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Also found old hearing aids, where I could tell Dad was messing with them, due to screw driver scratches.... [sigh]
I think we should go back to the old fashioned "ear trumpet".... no batteries needed... can't lose these things because of their size... and they come in such wonderful designs and colors. Someone could have a dozen of them in different colors to match what they were wearing that day. Now, if only we could get the fad going :)
First of all, best option is to get the aids fixed. Starkey.com can direct you to a hearing specialist who might be able to send the "non-repairable" aid to our lab and see if they would be willing to repair it. They have an all-make repair lab, and they are very motivated to help people, so they may be able to repair the aid at a reasonable cost.
If she won't leave the hearing aids alone, and I know some people get to this point - won't stop fiddling, start hiding things, etc - a better option to help her hear you one-on-one is a Pocket Talker. This is a pair of headphones attached to a microphone that you can turn the volume way up. This way, nothing is stuck in her ears for her to fiddle with and she can still hear to communicate with you and the staff. This device will run in the neighborhood of $150, and it may be worth it for you to get two of them - one you keep with you, and one for the nursing home staff. This way, if one gets broken, there is always a back up. I checked and they do have these available on Amazon.com.
If she is a big TV watcher, and can't hear the TV without her aids in, they also have TV ears that are relatively inexpensive and much more durable for fiddling. This may also be another device to help solve some hearing issues. Lastly, you may like something called a Boogie Board which is a digital tablet you write on (similar to a magna doodle but much easier to read because it is clear). These devices are also available on Amazon.com.
I wish you the very best of luck in helping your mother to hear you. Hearing is so important to our connection and when she can't hear, it makes everything so much more difficult.
For all the readers, education time. Untreated hearing loss severely increases the risk of developing dementia and alzheimer's disease. A mild untreated hearing loss doubles your risk of developing dementia. A severe untreated hearing loss is a 5x risk of developing dementia. If you have a family member with dementia or alzheimer's, you want to do everything to make sure you minimize your risk, and being proactive about taking care of your hearing and treating your hearing loss if any hearing issues are found is an incredibly important piece. Wearing properly fit hearing aids mitigates this increased risk by up to 90%. Get your hearing tested. Treat your hearing loss appropriately for proper brain health throughout your life.
Could you add that as a paid task for someone at the facility?
I suspect it would be better to have rechargeable devices rather than having to replace the tiny batteries. My mother had a hearing aid, and it was ridiculous even trying to turn the thing on (tiny print in plastic with no color contrast). I've decided if I ever need one, I'm going to get something that isn't so tiny because a lot of the hassles are caused by the small size. People walk around with Bluetooth devices on their eyes, so there's no reason why someone can't have a hearing aid of similar design (if they don't like to show that they need a hearing aid due to vanity).
I would use an ear horn before I would pay the ridiculous prices asked for most hearing aids!
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