First let me say that I really like these things. It is so nice being able to hear again and even nicer to not say, "Huh?" all the time. Everyone I interact with agrees.

However, I have a problem. Itching/tickling in the ear canal. How do you guys deal with this? It's driving me nuts! It's mostly just the left ear, but the right one will flare up from time to time as well. Then, I dig in there with a Q-Tip (the good ones with wooden sticks so I can get some leverage) and it feels so good that my leg starts shaking. I need to stop that though.

I stopped by Costco the other day and the audiologist stated that it was really fairly common and was caused by a dry canal. So, she gave me some moisturizer drops to put in there. Problem is, and I tried to tell her, my canals are not dry...at all. Regardless, I tried them. Didn't work. No surprise.

Then I thought maybe it was the hairs in there tickling things, so I plucked those out. Nope, no joy. I'm about ready to start putting some steroid cream in there.

Anybody else deal with this? What worked for you?

I'm looking at hearing aids soon. I have to do something. My family insists upon speaking a low mumble mode, and talking to me from other rooms. I had the same experience with ear plugs at work when I first started wearing them. Sorry to say I just kept wearing them and now I just don't notice it anymore.

Gustofer I'd be interested in hearing about your path to hearing aids. Did you take advantage of the new over the counter hearing aids, or did you do the audiologist following best practices route?

quote:

Originally posted by goose5:
Gustofer I'd be interested in hearing about your path to hearing aids. Did you take advantage of the new over the counter hearing aids, or did you do the audiologist following best practices route?

I actually tried the Eargo ones I saw on TV first. While I did like the ITC (in the canal) aspect of them, I didn't care for the sound I got out of them and returned them.

Fast forward a year or two and having to deal with bad hearing coupled with everyone wearing masks, muffling things even further, I went to Costco for "real" hearing aids. I first tried out the ITC model they had and found the sound to just not be natural and I didn't like it. The audiologist I did my exam with warned me of this but I was stubborn. To be honest, part of it was vanity. I didn't want people to know I was wearing hearing aids, so a little device in the ear was pretty discrete. Unfortunately, they didn't work out for me. He, the audiologist, explained that the ITC ones only have one microphone whereas the over the ear kind have three, giving you a much more natural sound.

So, I traded them in on a set of over the ear ones. Excellent, natural sound, and so light that you can't even tell that they're on your head. And, unless you look closely you can't hardly tell that they're in there. The only issues I have are the itching, as mentioned, and putting glasses on and off. They both fit over the ears just fine, you just have to be careful when putting them on or taking them off. Otherwise, I'm a very happy customer. I've often said that Lasik was the best $2000 I ever spent. These are the best $1500 I ever spent.

I have hearing aids. I'm on my second $7000 pair. The first pair figured out to have cost $2 per day. The technology in my current pair is so much better than the first.
But I too have the comfort and itch problems. Frequent ear cleaning and drops help a lot.
My hearing loss started with measles when I was tiny. My test graph has always been like this

The docs say that no current aid will help totally due to the best hearing frequency being so close to the worst hearing frequency

quote:

Originally posted by Hamden106:
I have hearing aids. I'm on my second $7000 pair. The first pair figured out to have cost $2 per day. The technology in my current pair is so much better than the first.
But I too have the comfort and itch problems. Frequent ear cleaning and drops help a lot.
My hearing loss started with measles when I was tiny. My test graph has always been like this

The docs say that no current aid will help totally due to the best hearing frequency being so close to the worst hearing frequency

What brand/model are you using? I need some and want to get high quality if they are worth it.

I've been wearing hearing aids about eight years now. I have the behind the ear style and I like them a lot. I've never had the itching that you talk about but I do use those ear rinse kits about once a week.

How much to spend? There are a lot of threads here on the forum that discuss that but I am not at all convinced that if you decide to spend five times more than you should that your hearing will be five times better or that the aids will last five times longer.

