Hearing aid? Me?

turnkey4099 · Mar 25, 2006

I run two noisy things. Chainsaws and the rider mower. To be sure I wear the muffs, I carry one set in the PU and hang another on the steering wheel of the rider. That way I can't use the excuse that I don't have one convenient.

Harry K

midlf · Mar 25, 2006

Good way to do it. Make it convenient. I bought a large box of disposable foam earplugs. I have handfuls of them all over the place and in pockets of shop aprons, coats, etc. Small boxes of them near where I store the various noisemakers.

1948berg · Mar 25, 2006

I ain't worth the cost of a new hearing aid.

Maybe you arent, but the people around you deserves it.
I see wifes explaining" he does not hear so well" when the half deaf husband is living in a world of his own.
The next step is avoiding to meet people, because you know you will have trouble in the conversatrion.
I have seen it many times, you say he? three times, the fourth time you guess, and give an answer that goes with anything.
Another thing, you can see farmers with a child or a grandchild on their knee in the tractor, nice, but often the old man is sitting with ear protection, but the child is not! Buy an ear protection for the children as well!

1948berg · Mar 25, 2006

"Any ideas on what it might take to turn his lightbulb on inside his head?"
There is a story of a man from Finland sitting ice fishing in an extrem cold vinter day, whitout a cap to cover his head. Another man comes along and askes why he is not wearing a cap. Well , he answered, yesterday Pekka came along and asked if I would like a drink, and I did not hear him asking!
Tha same tradgedy might happend to your folks if they dont protect their ears, or wear hearing aids if they need it.
I have not missed one drink since I got mine hearing aids.

Bird · Mar 25, 2006

( The next step is avoiding to meet people )

Yep, even with the hearing aids. I avoid crowds. If two or more speak at the same time I won't understand either of them. I even quit going to church because the last couple of times I went, I had no idea what the preacher was saying. And other than during the actual church service, there's bound to be more than one person talking at a time.

gws · Mar 25, 2006

I have warn a hearing aid for close to 30 years now. Started when I was in high school. The changes in hearing aids over that time was amazing. Little tiny in the ear with audio processing ability.
Prices have gone through the roof, $1000 and up per ear for a worthwile aid.

Inspector507 · Mar 25, 2006

Gary,
Due to level of hearing loss that I have, I need a behind the ear style. The In The Ear jobs won't work well enough for me. Remember I am labeled DEAF in that ear. This one is amazing, not top of the line, but still $1800. It has a remote and 3 different programs. One of which might help Bird in his church environment. It has an audio zoom program that sort of zooms in on the way I'm looking. By doing so, that shuts off the second microphone in the rear. If both mics are on I hear to the front as well as to the rear, which is bad in a crowded situation. The remote will let me control the volume and the 3 different programs. The aid itself has 3 modes, manual, pre-programmed and tele-coil. Some phones are compatible with the telecoil setting. Also some large public speaking halls have the sound system compatible with the tele-coil setting too. It sends out impulses that the aid picks up and converts to sound waves. Just amazing what they can do now.

Bird · Mar 25, 2006

( One of which might help Bird in his church environment )

My two just cost $1,000 each. The audiologist (in a doctor's office) told me they were programmable, but they're not. If I were sure the more expensive ones would make a considerable difference, I might spend the bigger bucks, but I just can't talk myself into paying $2,000 to $2,600 each for a pair of them and don't know whether they'd actually make a difference or not.

Inspector507 · Mar 25, 2006

Bird,
All I can say is, I'm grateful that I looked into this and decided to get them. It has been a godsend and my wife has since praised the inventor of the aids /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Being able to adjust the programs and the volume without reaching behind my ear has been great. I can adjust the volume/program and you'd never know I just did it.