FolkGuitar

When we renewed our 1-yr visas two months ago, we made an appointment.

We showed up 20-30 minutes before time, had our papers checked in the tent, then went inside and stood on line behind 2-3 people at the counter who did NOT have appointments. They were given queue numbers and told to sit. They did NOT leave their paperwork at the counter. We did. We gave in out paperwork and were told to sit... no queue number given.

About 15 minutes later our names were called for photos.

Ten minutes after that, our names were called again and we were given our passports.

The walk-ins who were ahead of us on line at the counter had still not handed in documents or talked with an Imm officer.

7 hours ago, arithai12 said:

1. The ENT doctor IS the specialist, not the technician performing the audiology test. The doctor will not only prescribe the test -if needed- but also see you after to talk about it.

 

2. If you want to skip the doctor,  maybe you can try a shop selling hearing aids, I think they will do an extensive test and discuss it with you.

1.  I'm not sure why people post opinions and believe them to be facts...

An 'Audiologist' is a 'Doctor of Audiology,' not a technician. Those who pursue the profession of audiology will be required to complete a bachelor's degree and a AuD, PhD, or AuD/PhD combination degree.

Not quite a learn-on-the-job technician.

2. Had you actually read my comments in this thread before you posted, you would have known that I DID go to a Hearing Aid store first, but wanted a more thorough exam with more up-to-date equipment.  Of course hearing aid shops will do audiology testing, but few have the facilities of a large hospital. That said, they only charge 300-400 Baht for an exam that lasts 5 minutes. The exam at the hospital took 25 minutes. Much more thorough. And what if you do NOT want or need to discuss the results with a doctor?  Why should you be forced to pay for something you do not want? I had absolutely no need for a doctor's consult. I just needed a piece of paper to send to a hearing aid company. I've been a hearing aid wearer for the past 25 years. I have the software and equipment to program my own hearing aids and have been doing so for years. I can 'read' an audiogram. I don't need to spend 500 Baht for a doctor to say 'Gee, you don't hear so well, do you? Which is pretty much ALL the doctor could say, as there is no medical correction available for my hearing.  Would you be happy to pay an extra 500 Baht to hear that? Especially when you've heard it so many times before... 

Are you content to pay for unwanted and unneeded services in a hospital?

3 hours ago, CMBob said:

I can understand your angst at the additional tests they required of you but, once you learned that you couldn't only get the one hearing test, why not simply decline at that point in time?  

Yes, I could have declined, except that I needed a very accurate audiogram, with more exhaustive testing than is usually given in a Hearing Aid store. I also hoped that with Bangkok Hospital being the newest, and some consider the best, their equipment had a chance to be new and better as well. I was willing to put up with their policy of having to see a doctor first. However, I would have preferred that they at least inform me of this practice when I called to find out about the cost of an audiogram. At THAT point, I should have been told that I would be required to buy an entire package, and if I wanted one test, I'd have to pay for two of them plus a consultation.  Had I simply been told that when I called, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. I didn't want those extras, but I'd put up with them if necessary as I did need a careful exam.  I'm quite sure the person who told me the cost of the exam knew that I would have to pay for unwanted tests and consults because of hospital policy, but didn't want to scare off a potential customer.  I find that practice rather underhanded.

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

It appears you have mistitled the thread and your problem is not "getting past" a general doctor to see a specialist - -which as many others have explained, is a non-issue in a private hospital, you simply request the specialist you want, no referral is required --

Really?  Bangkok Hospital IS a private hospital. Just three days ago I was NOT permitted to see the Audiologist without having a pre-exam by an ENT doctor FIRST, then the ENT doctor would prescribe the Audiolgy test.  I specifically stated that I did NOT want an ENT to examine me as I was NOT there for any medical 'problem.'  No deal. Either see the doctor first, or no Audiology test.

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Just another example of bill padding, like the mandatory blood pressure and temperature checks

I can understand the mandatory blood pressure and temperature checks. A hospital must show due diligence before treating patients.  There is no extra charge for these. There is, however, a charge for all the other unneeded, unrequested, and time-wasting tests and consultation they insist upon having.

