Finally Today

Why can't I hear music or television properly with my new hearing aids?

I've had them since October, and I still can't get used to them. I've tried picking up sounds, people's voices are okay, but its music, and television i just can't understand or hear, it echoes, and sounds crackly. I enjoy alot of music and watching television so it's getting frustrating. My audiologist told me to get used to it and it will be fine, but I've tried. Can they make them be able to hear music and television normally like any other person would? They're new Siemens Reflex hearing aids. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. have you turned them on? lol dont worry women are generally pathetic lo
2. Oh you will . Hearing aids cannot exactly replace normal human stereo hearing.. only assist and amplify. I use headphones on TV and music... But aids for conversations, Group conversations are hopeless though , Give up you cant join in Miss half of what is being said , and who said it??
3. It sounds like your hearing aids need some adjustments done. Mine were like that when I first got them (I got my latest pair about a year ago...they are also Seimens). I went back to my audiologist a couple of times for fine tuning and now they are fine. However, I have been deaf since birth and what I have is normal to me. I can enjoy music at low volume or if I'm alone in my car, I take my hearing aids out and listen to my music a little louder. As for TV, I use closed captioning. Going to movies, however...well, that's a different story. Since no theatre in my area provides services for the deaf, I end up waiting for movies to come out on DVD and watching them at home. Telling you to "get used to it" it wrong. Maybe you should find another audiologist. Any good one would know that hearing aids are not perfectly tuned right from the start. Many times, a little tinkering with the settings can get you to where you need and want to be. Good luck. EMT
4. It might need programming, this helps 2 adjust the amount of high frequencies and background noise like tv's and radios. Audibell makes very good aids if you plan 2 upgrade or just buy new ones.
5. Turn the music or tv up.
6. I've no experience with hearing aids, so i can only offer what i think... TVs and music are different to peoples' voices, so this might have something to do with it. It'll be how your hearing aid picks up these sounds. On the TV and with music, they're 'stereo' sounds (pre recorded and playing back through an electrical device) rather than live sounds coming directly from where you are. I think you need to get them sorted, adjust them or reset them (whatever you do with them). What are your hearing aids like on the phone to someone? Good look anyway, sorry if i was no help.... =D
7. New hearing aids often need to be adjusted and tuned according to the needs of the user. It's perfectly normal to go back a couple of times to have them adjusted by an audiologist until they function just right for you. If your audiologist won't do this for you then maybe you should see another one and check if they can help you.
8. sounds to me that these new hearing aids are not wroking for you can you go and speak to someobody who helps you with this and try another kind you could try putting the sub title son the tv and try turning things up and seeing if that helps but that not all ways the answer do they make your ear hart? i now my gran she would not wear hers becouse they hart her. i hope you get somewhere soon and they start working out for you. good look take care
9. It DOES take time to get adjusted to new hearing aids. I t also takes time to find the right adjustment. So your audiologist could be right in saying give it more time. I know if can take as long as 3 months. So I would give it more time - then if your audiologist isn't responsive - change audiologists.
10. Your hearing aids might need adjusting. You might want to change audiologists if you are unhappy with your current audiologist.
11. The great hearing aid debate. Sometimes the digital hearing aids will sound a little different than what we are used to, and it does take some time to adjust to the way things sound. I suspect more is going on based on the things you've mentioned. You can hear people when they talk, so the hearing aids are functioning well at least part of the time. The music and television giving you problems can be a combination of things. Sometimes the processor doesn't work so well and sounds start coming through distorted. The crackly sound makes me wonder if it's a faulty processor. Or it could be the damper. Some hearing aids have a built in feature that will automatically reduce noise that is too loud. That's to protect your ears from noise trauma. A loud noise can trigger the damper to reduce the sound coming through, and sometimes it makes things sound like an echo, muffled, or crackly. The next time it starts sounding crackly or like an echo try adjusting the volume button all the way down and all the way up really fast, back and forth, for a few times. Then put the volume where you're most comfortable with it. If that makes it temporarily clear up and sound better, it's probably the sound processor. Of course, it couldn't hurt to go back to the audiologist and explain the problems and request that they examine the hearing aids for you.
12. Your brain is trying to process the new sounds. Hearing Aids are actually artificial hearing. It's not ever going to be the same as regular hearing. However, if you cannot get used to them after 2-3 weeks, TAKE THEM BACK!!! Have them readjust them. If all else fails, get a new pair. No matter what they say, do not allow them to tell you that "you'll get used to them". Yes, it does take time getting used to, but if you aren't used to them after 2-3 weeks, you won't get used to them. I do not use my hearing aids in the car, I just turn up the radio. When I'm in the car, the window is up and radio off if I'm talking to someone. With TV and movies, I use closed captioning. I can read lips and ask people to repeat themselves. I sit close to the front when I'm in a meeting or class. As people with hearing loss, we have a lot of work to adjust ourselves in our environments. I have been wearing hearing aids since I was 5 years old. (I'm 27 now)