GeoLane at PTD dot NET wrote in message
...
On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 04:30:50 -0600, Unknown
wrote:


I have a severe hearing loss in the right ear. In addition voice
recognition is less than poor. In other words the right ear is toast
even if the volume is cranked up.

No experience with a system as you described, but I suspect that
you're in competant hands at Mayo. Did they consider you to be a
candidate for a cochlear implant on the right side?

RWL


This is an open post to anyone it is relevant to:

I had a life of working in high noise environments. I lost hearing
gradually over the years. It gets bad. Everyone but YOU hears the joke.
Second time around having it explained to you isn't nearly as funny. You
have to watch people's mouths and pay serious attention to catch what's
going on. If someone behind or beside you says something, you most of the
time don't get it. You are forever asking people to repeat themselves. You
listen to TV at loud volumes.

My new wife got tired of it, and for Christmas about five years ago gave me
a certificate for hearing aids. Yeah, right, I thought. But I went. Got
fitted. Waited two weeks for them to come in. Got refitted. Got computer
programmed. Yeah, I could hear the difference in the audiologist's office
between hearing aids and no hearing aids. Then I left.

First thing I heard when I went outside was the birds. I was missing half
of life. Watched TV that night at the usual volume number, and said,
"Sheesh, that's LOUD!"

"No ****," says Wifey. "Now you know what I've been putting up with."

If I knew it was going to be this good, I would have gone ten years earlier.

If you have a hearing problem, or think you might, go to an audiologist and
be tested. From there, you can get top of the line brands on the Internet
for about half of what the local crook wants. They will definitely improve
your quality of life. Do what it takes.

Yes, they do cost. But they are worth it, and some insurance companies pay
some of it.

Do it for yourself, and everyone around you. Get it as good as it's going
to be.

Steve