What you don't know about hearing aids | Juliëtte Sterkens | TEDxOshkosh
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- čas přidán 1. 03. 2024
- For most people it's not a matter of if, but when, they will lose some sense of hearing. Still, we don't give hearing loss or hearing aids much thought until it happens to us--or someone we know.
Only then do we learn that hearing aids are incapable of restoring hearing to normal, especially in acoustically challenging situations. The good news is that modern technology continues to bring us new, sometimes hidden, and often unknown features that can help those with hearing loss overcome more of their hearing challenges.
Juliëtte Sterkens, AuD, is an audiologist with forty years of experience in hearing rehabilitation turned consumer advocate with the Hearing Loss Association of America. She has published numerous articles and lectured internationally to consumers, audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, and venue operators. Topics include living well with hearing loss, hearing accessibility, and hearing loops. Her work has led to hundreds of hearing loop installations in Wisconsin. She has received numerous awards for her efforts, including the American Academy of Audiology Presidential Award. She serves on the board of HEAR in the Fox Cities, a non-profit that helps pay for hearing aids for children in North-East Wisconsin.
She enjoys gardening, traveling worldwide to observe solar eclipses with her husband, and visiting her family and son in the Netherlands and daughter in Australia. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
Notice how clearly
she enunciates her words with the crisp high frequency consonants? Much of the time that's all we hearing-impaired people need more than VOLUME. And facing us when talking is another big plus.
Yes, but I now know it’s not me, the tv, actors ect mumble, I got hearing aids and they mumble. Thought it was my hearing, now I know it’s people. It’s better.
That may be because English isn’t her first language. It sounds like a Dutch or Flemish accent to my ears.
yes when i tell people please speak clearly they just speak louder. which doesnt help
@@GerryBraunYes Gerry, she is Dutch.
Seems to have a touch of a lisp
I’ve tried hearing aids. They have increased my ability to understand what people are saying but made me realize that I am not that interested in what they are saying after all. 😂
LOL!!!
Right? Hahahaha
Thank you for your humor! lol, I agree with you on that note!
Smart but true too!
Another trick for people giving speeches or teachers who give a lecture and then have questions from audience. When the speaker with microphone repeats the audience members/students question before going on to answer it. Great benefit to people in audience with hearing loss.
Even for those of us without hearing loss!
Had a foreign speaking professor that said things twice in different ways. It’s a normal teaching method but it also helped understand him.
This is true even when the audience questioner is ahead (closer to the stage) of the bulk of the audience. It also driver me crazy when the question presented turns into a four minute thesis, rather than a simple question.
Great tip!!
This is a practice my children learned by giving [their dreaded & bemoaned] "demonstration speeches" required by dint of their participation in the 4-H program (a State program supported by county extension services, but originally begun, I believe in the 1940s? by federal initiative). All that to say, because they did this as a child, they were able to speak at ease with adults and in competition situations, for example, job interviews.
I thought there weren't any birds around like it was when I was younger. Well about 5 years ago I got my hearing aids. The birds are back. Amazing!
me too! I always thought the woods were quiet until I wore my hearing aids there
Me, three!
the traffic noise is back too!
Me too!👍🏻
Me too, and I was 30 years old when I got my first hearing aid.
I had an aunt with severe hearing loss in New York City. She used to only go to a few plays, concerts because she would have to sit in the first row of the theater to hear anything. Back in late 1970s, a number of theaters installed the infrared system. I took my Aunt to a play and we sat in the last balcony (only price I could afford). It made me cry to see her face absolutely radiate with delight as she could hear every single word spoken on stage. It was awesome.
Thank you and bless you!
well done and wow it's raining in my eyes
Awe, so sweet!
Thank you for this very fine explanation of hearing loss and how hearing aids do not and cannot solve our hearing problems. I will send this talk to friends and family who just do not understand what a hearing impaired individual goes through. So many people say just go get the hearing aids adjusted. That is not a fix or a cure all. I always feel that I am in the wrong when I do not understand words and conversations. I could go on and on, but she has said it all and I am happy that someone out there understands what I am talking about.
I do understand. One ear is almost completely deaf and the other is pretty bad. I have two hearing aids and they are different years. One of the greatest difficulties I have is that I can hear what’s happening clear across the classroom than I can hear the student speaking to me just a foot or two away. It’s very frustrating.
See@@robinschwartz6977
She was controlling her tears when she talked about Russ. What passion!❤
What a brilliant talk. As a 73 yr old with bad hearing especially in one ear and with an inner ear problem which gives me Vertigo,
I can go along with everything you say. There are also a lot of people who think it's quite funny that you can't hear them properly.
Even when I'm driving, my wife won't speak at me, she talks to
the windscreen. I get fed up asking her to repeat herslf, so I just
say nothing.
It can make you feel very lonely when at a dinner or function, everyone is chatting and laughing and you can't understand what anyone is saying. I used to go to talks at the British Museum, they had a hearing loop and it was just like wearing headphones. absolutely marvellous. I can't watch a film unless it has subtitles, or I play it close to me on my laptop.
I've noticed I go sit alone awhile eating and everyone else sitting around the table.. While I'm eating on a tv tray waiting tv that I can't hear either.. I completely understand what your going through...
It feels like the last disability people feel comfortable laughing at 😢
You've got my empathy @tectorama! I've stopped asking my husband to repeat himself, because his insults have left me bewildered, hurt, and defiant!