My hearing aids cost me just about a grand I am very pleased with them.

I've had hearing aids since about 2017. I'm on my second pair now.
I have no problem with them wearing them I can forget I have the on.

It is nice being able to hear stuff I haven't heard in years.

Once you get used to hearing with them you notice how bad your hearing is when you're not wearing them

On my 3rd set now. I had/have the itch issue and all I can say is you kind of get used to it.

The technology seems to advance with each new set I get. Currently using Oticon More line that are a couple of years old now. Very pleased with them.

I've had behind the ear hearing aids for about 12 years now & the itching has been a problem since I've had them. About the only thing that I've used is a small amount of hand lotion at the end of the canals where the hearing aid tips are inserted. It doesn't help much at all.

I've even tried placing the tips of the aid at the end of the ear canal, instead of inserting it into the canal. That helps with the itching, but then the aid isn't held in place very securely.

I'll be watching this thread for suggestions.

Veterans check the VA if you need hearing aids.

quote:

Originally posted by 95flhr:
On my 3rd set now. I had/have the itch issue and all I can say is you kind of get used to it.

The technology seems to advance with each new set I get. Currently using Oticon More line that are a couple of years old now. Very pleased with them.

I'm still on my original set of Oticons. Not sure of the model. I've had to have the tubes replaced a couple times, and the volume switch on one is getting kind of sticky, but they've served me well.

I don't know the precise name for the cone-shaped soft rubber piece that surrounds the speaker that is inserted in your ear canal, but they do come in different sizes (diameters). I have found the smaller size greatly reduced the itching problem.

Domes.

Yeah, I've tried smaller ones and while it did seem to reduce it some it was still present...and annoying. The other problem is that they didn't stay in very well.

Hoping there's an easy fix.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Domes.

Yeah, I've tried smaller ones and while it did seem to reduce it some it was still present...and annoying. The other problem is that they didn't stay in very well.

Hoping there's an easy fix.

Domes won't work for me. I had to get custom molds.

quote:

Originally posted by charlie12:
Domes won't work for me. I had to get custom molds.

Is that because of the itching issue, or some other reason?

I've read that custom molded ones are one solution to my problem.

Worn hearing aids since 1995, and behind the ear 2005to 2010. Hated them. Constantly getting knocked off (wear glasses). Went back to ITC and more comfortable and better hearing. ~$5000.

Thats the same problem I have with my over the ear models. Snagging on my glasses / sunglasses.
Only a matter of time before I lose one.

Instead of drops try a swab with a little mineral oil or moisturizer cream on it.

If you are like me it is not so much irritation as just a new “sensation”. I acclimatized to it after a few weeks and no longer an issue.

For those of you paying thousands of dollars for hearing aids, you're paying too much. There are only 4 major manufacturers worldwide (last I checked) Almost all secondary dealers like Belltone, etc) buy one or more of these brands with their own labels on them. There is little to no difference in quality. Costco has high quality hearing aids for under 2000. Also, some insurance companies contract with a company called Tru Hearing. If they do, you can get free hearing aids from them on a regular schedule, up to a specific limit (mine is currently 2500.) Oddly enough, many audiologists take this insurance, and will charge only a modest fee for upgrades such as additional features (Bluetooth to phone, additional channels, etc.) It's well worth checking out your options. Further, many of us in the over 50 set are loosing our hearing due to environmental factors, and the technology keeps improving. It's worth checking out new models every few years, as the sound quality and durability do improve and functional, used units can be turned in for tax credit, much like a car. Hope this has been helpful.

I've talked to several who have them. One constant in their experiences to all was some form of disappointment and not being completely satisfied. Mostly they aren't the magic bullet for noisy environments. A friend just puts one on for noisy nights. So, I'd rather be disappointed with a 2k cost rather than a 6k cost. I've heard Oticon mentioned more than once here. So, if I can get a pair and what I want to spend I guess we're off to the races.