Hearing Aid Questions

[Rufus Krile]

Wife has been after me to gets some... not gonna happen. What some folks don't understand is that SOME of us like it quiet in here. Tinnitis isn't a problem any longer because I've grown used to it. Ears have been ringing since 1968 when I discovered how little 2400 actually gets burned in a 2 3/4" .357 bbl. Later applications of PRC type radios and M-60 type interruptions and multi-thousand horsepower applications on drilling rigs may have had something to add to it...

[Pressman]

Please don't waste your money on those $200 things. They are not hearing aids, only noise amplifiers. They will make your life miserable.

[6bg6ga]

If someone has answered the question about hearing aids in accoustically poor rooms then I missed it. IN a room with a lot of echo where you cannot hold a conversation with the person next to you a hearing aid isn't going to help much. My experience with hearing aids the older ones amplify most of the noise and the newer ones concentrate on the frequencies that are in the range of normal speech. You still get the noise only a little less of it. My wifes cousin has two hearing aids at $7K each and still cannot hear all that well. My opinion is some day there will be some kind of computer controlled pak that you will wear that will constantly monitor the noise and evaluate the conditions and change the eq for different octaves according to the noise environment.

[kaiser]

I had a hearing loss mostly in my right ear. While in Bass Pro one day, I saw a Walker Game Ear for sale and asked the clerk if they had any "feedback" on its performance. He said the owner (of Bass Pro, Inc.) picked up two every year for use and figured it must "work OK". I bought one to use when hunting because it amplifies sounds, but shuts down (at about 85db) when shooting. I did not like the "foam" ear tip and picked up some audio quality ear tips. (I found the new tips prevented me from losing the hearing aid as easily as the foam and helped sound quality.) I started wearing the Walker daily, since it was big enough to take on and off, even though it was more visible by others (small ones do look better). I was very familiar with most types of smaller, in-the-ear "miniatures"; high end high tech circuitry models from many friends and relatives who "cussed" there cost, inconveniences, and constant "tuning" problems. Most never wore them except when absolutely necessary. In the interim, I tried a Sport Ear with the same "shut down" feature as the Walker but much smaller. It cost about 3 times as much, is half the size, the batteries work half as long, and if you don't clean small particles out of the ear tube almost daily it will cease to function. Yes, I have had many audio checks in the military and for many decades after and know there are probably solutions for any ones hearing, but like "contact lenses", the most "hassle free" solution for me has been the "Walker Game Ear II" that goes on outside of the ear, uses long lasting #13 batteries you can change all by yourself, at a cost that does not require an monthly insurance payment or a loan to replace. And no, I do not own stock in the company or have any affiliation with Walker. My long winded .05 worth.

[PBSmith]

If someone has answered the question about hearing aids in accoustically poor rooms then I missed it. IN a room with a lot of echo where you cannot hold a conversation with the person next to you a hearing aid isn't going to help much. My experience with hearing aids the older ones amplify most of the noise and the newer ones concentrate on the frequencies that are in the range of normal speech. You still get the noise only a little less of it. My wifes cousin has two hearing aids at $7K each and still cannot hear all that well. My opinion is some day there will be some kind of computer controlled pak that you will wear that will constantly monitor the noise and evaluate the conditions and change the eq for different octaves according to the noise environment.

Thanks for answering the question about poor listening environments. I experience this often with indoor sports, gyms, meetings in rooms that were never designed for meetings, churches - to name just a few of the difficult situations. From your and other comments here, I would not expect miracles in any of them. Appreciate your post.l

[PBSmith]

I had a hearing loss mostly in my right ear. While in Bass Pro one day, I saw a Walker Game Ear for sale and asked the clerk if they had any "feedback" on its performance. He said the owner (of Bass Pro, Inc.) picked up two every year for use and figured it must "work OK". I bought one to use when hunting because it amplifies sounds, but shuts down (at about 85db) when shooting. I did not like the "foam" ear tip and picked up some audio quality ear tips. (I found the new tips prevented me from losing the hearing aid as easily as the foam and helped sound quality.) I started wearing the Walker daily, since it was big enough to take on and off, even though it was more visible by others (small ones do look better). I was very familiar with most types of smaller, in-the-ear "miniatures"; high end high tech circuitry models from many friends and relatives who "cussed" there cost, inconveniences, and constant "tuning" problems. Most never wore them except when absolutely necessary. In the interim, I tried a Sport Ear with the same "shut down" feature as the Walker but much smaller. It cost about 3 times as much, is half the size, the batteries work half as long, and if you don't clean small particles out of the ear tube almost daily it will cease to function. Yes, I have had many audio checks in the military and for many decades after and know there are probably solutions for any ones hearing, but like "contact lenses", the most "hassle free" solution for me has been the "Walker Game Ear II" that goes on outside of the ear, uses long lasting #13 batteries you can change all by yourself, at a cost that does not require an monthly insurance payment or a loan to replace. And no, I do not own stock in the company or have any affiliation with Walker. My long winded .05 worth.

