Now for the "something new".
Yesterday I had my long-awaited appointment with the Audiologist to make a decision about hearing aids. I was not looking forward to doing this. The financial investment is sizable, and there will be a learning curve to train myself to get the most out of my investment. But....I made the choice.
And now that I have, I am even a bit excited.
All the advice I had in making this decision told me not to skimp on the cost, but go with the top of the line. So that's what I did. The brand is Starkey and the model is Halo, and the hearing aids will be synced to my i Phone. Yep, more cool phone apps.
The i Phone app, called TruLink, will give me remote control of the volume of amplification, and will stream phone calls, music, or whatever from my phone to my hearing aids, wirelessly. My phone can also act as a microphone so that in a noisy environment I can place my phone near the person I am having a conversation with and the phone mic will amplify the speaker's words in my hearing aids.
This technology is not cheap. Even with the $800 insurance I apparently have through Group Health, and the discount for buying two, since I have two ears :-), the total will still be over $5000. That's where the learning curve comes in. With that kind of money, I feel very responsible for making this work.
I'll get my hearing aids, have them fitted, and get lessons for use and care in about two weeks. Then I'll be letting you know how it goes.
Now this is super exciting! I look forward to finding out how all this work. My hearing is one thing I still seem to have retained in my old age. :-)
ReplyDeleteLinda I have complete confidence you will master all this fancy technology. You mastered the TV, your serger, sewing machine etc so no doubt you will master this. This all sounds exciting. Perhaps this new technology will do away with the complaints we hear so often about hearing aids. I remember an aunt probably 60 years ago got a hearing aid. She sewed herself some pockets with long ties. She would drop the hearing aid into the pocket to hang like a necklace and tie the ties around her neck. She had wires and ear plugs then to each ear like we use today for listing to music. Things have advanced a lot.
ReplyDeleteI think if anyone can get the most out of a hearing aid it will be you. You seem to grasp techy stuff quickly and have a great attitude.
ReplyDeleteYou can do this. Just take notes so you can tell me how.
ReplyDeleteI know some day I'm probably going to have to go through this too. My mom did, and Nigel already complains that I put the TV up too loud. The iPhone connectivity sounds really cool! My son is partially deaf, and he had hearing aids at one time that had a tiny little button for volume control, which was difficult for a kid to master.
ReplyDeleteWe shall be looking forward to hearing about this and getting some good hints from you. Art also should be getting hearing aids. He's got an appointment coming up. You did a fabulous job with your floral arrangement. You've really used the principles of ikebana arrangement.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to news on how you get on, I think I would struggle with the technology.
ReplyDeleteSo cool to be able to control the sound remotely with your phone. And wonderful to hear well again when you get them. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteI will be watching this as I am a candidate for hearing aids but haven't done anything about it yet.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing about using the phone as a hand mike. This should really add so much to your daily living. Can't wait to see how the adjustment period goes.
ReplyDeleteTechnology at it's finest, I hope it all works for you! :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you can afford these hearing aids. Many people cannot.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and best wishes, Linda.
How cool is that? Looking forward to hearing how it works for you.
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