So Far – So Good
Over about half an hour on Mon. 21st I was issued with a Baha unit and shown how to fit it and use it. Regular readers will appreciate from what has been posted earlier, four days is a very short time indeed to make any judgement on a new hearing aid. It can take months for the subject to adjust to, and re-learn different characteristics and usage methods. This post is made deliberately to record my first impressions. It will probably not be my final opinion of this type of aid.
| The fixing, though it seemed fiddly for the first couple of tries, is quite simple and is now probably faster than my two conventional units. |
Unlike some other circumstances where original aids are “confiscated” to enforce usage of the new units, I was allowed to keep my behind-the-ear instruments. With the exception of BodyPump, I have not worn them since. The bone anchored unit is definitely my method of first choice. One does get used to having lumps of perspex wedged in ones ears and bits hanging over them, but I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I appreciate them not being there now. I have no feedback trouble due to jaw position etc. and, at the moment, don’t need to fiddle with volume settings at all. I can experience feedback from getting things very close indeed to the unit, but due to the positioning this is far less frequent and intrusive. Actual contact seems more likely to cause feedback. The only regular occurrence of this is if I start to nod off in my favourite wing backed chair, I am roused by a noise I imagine to be very similar to accidentally sitting on a large cat.
The only reason I resort to my waterproof aids for the gym is that I don’t think the Baha would cope with the combination of copious sweat and unusual head positions involved in vigorous exercise. (My apologies to those of a sensitive disposition, we inhabit a real world)
The power available was at first disappointing. It still is a little, and the jury is still out on this. Users have to adjust every time there is an improvement in amplifier technology. A good quality output signal usually means less extraneous “white noise” generated by the amplification process itself. Unfortunately users adjust to this instrument noise and start to expect it as a sort of base load signal. In this case better quality is always perceived as lower volume.
In spite of the unit being on one side only I’m not particularly aware of having a “good side” for hearing, possibly because bone conduction feeds to both ears. Common sense logic does apply however. If being very analytical, I do hear things better (in both ears!) to the left than to the right.
The unit has a “directional” setting designed for use in conditions with a great deal of background noise, always very difficult for aid users. It seems very clever, but I’ve only had one chance to try it so far, on the first day. It does seem to be extremely directional, at close quarters being able to pick a single person out of a group. It also seems to filter out a lot of lower frequencies though, and everyone’s voice goes up a pitch or two. There also seems to be some loss of power as well, but we might be back at the ‘quantity vs quality’ balance again. It seems a very useful tool but one that I currently need more experience in using.
One major drawback is using an ordinary telephone. Like many aid users I knew just how to use my conventional instruments and was actually more confident on the phone than face to face. At the moment I am having trouble finding and holding a comfortable “sweet spot” for the position of the telephone handset. On the other hand I can now use a mobile phone quite well, whereas my conventional units suffered very badly from interference from the radio signal. In the past I could only use mobiles though a special induction loop system which required an inconvenient amount of extra body wiring.
The Baha does not have an induction circuit, which are common in many instruments and detect special signals in banks, theatres and other public places etc (when these are working well enough!!!!!). I won’t miss this for public systems but I do at home. TV is often a great problem for hearing impaired people and I had rigged up a private induction system that gave me better than standard hearing on my old units. (The family often had to turn the volume up from my settings so that they could hear comfortably). I can now hear reasonably well at normal settings with the Baha. but have to concentrate more.
One last note that may change some of this. Although I do have a Baha, it is the department demonstration unit, not the one obtained for me. At my first interview it was noted that I was right handed, and an assumption made that the unit would be positioned on that side because of the dexterity required in fitting. On the day of the operation I opted for fixing on the left as a personal preference. Because the units are directional, they are also ‘handed’. The system had not picked up my last minute change and had ordered a right hand unit. It will take about a week to obtain a replacement unit.
That’s fantastic Kevin. I’m delighted that it all went so well, and I look forward to reading your future postings. After all, you’ve had several decades to get used to your “conventional” equipment, and now you are reporting after a couple of days?
Some questions, if I may:-
Granted, the colour-match is a good one, toning well with all those expensive grey streaks(grin)? I assume that these things come in a variety of colours? Also, it strikes me that ladies might actually have the advantage here, in that long hair would totally conceal the device – but would that cause a feedback problem?
Ken,
at my first interview the specialist actually suggested that I could grow my hair long to hide the unit if I wished. The microphones are the two small holes seen to the lower left of the unit in the photo, and it is this area that seems very sensitive to touch. If you look at earlier photos of the abutment by itself, you will see that it is particularly the area below the abutment that has been epilated. I’m assuming that this is potentially the major source area for feedback. Long hair falling over the unit from above doesn’t appear to be a problem.
H Kevin,
obviously, having only just found your Blog, I have arrived a little late ( vast understatement ha ha) but I couldn’t sign off without saying that I am in awe of the way you have handled your deafness. Having met you face to face, I had not realised just what a big problem or rather I should say just how far advanced it is. You cope with it so well, and the paraphanalia – is that spelt right? – which you had to wear or trunde around was hidden about your person so well. The technology you are describing and using is brilliant. I do wish you every success with it, you will always be the Bionic Man now as far as I am concerned. More power to your elblow – and your Baha – Lynn/ Grandma Scooter
Hi Lynn,
perhaps the blog wasn’t as clear as it should have been about the paraphanalia. Under normal conditions this is restricted to the bits you see in and behind my ears. The trouble starts when you try mobile phones. It’s a bit involved to explain in a comment. It’s a very good topic for another blog though!
This is a great blog! I hope you’ll consider adding it to the aggregator at Deaf Village (www.deafvillage.com) — we’d love to have you as part of our community!