Hiding unneeded tests behind the screen of "it's our policy to provide 'packages' to save patients time and money," is disingenuous and a very obvious lie.  In fact, I asked the cashier how paying 1338 Baht was saving me money compared with 750 Baht, but she pretended she didn't hear me.

If they were to simply tell patients that they can't buy individual tests, and only have packages on offer, it would reduce a lot of angst when patients walk up to the cashier, and give patients a chance to choose a different health care provider.

I was at Bangkok Hospital two days ago. I called first to be sure I could get what I was looking for; an Audiogram (hearing test administered by an Audiologist.)  I was told the test cost 750 Baht and I didn't need an appointment.  I did NOT have any medical complaint. All I needed was the piece of paper with the test results to send to a hearing aid company.

Dispite discussing this with the Reception Desk, I was informed that I needed to see an ENT doctor first. I told them I did NOT have any medical problem I wanted examined, and had no need for a doctor's consult before and after.

But that's what I got.  I got a doctor's consult that I didn't want. I was given a Tympanographic test also, which I did NOT want, did NOT ask for, but still had to pay for!

I also got a bill for 1,338 Baht. Not a lot of money, obviously, but remember, all I wanted was an 750 Baht Audiogram. I was required to see a doctor before the exam, a consult after the exam, a Tympanogram (measure ear drum pressure,) none of which I wanted.

I was required to have tests I didn't want. I was required to pay for a doctor's exam that I didn't want. All I needed was the Audiogram to send to a hearing aid company.

All too common a practice with hospitals these days. (NOTE: I had an audiogram done the day before at another location (not a hospital) for 400 Baht. I was just looking for a second opinion.)

By the way, it WAS an excellent audiological exam by the Audiologist... once I got past the doctor.

49 minutes ago, novacova said:

Oh poor fella, too poor for a razor and hair cut? Or cave man? งง 

May I ask... how many tattoos do YOU have?

1 hour ago, EricTh said:

@FolkGuitar

 

Their English is very limited so they will say very short sentences - there, Maya, Nimman etc.

Don't expect them to give detailed road directions like native English speakers.

 

Thank you, EricTh. After 20+ years living in Chiang Mai, I too have found that to be the case, which is why I use short sentences in Thai.

That said, I don't hold much hope for the directions native English speakers give either, if the posts on ThaiVisa are to be considered.  Unless they post a map-linked reference, their directions are often impossible to follow.

2 hours ago, MrBrad said:

I, too, don't understand the "help" that is given in a retail setting.  When asking an employee where anything is, you'll usually get an extended arm pointing more-or-less in the general direction of the item in question. How about telling us the aisle number and if the item is on the right or left?

 

When an shop employee does that, I smile and say thank you (in Thai) and then also in Thai say, "Please show me."  I usually feel badly that I interrupted their Instagram posting or chatting with other employees, but I don't let that stop me.  ????

When asking directions in the street, obviously that won't work, although in Japan, whenever I asked directions, either when walking or on the train, most often the person would go out of their way to take me to my destination and then return towards theirs.  That has happened to me on occasion here in Thailand.

2 hours ago, moogradod said:

Traditionally, Gyoza are many times served as a side dish to Ramen. Unforatunately there is no Osho restaurant in Pattaya or its vicinity. But then again, there is no really phantastic Ramen-Ya either here, all only so la la. I would love to have a very good Ramen Shop or a Gyoza restaurant here.

There is no Osho in Chiang Mai either, but there IS a Yoshinoya now.  Brings back nice memories of my years in Japan.

4 hours ago, LaosLover said:

If it's your first trip to Thailand, that's a really great trip. When I was their age, I was lucky to go to the beach, let alone The Beach. 

Those were great times...  arriving on Koh Tao, having taken the midnight ferry  (the ONLY ferry in those days,) arriving on an island that had no electricity, no phones, no cars, a village with less than 15 shophouses, and just a handful of bamboo beach resorts, mostly along Sairee Beach. There was only one cement building on the island back then, and several dive shops. No noise at night; you could actually listen to the sound of the waves rolling onto the sand...  The dive shops had to use generators so they could show the SCUBA training videos.  A few years later, the island got electrified, but only between 8am-7pm.  Kerosene lanterns for light at night. These days, I can't even imagine going back there because of the changes today, with three villages, half a dozen speedboat ferries unloading thousands of young tourists every day, car rental agencies (for an island 8k long and 3k wide) and non-stop loud music at night.

