Hearing Aids

[smokemjoe]

I got hearing aids 3 days ago at 66, you know my wife don't scream me at no more, that sure is nice now, went for a walk and a bird chirped, scared the hell out of me, didn't know they done that. lady at store wiped out a paper bag and the noise was awfull, went out to eat and heard what the waiter said, money even made a cracking noise. I see the tv I don't have up so loud,, can hear my wife sneaking up behine me, I didn't know the dog barked so loud. . This is really something, Thanks for reading. Joe

[wallenba]

TYPE BIGGER JOE... I CAN"T READ YOU! All kidding aside, all of us shooters are are little harder of hearing as a whole I think. With me, I have trouble with small print too. Good for you.

[elkhuntfever]

Joe, for the others of us needing those things, can you give us the details? Brand etc.......
Won't be long for me.

Jim

[smokemjoe]

These are made by oticon, my ins. helped me get them, I found a place called ecogold and the batterys are a lot cheaper for hearing aids also, with these I bet I can hear a squirrel 100 yds. away now.

[462]

I have Air Force induced tinnitus and hearing loss, and have a set of remote controlled hearing aids from the V. A. They have eliminated almost all of my wife's mumbling, but the truck immediately developed creaks.

By the way, the V. A. supplies the batteries, domes, and wax guards at no cost via mail or phone order.

I urge all veterans with hearing loss and/or tinnitus to contact the V. A.

[WILCO]

Glad to read of this Joe.

[Blacksmith]

My doctor sent me to the Audiology Department of the local hospital. In his words they can recommend whatever brand has the best features for you. My first was an Oticon, I still use it as a back up, but after several years I moved up to a pair of Phonack's. Better than being deaf but still have troubles in some situations like with a lot of background noise.

It is a great object lesson when I teach new shooters. I show them my hearing aids and tell them if they don't want to wear them all the time like me they better wear hearing protection every time they shoot.

The plus side is being able to turn them off when you want quiet. Just remember to nod your head and rummer "Yes Dear" at the appropriate times.

[Sweetpea]

People need to be aware that if your hearing is going bad, and you don't do anything about it, it will only continue to get worse.

If you go ahead and get hearing aids early, it can cause the hearing loss to slow down at least, and save more of what you have for later in life.

My MIL waited ten years longer than she should have, in the name of VANITY... Stupid IMHO...

Brandon

[bear67]

I need one in the left ear bad--<20% left, close to 100% right. I think it is from shooting trap so long and operating loud equipment all my life. I tell all that will listen to wear ear and eye protection--just look at Papa Bear, deaf as a post.

I too need to look at models, but I have a problem. I can't stand anything in my ears, not even my finger. Had to be put to sleep one time to dig a june bug out of my ears. I am glad yours are working out and will have to bite the bullet one day. For now I just turn so my good side is toward the speaker.

Good example: A good friend is totally deaf in right ear and I am nearly so in left so when we go somewhere together in his truck, I have to drive in order for both of us to hear.

[Jailer]

I'm 43 and I've had them for 13 years now. I hate em. I still have a lot of trouble in crowds or anywhere there is a lot of background noise.

I'm on my second set. The first were Audiovox analog CIC, the current are Phonak digital. The Audiovox were a lot better than the Phonaks I have now. I wish I would have went with something different as they are very expensive and I still find myself struggling at times with them.

smokemjoe, I remember my first day with my new ears. I was so overwhelmed with all the new sounds that I had been missing for so long I couldn't wear them for more than a few hours at a time. All these new sounds were like a distant memory coming back to me I hadn't heard them in so long.

[smokemjoe]

Good to hear from youall, If it don't go bang why its no fun, I liked to listen to the bang for many years, then 10 years in diesel test for John Deere, to hear diesel engine run right you did it with your ears,Then one day the company came down hard to wear ear plugs. In that time also I shot muzzleloading slug guns and the charge was 200 grs. like to hear a few shots of that also,
So now I got aids. yea its hard to get adjust to, and I think, battling lung cancer is it worth putting the money into them. we will find out, Thanks and hope to hear more from yous, Joe
I am going to the Grand Old Opery and sit in the front row.

[GaryN]

So now I got aids.

Umm, you better watch how you use that statement.

[gmsharps]

I lost most of my hearing when I was a young pup in Vietnam. To close to the muzzle of a M60 during a fight one night. I didn't get hearing aids for a lot of years. It was causing family issues when I could not hear what was going on several rooms away. I finally went to the VA and received a great set of hearing aids. Problem was one side was not adjusted properly and it gave me severe issues if I wore them more than an hour per month. I put it off for several more years and finally was able to get back to the VA and in 2 minutes they had them adjusted properly and wow the difference. I always wondered how animals communicated with each other and they are just to noisey now days. It's nice at times to be able to hear what is goin on and sometimes just turn them off not to hear the bable. Make sure you watch the little doors that the batteries fit in cause they will break really easy.

gmsharps

[ryan28]

I have a pair of Oticons myself, and they work good in most situations. Sometimes though, I don't like having them in, like a noisy restaurant, for example, or outside on a windy day, too loud for me.
Even though they help, I don't think I hear more than 50% of most tv shows, especially the poorly done documentaries that have background music as loud as the dialogue, but then most of what's on tv isn't work listening to anyway!
And the only person I know that always looks at me and speaks clearly and loud enough is the girl that works at the hearing clinic! No one else can remember.

[cheese1566]

Good to hear!
No pun intended, ha!

I had to get aids ten years ago at age 30. I recall every little noise was heard and bugged the heck out of me for weeks until I got use to them and toned out the background noise. Still using the same pair since I take them out when I get home from work. Bugs the heck out of the girlfreind. I wear them for tv movies at home so I can hear the voices and talk, work, and family events. I take them out for shop work.Darn expensive too back then...good thing Miracle Ear had a two for one promo,,,but still $3000 out of pocket for young new cop- and the sales guy said I would get 5-6 years lifespan.
Makes a world of difference when you dont realize your hearing is gone and going away slowly. Mine is hereditery and a natural deterioration...thanks grandpa and dad! (Just kidding...I really thank them for my slow hair loss!)

[41 mag fan]

Same with me, my hearings going slowly, my mother is 98% deaf. But it is amazing though, when my ears aren't ringing what everything sounds like in the world. Which is the tinittis sp? , I have also.
I think what's really going to bug me the most if i do totally lose my hearing, is not being able to hear the birds sing.
I know if I think much on it, it saddens me as my mother hasn't been able to hear the birds sing for 30+ yrs now.

[Ben T]

How about the first time you flushed the pot? Boy that got my attention.

[uscra112]

Just outta morbid curiosity, what do those Oticons cost? Not having insurance, I have to get by on what I can afford, and $4000 an ear is a factor of ten beyond what I can afford.

[10x]

Older fellow I knew got hearing aids. He did not tell his family about his new investment. Apparently he changed his will five times in the first three days he had them....

[Combat Diver]

I was first diagnosed with a hearing loss at the young age of 23. (Thanks Uncle Sam). Waited 10 yrs and went to Walter Reed to get fitted for my left ear. There they said people seemed to wait an average of 10 yrs before getting hearing aids, go figure. I still use that Starky hearing aid (in the canal) today and its been going strong since 98' now.


CD