal and mom and noticed with great concern that she was misunderstanding and missing so much chatter and struggled to hear in any environment that wasn’t quiet.

[Anonymous]

After my mother died it was clear my father needed them but he refused. Over time he just tuned the world out and it was very sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are closed caption phone available that might help (if she is willing to read).

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=closed+caption+phone+for+seniors&hvadid=557270383910&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9005966&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=466856079316544323&hvtargid=kwd-1098111669282&hydadcr=7440_13184033&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_mzrcsbwry_e

But don't buy one, get one for free:
https://hamiltoncaptel.com/senior-care-program-for-healthcare-providers.html#:~:text=The%20Hamilton%20CapTel%20Senior%20Care,with%20a%20qualified%20hearing%20loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a type of disposable hearing aid called Lyric made by a large hearing aid company called Phonic. https://www.phonak.com/en-us/hearing-devices/hearing-aids/lyric

It is inserted into a person's ear by an audiologist then swapped out every 6 to 8 weeks. So there is no charging them, no taking them on and off in the morning and most importantly they cannot be seen since they are inserted into the ear canal.

I went to Costco and got my mom hearing aids but she rarely wore them. She didn't want anyone to know she was wearing them, she wouldn't remember to charge them and she thought they were hard to put on. It was annoying to go and knock on her apartment door in her senior independent/assisted living community and she couldn't hear the door. And she couldn't hear the phone ring.

The hearing aids cost $300 dollars a month all included. Totally worth the price! Her quality of life is better and so is mine. I am puzzled why these type so hearing aids aren't more popular or more well known.

300 dollars a month is a considerable expense for some people.

[Anonymous]

I find this so baffling. My FIL refuses to wear his most of the time, and he grows his hair out long (comb over style) to hide them when he does wear them. Why?!? Who cares if you wear hearing aids? I don’t get it.

[Anonymous]

Costco has the cheapest hearing aids available at $1500 vs $6000 elsewhere

[Anonymous]

There have been hearing aids on the market that you don't "see" for years.

I got the Eargos and have been using them for about 3 years.

There are plenty of options available if someone wants hearing aids that you don't "see."

[Anonymous]

Stop talking to her until she wears them. *shrugs*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a type of disposable hearing aid called Lyric made by a large hearing aid company called Phonic. https://www.phonak.com/en-us/hearing-devices/hearing-aids/lyric

It is inserted into a person's ear by an audiologist then swapped out every 6 to 8 weeks. So there is no charging them, no taking them on and off in the morning and most importantly they cannot be seen since they are inserted into the ear canal.

I went to Costco and got my mom hearing aids but she rarely wore them. She didn't want anyone to know she was wearing them, she wouldn't remember to charge them and she thought they were hard to put on. It was annoying to go and knock on her apartment door in her senior independent/assisted living community and she couldn't hear the door. And she couldn't hear the phone ring.

The hearing aids cost $300 dollars a month all included. Totally worth the price! Her quality of life is better and so is mine. I am puzzled why these type so hearing aids aren't more popular or more well known.

300 dollars a month is a considerable expense for some people.

There’s that, and the fact that they’re very limited in function. They’re analog, not digital, so noise reduction is lacking. No directional microphones. Not enough power for many people’s hearing loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a type of disposable hearing aid called Lyric made by a large hearing aid company called Phonic. https://www.phonak.com/en-us/hearing-devices/hearing-aids/lyric

It is inserted into a person's ear by an audiologist then swapped out every 6 to 8 weeks. So there is no charging them, no taking them on and off in the morning and most importantly they cannot be seen since they are inserted into the ear canal.

I went to Costco and got my mom hearing aids but she rarely wore them. She didn't want anyone to know she was wearing them, she wouldn't remember to charge them and she thought they were hard to put on. It was annoying to go and knock on her apartment door in her senior independent/assisted living community and she couldn't hear the door. And she couldn't hear the phone ring.

The hearing aids cost $300 dollars a month all included. Totally worth the price! Her quality of life is better and so is mine. I am puzzled why these type so hearing aids aren't more popular or more well known.

300 dollars a month is a considerable expense for some people.

There’s that, and the fact that they’re very limited in function. They’re analog, not digital, so noise reduction is lacking. No directional microphones. Not enough power for many people’s hearing loss.

When you develop dementia in part because you can't hear, memory care is going to cost you 10K a month. $300 is a lot of money for some seniors but for other seniors who can easily afford it, then it is one of the best investments you can buy. My mother would not wear hearing aids that I got for her at Costco. But now after wearing Lyric ones for a few months, she realizes how wonderful it is to hear well again.

They are limited in function but my mother's hearing aid had bluetooth technology and all sorts of bells and whistles that she could never program or use. Yes digital hearing aids can filter sounds and reduce background noise, but analog hearing aids which uses older technology amplifies everything which results in a more natural sound experience. Many musicians prefer analog hearing aids because they feel digital hearing aids distort sound.

If your parent can and will use a digital hearing aid from Costco, then yes that will absolutely be cheaper in the long run. When I read that not using a hearing aid if you have a hearing loss is a risk factor for dementia, I got my hearing tested. I have a very mild loss that the audiologist I went to said 95% of people don't get hearing aids for, however since my insurance paid for 80% then I got digital hearing aids. They are great but I had to get used to them and I have to charge them every night.

However, if you parent is not willing to wear any hearing aid and can afford around $300 a month, then these disposable hearing aids are so worth it. Family gatherings are so much better because my mother can now hear and engage in the conversation. They work for people with mild to moderately severe hearing loss. https://www.phonakpro.com/content/dam/phonakpro/gc_hq/en/products_solutions/hearing_aid/lyric/documents/product_information_lyric3_027-0152.pdf

Only around 10% of audiologist have the training to dispense them, so you have to search for one that does. And not everyone will be a candidate. I think most places have a one month free trial.

[Anonymous]

I totally get it. My mother was the same way and so was my dad at first. In their defense, they feel awkward and are hard to get used to, but conversations with were a nightmare. Just one sided complaining and speaking loudly and rambling. Plus, it's so frustrating because you know it can make dementia progress further and cause so many problems.

I had to do a lot of detaching with love. I also moved to doing more communication through text or email. Sure enough both did eventually start wearing hearing aides more consistently.

[Anonymous]

I went through the same thing and it was so freaking annoying and typical of my mother to blame everyone else for not speaking loudly enough. I’m sorry. It was a way for her to feel in control, although of course it hurt her more than it did us. The volume can be turned up on some phones.

[Anonymous]

I am 50plus.
I have hearing aids but I dont wear them because I can hear the rest of the background white noise. Its very disturbing.