But... if you are a young backpack tourist coming for the first time, it may seem like Paradise.  It sure seemed like that to me back in the day. I'd spend a few months diving there every year until it just got too commercialized.

On 9/9/2022 at 6:53 PM, moogradod said:

Some time ago there were shops in Japan offering you to give 100 Gyoza (Japanese (actually Chinese)) dumplings for free if you could eat them all. Otherwise you would have to pay for the number you could eat. I do not remember a time limit and neither what would have happened if you could devour more than 100 ????

Nothing better than 'Osho' restaurant gyoza!

I, too, have a healthy dislike of those machines. I've never gotten a good pair of glasses when that has been the 'only' testing/measuring device used.

But... there is an old-style optometrist in Chiang Mai. She was the head optometrist for Sriphat Medical Center before she retired two years ago, and now runs her own diagnostic and prescription center on Saturday mornings. She used the old-style 'try lenses,' swapping one for another, adjusting the axis for each eye at the same time, back and forth until each eye is as perfect as it can be. Her prices for frames and lenses are just about the lowest in town, and service is great.  I've had three pair made by her and am completely happy with all three!

The shop is down a small soi off Moon Muang Rd, Ratavithi Soi 1,  50m in on the right side. There is a ramp leading to the shop door.  Get there early... there is usually a line!

19 hours ago, Longwood50 said:

1.  I wear hearing aids and have for several years. 

2. The problem you will have is getting them programmed. 
I ended up taking a vacation and brought the hearing aids with me to get programmed. 

 

3.  This is my third set of Phonaks

 

1. and 3.  May I ask why you needed three sets of hearing aids in just several years? 

I've been wearing hearing aids in both ears for almost 30 years, and am still going strong on my third pair, only changing as I needed stronger devices.

2. This no longer needs to be a problem. If you buy your hearing devices from the right source, they will also sell you the programming software to go with it. In fact, my software is made for 5 different name brands, so I guess it's pretty common. It took less than 90 minutes for the company to teach me, while on the phone with me and seated in front of my own computer, to learn to program my own hearing aids EXACTLY to my liking, as I don't have to try to explain what something sounds like... I just listen, move the correct slider, listen again, move the slider a little bit more... etc., etc., for all the various frequencies we hear throughout our normal day. Tap a glass with a knife? Oh! Too tinny, move the slider. Strum a G chord on a guitar.... Oh, not enough bass... move the slider so that it is EXACTLY where it needs to be because YOU are controlling the slider, and not where an audiologist 'thinks' it should be because of a number on an audiogram.

It is remarkably easy to program and fit your own hearing aids in the comfort of your own room. No longer need to try to find an audiologist who carries your brand.

Perhaps one of the most skilled locksmiths in Chiang Mai can be found in the little shop tucked into the corner stores, just west of the turn onto Wualai Rd from the moat.  It's right there at the corner, but it's hard to see it if you drive by. Better to park near by and walk over.

16 hours ago, sappersrest said:

Another easy thing is to read up on Buys -Ballots law  easy  you  will amaze all your friends, with this new found knowledge .

LOL!  I like this one!  I'd never heard of it before and had to look it up. Pretty wild!

39 minutes ago, seedy said:

https://www.meteoblue.com/en/country/weather/maps/thailand_thailand_1605651

http://www.aws-observation.tmd.go.th/web/main/index.asp

Thanks, Seey. There are enough maps and charts to keep me busy for a while!  ????

5 hours ago, seedy said:

What is your level of knowledge ?

I was a surface weather observer for 12 years.

I can recognize a cold front and a warm front on a map, know what an isobar is, and if my window is open, can tell if it's raining.

4 hours ago, sappersrest said:

Thai met dept has some good charts .

Metars and tafs from chiang mai airport.

Wundeground has some good local surface recordings and uptodate info.

Buy a surface weather station great fun

Might you have links to these?

Thanks for all these suggestions, folks. I appreciate it. I'm just looking for some light diversion and a bit of new education. Rainy season seems to me to be a good time for this sort of learning!