Thank you kaiser. This is good info. Improved hearing in the woods and fields is something I could look forward to. In fact, it might be the major benefit as far as I'm concerned. Long ago I gave up on mutterers, mumblers and others who refuse to, or can't, move enough air when they talk. If someone has something important to say, let it be heard.

Do I understand your post correctly that you use the Walker Game Ear II more or less as a substitute for a hearing aid? As a stand-alone aid?

[Parson]

I can ad my experiences. I have them and like them, and yes there are drawbacks but the overall good outweighs the bad.
1. Not all hearing aids are created equal. I have been using Resound for 15 years after giving up on the junk the VA was giving me.
2. I get them from a provider. I tried an audiologist but found the hearing exam and the quality of the aids they offered to both be inferior to my provider.
3. My wife has Costco aids and they are junk. Only Costco can adjust them and you need to be a member. I am not and never will be. She cannot wear them as they are poorly adjusted and kill the battery in a day.
4. Background noise. It is what it is, but it also depends on the degree of your hearing loss and how your aids are set to compensate to how much it will annoy you. Mine annoy me in certain environments and not others. With four channels each set differently and the ability to change the volume in each ear I can find a setting that allows me to tolerate most noise.
5. Large group gatherings in a hall with poor acoustics, I am not going to be able to hear anything.
6. Remote control via cell phone apps and a pocket remote really help.
7. Clip on mike Bluetooth links to my cellphone, without it I cannot hear on the phone.
8. TV mike plugs into the TV and broadcasts directly to my aids, this IS the way to watch TV.
9.I lost my hearing in RVN as an M48A3 tanker, the main gun and machineguns really blew my hearing out.
10. For quality of life, hearing aids are important, I would not be without them. They are technology, if you can embrace the change they offer you they will help - a lot.

Lots of people complain about them, see above. But they offer a chance hear better. And a lot depends on the amount of loss and the type of loss, ie: what caused it.

I guess we are all different, the 90 didn’t seem to bother me much but that turant mounted 50 hurt. The tankers had some protection with helmets on but I was a radio tech and had no protection. Got 10% disability, can’t say enough for the way VA has treated me. My lose is some volume but mostly tonal, the aids help the volume but not tone. VA gave my wife a device to wear when we go out to someplace with a lot of background noise. When she turns it on, my aids turn off and by blue tooth pick up her voice from her device. One of the best parts is with my iPhone, when using it it connects by Bluetooth to my aids and I hear as clear as a bell

[Mr_Sheesh]

Couple friends are both mostly deaf; One has constant problems with feedback in her hearing aid (GF of a guy I've known since the 70s.) Which is ridiculous as a properly built hearing aid shouldn't be doing that (should be able to reduce gain and/or filter out the feedback tone, digital filtering is a pretty nice tool.) She has to lip read to understand people even with the aid in place. At least she can finger spell ASL, same for me (from a disabled GF & scuba diving) so if she can't understand a word I can spell the first letter, that helps them understand the word a LOT. Sneaky trick I was taught

[Lloyd Smale]

that's surely part of it. When I got mine I had had hearing problems for 20 years and your just not used to hearing like a normal person. I wore mine for a couple days and couldn't take the noise. First time my dog barked in my ear I pealed them out put them in there case and stuck them in the drawer.

The worst problem with hearing aids is getting used to the backround noise that all the rest of us automaticly disregard. Like in restrants and such. Dad never could get back used to the backround noise.
CD

[6bg6ga]

Feedback is an important problem with any sound system and its no different with a hearing aid. Both employ microphones that pick up speech and noise and both amplify. A good sound system has equalization and is equalized for a nearly flat response. Where speech is concerned in a sound system you never boost frequencies but rather you cut. The same technology is used with hearing aid systems. The difference is going to be in the bands of equalization and how much is equalized and where in the speech frequencies.

It can be hard to get enough amplification and do it without any feedback when it comes to a hearing system simply because of the proximity of the microphone to the transducer that reproduces the signal. Get the gain up too far and you get feedback under certain conditions. In a hearing aid system the possibility and probability is far greater of feedback. The amount of system gain is going to depend on how bad the individuals hearing is. The more gain the greater the possibility of feedback. Gain without the possibility of feedback is nearly impossible in a hearing system. So, you can see its never going to be a cut and dried situation.

[jmort]

I have been considering these
https://www.amazon.com/Otofonix-Pers...N45VS5X7F&th=1

I can hear OK but lot of uprotected noise has me looking at somrthing for around the house.

[gray wolf]

Has anyone tried the walker game ear elite digital H/D power 4
It got/gets, great reviews on amazon.

[MyFlatline]

I have Walkers, not the one you listed, Do not think that they are a hearing aide. They may aide your hearing by amplifying all noises but that is all. I do wear my behind the ear aides when hunting. If the wind is not howling , they do well. It irritates me that I was sold a bill of goods. That said, mine has multiple channels and does well outside of the work environment. I needed more and didn't get it. I have a friend that is stone deaf when he turns off his H/A's. He has worn them for 30+ years. He got his last set from Costco, said they are the best he has ever owned. Shame, we have no Costco's in the area.

