New audiogram for Hubby....lost a little - Hearing Disorders Message Board

cb3228 · 09-27-2008, 08:38 AM

Hi, we just went to look at new hearing aids for the hubby. He had a stapes operation at 28 in left ear, which did help and right ear has always been the worst one. He is now 54 years old and very discouraged by the new results as follows:

Air conduction:

Right ear: 250hz @ 70, 500hz @ 90, 1000hz @ 110, 2000hz @ 105, 3000hz @ 105, 4000hz @ 115, 6000hz @ 100 and 8000hz @ 85

Left ear: 250hz @ 85, 500hz @ 90, 1000hz @ 90, 2000hz @ 85, 3000hz @ 85, 4000hz @ 85, 6000 hz @ 75, 8000hz @ 75

Bone Conduction:

Right ear: 500hz @ 45, 1000hz @ 75, 2000hz @ 75 and 4000hz @ 50

Left ear: 1000hz @ 65, 3000 hz @ 20 and 4000hz @ 50

Also, not sure if this is anything:

Right ear Air Conduction, AI=0%, PTA=101
Right ear Bone conduction, PTA=66
Left ear Air Conduction AI=0%, PTA=88
Bone conduction (left empty)

The audiologist classified his loss as "profound". What type of hearing aids will help with his loss. The aids he has now do help, but I can sit 2 feet away from him in our office and talk and he can't hear me........I have to physically touch him to get his attention and then he turns and I speak directly to him. In crowds or situations with alot of background noise he is non-functional. His current aids are 4+ years old and we were blaming most of the loss on them........but his audiogram shows a worsening of his hearing. I've heard of the cochlear implants and read about them...........just from his audiogram does he appear to be someone that could benefit, as well as qualify as a candidate for these?? He is extremely down and as a retired state trooper and current head of a local police agency he is not used to having no control over something and this is throwing him for a loop. Any suggestions on hearing aids or info on the cochlear implants in New Jersey/Phila., PA area would be greatly appreciated. It breaks my heart to see him going thru all of this and not being able to help!

Thanks so much!!!
Chris

dreams in neon · 10-22-2008, 12:35 AM

Chris,

In order to qualify for a cochlear implant, a person must have severe-profound hearing loss (80 dB or below across all frequencies) and speech discrimmination of 40% or less with hearing aids.

To find a cochlear implant center in your area, do an Internet search for "Cochlear Americas." On their website is a link that reads, "Find a Clinic." Click on that link and you will be taken to a page which lists all cochlear implant centers by state.

If you have any specific questions about cochlear implants, I would be more than happy to answer them. I have bilateral cochlear implants and have been extremely pleased with how much they have changed my life.

Hope this helps!

skyhighifly · 10-26-2008, 03:32 PM

A cochlear implant could solve the problem, but he actually has a mixed hearing loss which may change the eligibility. It's best to actually talk to a doctor that performs these surgeries to get the most up to date information on the list of criteria a person has to meet.

As far as hearing aids, powerful ones. An FM unit might help. I teach students with profound hearing losses. Some with more hearing that your husband and they all require sign language. They are in the 3rd grade and understand some spoken words in isolation, but not sentences. Your husband must be a great lipreader!

dreams in neon · 10-26-2008, 11:54 PM

I didn't realize that your husband had a mixed loss. If that's the case, he may be helped by a BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid). To find out more about BAHAs, take a look at Cochlear America's website.

canada1982 · 11-04-2008, 11:37 PM

I am not sure if these may be useful to your husband but I have profound hearing loss and i use Oticon Deltas. I really like them and I find that I can hear everything from both front, back and to the sides. So much so that it's kind of freaky.