Here's My Story

Recently, we went to make the final payment for the hearing aids. Weeks earlier, I was informed that it has arrived. Ashley took back the trial pair and then hand the purchased ones to mum. As usual, she asked mum questions to determine whether adjustment was needed or not. Made minor recalibration of the volume, which mum acknowledged was an improvement. She also paired them with mum's phone. Included in the purchase were two containers: one each for each aid. There is a brush to clean the ear moulds and a small plastic handle for easy dislodgement of battery from inside the cover of the aid once it's opened. We were also given many spare batteries for free. What came as a pleasant surprise was the gift of dehumidifier device (worth RM 400) that is a replacement for the container of silica gel i.e. it's used to actively dry the hearing aids, especially the battery compartments. It's powered by a power bank within and so needs to be regularly recharged. It's easy to...

For the longest time, Mixue didn't serve pure jasmine tea. It was always mixed with at least one other thing (lemon jasmine tea). Yet, one of the videos they kept repeating on their monitors showcased how thorough their process in procuring and infusing their tea leaves with jasmine flowers. I always wondered: if they hyped up the quality of their jasmine tea, why didn't they sell pure jasmine tea? They finally did it recently. If I remember correctly, the first outlet I tried their pure jasmine tea was at Lotus Bagan Ajam, Butterworth (the first outlet in that town and it's popular). It was a letdown: it was so diluted. I gave it another try but at a different outlet: Aman Suria, Petaling Jaya. Yes, this hit the spot! It was aromatic and bitter. Nice :) 

Me: Hi Ashley, What's the brand name of my mum's chosen hearing aids and the model? It's considered mid-range, correct?    Ashley: Good morning, the brand is Unitron.  Model: Stride V1 UP Its consider as entry level yea. Me: Oh, ok. I remember you said that for the ITE version, its range of listening environments is at entry level. This Stride V1 UP's range of listening environments is at mid level? Ashley: ITE version also had entry level and mid level. The difference is how fast and precise the hearing aid process the noise and speech yea. Me: So are you saying that the range of listening environments for Stride V1 UP is at the minimum? Ashley: The hearing aid able to process all range of listening environment e.g in noisy environment, in car and in quiet environment. For entry level, they have noise reduction technology also but of course mid range technology level is more precise. Me: So there is no difference in terms of range of listening en...

Saw this at either Lotus @Paradigm Mall or Village Grocer @Megah Rise Mall:   Haven't seen it again.

I was infected with Covid-19 a second time during a trip to Butterworth. My throat felt a little scratchy and a little phlegmy late Thursday. By Friday, that became sorethroat and the backdrip worsened too. It got progressively worsened until I started coughing while trying to sleep. Tried taking lozenges, antihistamine and phelgm thinner but to no avail. At just past 2am, I gave up and drove to Klinik Putra (Bagan), a 24-hour clinic. It's the first GP clinic I came across that required patients to walk in barefoot i.e. leave foot apparels outside. Despite stating a couple of times that my throat was red, I wasn't prescribed antibiotic. I was prescribed cough syrup (Prospan), the suppressant type so that I could sleep; antihistamine (ceterizine), lozenges and thymol. RM 96 @@ Well, I treat the premium as payment for the 24-hour service. I am impressed that they called a few days to check on me. The next day, it was confirmed that I had fever and so I consulted my usual GP in Bu...

Although the trial pair could be ready in 2-3 weeks, we would get them in nearly a month time to coincide with my next visit to Butterworth.  Getting my mum to use the trial pair went well. Ashley was patient, methodical and informative. She got my mum to practise about 5 times putting on the hearing aids. Key words: hook and push in. When not in use, it's important open battery cover, which has a holder within to contain the battery, and place the device in a container of silica gel (provided as part of the package) to dry out possible moisture. In case of the battery dislodges from the cover or when trying to inset new battery, it should be placed from directly above the holder i.e. not from the side, not from the bottom. Volume can be adjusted manually by clicking the top of the device. It can also be adjusted via an app but that will be introduced only later as the main aim was for mum to get used to using hearing aids, including the significant change in quality and nature of...