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anybody wearing hearings any recommendations


Irish Pat

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I have a set from the VA but for everyday use I tend towards Walker's Game Ear with a clear plastic ear bud. It takes awhile to get use to wearing a hearing aid. The $150 Walker can give you a chance to adapt at a reasonable price. Big box sporting good stores tend to carry Walker's. Check Costco or Sam's for hearing aids. Pay attention to battery life and db gain when purchasing. If a veteran check with the VA.

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Aids with bluetooth capability offer useful features. Mine have a telecoil mode where my cell phone can broadcast a signal to the hearing aids. The sound is much clearer than one gets listening to the cell phone speaker.

 

I did not have good luck with Costco aids. On two different pairs the speakers failed after three months of use.

Edited by Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971
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The VA supplies mine.

 

They are the PHONAK brand.

 

The body of the hearing aid is behind my ear with the molded ear piece inside, as close to my ear drum as possible.

 

I'm not only hindered by most frequencies & decibels but also word recognition. Even when my volume is up high, over 60% of words I hear sound garbled.

 

 

..........Widder

Edited by Widowmaker Hill SASS #59054
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Sorry to hear it. The hearing aids are a huge pain in the ass when shooting. Have to put them in to hear the stage instructions, take 'em out to shoot. In the Summer the sweat is hard on 'em. When they start shorting out, I shoot them with CRC Electronic cleaner, same thing I clean my pistols & rifle with - $5/can at Walmart.

 

Like Widder, big problem with word recognition. The one good thing is the entertainment my wife & I have when I repeat what I think she said, & it's usually so outrageous, we both laugh our asses off.

 

I tried the Walkers once for shooting, but got them wet with sweat shooting, & they were completely ruined before I could use them a second time.

 

I have Starkeys with Bluetooth. I guess they work about as well as the limits of my hearing will let them.

 

Make sure you knock every bit of the sound out while shooting to save the hearing you have left.

 

Sorry you have to join the hard of hearing club. No fun.

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MAX,

 

my wife, daughter and I were at Red Lobster a while back.

 

After my daughter ordered her meal and the waiter left the table, I ask my daughter why she only ordered a "piece of shrimp and a salad"?

 

She said.... "Daddy, I ordered their PEACE BRANDY SHRIMP and SCALLOPS".

 

YEP, word recognition can sometimes be humorous. Just make sure nobody tells any 'duck' jokes around you.....

 

 

..........Widder

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Hearing aid wearer here:

* I have two pairs - Expensive - Rexton & Sonic

* They are multi channel and I had the last channels to cut out at 80 decibles when I shoot

* Accordingly, I can click on several of the channels to hear spoken words at a match and click on the last channel when I shoot

Bottom line - get the aids tuned to hear and cut out when shooting

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Sorry to hear it. The hearing aids are a huge pain in the ass when shooting. Have to put them in to hear the stage instructions, take 'em out to shoot..

This is where the Walker Game ear works great.. But to do it right one needs to add a pair of molded ear plugs.

Then you can hear the stage instructions and also muffle the gun shoots.

And just my opinion but the game ear would not be a good choice for everyday hearing aids.

Sorry to hear it. The hearing aids are a huge pain in the ass when shooting. Have to put them in to hear the stage instructions, take 'em out to shoot. In the Summer the sweat is hard on 'em. When they start shorting out, I shoot them with CRC Electronic cleaner, same thing I clean my pistols & rifle with - $5/can at Walmart.

 

Like Widder, big problem with word recognition. The one good thing is the entertainment my wife & I have when I repeat what I think she said, & it's usually so outrageous, we both laugh our asses off.

 

I tried the Walkers once for shooting, but got them wet with sweat shooting, & they were completely ruined before I could use them a second time.

 

I have Starkeys with Bluetooth. I guess they work about as well as the limits of my hearing will let them.

 

Make sure you knock every bit of the sound out while shooting to save the hearing you have left.

 

Sorry you have to join the hard of hearing club. No fun.

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Well now that it's started I will admit my wife has been after me for the last couple yrs now!!

 

I don't know why but I have been dodging the issue for awhile now, I can hear pretty good if there are no other conversations going on within ear shot but any distraction and I have a tough time hearing.

 

The TV is really making everyone MAD at me LOL.. Certain programs I can hear good others not so well.. The list goes on and on, so needless to say I will be watching this thread for comments.

 

By the way have any of you found bad hearing at times being a great excuse!! Took me awhile to get it, at first I really did'nt hear some things so it was an honest mistake, BUT now on occasion I will pull it out for use when I did hear it!!!!

 

Spades H.

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MAX,

 

my wife, daughter and I were at Red Lobster a while back.

 

After my daughter ordered her meal and the waiter left the table, I ask my daughter why she only ordered a "piece of shrimp and a salad"?

