Buying hearing aids for APD

[vergil96]

This is a probably a social skills question. I have explained a number of times, that I have severe auditory processing disorder. Noise cancellation helps it a lot, and I would want to buy hearing aids with such a function. But there is a problem with how unrecognised APD is. What if they won't want to sell me hearing aids? Help find the right model that has this function? Won't want to adjust it? I have had problems with doctors before, they see "no problem" while I can't understand people speak. Don't even get me started about the ableist behavioural "therapy" for APD. How do I know if I'm dealing with a competent technician?

 

[Outdated]

I'm not sure how much success you'll have, I'm not even sure if you can get hearing aids that have a noise cancellation feature. As for trying to explain things to a technician, as a general rule I've found them far more likely to listen to what you say and consider more options than any medical practitioner.

As another option you can consider - before I bought my proper (expensive) headphones I was curious about just how effective noise cancellation would be so I bought a really cheap set of bluetooth earbuds for my phone. Au$17 including postage. The noise cancellation on them works really well, not as good as proper headphones but certainly an improvement. Because they're only cheap rubbish the microphones are rubbish and they're no good for making phone calls (no one can hear me) but that's not what I wanted them for so it was $17 well spent.

 

[Rodafina]

@vergil96
I found this article interesting and learned about “low-gain hearing aids.”

How Low-Gain Hearing Aids Can Help With Auditory Processing

However, low-gain hearing aids can be used to enhance the sounds that make words easier to distinguish—without making EVERYTHING louder. They are regular hearing aids that are specially programmed by a knowledgeable audiologist to enhance speech while making loud sounds quieter and reducing background noise.

Low-gain hearing aids can also be used to help with issues such as sound sensitivity, tinnitus, and misophonia (where some sounds, like chewing, are aversive/painful).

If you’re looking into low-gain hearing aids, confirm that any audiologist you plan to see has experience with programming low-gain hearing aids for auditory processing difficulties. The hearing aids need to be carefully programmed to support an individual’s auditory processing profile. Many audiologists are unfamiliar with using low-gain hearing aids for auditory processing difficulties and don’t have relevant experience (although there has been some published research).

Also, this one:

10 Best Hearing Aid For Auditory Processing Disorder (2025 Update)

It seems like a major challenge would be finding an audiologist who understands APD, but some of these systems seem to be available to purchase directly. There may be no need to go through a doctor at all if you are paying out of pocket.

 

[vergil96]

I found this article interesting and learned about “low-gain hearing aids.”

Yes, I know. That's more or less what I'm looking for.

I have the earbuds, but they're huge and like to fall out... well, I want to at least try if hearing aids would be any better, I already own a whole heap of hearing devices.

There may be no need to go through a doctor at all if you are paying out of pocket.

Hearing aids aren't refunded for hearing loss under 40dB anyway. I guess so many people have it that the state would go bankrupt if they helped. For APD nothing is refunded and it's poorly understood. I'd need a technician to help find the right model and tune it - if anyone at all. Technicians work in the shops already. It would be more convienient to get the staff cooperate, not purchase online and try to tune it myself.

 

[vergil96]

I don't know what to do. I'm contemplating buying hearing aids online, but it's difficult. There are so many models. It would be better to get help, but I'm afraid of being attacked. Not hearing people isn't something I can just put up with. I can't hear most of the time. How is that considered acceptable? I hate this whole medical system. It's ridiculous.

 

[Outdated]

Technicians work in the shops already. It would be more convienient to get the staff cooperate, not purchase online and try to tune it myself.

You have already mentioned that no matter which way you go you're going to have to pay out of your own pocket. Why not go to a shop and try talking to a technician, I think you'll find them a lot more helpful and a lot more prepared to listen to you than any medical doctor. Chances are that it will be a waste of time but give it a go anyway, you'll never know if you never go.

 

[Dagan]

My father and my daughter have hearing loss, so I've done a deep dive into the area of hearing aids and/or audio amplifiers, as some have to call them because of actual regulations (yeah, it's weird that way).

The primary thing you are looking for in the tech of any of these devices is, the more frequency bands, the better. A ten band frequency aid is quite better than a six band frequency, etc. This is what makes the noise cancelling option per any of them better, as well. Oddly, noise cancellation tech is simply this: microchips in the devices acknowledge, record and play back the sound (in horizontal soundwave inverse), and that cancels whatever sound out. Imagine hearing a sound wave regular, and the shape it makes is like the letter M. The tech hears and reverses that sound wave into a letter W shape through your aid devices straight into your ear. It's wild, but that's how it works. Anyway, again, the more frequency bands the devices can recognize, the more perfectly it can cancel out any noise, but it will also more perfectly amplify what is heard, as well.

Believe it or not, the apple ear pods rate usually top 3 in every hearing aid test study. Of the usual top three, they are your cheapest option quite often, too. Still, I have been to stores such as a Five Below lately, and then I've just looked on Amazon and such to search and find there are definitely other, way cheaper and effective options. The above tech specs are what you seriously need most to pin down quality. Of course, if whatever device has buyer reviews, heed those for help deciding, as well.

I hope this helps!

 

[vergil96]

It's not socially acceptable to wear headphones in formal settings when interacting with lots of people and it causes confusion. It can't be headphones. I will not explain to a hundread people individually that I'm not on a call.

Let's make it clear: no headphones. Not professional, confusing, trouble.

 

[vergil96]

You have already mentioned that no matter which way you go you're going to have to pay out of your own pocket. Why not go to a shop and try talking to a technician, I think you'll find them a lot more helpful and a lot more prepared to listen to you than any medical doctor. Chances are that it will be a waste of time but give it a go anyway, you'll never know if you never go.

Okay, I will try this way.

Anyway, again, the more frequency bands the devices can recognize, the more perfectly it can cancel out any noise, but it will also more perfectly amplify what is heard, as well.

Thank you for the tips!

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Thank you for asking and researching about this. I have some APD but it’s much less troublesome as being retired I interact with few people.

But my tinnitus is driving me nuts!

 

[Dagan]

The highest end ones out there have near 20 bands of frequency you can adjust, and they link up to your cell phone to tweak them in real time. Technically, you can figure out what frequencies people you don't like happen to speak in mostly...and turn them down when around them. Haha.