I have a grandmother that came overseas, being over 90 she has shown slight memory and cognitive decline along with significant hearing loss making it essential for her to wear a hearing aid.
However she has consistent problems with the manual adjustment of the device, making it problematic for communication. Does anyone have any advice on this issue ? Anything will help although I am looking to more clearly communicate or possibly swap the device, any advice in general relating to this would be very much appreciated.
Our mother developed otosclerosis many years ago - I call it the Florence Henderson hearing problem, as she talked about this many years ago and helped me to understand the issue. The sad part for mom is that while this is a surgically correctable problem, she decided not to do it. Why? Doctors have to give you all information, including risks. When he told her they do one ear at a time because any issue could cause balance issues, she balked and did not do it (LOW risk, and if they do one and there's no issue, do the other!!!) Now her hearing is atrocious! She initially wore aids on both sides, eventually only one. Now with dementia she either forgets to replace the battery (I have instructed staff to do this every two weeks, per the provider, but they don't), OR she forgets to put it in. One time she'll ask what is this for, and state she doesn't wear them. The next she'll ask why I took it out (replacing battery!)
Given the inconsistency with use and need to communicate, I found and purchased a "Boogie Board". It is an LCD tablet that can be "written" on with a stylus (or any pointy non-pen object, including fingernail) and then cleared with the press of a button. When she cannot hear enough (or read lips for simple instruction), we use this. Funny that she cannot remember what she said from one minute to the next, but she figured this out quickly! She'll read it, respond to it and press the clear button! We don't have to use it all the time, but it does come in handy. The staff was VERY happy when I got this! There are many options online (I used Amazon, compare sizes and prices, as there are MANY available.)
FYI:
Otosclerosis is a condition that causes hearing loss. It happens when a small bone in your middle ear -- usually the one called the stapes -- gets stuck in place. Most of the time, this happens when bone tissue in your middle eargrows around the stapes in a way it shouldn't.
Your stapes bone has to vibrate for you to hear well. When it can't do that, sound can't travel from your middle ear to your inner ear. That makes it hard for you to hear.
Thanks to everyone who participates in these forums, I not only learn a lot, but it is comforting to know there are others out there for support who are going through what I am.
https://www.amazon.com/Personal-Sound-Amplifier-Enhancer-Assistance/dp/B077ZFGLPH/ref=sr_1_15_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1546008637&sr=8-15&keywords=hearing+amplifier
Trip after trip back to the medical office where the hearing aid was adjusted and Mom could hear a bit better, but the next day, back to square one... [sigh].
I honestly think if one used an old fashioned "hearing horn" [ear trumpet], they could probably hear just as well without it being so complex to use.