I’ll certainly talk to an audiologist again, but my understanding is that they could be tuned to certain frequencies to boost the frequencies that my tinnitus is blocking. Not that they can prevent or stop the tinnitus. I suspect I will hear that for the rest of my life.
The tinnitus is so loud, it blocks normal hearing unless I turn up the volume. I suspect that it often blocks certain cues that someone may be talking to me. I find myself relying on context and visual cues more and more.
Although aids won’t stop tinnitus, in my case they made it much less noticeable. I guess the amplification sort of overrode it.
The plain amplifiers like the TvEar generally don’t work very well for most people with hearing loss because they amplify all frequencies instead of just the ones you have trouble with.
Is there a way for your audiologist to give you a sample trial with hearing aids? Just to try a few pairs on in the office, and see if you notice an improvement and such? This practice depends from audiologist to audiologist, but it’s one way to help make the decision easier, though again, with the digital aids and such, the amount of fine tuning is nicer, as certain sounds will be decreased, while others amplified, so it’s not so much of a volume “shock”. Like my aids currently tend to amplify sounds coming directly from in front of me, while reducing sounds from behind my head, and automatically decreasing any monotonous droning sounds such as AC units and computer/TV humming noises (or as I’ve discovered- a certain very monotonous boring lecturer in class, which always surprises and amuses me when that happens, as that means his voice has not been changing, and been talking for a while for the HA to notice it).
But yeah- perhaps you can try to talk to your audiologist, and see if he has some basic models for you to try and experience what the improvements may be before you purchase one? I’ve got a relationship with mine as to where he will loan me HA to try out if I need spares or just try to fine tune mine to give examples of what modifications could be made, but I don’t think that’s the norm with all audiologists. That’s probably half the battle right there- finding a good audiologist and keeping them around with you.
One thing I don’t understand is why all the development in hearing aids has been to make them tiny and, hopefully, invisible. I wear glasses and they are entirely visible (no contact lenses in my eyes). If I were hard of hearing, I would want people to realize it so they would speak up, stop mumbling, etc. If they saw an aid behind my ears they would realize it. And maybe the batteries wouldn’t be so expensive. I have a colleague who doesn’t wear hers because (she claims) she can’t afford the batteries.
I have a collaborator who wears an aid, but often turns it off. I find it quite wearing to have to keep my volume on high to get through to him. He has one of those invisible aids, so I cannot even tell when I must shout.
Just remembered we had an Ask the Audiologist thread a few years ago. Some of the OP’s questions may be addressed in that. At any rate, OP, it probably contains more information that you’ll find useful.
I am deaf and have worn hearing aids since I was 5. I’m 24 now. I started out with an old pair of analog aids, got a pair of digital aids when I was 12 and recently bought a pair of Oticon Epoq aids with Bluetooth for about $5k.
Now, my hearing loss is very bad. I have a severe to profound loss in both ears and frankly it’s a miracle aids help me as much as they do. That contributes to the high cost of hearing aids. But please don’t let the cost deter you. Your audiologist may have an in-house credit plan, or s/he may be able to take Care Credit, as I did. I wouldn’t recommend buying a pair off the internet, particularly a $200 pair. See this article. Hearing aids vs hearing amplifiers
Some audiologists are out there to make a buck. Most are not, but some will take advantage of the lack of knowledge of the general public. Just keep an eye out and even do research online. Check out Oticon’s website, or Starkey. Starkey in particular has a history of charitable contributions.
Particularly since you work in a department store, you will probably see an improvement. Do you have to talk to the public a lot? I do in my job at a library and I can’t tell you how much they help.
They can absolutely help with tinnitus. See this study. http://www.audiology.org/news/Pages/20100929.aspx I have tinnitus when I don’t have my aids in but I rarely experience it with them in.
As an aside I run a blog dedicated to deafness and medical advancements and general geekiness. I don’t want to advertise it here, but feel free to PM me for the URL.
Thanks for that link Spoons, that Ask the Audiologist thread was great. And I’m beginning to realize there may be other payment options out there.
I know it sure would be nice to able to get more out of conversations and not feel a little stupid when I just smile and nod or laugh just because everyone else is laughing, because I have No Clue what was just said. Sometimes it’s just easier to laugh along than ask someone to repeat themselves all the time.
First step - see an audiologist, then figure out what my options are. And I’d like to mention that it’s nice to see I’m not alone here with all of my frustrations. I love you guys! 
My dad just got a pair with bluetooth and it’s a huge change. He’s always been good about keeping them turned on when there are people around but before this set they just didn’t work well when using the phone. He’s now switched to using his cell almost exclusively as the bluetooth integration makes it much easier than using the land line.
His have been covered by Workman’s Compensation his entire life as the inital damage was cause by faulty ear protectors on the flight line when he was an airframe mechanic. The yearly amount isn’t huge but he’s only replaced them every decade or so and the amount accumulates until he uses it.