@@victoriawest9177I know how it is 😢
I know exactly how you feel 😪
The worst problem I have is restaurants. Most restaurants have absolutely terrible acoustics. Highly reflective surfaces bounce the background sound around negating the restaurant setting on my hearing aids which is supposed to turn off the rear facing microphones so the front facing ones can focus on the conversation at the table. Sadly, this problem could be greatly reduced by restaurants simply having more absorptive surfaces to reduce the background sound. I'm sure people with normal hearing would benefit as they wouldn't have to shout at one another to be heard over the din.
YES! This modern trend of making restaurants as loud as possible is so annoying! Even when out with a group who all hear fine we have to shout just to have a conversation. It's exhausting. There are places we just don't go with our dads because they both have hearing aids.
I often choose a restaurant based on noise level instead of the the food.
Restaurants prize turnover, not sit-and-talk customers. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the terrible acoustics are on purpose.
Most restaurants are terrible for more reasons than acoustics. Sadly the quality of the food, and environment doesn't increase with the price of the menu. This is why I'd rather eat a pb&j at home rather than put up with any and all restaurants.
@@pjhorton1985some definitely are. Starbucks are definitely designed to minimize lingering.
As a hearing aid user with moderately severe hearing loss appreciate thia Ted talk and how well she explained our stuggles. Im definetly one that struggle with understanding conversations and im hypersensitive to everyday sounds that most people with nornal hearing can easily tune. so as much as I enjoy being social and being in public venues. I can only handle that enviorment for a short period of time and will need some alone time and quiet calm time to recover,. thank you for this talk. I wish more people including audilogists had this type of understanding
A life changer for me was to purchase the ampli called Pocketalker from Williamson. Great for conversation in resto or dining table. Better than my HA. At Walmart and Amazon and direct purchase to the company. About 150$. Amazon has more than 1,000 good reviews. Good luck
Goosd to know I'll have to look into one of those @@JP-tq7ni
You are NOT Alone my Friend !
People without hearing loss just don't understand why loud noise bothers me if I can't understand their speech.
Sounds like recruitment as healthy cells take more load to compensate for injured and dying ones. Hearing loss is a vicious cycle and will continue to be until we figure out how to restore our hearing nerves the way some fish and birds can do.
I was there in person. It truly was a brilliant talk. The audience was so engaged. Thank you for sharing on this important topic.
Isn’t she an awesome speaker? I’m deaf. Late deafened so I don’t use sign language very much. My cochlear implants changed my world Can’t hear a thing without them, but with my cochlear implants and direct streaming to my smart phone, I heard every word. I didn’t even have to turn on the captions.
Too many people who need hearing aids are either oblivious or actually afraid of the available technology that could make their lives so much better! My wife is 50 and needs them, but has not been willing to take the steps to get them. I have mentioned the benefits of Bluetooth connectivity and she shrugs it off. I just wish health insurance providers were required to cover them. Several thousand dollars is a lot for a single purchase for most people.
Yes, and one pair will not last a lifetime! I am on my third pair in 15 years, the last pair being highly developed for my specific needs.
THAT is the main reason most seniors are reluctant to get hearing aids. I count myself among them.
In a few states, including Washington State, there are some requirements for some insurers to pay for hearing aids. Also, many Medicare Advantage plans include some coverage. But absolutely---we need more requirements.
@@DulciladyHearing aids are now covered by Medicare.
Consider purchasing your hearing aids at Costco. Your membership cost will be recovered many times over by the savings.
How hard it must be for someone striving to hear to encounter people who choose not to listen.
Whaddya say?
@@2cartalkers Sorry, that sentence wasn't at all clear. I submit this as a better way of saying it:
For someone striving to hear, it must be hard to encounter people who choose not to listen.
Apologies. If only we were at our best every time.
I have industrial deafness and got my first set of hearing aids 15 years ago. The difference was amazing. I can now understand friends who speak with strong accents and i don't have to engage in a shouting match with my partner. hearing loops are great. My first experience in a country which has them on public transport was great. No more announcements where the speaker sounds like they are talking with a mouth full of marbles.
I went for help with tinnitus and learned I had hearing loss. I got hearing aids and realized I had been living in a quiet cozy world. Those hearing aids brought back many noises I didn’t even realize I couldn’t hear anymore-rustling paper for example. I don’t like how music sounds with my hearing aids. I miss enjoying music on the car radio-it’s awful. Sometimes I turn the hearing aid volume down when there’s too much noise surrounding me. Wonderful talk! I will see about a telecoil when I upgrade.
My mom believes she’s got tinnitus as well. The ringing in her ears has bothered her for years yet she’s hesitant about getting hearing aids due to cost.
Any recommendations??
Some hearing aids have adjustable treble and bass and that helps. And when listening to Spotify on bluetooth it helps a lot.
Check out Costco hearing aids. As good as those 6 times the cost.
That’s much like my experience, except I’ve known that I’ve been hearing impaired most of my life.
I HATED hearing aids, and paid thousands for them.
I went for relief from (internal) noise and was sold these demonic little things that add intolerable noise everywhere. And did not improve my tinnitus.
A simile Google ear pod blue toothed to a white noise app does better for me.
I will never set foot in an audiologists’ office again.
Why are you keeping yours and wearing them if you don’t like them?
@@TwylaG-Artistry She may or may not already know these: Stop caffeine, citrus and alcohol. Salt. Sugar & Aspartame. Carbohydrates. High blood pressure. Acetaminophen (Ibuprophen & similar). Advocate for Medicare to include hearing health.
You can see her experience in the way she enunciates the words clearly.
Remember - I grew up in a household where our father could not hear a smoke alarm...my sisters all speak/enunciate the same precise way. LOL
Also, English is not her first language so she probably learned to enunciate while learning it.
