I have real hearing loss (30%) in both ears and
Posted By: MT 10 years and then some on 2005-12-05
In Reply to: Wonder how many MTs have hearing problems sm - MT
was recommended to get 2 hearing aids, but did you ever price those things? 1200 for one? So I got one. I barely use it. I can't use it for work as it isn't small enough to accomodate the headphones. But since I got on DEP, the only good thing about it is the voice comes through the speaker right into my headset so I actually have to turn it DOWN. I was evaluated and wanted to hear so bad that it was work related but they say mine is congenital, and with a little digging into my family's history I realize that it is. I do know plenty of MTs, however, who do have credible hearing loss with no other factors. I mean, come on, how could you not? The secret is to keep the volume as LOW as you can stand it to try and avoid any loss. I also have terrible ringing and think that is job related.
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hearing loss
Has anyone noticed a loss of hearing over years of MT work? A new report on the news says that continuous use of head sets can cause hearing loss. I have noticed it (and tinnitus) among me and my MT friends. Anyone else?
hearing loss
After 30 years in this job, yes my hearing is REAL bad! I'm going to start pricing hearing-aids this month, mightly only be able to afford one. Insurance companies - if they are generous might pay for one - if you work at GM I'm told. I'm certain this job has accelerated a natural aging phenomenon. I'm hoping to make it another 5 years. I can't interview for another line of work if I can't hear the interviewer!
Hearing loss
Is there any new technology out there on improving hearing loss besides hearing aids? My DH has a herititary hearing loss that seems to be getting worse these past few years. He refuses to wearing hearing aids even though we have spent $$$ on them. He is a teacher and it is getting very difficult for him to teach his classes effectively or without students making fun of or taking advantage of his hearing loss. Just curious if anyone knows of anything before we spend $$$ and time seeing doctors that will tell him nothing.
Hearing loss
My son who is 11 has worn hearing aids since before he turned 3, first the BTE kind (which were mini) and for the last couple of years, since he has shown so much responsibility, he now has ITE very small,programmable aids. Quite expensive, but worth it.
One of the contacts that assist me in the state (VA) with school issues recently sent me additional information; included was a brochure from NFSS Communincations which is a supplier of assitive-listening devices.
However, I would not just randomly purchase an item without discussing it with an audiologist that you trust. Fortunately, my son's audiologist is wonderful beyond words and quite helpful.
I have quite a bit of additional information on this subject if you need it.
My son says to tell your husband just to get good hearing aids and wear them. (Nothing mean intended, he just knows that if he can hear with assistance, then why not wear them). He has explained to the other children that basically it is just like someone who wears glasses to see better.
I hate to see anyone struggling due to this matter and hope that he finds something he is comfortable with. Good luck!
jrm
hearing loss
Has anyone heard of Transcriptionist losing their hearing due to the long hours of listening on the headphones?
Hearing loss
I have been an MT for 35 years. I started with tinnitus in my left ear about 3 years ago. Saw my doctor who sent me to an ENT doctor who said I also had TMJ. Then he sent me to an audiologist and I have some hearing loss to low tones in my left ear. I still have the tinnitus, and loud noises, loud music drive me crazy. I am now going to look into homeopathic treatment for the tinnitus to see if I can get some relief. But, the ENT doctor and audiologist did tell me that it was from using the ear phones for all of these years.
Hearing loss
I think hearing loss is inevitable due to having the headsets inside the ear canal so near the eardrum and the bones of the middle ear. Perhaps a worker's comp problem if you are an employee. Or a work-related disability if it is bad enough. If so - I can tell you from experience, start saving now - hearing aids cost at the least $6000 for 2 (if you need them for both ears) and to date I have not found an insurance company that will cover any of the cost and I have been looking for the past 17 years for an insurance company that would cover them.
hearing loss
Thank you everyone for the replies on my question regarding hearing. Since I started 2 weeks I'm already noticing weird pluglike sensation in my ears everyday. Not to mention I work in a room with loud filthy mouth MA's. At times I have to up the volume so that I can hear clearly. The weird thing about the sensation in my ears, it's that I feel fine in the morning but by the time I leave there's that sensation again. Sometimes I even open my mouth with to pop my ears. I just hope this isn't progressing into something serious.
Hearing Loss
Any long-time MTs out there noticed any hearing loss from this profession?
Hearing Loss...SM
I have had quite a bit of loss, though my mom has hearing problems but has otosclerosis and I don't, mine is conduction. I wear bilateral hearing aids to work and also have to use a Bose headset (headset has to cover my ears because my hearing aids are in-the-ear, but the Bose headset is extremely comfortable), but with this help I don't have any problems hearing what the docs are saying now. Have been wearing the hearing aids for about 2 years --- boy is my television loud when I put my aids in!!!