Based on my experience with my father, I think many of your friends would be pleased if you got the hearing aids.
I love my father, but repeating everything I say at the top of my voice gets rather wearing after a bit. And telling him “PUT IN YOUR HEARING AIDS, DAD” and having him respond - eventually - that he lost them is kind of a downer.
It always sounds like my mom is mad at my dad, but she just got used to yelling everything she wants him to hear.
I have minor hearing loss in one ear (about 10%) from measles as a child, and I asked my wife to shoot me with a tranquilizer dart and drag me to the audiologist when I start getting deaf and stubborn.
Regards,
Shodan
I can solve this problem. Get “TV Ears”. I’m deaf in 1 ear and have mild hearing loss in the other. TV Ears allow me to adjust the sound level to what I need to hear clearly, and she can adjust the TV volume to what she wants.
J.
My husband just got a hearing aid - a Siemens behind the ear one. It cost about $2500 and as he’s only had it a week I can’t say how much it helps. He does like it though - he heard the crickets singing for the first time in years, which pleased him. It pleases him less that we all yell at him! His hearing aid is set for the frequencies that he can’t hear, and does not amplify the ones he has no trouble with.
He has been miserable and isolated for years for the reasons you and others have mentioned, but he also thought that an aid would not help, and also was put off by the price. I am so glad we scraped the money together to pay for it. He has already said that work is a hell of a lot easier, and I’m hoping it will go a long way to lift the black cloud off him.
Analog hearing aids are much cheaper. Plus costs vary a lot depending on the severity of your hearing loss. Please ask an audiologist who has the results of your hearing tests for pricing, not random strangers on a message board. For the record, an analog hearing aid for me would cost about $600 (I have around 80% hearing loss).
Downsides to having hearing aids:
*Battery costs aren’t that high, but if you don’t have a lot of money it adds up. Right now I spend about $35-40 a month on hearing aid batteries (I have 2 aids). Cost of batteries varies depending on what size you need and how often you go through them. Plus it’s a bit of a pain to remember to keep them in stock.
*Forgetting to carry batteries that one time, and of course the battery runs out. I used to carry a small keychain battery case on my keychain, those are great. Unfortunately it broke a few years ago and I haven’t been able to find another one. My audiologist gave me a new one, but it’s 3 times the size of my old one (and still only holds 2 batteries 
) and it comes open really easily.
*Sometimes your ear gets irritated from the aid. It’s a bit painful (similar to an earache), but the good thing is if you take the aid out the pain usually subsides immediately.
*Humidity and moisture (sweat, etc) can be a problem, especially in the summertime. I highly recommend you get a good hearing aid dehumidifier and keep your hearing aid in that when you’re not using it. The place that sells your hearing aid will have them. You can not get your aid wet at all, and have to make sure you have a safe place to put it while swimming, bathing, etc.
*Dogs like to chew hearing aids for some odd reason. If you have one, don’t put it where the dog can reach it.
*Digital hearing aids (the ones that cost $2k and up) have filters in them that are supposed to block or lower traffic, weather, and other sounds. Unfortunately they make listening to music problematic. In some cases, you can get them programmed so you can turn the filters on and off.
*Like glasses or contacts, they can take a long time to get used to. If you’ve never had one before, it can take a few months or longer before you’re really comfortable with how they sound and the feel of them in your ear.
*Don’t get “in the ear” hearing aids. Sure they are harder to see, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. And unlike over the ear aids, the mechanism is inside your ear, which means it’s more susceptible to earwax and moisture.
Hari I know. I’ve worn an aid since I was three. I LIKE having my aid be noticable. It’s an unspoken “clue” that I’m hoh, rather then intellectucally disabled. (have one of those oh so lovely “deaf” accents) Plus I mean…I love showing it off…which is why I have purple hearing aids with glitter and tie dye earmolds.
And ditto on what ToeJam said. Always trial hearing aids. Everyone is indivdaul with how they respond to hearing amplification. You might find that a cheap analog is good enough (and wore analogs up til college)
That’s awsome by the way, 
And I don’t mind the thought of having them visible at all either. Like you say, it’s a visable clue that says ‘No, Really! I’m not a dumbass I swear! I just can’t freakin’ Hear you!’
I’ve worn aids since I was 3, and they’re invaluable to me. You’ll find conversing with people so much easier when you can actually understand them. You don’t realize what you’re missing out on with hearing loss.
The cost can be difficult to bear, but it’s absolutely worth it. A decent audiologist will either work out a payment plan with you or help you find some form of assistance.
My best tip - buy hearing aid batteries when they’re on sale at CVS and like. Don’t bother with cheap batteries because they don’t last nearly as long.
Don’t waste your money on cheap $200 hearing aids. They just amplify everything, which doesn’t help much if your hearing loss is in specific ranges.
My mom got hearing aids and never got used to them. She should have gone back and insisted on a new set. My father, however, got a set from Costco and they work great for him. He wore them religiously throughout the break-in period.