I've relied upon hearing aids for 5 years, and I have never heard of the tele coil. Hearing loss dramatically impacts my every day life, and I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Thanks and Blessings Julliette Sterkens.
I’ve lived with severe hearing loss most of my life.
I tried bilateral hearing aids and felt as if I was being violently assaulted by horrible sound so loud that I’d have done anything to make it stop.
Of course, I took them out and will be returning them asap for much-of my money refunded.
I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
@@JaimeMesChiens it is a terrible ordeal to go through.
When I was in grade school, mid 1960's, there was a copper foil tape around the classroom and was hooked to a Wollensack tape player/recorder. Students were given a translucent plastic box with an earpiece. Inside was a Telecoil and amplifier powered from a 9volt battery.
If you have multiple selectable programs on your HA, have your audiologist set one of them to receive the T-coil signals. In certain indoor, public venues (auditoriums, places of worship, etc.) it can come in handy. It puts the same signal being picked up by house microphones and going out over the sound system directly in your ear!
“Simply being considerate.” I learned that decades ago when I attended a party at Gallaudet College. While talking to a handful of students, I turned my head away as I continued to talk. Two of them scolded me, asking that I face them when I spoke, as they were reading my lips. Turning my head effectively cut off what I was communicating to them. A rude move indeed.
You probably saw a pretty girl walk by.
@@MarkSmith-js2pu LOL! One of the scolders was a pretty girl. Which added to my embarrassment.
@@jaymacpherson8167 sometimes you can’t win!😀
We installed a loop in our church a few years ago. It stopped working about 6 months after installation. It turns out that our av guy had turned its volume down by accident. It was easy to bring the volume up again. The trick is that our operator needed training on how to maintain it. Great technology.
As an audiologist this is a great TedX talk. I’m thankful to live in a community where “the loop” is available. I made sure my patients had a tcoil in their amplification if it was an available option in their aid.
Thank you for taking good care of your patients.
Out of 4 audiologists not one has ever told me. amazing.
It’s so impossible for someone who can hear to understand what a person with a hearing aid *cannot* hear.😢 Thank you for sharing the audio which allowed me to comprehend the difference 🙏🏻
It can be demonstrated with the right example, like her example about the coil. The echo in that sample really drove a point.
You are correct and i would add that it's impossible for me (bilateral cochlear implant user) to understand what someone else with hearing loss "hears." Everyone is unique and so is their hearing loss. That's why having an Audiologist like Juliette is so important to a successful experience with hearing aids.
Thank you for your presentation. Your demonstration of the sound one receives with hearing aids in a large room or auditorium is spot on and I plan to share this with some family and friends. Thank you also for confirming what I've said multiple times, even to my audiologist, regarding the significant disparity between how well glasses correct vision vs how well hearing aids correct hearing loss. I plan on looking into telecoil, but I think I was told that for the hearing aids my Medicare covers that it's accessible if you own an Apple but not an Android phone.
Amen for helping people who are hard of hearing to have some empathy & be helpful rather than degrading.
I know. What’s the degrading thing? why degrade someone with a bonafide disability????
This described my life until I turned 38 and was diagnosed with a hearing impairment. Hearing aids totally changed my life.
My frustration with hearing aids is that hearing aids are about hearing voice but as an acoustic musician, they have a long way to go.
Yes! Me too
I play trumpet and started wearing a hearing aid 2 years ago. It changes the way my horn sounds to me. So I'm not sure what I actually sound like (to others)l. It is very disconcerting.
Completely agree. There seems to be an issue with processing time via the aids and your actual hearing which still perceives the sound, albeit with some loss, which creates a slight tremolo effect so that you no longer hear a continuous tone of, eg, a guitar string and its overtones. This gives a tinnyish sound which does a disservice to the instrument. Funnily enough, it makes a harpsichord sound great to me, but as a guitar player and singer, I tend to turn down my hearing aids a tad so as to allow a bit more of the real sound into my brain. Maybe one day.............
Many hearing issue are the result of listening to music too loud in their youth. It is not surprising that hearing aids cannot magically fix it.
I've found that I have to turn mine one notch above off when I sing. I use digital hearing aids
This is one of the best presentation on hearing loss and hearing aids. Thank you so much for sharing this.
The most annoying thing by people who KNOW I have difficulty hearing (family, work colleagues), is that they will turn away or look down etc, then talk (or mumble), and expect that I can hear that. I have always used some lip reading to supplement my lack of hearing (issues since childhood), so I need people to face me and speak clearly. They get annoyed when they have to repeat themselves, so I tell them "stop talking to the floor" or "stop mumbling". Frankly, it is on them to do better, I cannot change my end of the deal.
Audiologist here (ret): I suggest you consider saying to your family & colleagues: "I can hear you when I can see you/your face. And if you help me out with doing that, you'll save yourself all the repeats!!" That gives a Win-Win. For family, especially the children and loved Ones, "I want to hear everything you want to tell me because I love you and to know you is to love you."
When they turn away or look at the floor or walk away or mumble, they are behaving naturally for them. Asking them to change their natural behaviors is a Big Ask; acknowledging that to them will go a long way to improved relations re: communication because they will see that you are caring for them as you are asking them to have a care for you.
I totally agree, they should do better! I can hear very well but I often watch the lips to understand better because a lort of people don't articulate properly, they don't make any effort to be understood. It's like a handwritten message that we can't read, I often tell them : "you write a message that will be read, make sure it is easy to read". Even movie actors sometimes don't make the effort to speak clearly and I have to put the subtitles to make sure I understand
BRAVO! No one better than you to explain this challenge and why it is critical to resolve.
