Sue Livingston
Mobile, AL
“The app really helps. I can change the program needed from my smartphone. It’s very simple an easy to do.”
How and when did you first realize you were experiencing hearing loss?
I noticed that I kept having to ask others at work to repeat what they had asked or said to me. I also noticed that I thought my radio in my car was not working right – muffled sounds and static like speaking. Voices and music did not sound normal.
Where did you first go for information or help? Why?
To my ENT to determine what was wrong. I had many hearing and balance tests.
Based on your experience, do you have suggestions for others on how and where to start? Any other important things for them to consider?
Go to the doctor as soon as you realize you can’t hear, especially for any overnight loss.
What was your biggest concern about hearing aids? Did that turn out to be true?
I went through about 5 months of testing along with doing the intratympanic injections in the worst ear. I regained some hearing which didn’t last long. Many people said hearing aids were a waste of money and didn’t work well. I wasn’t sure I could afford them. In 2017 I had insurance, but it did not cover hearing aids. But in 2018, 4 months after losing hearing in my left ear, my insurance plan changed and began covering hearing aids. After researching brands/types of hearing aids, I decided ReSound would be the best. I went to an Audiologist in April 2018 and she said I was ready to get mine. She said ReSound had some high-powered hearing aids that would be good for me, so she ordered those.
How have hearing aids changed your life? How do they help you at your job, in your hobbies or at volunteer activities?
Absolutely amazing changes for me since getting my hearing aids. I am now able to hear the birds outside again, people at work, my husband and the television! The ReSound app lets me control the hearing better in certain settings such as noisier environments. Are hearing aids perfect? No, there are situations where they don’t help as much such as in extremely noisy places. But for day-to-day hearing of family, employees at work, etc. they have given me back a life of hearing.
I got used to mine quickly. The app really helps. I can change the program needed from my smartphone. It’s very simple an easy to do. Now, when I take them out at night to sleep I’m amazed at how poor my hearing is and how much the hearing aids do help. Also, get two hearing aids even if one ear is poor. To my surprise, though I still have little speech recognition in the left ear. I hear much better in the right hearing aid when the left aid is in place. If I take the left aid out, I can hear ok, but not quite as good. I’ve been very pleased with my ReSound ENZO 3D™ hearing aids! It will be worth spending the money and to help eliminate early onset dementia which is associated with hearing loss along with feelings of loneliness and isolation.
What would you tell someone who is considering hearing aids?
Don’t risk early onset dementia, depression, loneliness and isolation. Get some hearing aids and be a part of the world again..
Which ReSound Hearing Aid(s) do you have?
ReSound ENZO 3D
Who is your hearing care professional?
Andrea L Thompson at Premier Medical in Mobile, AL