5 hours ago, JackGats said:

Yeah. I even have doubts about the audiometric test performed by the ENT. After the test started in the soundproof cubicle, the nurse opened the door to tell me "you should press the button as soon as you hear the sound, not wait until you hear it distinctly". I thought what? why wasn't I told earlier? So I am not even certain my frequency graph is accurate.

 

Anything you can do on your own for yourself is better than relying on other people.

I've been giving this some thought...  This is just my opinion....

Assuming your audiometric test did not reveal an unknown physical problem, and your concern is only the accuracy of the hearing results, I'd say don't worry.

The test just takes several minutes and actually, even with a total soundproof room still relies upon the user to respond to EVERY tone played for accuracy. Missing a bunch still gives enough of an overview of one's hearing; moderate loss, severe loss, profound loss, etc., and the corresponding numbers on a chart.  The audiologist (or self ) takes those numbers and plugs them into the hearing aid. That's called... a good place to START fitting the device. Every one of those numbers is going to get tweaked, and tweaked again as you fit your hearing aids and adjust them to your liking. The audiogram is just a handy reference place with which to start. Don't worry if yours is off. You can quickly and easily adjust for it when you're fitting your hearing aids. 

BTW.... 'fitting,' in audiologistspeak means 'adjusting the various settings to get the most desirable sound quality.

A friend just asked me, offline, 'why' I used the third program as 'ear plugs' vs just turning off the hearing aid or turning down the volume to zero.

Most hearing aids don't have an on/off switch.

'Some' have a volume control switch... but not all.

Most common today is to see a volume button or rocker, and a program pushbutton. It's faster and easier to just press the button to change program then multiple presses of the volume rocker.

Simple as that.  ????

6 hours ago, OneZero said:

Thanks again Folk Guitar,

My interpretation of your experience leads me to believe that my initial task is to get an appointment with an audiologist (e.g., like at Sriphat) for their sound test and advice / recommendation. 

 

My second task would be to obtain the latest modern technology hearing aid myself (online, local store, etc TBD), with an emphasis on getting one that is user friendly so that I can personally adjust it myself. 

 

Am I thinking correctly on this? 

If so, I will probably indeed be accepting your offer Folk Guitar, ie contact you personally as to your recommendation ref where /how to best purchase such a device.

 

Yes, you most certainly are thinking correctly! One thing you may like to do is take notice of the various 'options' that the different brands and models offer. Question them. Will you really need the telecoil if you don't live/move in an area where the theaters and halls are equipped for telecoil? You do have to pay extra for it, but if you basically don't need it, why include it? Most better brands offer 3-5 programmable programs. How many do YOU need?  I use one for 'normal, everyday walking around.' I use another in noisy restaurants when I want to have a directional mic pointing at the person sitting opposite me so as to reduce the sound of the people at tables behind and beside me. I have a third program that I set to ZERO sound. Ear Plugs. I use that when I'm on the motorcycle or in very noisy places. I never use my 4th program.

One thing most people don't realize is that the guts of these major name brands are all made in the same few factories. One factory for everybody's microphones, another factory for everybody's speakers, another factory cranks out the ear domes, etc., etc., and the Brand Name assembles them... or they buy assembled components and just snap 'em together with their brand name on them!

However, sticking with one of the name brands is a great way to go. Finding a reliable source online 'can' save you a considerable amount of money. The really better hearing aids generally start around $2500-$4500 each, but find the right place and you can cut a thousand off the price. Personally, I use a place in Indiana called Hearsource  (www.hearsource.com)  They carry Widex and ReSound, as well as  lower end models. Great for buying, great customer service, great repair when needed service (I've only needed twice in 20 years)

Good luck in your search. Getting good hearing back feels nice...

Request to Weather watchers in Chiang Mai.

I'd like to locate a few professional quality online daily weather map sites for Chiang Mai province. For those of you used to nautical and aeronautical weather charts... this is the sort of thing I'm looking for. I have been studying up on how to interpret them (my 10th grade Earth Science class all but forgotten) and would like to put together a clickable list of good chart sites for weather interpretation.

Thanks.