Thank goodness for subtitles, and close captioning
Indeed. I watched a video when I was researching why my hearing aids would not charge (yes, I contacted my audiologist directly after that and got a new charger). That particular video did not have captioning available. How ironic, and rude.
How can they do it in cinemas?
@@rogerphelps9939 Most movie houses will loan you a closed captioning device on request.
I installed just such a loop in the famous church St. Martin In The Fields on London's Trafalgar Square in the late 1980s while installing a new multi-speaker PA system. It was far from modern technology, even back then. It is disturbing in the extreme that here we are now, over 35 years later, still trying to wake people up to their benefits. Great talk to watch!
Thank you for sharing this very important information. The world needs more advocates like you. 🙂
I have met Juliette. For those of us with hearing loss, she is changing our world. Even if you don’t have hearing loss today - you may in the future - or someone you love might have it. If there is a meeting place that you would want your hearing loss friends or family, or strangers to hear in - your church, local theatres, museums and you don’t see the blue sign with the ear and the letter T (as shown in this video) - speak to your clergyman, the theatre manager, etc and ask them to have the loop system installed. You can even have it installed in your grandma’s living room to enable her to hear the tv or her music more clearly. It’s surprisingly less expensive than you would imagine.
Let’s Loop America!
Thank you for sharing such an enlightening talk! It's true that most of us don't realize the impact of hearing loss until we experience it ourselves or see someone close to us struggling. Juliëtte Sterkens' expertise sheds light on the limitations of hearing aids and the importance of understanding the available technology. Her dedication to improving accessibility for those with hearing loss is truly commendable. Looking forward to exploring more about hearing loops and other advancements in this field!
The best thing to help a person who doesn't hear well is, call their name first. Get their attention, then speak to him/her...
Yes I have to remind my mom of that all the time
Is it too much to ask? It is so frustrating that people don't call your name first. Also, please face me and don't start walking away in the middle of a conversation when I am doing something (say, cooking supper) and can't follow.
@@eepsers1 Audiologist here (ret). Yes, it IS a BIg Ask. Someone you have lived w/ for many years or been around you for many years has been able to communicate w/ you and everyone easily and naturally a lot of that time. Some of that "naturally" is 'walking away, turning away, dropping their voice, not moving away from the teevee, etc.' So asking someone to behave differently now, aka UNnaturally is indeed, a Big Ask.
If these people care about you and interact frequently with you, then it's practice, practice, practice. Coming up with gentle or funny reminders will help them remember and change their behaviors re: communicating w/ you, even if it's half the time. Importantly, your letting them know you (i) acknowledge it isn't easy to change behaviors and (ii) by doing so at least some of the time, they'll cut out having to repeat so often! (a true bonus!) will go a long way for Caring on both sides -- and that usually gets good results, eh?
@@jkn3712 Thanks for the reminder to be patient and be nice, no matter the frustration. Well said.
Love the comments here! It's great to see others in a similar predicament. I had an early T coil and it was pretty much only relevant in the airports back then. Good to know there are more systems being installed, I'll get a t coil in my next set of hearing aids. One thing that I learned recently is that untreated hearing loss is one of the main risk factors for dementia.
Thank you so much, Juliet. You’ve certainly raised awareness. I’m 61 years old and have moderate hearing loss. Because I do not have insurance, except state Medicaid, hearing aids are not available to me. I was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. This disease affects bone collagen, resulting in numerous fractures. But, can also effect hearing. Unfortunately, I’ve been affected by both. I have noticed, especially in the last year, a change in my anxiety level. I believe this is a result of continually having to ask people to repeat themselves. Also, always concerned that I may have my television on too loudly and things like this. Adding to the depth of the situation is the disability of my son. He does not speak well, at all and speaks with bullet rapidity. I can tell that it’s very frustrating for him to converse with me, due to my continuing to ask him to repeat himself. He is cognitively impaired, quite severely, so this hurts me for him.
I hope that states , some day soon, will be required to provide hearing aids for the uninsured.
Medicaid now covers hearing aids comoletelly
I have hearing loss but what made me finally get hearing aids was my tinnitus worsening. Low and midtones were okay without hearing aids, it was the higher frequences that I had some issues but I was fine with everyday living. While getting hearing aids have helped (Stakey Genesis AI 24) and I am glad I have them, the tinnitus has and continues to be a far bigger issue than the hearing loss. Of course, hearing loss is the most common root cause to tinnitus and is actually easier to treat than the tinnitus itself. Many people have tinnitus with little or no hearing loss as well.
I had debilitating tinnitus for over 20 years and some days could not function at all because of it. I tried hearing aids as a last resort and they work miracles for me. I still hear the constant ringing but the sound has been reduced by about 40% and I am able to go for many hours able to ''forget'' about the ringing. I have been using hearing aids for 2 years now and my quality of life has greatly improved. The audiologist said that about 20% of people with tinnitus are helped by hearing aids. I am in the lucky 20%.
I have had hearing loss for many years and use headphones for many activities. I developed tinnitus about the same time that I started using in the ear headphones ,cause and effect or coincidence?? don't know, but I am not willing to risk the tinnitus getting worse..if it did, well, I wouldn't be able to take it!!! What I wouldn't give just to be able to have blessed silence....
@@nancysexton545 I wish you the best! The over the ear hearing aids make me almost forget the tinnitus even though it's there 24/7. If I go 2 days without them, the misery returns. I wear them 12 hours a day. Cost me $4500 a few years ago but that amount of relief was well worth the price. They gave me a 6 week free trial ad by week 3, I knew they would change my life.
Thank you SO much for this. My wife wears 2 aids, newer ones, and she still misses many things I say. I'm realizing this is happens in the situations you described.
