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Any Audiophiles Here Have Experience with Hearing Aids?

About 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease, a pretty unpleasant inner ear problem that is characterized by horrible, but luckily sporadic extreme vertigo, tinnitus, and low frequency hearing loss.  Dormant for about 6 years, it has come back in the last couple of years with a vengeance, with a lot of low frequency loss and overall difficulty hearing in the affected ear.  It generally affects only one ear, in this case my left ear.  It does not always lead to deafness, but definite hearing impairment.  I used to be able to really discern the difference between various cables and components, even if subtle.  Now, with my low frequency hearing loss and age-related high frequency hearing loss, I'm not sure that I can discern crap.  Music still sounds good, but one of my friends was over listening to various music and could instantly say that "this sounded flat" or the "soundstage had no depth," etc.  I could hear no difference at all.   My doctor is recommending a hearing aid.  Which brings me to the question:  does anyone here have experience with using a hearing aid, and how does a hearing aid affect your listening to music?  Does it restore some of your ability to recognize subtleties in the music?  Does it distort the music? What is a good hearing aid that will not distort the music?
moto_man
8 responses Add your response
boss302
110 posts
 
Motoman, I'm in the same boat you are, getting older is a learning experience.  Besides the answers you will get on your questions here on your thread also do a search of this forum for "hearing aids".  This has been a popular question of which there are over 800 threads.  Good reading and good luck on your journey. 
blueranger's avatar
blueranger
719 posts
 
I'm hoping for the pill or injection thats in develooement to be on the market by the time I'm retired in 9 years. It has worked in mice they say or I read.
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
I suffer from infrequent tinnitus. Also at various times in my life with vertigo also. Fortunately for me, it comes and goes. At it's worst, it makes listening sessions almost impossible. Good luck.
moto_man OP
363 posts
 
I made the rookie error in thinking that I was the first person to post about this problem.  There are indeed several threads that discuss the problems/benefits of certain hearing aids.  High end Opticon seems to be the type of choice.  I'll be interested to hear how it affects the music.  I guess the way I figure it, if there is an equalization curve that boosts the low and high end in line with my deficit, maybe something will be better than nothing and I can go back to blowing $$$ on even better equipment, LOL!

@blueranger, you are likely referring to the OTO trials.  They are still ongoing, but the Phase II trials in the US did not demonstrate any statistically significant improvements.  The Phase II in Europe did and the company is doing a Phase III trial in . . . Europe, what a surprise. Meniere's is a crappy disease, but I have read that there are a lot of people that have it significantly worse than I do, and there are significantly worse health problems to have, so that is some consolation.  

I've also found that with the right strain of medical marijuana, all my music sounds excellent -- even my early 1970's Led Zeppelin bootlegs! And its a lot cheaper than a hearing aid or new speakers, LOL!
skywachr
124 posts
 
Meniere's is greatly impacted by food allergies. Notice more tinnitus after drinking wine or eating a particular food? Get allergy blood tested and see a Neuro otologist smart enough to believe this. Jack Pulec MD (now deceased) left the House Clinic in LA over this controversial issue but people from all over the world including Saudi royalty came to see him for treatment for Meniere's which included this approach.

moto_man OP
363 posts
 
@skywachr, the tinnitus is always there, but sometimes I just don't notice it.  It's the vertigo attacks that are the real problem.  First, I feel lightheaded -- slightly dizzy.  Then, my eyes start flicking back and forth (nystagmus), then I can't walk and must lie down, after which I puke for an hour or so until I can fall asleep.  Although salt, wine, alcohol and caffeine are known triggers, there has never been any consistency.  My doc analogizes it to juggling 5 balls.  All good.  Through a 6th ball in there and the balls drop.  That 6th ball could be anything, which is why it is a bitch to figure out what to avoid.
skywachr
124 posts
 
So sorry to hear that. I am fortunate to have been diagnosed with Meniere's that does not include vertigo. It can still be Meniere's with only 2 of the 3 symptoms.
moto_man OP
363 posts
 
@skywachr, really? I thought that the vertigo was the defining symptom of Meniere's, along with telltale low frequency hearing loss and tinnitus.  I wonder if you may have something else (hopefully).  Without the vertigo attacks, I would just forget about the low frequency loss and the tinnitus, although I understand that some folks have tinnitus so bad that they have trouble falling asleep, which would really suck!
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