I absolutely have hearing loss, more so in one ear than the other.
I am always asking people to repeat themselves, and I have the volume on my dictaphone turned up very high.
Another Ellen with Hearing Loss
Funny you should ask about this. I just got my first hearing aids two days ago!! I have sensorineural hearing loss and have been finding it increasingly difficult to understand the TV, conversations, etc., but no problems with transcription. Actually, I had my hearing tested probably 6-7 years ago and was advised to get hearing aids then but I was too cheap. It's unbelievable how expensive they are and I think it's crap that insurance doesn't pay for even a portion of the chart.
Anyway, since I only started transcribing full-time five years ago, I know that transcribing didn't cause my original hearing loss. It's hereditary in my case with a long line of hearing-impaired relatives on my mother's side. Whether it's become worse is up for debate. BTW, I worked 30+ years as a medical technologist (lab), where there is always a lot of low-level noise but not really loud.
I can't decide about these hearing aids. Sometimes I totally forget they're there but other times I feel like I have wads of gum in my ears. I take them out and I'm not sure I'm hearing all that much better with them. Time will tell, I guess.
Ellen S. 
Hearing loss/tinnitus
I have been a MT for 19 years. I have started having a major problem with tinnitus lately. I know it is directly related to working because it eases up some after a couple of days off. At the end of my shift, the ringing much louder and I am very noise sensitive. Normal "kid" noises (I have 3 of them) are painful, and I find myself very short with my kids and constantly telling them my ears hurt and to please be quieter.
About 6 months ago I starting using JVC marshmallow earbuds like you would use with an IPOD. These are great because they block out almost all background noise and the sound is crisp and clean. About 5 months ago I started editing VR reports, in which the dictation is greatly speeded up, making the tone of the doctors voices much higher pitched. I keep the volume as low as I possibly can.
Has anyone ever experienced similar problems. I'm really becoming concerned I am doing permanent damage. I welcome any insight and suggestions. I am trying to go back to my "old-fashioned" headset and see if this helps. Thanks!
15 years worth of hearing loss
I have experienced this also, mostly in my left ear. Almost daily I get doctors that are speaking so quietly that I have to blast my sound - then someone in the background laughs or drops something. Too bad they aren't on the other end of the headphones.
Can you tell if you've had a sudden hearing loss on that side? Maybe a wax
s
My dwindling paycheck, loss of benefits, and loss of respect is all the proof I need. nm
,
Cook it real slow at real low heat; simmer, don't boil.
nm
I'm all ears
I am totally frustrated myself and so ready for a change. Trust me, I can relate.
Protect ears where you can
I recently bought a new blow dryer that is louder than my old one. I have started putting cotton in my ears while blow drying, and it muffles the high, painful whine. I suddenly have more patience with styling my hair, so I guess it may have been bothering me before this, too, and I didn't realize why I could hardly wait to finish.
definitely UNFAIR. You are our 2nd set of ears and still MTs. NM
.
OMG - My ears are always itchy - I actually
have an "ear itcher" that I keep on my desk - kinda gross, but what can ya do. I thought it was just me. I don't think I could go without them though, I work too much and my ears get sore. I guess I'll try Radioshack and Staples, if not, I guess I'll get them online. Thanks
You could use headphones that go over the ears
over your hearing aids, such as the noise-canceling headphones. I would assume this would work just fine. I don't like to wear my noise-canceling headphones because they get too hot, however.
My aching ears
Hi everyone! Just wondering if you all have suggestions for inexpensive headphones that don't hurt your ears, but have good sound quality. I have 2 different ones that I use and I prefer the sound quality of my little "bud" type, but they end up really hurting my ears after several hours of use. The other are much more comfortable, but I lose sound quality. I guess I'm looking for the best of both worlds -- oh, and inexpensively, too!! (I don't ask for much, huh?)
Take care all!
and most of them have cellphones stuck in their ears. nm
nm
Unfortunately, it will fall on deaf ears.
But give it a shot.
hears to ears through to threw
Sorry no wonder you are so down on being a Transcriptionist as it is evident you have problems spelling.
magots in the groin and ears....
/
Ears now beat red and they are off for good.
My ears are not beat red and killing me. I love the NC and they help quite ambient noise even with the feature off but wowzers. Back to my cheapos for me. I may try the Koss headphones and see if they are any better. Hubby is not working so he gets to do all the running. He is going to kill me.
My daughter is 17 and has never wanted her ears pierced!
