Aightball t1_iyyycp6 wrote on December 5, 2022 at 5:33 AM

Reply to comment by AuDBallBag in FDA change ushers in cheaper, easier-to-get hearing aids by AsslessBaboon

I 100% agree with seeing an audiologist. My problem is that, when I have seen one, they say my hearing is fine. I've had tinnitus my entire life and I can pass a hearing test with flying colors. My problem is that a lot of people increasingly sound like Charlie Brown's teacher when they talk to me, and after a while, i smile and nod, and hope I haven't agreed to anything. I can hear fine but I can't understand some times...and the louder the room, the worse it is. So this might be something that would benefit me, who knows I have an issue but who has been dissmissed by every doctor I've ever seen. :|

LadyGrey-3 t1_iyz11yu wrote on December 5, 2022 at 6:03 AM

You may have a Central Auditory Processing Disorder—worth seeing if you can get referred for a CAPD specific test if your traditional audiogram keeps showing up as normal.

Aightball t1_iz75h55 wrote on December 6, 2022 at 11:36 PM

Sorry for the delay in responding!

Where can I find more information on this? And how would I go about asking my doctor and/or finding someone to do this test?

LadyGrey-3 t1_izcbjy0 wrote on December 8, 2022 at 1:33 AM

“CAPD” testing is completed by an audiologist who specializes in that area (the average audiologist is not completing this testing). I would honestly google “central auditory processing testing near me” and see if there is an audiologist with a private practice dedicated to this specialty. If not, you could contact your last audiologist and see if they have any good names to refer you to.

Otherwise, you could potentially cut to the chase and try a program for auditory processing training online. I know LACE is a popular program that is self-guided. It would be worth getting a proper diagnosis though if possible.

Aightball t1_izcs6ew wrote on December 8, 2022 at 3:42 AM

Thank you! I live in a medium sized city in Iowa, so I should be able to hopefully find someone near by. And it's enough of a problem that I'm willing to travel if need be to get the testing done. It's so frustrating when people sound like nonsense to me when I know they're using actual words. Thank you for the information!!

AuDBallBag t1_izf45z6 wrote on December 8, 2022 at 5:27 PM

Yes an OTC aid will not help you but you may need to see a neuro-otologist because if you have normal hearing thresholds but distorted speech recognition and tinnitus you may have anything from Central auditory processing disorder, to cerebrovascular inflammation, to a benign tumor on the acoustic nerve. I wouldn't stop at the test - I'd get an MRI. If that's clear, I'd ask for auditory processing disorder screening.

Aightball t1_izg47fk wrote on December 8, 2022 at 9:20 PM

I've had it suggested by an ENT (who showed that vertigo was actually treatable and manageable!) that I might also have a birth defect in the inner ears. Apparently, it's 'not normal' for 2-year-olds to report tinnitus and vertigo. The story my mother often told me was that, when I could form sentences, I complained that the room went around and my ears made noise. We got the vertigo taken care of serveral years ago, but the tinnitus never went away. At the time (and now) I couldn't afford further testing, but it's something to consider looking into.