From: FELIX.GAME@f125.n163.z1.fidonet.org (FELIX GAME)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: HEARING AIDS & WHATEVER
Date: 10 Oct 92 04:57:10 GMT
Reply-To: FELIX.GAME@f125.n163.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/125 - FedNet Public Acces, Ottawa ON
X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 24828

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 On 09-04-92 VIXEN wrote...
Hello Vixen,

 V >  A question; are there not some companies who do make hearing aids
 V >  that are more sound and speech selective these past couple of years?
        From my most recent eperience (last six months) I would have
        to say NO. The only innovation I became privy to, was a
        SMALLER aid by Widex. The other innovation was a computer
        program that the audiologist followed with a vengenace. If I
        wanted to be very cynical, I'd say it is reminiscent of the
        game "submarine". You pick a coordinate and fire. Here the
        audiologist "plots" the desired graph of the new aid. From
        then pon the graph becomes the Holy Grail. My problem is, that
        I have worked for 25 years with computers and have been the
        "boss" of some 40 analysts and programmers. So my first
        question is "how do you know that those coordinates are
        correct?" To which the innocent, and very lovely young
        audiologist replies, that "the program wants it that way". You
        can imagine the level of confidence that left me with. The
        point is that in fact the aid was less effective after it had
        been put through this "programmed" customization. I went home,
        got out my tiny screw driver, my personal graph, and the
        brochure I was given with the new aid, and I fixed it so it
        did me the most good.

 V >  Also, in the meantime, have you considered using something like my
 V >  TELEX remote FM system to help you with selective speech and sound
 V >  problems? I have found it useful in helping me to cope with
 V >  situations that would otherwise be impossible for me.

        No, I have not tried TELEX. For some reason, it is a closely
        guarded secret here. This is the first time I 'hear' of it.
        However, in my present situation (early reiteriment) I have no
        real neeed for it. I f you want me to shock you, I will
        confess to having developed a certain HoH assertiveness. I no
        longer feel obligated to listen to everything people have to
        say. I have been known to deliberately, and obviously pull my
        hearing aid OUT while someone was rambling on, and on about
        something only of interest to him/her.

 V >  As it applies to your feelings and what you want to say and what
 V >  you would like to discuss...never.

        Thanks for that. As ong as there is one area for misbehaving
        <g> I can hack the rest of the discipline.

 V >  Of course, one must realize that there are things that SilentTalk is
 V >  not. It is not a physician. It is not a political or external
 V >  activist body or organization. It is not a place where all questions
 V >  are guaranteed an exact or correct answer (If there is an answer at
 V >  all.) It is not an advisory board and it is not a place where we can
 V >  expect to find solutions to all problems, whether hearing related or
 V >  otherwise. Still, considering the above paragraph, SilentTalk is
 V >  quite a gem.

        This is the best answer anyone could have given me. It also
        put the finger right on the pulse; I am afraid I was beeing
        too demanding of the echo. I sort of wanted it to be
        everything. This sure straightened me out on that. Thanks for
        keeping me honest in this regard. It does beg a question
        though, where would we go if in need of a political activist
        body? It is not really my style, but in this arena, I could
        almost see myself playing a role. (The arena being the HoH
        people [consumers] v/s the service industry consisting of one
        segment of the medical profession, plus the groupies that want
        to have a slice of the pie at our expense).

<felix>

... OFFLINE 1.32
 * SLQWiK 1.02.d #UNREGISTERED

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