hearing aides

[MindfulMan]

I've worn hearing aids for the last 30 years. These are Widex (made in the Netherlands), and were $5K.
As others have said, get the best that you can afford !

 

[Mongo59]

My first trip to an audiologist was disappointing.
They told me that hearing aids would do me little good since my hearing was so imbalanced.
One good ear would sense the bad ear's aid through the bone before it was loud enough to help the bad ear.

Lifelong shooter, but I also had a sound reinforcement company for over twenty years, traveling around doing several big concerts every week.

My ears have been abused dramatically for most of my life, even though, during my sound company days, I tried to protect, but it still had to be head splittingly loud for Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple or Iron Maiden concert tours.

Second trip to an audiologist, three years ago, I did more research and chose the top Dr.
Insurance covered $2k but I went with an upscale version resulting in out of pocket at $3K. That got me wireless charging, re-programable as my ears continue to age, tiny in ear product that actually made a huge difference.
And they amplify clean tones without distortion.

During that ten year hiatus between audiologist visits, I did try some CVS shelf units, even in the $200 price range. Almost worthless. They distort!
I'll be 69yrs old next week.

I went and saw AC/DC right after the "Those about to Rock" in Lakeland, Florida. I think I was the only one in there without cotton in my ears...

 

[Malware]

I do, mainly so I can fit in some soft plugs, then cans on top to do a little more.
I've done that for half my life, way before hearing problems showed up.

that's exactly what I'm doing now - trying to save as much as I can and delay getting hearing aids as long as possible and probably longer than I should

 

[Mongo59]

So far my ears are doing fine. I can hear everything but my wife...

 

[ditcherman]

I have some ‘mid range’ I guess, Eargo, and definitely not as good as Costco, but also way better than something that is 2-600$.
I’ve seen two camps of people; those with insurance go to an audiologist and spend 6k, those without go to Costco and spend 2-3k, and both end up with great hearing aids.

 

[Midwestjimbo]

Some places aren't actual audiologist, just a hearing aid dispensary. That will make a big difference in your results. Programming is key the best benefits.

 

[loudgroove]

My first trip to an audiologist was disappointing.
They told me that hearing aids would do me little good since my hearing was so imbalanced.
One good ear would sense the bad ear's aid through the bone before it was loud enough to help the bad ear.

Lifelong shooter, but I also had a sound reinforcement company for over twenty years, traveling around doing several big concerts every week.

My ears have been abused dramatically for most of my life, even though, during my sound company days, I tried to protect, but it still had to be head splittingly loud for Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple or Iron Maiden concert tours.

Second trip to an audiologist, three years ago, I did more research and chose the top Dr.
Insurance covered $2k but I went with an upscale version resulting in out of pocket at $3K. That got me wireless charging, re-programable as my ears continue to age, tiny in ear product that actually made a huge difference.
And they amplify clean tones without distortion.

During that ten year hiatus between audiologist visits, I did try some CVS shelf units, even in the $200 price range. Almost worthless. They distort!
I'll be 69yrs old next week.

Lol, I'm sure most on here won't understand these questions. But I have been curious in the last few years about hearing aids. I am under no illusion that some day I will need them. My dad and my grandpa both needed them, And I choose a loud profession to work in. I also have had tinnitus for the last 10 years or so. I have learned to tone it out. First is there any natural compression? Are the polar patterns more omni or more binaural? Are you able to hear 10k to 20k and even all the way down to 20 to 40 Hz range? I have noticed that I have never seen a mix engineer wear them. Would that be the day I would have to give it up? Or what is your opinion of mixing with them? Sorry to hit you with so many questions. lol

 

[Trapper Jim]

Yes to HA. I have went through the metamorphosis of both greedy merchants, rip off artist and highline since 2013.

Finally got new ones by Phonak and love them. Can hear like a youngin again. However, with the introverts, drugged up, thick tongued dialect, hooks and ring lip piercings, split tongues, studs through the tongue and cheek bones along with ballooned Botox lips, I can’t understand any of em.

You wan phrieyyxxxs widdat?

 

[Expat]

<expat nods head> “ sounds good”

I am thinking of trying out the apple ear buds. They have noise cancellation and also can function as hearing aids

 

[ditcherman]

<expat nods head> “ sounds good”

I am thinking of trying out the apple ear buds. They have noise cancellation and also can function as hearing aids

I won a pair in a raffle. I'm not sure they're updated to that although they're the latest model...
Looking forward to trying them out like that, although I'm not much of an earbud guy. These do have a lot of setting to let background noise in, which is what I need.

 

[ditcherman]

Lol, I'm sure most on here won't understand these questions. But I have been curious in the last few years about hearing aids. I am under no illusion that some day I will need them. My dad and my grandpa both needed them, And I choose a loud profession to work in. I also have had tinnitus for the last 10 years or so. I have learned to tone it out. First is there any natural compression? Are the polar patterns more omni or more binaural? Are you able to hear 10k to 20k and even all the way down to 20 to 40 Hz range? I have noticed that I have never seen a mix engineer wear them. Would that be the day I would have to give it up? Or what is your opinion of mixing with them? Sorry to hit you with so many questions. lol

No to all your yes/no questions, with Eargo.
As far as mixing/engineering, it just depends on your standards I suppose. Once it's gone, it's gone. I'm a one trick pony, running sound for my church, and have been doing it long enough that I can do it by feel, almost. Not like I'm deaf but certainly have frequency loss.
As a professional you may be able to push through in that same way.
Once it's gone, it's gone.

I thing a prograde level earbud type of thing will have a much better chance of reproducing a full spectrum than any hearing aid; just like most of your questions went over most heads, most hearing aids are going to give people back what they need, most of which we don't even realize we've lost. (As opposed to giving back a full spectrum. I could be wrong.)

My oldest video/cinematographer professional son notices that my youngest farmer professional son and I have very similar frequency loss areas.

Did I mention once it's gone, it's gone? Take care of yourself young man. Like your livelihood depends on it.

 

[loudgroove]

No to all your yes/no questions, with Eargo.
As far as mixing/engineering, it just depends on your standards I suppose. Once it's gone, it's gone. I'm a one trick pony, running sound for my church, and have been doing it long enough that I can do it by feel, almost. Not like I'm deaf but certainly have frequency loss.
As a professional you may be able to push through in that same way.
Once it's gone, it's gone.

I thing a prograde level earbud type of thing will have a much better chance of reproducing a full spectrum than any hearing aid; just like most of your questions went over most heads, most hearing aids are going to give people back what they need, most of which we don't even realize we've lost. (As opposed to giving back a full spectrum. I could be wrong.)

My oldest video/cinematographer professional son notices that my youngest farmer professional son and I have very similar frequency loss areas.

Did I mention once it's gone, it's gone? Take care of yourself young man. Like your livelihood depends on it.

I'm well aware of the once it's gone. I do wear earplugs often, and keep them in my gig bag for anyone else that wants them. I'm 52 right now and both my dad and grandpa already had substantial hearing loss at this age. I feel very lucky to have most of my hearing intact to be able to do what I do. My grandpa was a foundry worker and I'm sure there was no hearing protection in his time. My dad was a cross country truck driver and listening to his trunk rumble everyday. I'm sure those were the main factors with their hearing loss. Thanks for your reply.