I am going to schedule an appointment for new hearing aids next week. I am so grateful to have heard this lecture now so that I will be more informed and will ask about telecoils. Thank you, Dr. Sterkens, from the bottom of my heart. I used to have an opera subscription and went monthly. Now, I don't even listen to recordings or attend any kind of music performances because of the terrible distortion. Thank you.
Soon I will be making an appointment for my first pair. I’m glad to have gotten this information.
I'm 72 years old. When I was 19 I worked at a hearing aid manufacturer in Minneapolis, MN. WAY back then we had telecoils because telephones of the day used magnetic earphones and so the telecoil worked just fine. I don't know why they are such a big deal today but... what's old is new, right? I had my eyes opened (ears?) on my first day my boss had me put an aid in my ear and walk out into the factory. HOLY SMOKES! IF you've never tried wearing an aid, try it. THE PROBLEM IS, like she said in the video, it amplifies EVERYTHING EQUALLY. This is the big problem that most Hearing Aid Sellers don't tell you. It's a bit of a scam. Particularly when you are in a very quiet hearing aid store and there is only one person talking to you. Old people: BUYER BEWARE! Try before you shell out thousands of dollars. There is VERY LITTLE functional difference between a $5,000 aid and a $100 aid (other than bells and whistles and sweet talking sympathetic sales people).
I was attending a play in an auditorium that provided hearing assistance devices. My wife, who has good hearing was asking ME what an actor had just said.
I have heard similar stories about the Performing Arts Center in Des Moines, IA. During the show run, Hamilton - word got out among non-hearing aid users that the assistive listening devices would let you understand the fast dialogue much better. This meant that the facility often ran out of listeners. How cool is that?
@@juliettesterkens721 What a great story!
My brother in law became deaf in one ear recently. I will definitely recommend a hearing loop to him. Thanks for the video!
What I find annoying is that on occasion no matter if a person repeats themselves, one word will not be clear. I’ve asked people to repeat the word - out comes the WHOLE sentence. Remember, hearing aids may distort certain sounds more than others. We may not need the whole sentence, just the word. I’ve asked people to spell the word. You would think I’d asked for the moon. Please, if someone requests a word be repeated or spelled out (you could also rephrase your sentence) do so. Think of it this way: your audience values what you’re saying
By doing this, you are showing your grace, respect and understanding of the difficulties your conversation partner may be experiencing.
that's exactly right. Understanding one word can make all the difference. With your comment "hearing aids may distort certain sounds more than others" I wonder if you had REM (real ear measurement). The manufacturers computer fitting is just "first fit." The second step is verification - helps to decrease distortion and further refines adjustments you may need. Only 30% of audiologists use REM.
And often, with partial hearing loss, saying the same words LOUDER does not help at all.
I’m not sure what you’re referring to. I have an over the ear hearing aid and the mold for the earpiece was don with a green putty like substance that hardens after a while. This is sent to the lab for molding the actual earpiece.
Another reason to face a person when talking to them is they can start lip reading. While I have no training in it, I can still use it in noisy situations to augment what I am hearing. The trick is to imagine what sound you would be making if you had your lips the way the speaker has them. It's like you're trying to follow them, but without moving your lips.
Wonderful lecture! I’ve had a hearing aid going on25 years and for the first 5 years I always dealt with an audiologist but it became too expensive. I have resorted to buying an aid that’s produced for hunters, made by a company called Walker’s Game Ear. Quite honestly, I can hear better with this “sporting goods model” than I could with a few of the mega dollar hearing aids. How sad is that! I know of several people that simply cannot afford hearing aids.
I have hearing problems, but most of it is because people mumble. She’s a lovely speaker. So articulate.
Get tested by an experienced audiologist to get a very precise baseline and INSIST that a Quick-SIN (speech-in-noise) test be performed. Repeat the test every couple of years. Most people do not mumble. Something is changing in your ears - and it should be documented.
@@juliettesterkens721 thank you for these good tips. My family does mumble. It’s interesting that you say this I don’t have this issue at work but I have it at home. Also I have accents to contend with. But I do believe I have a hearing problem too.
It’s very prevalent to in our culture to talk fast and mumble. After telling someone once or twice I just tune out or walk away.
@@juliettesterkens721 My partner talks fast and doesn't enunciate well. She has false teeth and most s's come out as 'sh', which makes it very difficult to understand. I will have her listen to your talk, which is much more informative than my audiologist had with us. I'm glad I stumbled on this video. Thank you!
I agree sadly, even my daughter gets angry for having to repeat when she mumbles from another room!😢
I’ve had tinnitus since, 1988. It took me about five years to be able to “tune out” the 6300Hz ringing, but I eventually did it.
I stopped watching TV, in 2013. It just couldn’t get loud enough to hear, (except the Commercials).
I contracted Covid, in 2021. Along with my senses of taste, and smell, my tinnitus began to modulate. It drove me crazy all over again.
After several tests, I was diagnosed with profound hearing loss.
I finally got hearing aids, in 2023. They cost the VA $7300, but they merely amplify. The tinnitus apps don’t seem to work, for me.
I’ve yet to try the induction feature (the tele coil). (I don’t get out much, anymore.) It was explained, to me, by my audiologist.
Edit: The basic app, that allows me to Bluetooth, the hearing aids to my iPhone is, just that. Basic. It has a noise filter. A dynamic range, and directional adjustments, but the volume doesn’t span a large enough range, to be useful.