 

She said.... "Daddy, I ordered their PEACE BRANDY SHRIMP and SCALLOPS".

 

YEP, word recognition can sometimes be humorous. Just make sure nobody tells any 'duck' jokes around you.....

 

 

..........Widder

Been there, Beth will say something that makes no sense at all, then I know right away I heard her wrong.

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Mrs. Lose finally had enough of my selective hearing loss so she lined me up with an audiologist. I must say having hearing aids has been life changing. The ones that I got were not cheap by any means ($6,500.00) but they are very good and the factory has been very good at repairing them the two times that they've needed it. They are Oticon Alta Pro and I got the blue tooth feature but I seldom use it. The Bluetooth feature was an extra $287.00. I still have selective hearing on occasion according to Mrs. Lose but not near as bad as it used to be.

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I had Sport Ear aids fitted. They work well for every day and great for shooting. I have no trouble hearing instructions and the normal BS from pards. Game noises are also evident. :)

 

I do not use them when I am alone. I thought my vehicles were fine but wjth the aids in they sound like they are going to break down. :( Also, when I wear them at home I hear flies buzzing, lots of creaking and lots of other noises. They work TOO WELL so I leave them for shooting and daughters-in-law!!! :D

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After a hearing test with an audiologist, I went with Oticon. First it was one ear, then I added the other a few years later. They are adjustable with Bluetooth. I hear pretty well with only a few sound sources, but noisy environs like restaurants, etc. are pretty bad. Some of the things I think I hear from the TV are pretty comical, like "reptile dysfunction." :) At matches, I pull one earplug out to hear instructions and conversations. They were spendy for the insurance company, but no cost to me.

Edited by Go West
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I got hearing aids about a year and a half ago so I could hear my grandchildren. Best thing I ever did. I went through the NRA Hearing Benefits Program.(http://www.nrahearingbenefits.com/) They will refer you to a reputable audiologist in your area. I got top of the line NuEar hearing aids for a substantial savings. Best thing I ever did. For shooting, I tried many types and protection combinations. I now have custom molded ear plugs that were made to work with a Walkers Game Ear. Now I can actually hear range commands, the buzzer go off and people's conversation but still have the best protection that I have had yet.

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Howdy

 

After many years of saying WHAT? too often to Mrs Johnson I finally broke down a couple of months ago and got hearing aides. No amount of telling her that she swallows her words at the end of her sentences, and talks facing away from me when speaking with the television on seemed to make a dent.

 

I've known for years that I have some hearing loss after many years of operating loud equipment without hearing protection. Ear muffs in those days were uncomfortable and after a few hours I would just take them off and keep on sawing.

 

Went the whole nine yards, saw an audiologist first to find out exactly what the story was. Pretty much what I expected, hearing loss in the frequencies that make it difficult to distinguish certain words. Went with the Top of the Line Phonak brand, but did not go with any extras like Blue Tooth. I don't even know what Blue Tooth is and I certainly don't want one in my ear.

 

And no, health insurance does not cover hearing aides, paid for them with my own nickel.

 

Pretty much what I expected. After spending more than I would for a couple of new rifles I can hear a little bit better now. Still have difficulty hearing conversations in a noisy restaurant, although my hearing aides have a program that is supposed to help with that. Turning up the volume increases the background noise too, so that does not really help distinguish conversations.

 

The good thing is now when I can't understand what Mrs Johnson says, I can say I did my part, I invested in the hearing aides. Now she has to do her part and speak facing me, stop swallowing her words at the end of the sentence, and turn the volume down on the TV when she talks to me.

 

We did institute one good rule though, no carrying on conversations from separate rooms. If we can't talk face to face, we wait until we can.

 

Regarding getting used to them, it was easy as pie, I had it down within a weak. The amplifier is a little piece behind my ear, there is an almost invisible wire that runs down to a tiny speaker I put in my ear. I did not want the rechargeable ones, I have enough things to charge up every night. I bought the battery powered ones. The batteries last a week if I do not stay up to 3 AM every night. I change the batteries every Monday morning. When I take my afternoon nap I remove the hearing aides and disconnect the battery to save battery life.

 

The hearing aides come out when I get to the range, and do not go back in again until I am in the car leaving. Amplifying gunshots is not a good idea. I had them give me an extra case for the hearing aides which I keep in the car. Be sure you store them in a case, they are really easy to lose. My hearing loss is not so bad that I can't hear stage instructions without them. In another post I described how I use inexpensive disposable foam ear plugs. To hear stage instructions I loosen one plug so I can hear conversation. Then I stuff it back in all the way again before the shooting starts.

