Diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss

[simon43]

I had an ear inspection and frequency range hearing test today at the Eartone clinic on Sukhumvit soi 22. My ears were all clear of wax, so that's good.  The frequency range test indicated typical age-related hearing drop-off at the higher frequencies, which didn't give me cause for concern.

 

But the test also indicated a similar hearing loss in both ears around the 3-4KHz region that was higher than the age-related loss at say 8 KHz. So the frequency plot across the tested range was flat at the lower frequencies, took a big dip around 3-4 KHz, and then came back up again at the higher frequencies, (but not as good a response as for the lower frequencies).

 

The doctor suggested that this dip around 3-4 KHz could be a historical, noise-induced hearing loss. I have never worked in a noisy environment, so would have to attribute this to the Rolling Stones concerts that I attended in my youth.

 

They then demonstrated how the dip could be corrected using in-ear hearing aids.  Assuming that they were not trying to pull a 'scam', their demonstration of birds singing with the hearing aids switched on and off was impressive.

 

My main concern is that I am a teacher of young children, and may be experiencing some hearing issues in the class room.  This could be because all the kids are chatting at the same time, or their English accents may be lousy!  But I find myself many times asking a child to spell out the word that they are saying, so that I can identify the actual word that they are saying, because I cannot hear it clearly when they speak (I thought my ears might be full of wax, but that is not the case).

 

If my hearing in the classroom can be improved by very discrete, in-ear canal aids. then I don't have an issue with this, (apart from the cost).

 

But I'm not convinced that the aids would help me in the classroom, or even that I have a hearing problem in the classroom.  This is because Dr Google tells me that young children speak with a typical frequency from about 200 - 400 Hz, a frequency range where my hearing response is normal.  Would my poor audio response at 3-4 KHz impair my hearing of the children's voices?  IE - are the harmonics of the fundamental voice frequencies important to hear?

 

I appreciate some advice, before I fork out 50,000 baht on 2 custom-fitted, discrete hearing aids.

[lopburi3]

Did the doctor look like this? 

 

 

[Sheryl]

Afraid I can't answer your question but I think you would do well to get a second opinion form an audiologist not employed by a company that makes and sells hearing aids as its sole business.

 

There is one at Saint Louis Hospital.

 

There are few trained audiologists in Thailand so very possible you were not seen by one as yet.

[mommysboy]

Yeah! I blame the loss of my high range on Queen concerts, but wouldnt have missed them for the world.

 

I think Sheryl is right. 

[tonray]

Having taught several years at the Mattayom level in Bangkok, I'm surprised I have any hearing left at all.

[simon43]

Thanks Sheryl, I'll go and see the specialist for a second opinion.

 

I saw the camera video when the clinic checked inside my ears, and there was very little wax and no issues with the ear drum itself.  But it was I who went to the clinic because I felt that my hearing was not 100%, so I feel that there may well be a hearing loss problem, albeit not yet serious.

[mommysboy]

2 hours ago, simon43 said:

Thanks Sheryl, I'll go and see the specialist for a second opinion.

 

I saw the camera video when the clinic checked inside my ears, and there was very little wax and no issues with the ear drum itself.  But it was I who went to the clinic because I felt that my hearing was not 100%, so I feel that there may well be a hearing loss problem, albeit not yet serious.

I'm in a similar situation in Thailand regarding difficulty understanding small kids, especially when there is a din.  But when I went back to UK recently my hearing seemed fine.  Remember that Thais produce sounds that we have a dull spot to, and vice-versa.  To appreciate this, consider their problems with consonants such as l,r,t,d.

[teddog]

Try one of the throw away ones on E Bay UK    good reports by users   or when known  AliBaba  from China