Thank you Juliette. I’ve been wearing them for 3 years. You answered questions I’ve had about my hearing aids. I will listen to this great presentation again!!🌻🌻
Having Tinnitus + hearing loss exacerbates the frustration to others when trying to talk with them… I often get a finger shaking to “put your hearing in!” 😢
I got my hearing aids just when pandemic started, and I worked from home and lived alone. So I didn’t use them! When I go out occasionally, or have company, I would forget to use them.
Then I got a puppy who got ahold of one, so it’s just been repaired.
Soon I’m going to be moving in with my son and DIL, so I will use them so as not to keep asking if they would kindly just look at me when talking to me.
The hearing aids have all the bell and whistles which is very cool…
One question to all of you, though, isn’t it considered polite to talk to people when facing them, anyway? Of course there will be always exceptions! But can we please approach with kindness, not anger or frustration?
✌️🤷♀️❤️
Tinnitus does not originate in your ears - i.e., you're not "hearing" it. I'm deaf without my cochlear implants and I still have tinnitus. No one is certain of the cause of tinnitus as far as I know but some hearing aids do have "masking" programs in an attempt to lessen the distraction it causes. Secondly, it is important to wear your hearing aids as much as possible. That allows your brain to adjust to the new sounds it is hearing. The more you wear them, the faster the brain adjusts and the more "normal" the sound becomes. Sorry about the puppy - I'm sure you still love them just as much.
With just moderate hearing loss, I often sat in lonely silence. Some of my relatives swore by Beltone, so I set up an appointment. The Audiologist is a wizard in the office nearest to me. Kind, calm, very competent. Yes, their aids are expensive, but I’m grateful that at 71 and mostly retired, I was able to get fitted with the Achieve aids, and my quality of life has improved in measurable ways. This was a fantastic speech. She’s very eloquent and knowledgeable.
Hello from France,
I'm deaf in one ear (childhood illness) and the other is starting to deteriorate (presbycusis).
My audioprosthesist has fitted me with a Cross system that uses WIFI to send sound from one side to the other (Bernafon CROS miniRITE T R).
I enjoyed your talk (you're obviously used to talking to people with hearing difficulties!).
I also use my iPhone and a transmitter for my TV.
But I didn't know about the "telecoil" system for public places.
I'll look into it.
Thanks a lot!
Thank you! I never knew about hearing loops or that assistive technology was required by the ADA. As a 50-year hearing aid wearer, I've boiled things down to a simple explanation when people ask why my hearing aid doesn't give me perfect hearing: Glasses are CORRECTIVE lenses; hearing devices are AIDS: they help, but they don't correct.
Juliëtte, Thank you for such an enlightening talk. I have suffered with progressive hearing loss since my 20s. Now in my advanced 60s, your suggestions are even more important! I've shared your talk with friends and family. Bless you!
Thank you, Juliette, for your passionate dedication to providing vital information to consumers that helps improve their lives through easier and better hearing! True dedication and true passion!
Thank you.
It's hard to believe that hearing aids are not generally covered by Medicare. Also, the radio shows such as NPR continue to interview guests who call in on cell phones. As anyone with hearing loss knows, cell phone conversations can be very difficult to hear properly.
Yes, it's unbelievable hearing aids and hearing exams are NOT covered under Medicare. For several years, there have been several bipartisan bills for changes to Medicare introduced, but have never passed. "Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2023" "Audiology Patient Choice Act of 2018" To your second point, anytime a news organization interviews people on their cell phone, on Zoom with poor room acoustics, and in places with lots of background noise, it is very DIFFICULT to understand for people with hearing loss-so much work, so much frustration, and less understanding.
Back in 1965 when Medicare was written and being discussed re: coverages/benefits, the adults of the day did not consider and advocate for hearing aid coverage, thus it was not included in that insurance policy. At the time, hearing aids were not championed as they are today -- there were fewer people and the average oldie but goodie lived fewer years than is true in later decades and certainly today.
Any insurance cannot cover everything; by virtue of the entitiy, it is there "just in case" and so that an injury/disease does not wipe you out financially. Same is true for other insurances -- homeowners, auto, flood, etc. Sickness insurance (it's only now getting to be more about health!) is the same -- so you don't have tremendous out-of-pocket expenses.
@@jkn3712 they used to assume aids did not help SNHL, which is not true at all!
Captioning is a lifesaver.
But being obese CAN be covered as a disability with Medicaid.
This is a brilliant talk from Juliette. My experience is through my daughter who was born with complex hearing loss and wanted to wear a hearing aid since she was about 5 years old. It has been an education to learn about their limitations, as Juliette explained, hearing is so complex and hearing aids cannot compare to what we hear when unaided. As a result I have such huge respect for deaf people who develop an ability to lipread as a matter of course and can scaffold their listening with sign language and have a beautiful culture of sign language. Ultimately it is a very individual experience and deaf people need to have all the choices available to support them, many thanks
An outstanding presentation! You are a credit to our profession.
At 71 I believe I am wading into the hearing loss pool. I figured it was inevitable after a couple of decades as a helicopter pilot and a child of the 50s who became an avid listener of rock music (not heavy metal, but nothing against heavy metal). My smart phone often warns me that I am listening to my podcast at too high a volume. If there isn't too much wind, I can turn my volume down a bit. But my wife has to turn the TV up so that I can hear the program above the sound of the whole house a/c or heater blower. Like Ms. Sterkens says, I would like to hear better without turning the a/c off - lol.
In other words this Tedx talk and Ms. Juliëtte Sterkens excellent talk is very timely for me. Thanks to both.
THANK YOU! Your compassionate illustrations of hearing loss explain this experience so well, and your telecoil information is a game changer. Thank you for this message of hope and encouragement!!
