Hearing Loss

I lip read despite wearing hearing aids, so still struggle if people aren't facing me or if it's a noisy room and so on.
The first audiologist I saw asked me how long had I been lip reading for? I said I didn't realise that I did, and that was a real surprise to me!

Me too, loopylou I was told I lip-read very well, and had no idea I did this. Beards and people who talk with their lips almost closed are a nightmare, and although it is sometimes hurtful to be laughed at when I mishear and get it all wrong, it is also quite funny on occasions. Like most deaf people I just get on with it.

I have had a hearing aid for 9 years, deafness runs in my family, Great -aunt Dolly had everything written on a slate! My aid was changed earlier this year, it was one of the older ones with an ear-mould, this one is digital, and just has a tiny piece of soft plastic in the ear with the rest behind the ear. My friend paid a fortune for hers and they look just the same as mine!

My sister is fairly deaf and has a NHS hearing aid with which she isn't very happy. mainly, I think because of the background noise.
is it worth my suggesting to her that she get it fine=tuned again?
Are digital aids any betier than the one she has and if so does the NHS supply them?

Suey, I would be surprised if her hearing aid is not digital - they are the standard NHS issue these days. If your sister is still having problems I would suggest she returns to audiology as it may be possible to adjust the settings.
But it is important to understand that no hearing can restore normal hearing in the same way as a pair of spectacles can improve your sight, they are an aid, and they do take some getting used to. They will not make your hearing perfect again and background noise is the main difficulty to overcome.
Best to avoid noisy pubs and restaurants, and to reduce background noise as far as possible. I have to mute the TV is anyone speaks to me, and I avoid shops that play non stop music as I cannot stand piped music anywhere.

Just to say I have severe hearing lost and was in a very bad place as it was very sudden. The NHS were unable to supply hearing aids that gave me any semblance of adequate hearing. The ear mould made my ear bleed and each time I had to return to the clinic with problems such as feed back, or more fine tuning I had to wait weeks for an appt. meanwhile I was becoming very isolated and depressed! I couldn't use a telephone,hear the TV. My saviour, someone who I claim saved my life was a private audiologist. He was able to prescribe two hearing aids, I have since lost more hearing and have had to move onto a cross aid but I can just about hear on the telephone and hear better in a one to one setting. So don't knock private just be very very careful where you go. You should always start with the NHS.