She has always been involved in sports and would have to take them out during a game or put a band-aid over them. I wanted that to be something she wanted, and she has never wanted her ears pierced. For prom we bought clip-ons and they looked pretty nice. I was afriad they would be tacky. She might want to get them pierced before next prom but, again, that will be HER decision.
snot suckers, in our ears, like they don't know we hear that
nm
orlando bloom(lord of the rings without the elf ears)
thin crust pizza that has bacon and green olives only on it and corona with a lime and salt.
Harder on my eyes than my ears but I find it hard to
believe that listening to dictation could cause hearing loss. Blasting music through headphones maybe, but not dictation. I've been doing this for 20 years and have not noticed any difference in my hearing.
However, my eyes get soooooo tired. I've started zooming in to make the print look bigger and that helps a lot.
Once a week, I clean my headset ears with alcohol.
Then swab out my ears after showering with Q-tips with alcohol on them. Keeps the itching down to nothing, and the ear wax doesn't build up that way, either.
Ears itch b/c of ear sponge bacteria (mine did)
Take off the sponges and clean the actual headset with rubbing alcohol damply applied to a towel, then replace the sponges. Do this periodically. Also, replace the sponges every month or so, especially in hot weather.
I have a pair of the earbuds (cheap ones) and they hurt my ears.
I couldn't wear them very long.
My ears are feeling so horrible that I can't stand the feel of my headphones.
I have URI symptoms, saw the doc yesterday. Has anyone ever not used their headphones and used the speaker instead. I'm concerned that I won't be as accurate. Any suggestions for me? Thanks.
Actually it's years to ears. I can spell just fine, just don't take the time to proofread eve
post as I'm busy transcribing at the same time. Sorry to say my priorities are such that you guys here don't rank perfect posts. Now, if you guys want to pay per post.... 
ENT=Ears, nose and throat. HEENT=Head, eyes,
x
If they're tight enough, hang them in front of or behind your ears. Sound is conducted through
s
I have drainage too and a ton of ear wax! YUK! I lavage my ears with a bulb syringe and warm saline
about once a month or they will start to itch something fierce. Nobody tells you about the ear hazards of being an MT, do they? I also have to deal with recurrent bouts of labrynthitis which my doc has said may be a side effect of ear phones in my ears all day long!
We should get hazard pay or worker's comp! 
I notice sometimes the dictation goes directly from ears-to-hands. Bypasses the brain entirely! n/
:-/
I learned to put my phones in front of my ears inbetween dictations so I don't get blasted.
s
HEARING
I have noticed a hearing change. But it is weird as my hearing is better in my right ear where I listen to the dictation. It is my LEFT ear that isn't so good anymore. I guess old age is catching up with me; unfortunately, in many ways, not just one !!
hearing
the latest buzz about hearing and earphones was more related to ear buds that fit in your ear, which puts it much closer to your tympanic membranes.
hearing
Have a hearing problem, anyone know if or where I can get a headset specifically for hearing deficit.
you should be hearing from them again soon.
nm
hearing
Get your ears checked. Mine accumulate ear wax regularly and there is a huge difference when the wax is removed. Good luck!
Losing hearing
Does anybody else feel that over time their hearing has deteriorated due to the constant noise from wearing headphones?
hearing same from mine.
I have head the same from my 15 year old son who plays both competitive travel ice hockey and high school.
Last season he told me the same thing, he is burning out, hockey is 10 months on his travel team. We start in Sept and don't finish until end of Mar.
I just listened to his reasons why and then explained to him that if he wanted to stop the travel hockey because its just too much OK, but he should continue to play for his school. I explained to him that high school is such a short time in his life and to make the most fun of it. His friends and family that come to what him play are OK with his decision.
He thought about it for a while and just last week came started and he is now playing both. I asked him what changed. He just said he needed some down time and now he's ready to go. Thank God it a short season at this time. Aug to Nov and Nov to Feb.
Don't get to down on him, he may pick up some other sport he finds challenging.
PS - He also went out for track and field for his HS team.
Hearing problems
I got of of this work because of the problems with hearing loss and tinnitus. It got so bad I was affecting my balance. I miss the work, keep up with the board, may do a little transcription, but not for long periods. I can not longer deal with it. I too am 45, but due to the hearing problems sometimes feel older. My hearing is flucutates. Had to purchase a hearing aid, the right one for my problem cost $2481.97 (for one) and the Insurance company did not pay one penny for it.
I look forward to hearing more
...especially about satellite connectivity. That is my big issue at the moment. We have high-speed, business-grade satellite with Direcway, but some companies cannot work with this. Do you know if DRC can?
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