I have been going deaf for the last few years and this week I have finally got my first hearing aids. It’s been a really radical change for me as I had not realised just how bad my hearing had become. When the audiologist first turned the aids on in his office they were deafening and they are currently only set to 80% volume until I get used to them.
Apart from the volume I have basically not been able to hear any high frequencies for about ten years, so that’s been a huge difference. Walking about I can hear things like birdsong that I never would before. At the supermarket I almost couldn’t think for the sounds of people rustling their carrier bags. 😂
It’s been fascinating how my brain is adjusting, things are starting to sound more natural after only a couple of days. At first music sounded really weird and almost metallic, but now it’s starting to sound good and I was listening to The Smile album earlier and hearing lots of small things I’d missed before.
I’m also really noticing it when I’m not using the aids. Last night when I was watching TV at what I felt was a natural volume I turned the aids off and the TV was practically inaudible. Without them everything sounds dull and numb.
Anyway, it’s been an interesting experience. If I’d have realised how deaf I am now I would have done this earlier.