Great speech, I not only understand what she's saying, I can also read her lios perfectly! Thank you Doctor! We need more people like you.🙃
I have been wearing or supposed to be wearing hearing aids for 7 years and I had no idea about the Telecoil. I haven't been wearing them since the lockdowns because one was set up for the wrong ear and makes me dizzy and fall over...this talk, Thankyou Juliette tells me I need to get them sorted out.
Thankyou so much for sharing
I got my hearing aids only a couple years ago at age 72 and I'm very sorry I waited so long because I've had some hearing loss from infancy and it has only gotten worse as I aged. Restored hearing is life changing or at least quality of life changing. I spend a lot of time outdoors and hearing song birds again was a real treat. The bluetooth feature for phone use was also very helpful.
Dear Ms Sterkens, please, please come over to Europe and educate us here. It brought tears to my eyes to hear/see you give this speech. I have sent a copy of the link to my wife who still insists on speaking to me from another room in a normal tone and volume and cannot understand why I can't hear her clearly. A million thanks !
Bless you for this information. I have worn hearing aids for 40+ years and everything you say is so true. People don't know that they need to do these things that you mention, often because they 'forget' you are hearing impaired. Unlike a broken leg or arm, hearing loss isn't as visible to others. No more movies for theater for me. I also have people in my life who refuse to try any of the things you mentioned, so I have given up trying to hear them. There is also the frustration of the impaired and those having to repeat themselves. I have been told what a good listener I am and that is because I have do. I must listen to the context of the sentence because it could be onion or bunion that isn't clear. Are they talking about feet or food?
I also liked the TEDx Talk "Sound and the Consequence of Silence" - very interesting information about dementia & hearing loss.
I saw that one too.. very interesting talk
The talk was given by Kenzie Reichert
Why does Medicare not cover hearing devices when other devices are covered?
Thank You +++ I've learned much of this the hard way, while suffering with so so (not cheap) hearing aids over the last 5 years. Your confirmation of my suspicions & much additional knowledge will be of great help to me in the future !!
Bless You 🙏
Please post a lecture on OTC v Rx hearing aids.
I started with severe hearing loss in my early 40s. Back then, hearing aides were not covered by insurance... which was a crime. Even now the copayment is still thousands. I have been VERY isolated socially and can't even interact in a food drive through. With two aides NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I ASK SOMEONE TO SPEAK UP... THEY DON'T. IWAS EVEN THROWN OUT OF A LOCAL STORE BECAUSE I ASKED THE CLERK 3 TIMES TO PLEASE SPEAK UP. I simply gave up and just stay alone. Your work is so incredibly important. LD
No one, no one ever speaks more loudly or more slowly when asked. Then, there are the aholes who mouth the words without sound when you say you cannot hear them well. Hearing loss opens you up to so much abuse! I sometimes ask the person not helping by speaking louder after having been asked numerous times....would you help me if I was blind?
Thank you for the very informative talk. I have been putting off getting hearing aids so far. But I will now be more aware when the time comes to get them.
Very helpful. I have moderate to severe hearing loss caused by overprescription of Streptomycin which damaged my inner ear, with that I also have tinnitus. My hearing aids were ok. Until I bought one of the latest cutting-edge tech brands. Built-in computers, programmed with 12 million sounds you encounter in everyday life. monitoring sound on 64 channels 500 times a second. It was another world the difference was exponentially better.
Here in the UK. Where telecoils are common but sadly, often ineffective. Like the shop that had a local loop at the till but the microphone was buried under clutter or on a shelf under the till !!.
With my new Aids I never need to use these other devices. I just change the program with my phone.
There is one thing that I would like. The capability to quickly select which Bluetooth signal I wish to listen to, The default is my iPhone through which I receive calls, but my computer also can communicate with my aids.... but I have to unpair from the phone to hear it. So better but still room for improvement.
As a person coming to grips with my own hearing loss, Juliette is a great adovocate - I enjoyed listening to her ideas and advice. I've made notes - I have to face the fact, that I need hearing aids to continue enjoying my life.
As a native New Yawker, I've found that all I need is for everyone to speak to me in proper British English.
Their enunciation is perfect!
The graphic at 3:50 is the best representation of what my hearing is like I've ever seen.
Costco has treated me the best! I’ve been wearing hearing aids for over 20 years. I’ve been charged exorbitant prices for them, until Costco. They Only asked 20% of what I was used to paying. And they treated me much better. There’s no commission involved. I was actually told by a previous audiologist that because I didn’t get the “top of the line” (most costly) then I wouldn’t be “priority” when I called for appointments and it would be hard to get in to HER, because there is not as much commission with the ones I chose. 😮🥺 I went home and cried.
Thank you for all you do Juliette! This was a wonderful talk!
Thank you for this wonderful presentation. I really admire your passion and true empathy that is so obvious. All your patients are very very lucky to have someone so professional and caring like yourself. Your presentation was delivered so clearly and with some great humor to. Thank you again.
Beautiful spoken English. She commands attention!
It isn't her first language, that's why she speaks it so clearly.
I just listened to this short (< 20 minutes) video and learned a lot. Apx 10 minute point she talks about public accommodations for the hard of hearing, which I found actually exciting!
Thank you for your excellent lecture. I have recently got hearing aids. It takes time to become accustomed to new devices. The brain needs time to re learn how to deal with new information.
Costco has hearing aids for 1/2 what the audiologists office charges. They do the best hearing tests and you can go anytime to have them checked, cleaned and have your hearing tested.
Understand that they are "locked" . Only Costco can service them.
Thanks for telling us this.
@@2anonymous So?