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I went to a specialist, & he said I'd be ready for Cochlear implants in less than 6 months. He also said they'd be $50K. Of course, the insurance would pick up part of it. I was thinking it over when my wife & I were at a Golden Corral right behind a guy with what looked like a mini satellite dish on the side of his head & wires that appeared to be connected to his brain. I told my wife, "Please tell me that isn't the Cochlear implant!". She said it was.

 

So, now the only reason I might do that is if I can get Netflix thru the mini dish on my head. Otherwise, I'll need to learn sign language or something.

 

We run the Close captioning "on" 100% of the time. Otherwise, I might as well be watching silent movies.

 

I'd be depressed if I weren't so good-looking.

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Even with hearing aids, the closed captions feature is a godsend. Seems there is more loud music and whispering going on the the movies of today. Wife can hear great, but she's come to appreciate the words on the screen.

 

CR

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We run the Close captioning "on" 100% of the time. Otherwise, I might as well be watching silent movies.

 

Same here - I can hear something, but I can't tell what is being said.

 

VA said I didn't need hearing aids when I retired in 2013...

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Does any health insurance cover hearing aids , I to am getting to the point of needing them

I got a pair paid for in full by United Health Care on a deluxe policy. Later I switched to Blue Cross/Blue Shield and got another pair. Your audiologist needs to know how to make a claim that an insurance company will pay. Some advertise they know how to do so.

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My hearing loss is primarily in the upper register, a range often used by women's voices. That means I have an excuse when I can't hear the wife. ;) Many insurance companies pay some up through all of the cost, depending. A good audiologist will be experienced in submitting claims since few rely on cash customers.

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The VA supplies mine.

 

They are the PHONAK brand.

 

The body of the hearing aid is behind my ear with the molded ear piece inside, as close to my ear drum as possible.

 

I'm not only hindered by most frequencies & decibels but also word recognition. Even when my volume is up high, over 60% of words I hear sound garbled.

 

 

..........Widder

I also use the VA provided Phonak aids. I now remove the right aid to talk on the telephone. I have never gotten any aid that works with a cell phone.

Widder you may need a visit to the VA mechanics. Mine work well thru all ranges. When mine get wonkey, I go to see the lady mechanic and she makes them sing again.

As with all types, a room with high back ground noise is impossible.

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Max Payne do yourself a BIG favor and look into Cochlear implants. I have had them since 2009 and 2011. Mine are the Cochlear brand.

 

Widder if yours is real bad you should look into them also.

 

The only bad part is medicare will only pay for one. But since they're not hearing aids they pay 80% if you got to have a new after five years.

 

If anyone would like to know more you can PM me......Faygo

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I went to an audiologist and was tested, and of course I had a hearing loss, mostly higher end. Too many miles on motorcycles without wearing earplugs, plus some machinery noise at work. It helps some but conversations can still be difficult in a noisy room. As for the TV, the best thing I ever did was to get a pair of wireless headphones. Now I can hear whats going on, even all the background sounds, without having to turn up the volume so much it bothers my wife and kids.

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Faygo Kid,

 

I ask about the implants a few years back and was told that I would not be a good candidate for those.

 

I was told that the nerves at my ear drum are 'shot', which is the reason for my word recognition problem.

 

 

..........Widder

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Got my Phonax aids from the VA this past Wednesday (cheaper than $6,500 a civilian audiologist wanted!). My left ear is real bad, and they and another couple of audiologists recommended a transmitter type in the left ear, sending to the right ear. Takes some getting used to, and I was told it can take a couple of months to get my brain reprogrammed. I agree that a lot of background noise is problematic. I've been wearing mine mostly when the wife is around, especially on my left side, and when watching TV. I certainly do NOT intend to wear them out shooting. I will take them out, insert my custom-fitted plugs and add the muffs on the firing line.

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Widder when they do a implant it destorys the nerve endings. You are deaf it that ear. It's all electric after. They're really remarkable!! If your hearing went away over a period of time(30 years) like mine did you won't believe what you can hear when they first turn it on. But you do have to have less then 40% (I think) hearing to be eligible....Faygo

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VA gave me Oticon brand hearing aids. I almost never wear them because they aren't all that great except in very noisy situations. They do cut out a lot of nose at certain frequencies and are tunable, so they are good in theatersand such. I never take them to the range because they don't help or hurt and they are annoying.

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I have OIpticon opn 1 miniRITE. I think they are great. They ought to be for the cost of 3 or 4 rifles. The lady adjusted them to the frequencies I can't hear. The Bluetooth is a hoot. I can listen to music, Rush Limbaugh, and phone conversations through my phone. It will send my phone a message when the batteries are low ( I turned that off. Too many messages.) All the stuff is behind my ear with a tube of wires running to a speaker in my ear. Best money I spent this year except for the Marlin in 38/357.

 

YMMV

 

Chancy

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