[gray wolf]

https://www.amazon.com/Walkers-Game-.../dp/B005GRG4H0


Walkers Game Ear Elite Digital HD Power 4 Beige Assisted Listening Device
4.0 out of 5 stars 94 customer reviews
| 28 answered questions
Was: $237.24
Price: $218.21 Free Shipping for Prime Members
You Save: $19.03 (8%)
Get $70 off instantly: Pay $148.21 upon approval for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card.
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Top of the line gsm product
Sound reducing ear muff
Walker's game ear es II bte Digital HD WGE-XGE4B ear muff
Four Program Settings - General, Crowds, Nature, Power Boost.
20 Bit Audio Processor for crisp clear sound with 8 band graphic equalizer
Nano-Tech Waterproofing
Adjustable frequency tuning – Bass/Treble fine tuning
50db of Hearing Enhancement/ 29dB NRR

[cheese1566]

Resound digitals for the last few years. Put my old miracle ears to shame. The provider can wirelessly program and customize the settings. Also can have several presets you can change as well on your environment.
Best of all I can link them to my iPhone to change settings and make wireless hands free calls via Bluetooth.

Background noise is annoying but you soon tune it out and get used to it.

[fecmech]

I just recently got a pair of TruHearing Flyte aids (Resound digitals) through my Medicare Advantage plan. I have been waiting to reply to this thread till I gave them the "acid test" in a noisy restaurant and this morning I did that. While I did pick up a fair amount of background noise I was able to carry on conversations with people at the far end of the table. This without asking them to repeat themselves constantly as I have in the past. I am very happy with these aids and through my insurance fairly reasonable at $999.ea. Dialog on the TV is much clearer now than without the aids and I will be wearing these quite a bit.

[catmandu]

Can anybody tell me what the molded filler material is that they use on the molded in ear type of hearing aid. I have dads set and I thought I would refit them for me to see if I can tolerate them. I’m sure something can soften it up. I plan to buy one of the mound your own hearing protector kits like they have at the big shooting matches. I just need to know how to get the old off without harming the electronics.

[kaiser]

PBS - Yes I use the "Walker" as my hearing aids, as well as for shooting and hunting. I realize they are little more than amplifiers with a "blaster" shut-down feature, but to obtain the background noise "eliminator" so touted by the "audio" companies you need to: visit the "audio technician" (my in-law), take a "buzzer" test on a machine that describes to them "in detail" your hearing loss and how well you "press the button", and be sent home with a 4 or 5 thousand dollar unit that matches your "ear wax". You can then see your "audio specialist" once a month, depending on how often your new device needs tuning (more the better, but all in the "contract"), and only they can change the batteries and make the adjustments. Yes, I have very good vision and have become quite adept at "reading lips" when the "mumblers" and "low talkers" try to test my hearing ability, the rest I ignore after they turn their back to talk to the wall. I like "blue tooth" connections and "subtitles" on movies and programs where Hollywood has decided that the movies "music score" is more important than the "dialog" (which, with today's movies are "spot on".) Call me cheap, but I have reloading gear, casting gear; and guns to buy and very little left over for "appliances" that have a short life span, are "fussy" to use, and that aggravate the **** out of me even when they work. Thus, the Walker Game Ear until I am so old I crave the company of a audio specialist to pass my time. (We don't have a Cosco or Sam's near where we live, either.) My rant with tongue firmly in cheek.

[gray wolf]

PBS - Yes I use the "Walker" as my hearing aids, as well as for shooting and hunting. I realize they are little more than amplifiers with a "blaster" shut-down feature, but to obtain the background noise "eliminator" so touted by the "audio" companies you need to: visit the "audio technician" (my in-law), take a "buzzer" test on a machine that describes to them "in detail" your hearing loss and how well you "press the button", and be sent home with a 4 or 5 thousand dollar unit that matches your "ear wax". You can then see your "audio specialist" once a month, depending on how often your new device needs tuning (more the better, but all in the "contract"), and only they can change the batteries and make the adjustments. Yes, I have very good vision and have become quite adept at "reading lips" when the "mumblers" and "low talkers" try to test my hearing ability, the rest I ignore after they turn their back to talk to the wall. I like "blue tooth" connections and "subtitles" on movies and programs where Hollywood has decided that the movies "music score" is more important than the "dialog" (which, with today's movies are "spot on".) Call me cheap, but I have reloading gear, casting gear; and guns to buy and very little left over for "appliances" that have a short life span, are "fussy" to use, and that aggravate the **** out of me even when they work. Thus, the Walker Game Ear until I am so old I crave the company of a audio specialist to pass my time. (We don't have a Cosco or Sam's near where we live, either.) My rant with tongue firmly in cheek.

Quick reply to this message Reply Reply With Quote Reply With Quote Multi-Quote This Message

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst Previous 12
Quick Navigation Our Town Top
Quick Reply Quick Reply

Some things you just got to love, this post is one of them.
For me anyway.

[Rick Hodges]

I just ordered the walkers.....to use in the deer blind and when in the field hunting. I want to protect what is left of my hearing and yet hear the sounds in the woods around me. I'll see how they work out. Muffs get in the way of the gunstock.