@@RapKrider In my case, I live 80 miles from a Costco. Hearing aids need servicing at some point, it would be foolish for me to buy a product that I couldn't have serviced without a major inconvenience.
@@2anonymous Indeed, it wouldn't make sense for YOU to buy Costco hearing aids. But for many people watching this who do have a Costco close by it makes sense. The locked hearing aid thing is common in the industry; Beltone, Miracle Ear, NuEar, etc. all lock their hearing aids and a patient will have to find an audiologist who is contracted with those companies to have their hearing aids serviced. It sucks, but that's the way it is.
8:17. she's talking about a closed loop system that's aimed at a specific area, (magnetically) and i love this woman's reason and passion, she's wonderful
Thank you, Juliëtte! I've worn hearing aids for 30+ years now.
Great illustrative comparison! Glasses are CORRECTIVE devices. Hearing aids are ASSISTIVE devices.
I care , I've always cared , but listening to Juliette as a person who has excellent hearing I've realised how selfish I've been and not caring enough to actually do anything about it, love to all ❤
Unfortunately I do not experience the silence. Because of the tinnitus.
I know that frustration! 🇨🇦
Same. But still looking forward to getting my hearing aids cause the should reduce the tinnitus.
Terrific talk! We ❤ Juliette!
My biggest problem is all the ads and outlets that promise the world.
Get tested and we'll solve your problems…ya..no.
It's everywhere. I fought hard for sound panels in our shared clubhouse.
When we got them mounted, there was a marked reduction in volume by about 10 db.
Reverberation reduced by 1/2 seconds. I got a lot compliments afterwards.
Great talk!
I wish more places had acoustic panels/tiles. Bravo for your advocacy!
I’ve been losing my hearing in the past decade. I’ve always had problems hearing voices in loud places. Restaurants are bad. I didn’t realize how much I’ve read lips until COVID happened. Everyone wearing masks. I still enjoy music and I can tell the difference between high fidelity and not.
I have stopped wearing hearing aids. I found they didn’t improve hearing clarity, they just increased the volume which wasn’t an issue.
Please don’t give up! Adjusting hearing aids requires at least five initial visits to get things tuned in, plus periodic visits. As someone with a mobility issue that has required numerous adjustments through the years, I get frustrated with those who get new hearing aids and give up thinking it’s a “one and done” adjustment. I know it’s frustrating.
I've found that using earbuds to connect to my TV is even better than using a TV connection accessory as provided by hearing aid manufacturers. Their loudspeakers are much richer than the small loudspeakers in hearing aids. I've tried several buds and the best I've found are Sennheiser Momentum TW 3. They connect directly to my nVidia Shield Pro TV streaming box, but also connect via Bluetooth to the TV if necessary. I have severe loss in one ear, but the buds can almost compensate.
Thank you for stressing the importance of telecoil, I always have trouble hearing in theatre and cinema because my hearing aid do have that feature. My next hearing aid will definitely have that feature.
I find cinemas impossibly loud, but the actors speech is still indistinct. I hope using a hearing loop will help without pain from the sound effects and music.
Great talk. Important information. Thank you!
Phenomenal video. This is a work of art. Subahanallah.
Thanks so much for this information GOD bless you and your champions ❤
Thank you for this information. I am in the process of trying to decide if I want to start using hearing aids. I have been tested at 3 different places (Hear USA, Kaiser, and Costco). I'm testing at approx 30% hearing loss. Costo informed me that the lower tones seem to be my biggest challenge. My chief complaint is with hearing my husband. It doesn't help that he continually speaks to me as he's walking away from me in the opposite direction (yes, I'm serious)! I've explained this to him, however his "empathy" scale is set to zero. I was shocked when I was able to take home a set of hearing aids from Costco, the only location that verbally offered that service to me! When I realized that the aids simply amplify sound, I was very disappointed. We live near the 5 freeway in So. California! The last thing I want amplified is the noise associated with traffic roaring in the background (when outside). The information you have provided has added to my base of knowledge about challenges and benefits to wearing hearing aids.
Costco has been my go to for aids for almost 20 years. They are the most helpful and provide so much when you need it!
Since the hubby got his hearing aids a few months ago, he doesn't hear as well as he used to. It's crazy. I have to repeat things even MORE now. And half the time he doesn't even hear me when I'm talking in a normal voice. Then, when I raise my voice so he CAN hear, he yells his answer at me. Totally crazy. And he has one of the 'best' brands around.
The husband is hiding his fears of asking for help or is having challenges dealing with change. Hearing aids work well when they are adjusted repeatedly because the ear and the brain need to learn how to work together harmoniously. Years ago, I was so embarrassed about needing adjustments because I assumed the hearing aids always worked the same. That was a poor assumption on my part that was not comfortably dealt with by the seller. The feeling of 'hurry up and get out of my office so I can help somebody else' was very unsettling for me. After I got over my reaction, I was relieved to understand I misread what happened to me. Repeated office visits are the norm. So keep asking questions and learning more as you go happily hearing more every day.
Thank you very much Ms Juliette Sterkens for this helpful lecture about hearing loss.
Congratulations on your excellent talk and work!
Thank you for this highly informative and educational video. God bless you
My good friend of many years got progressively more deaf and it greatly affected her lifestyle and even our friendship. My habit of mumbling really drove her crazy!
Putting space between the words helps so much! Gives the hearing-impaired person time to process the sounds.
thank you so much! keep educating people! The worst for me is people who do not enunciate and grew up in America but have strong accents. When I ask ppl to enunciate or slow down, they just get louder! ugh
Thank you...I was unaware of HEARING LOOP SYSTEMS AND TELE-COILS "T-Coils".... God Bless You For This. ❤❤❤❤