Florida Shooters Network

I need hearing aids. Anyone here gotten hearing aids if so what type and why?

I know I need them,just can't afford a set.

I should be retired but still work a couple or three days a week. Board-certified in hearing instrument science. I wear Signia a.k.a. Siemens 7X. Completely digital, Bluetooth compatible and I hear great with them. The Signia 7X are the best I’m Hearing with a 55% to 60% hearing loss which I’m sure Vietnam and C130’s contributed. Have a free APP on my iPone which allows me to change; volume, bass or treble, directionality of the microphones, answer my cell so I hear the caller thru the hearing aids. Also have the the option of up to 6 separate programs to use. First is universal, second is for noisy places, third for tv, etc. But I don’t hardly change anything since these things are making millions of decisions per second. Only buggaboo is they be spensive but do your homework in your area. Hope this helps, Mav

Do they have a setting that automatically mutes your wife?
Asking for a friend.

dammitgriff wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 3:25 am Do they have a setting that automatically mutes your wife?
Asking for a friend.

My uncle just doesn't wear them most of the time. That takes care of it.

Had the Signia hearing aids for a couple of weeks before returning them for a full refund. They were great for picking up sounds I didn't particularly need to hear, like my shoes squeaking while I walked, but they didn't help with conversation or watching television. I turned them on and off while watching the news and there was no discernible difference. The only situation that really bothers me is a crowded room with everyone talking, and then the hearing aids seemed to pick up every conversation. I'm 78, and if my hearing gets no worse over the next 22 years, I'll be happy

Funny, how gun ranges insist on eye and ear protection, while the M14 army of the mid-sixties did no such thing. I guess that may be partly responsible for any hearing loss now. I only flew one C130 (on leave from Pope Air Force Base to Mildenhall, England), but helicopters by the dozen (all kinds), plus loads of L19 and L20 fixed-wing aircraft. Stood near a few firing M60s, too, and no one ever thought to give me hearing protection, although the M60 crews had earplugs. I guess I'm lucky I can hear at all.

I have noticeable permanent hearing loss in my left ear from stupidly firing 6 rounds of 44 magnum without hearing protection about 7 years ago. I can imagine how much worse it is for someone who's gone through sustained fire in the military.

I got fitted with hearing aids about 7 years ago. They work well and really help me hear people talking better. They are miniature behind-the-ear kind. My hearing loss is mainly high frequencies, which is typical of hearing loss due to loud equipment with high-pitched whine, like the electronics I worked on in the Air Force in the 70's. I could probably get a partial disability from the VA but have not tried to do all the paperwork just to get free hearing aids.

My hearing aids cost about $2,200 for the pair from an audiologists with free fittings to tune them right. But Florida laws recently changed, and you can now buy generic hearing aids directly for only a few hundred dollars, no need to see a specialist (for typical settings). I will likely buy a generic pair for well under $1000 sometime soon, since I recently misplaced one of my old ones.

Behind-the-ear kind work best for most people and can have higher amplification without feedback than the inside-the-ear kind. I'd prefer the in-the-ear kind that don't show, but those are prone to feedback and squealing when set to high amplification. Behind-the-ear models pick up sounds behind you as well as in front, which can be annoying in a restaurant or crowded place.

Almost all hearing aids now have rechargeable batteries, which last 3-4 years and then you have to replace the whole thing. My older hearing aids use replaceable zinc batteries, which last about 10-14 days. Batteries cost about $30-40 per year, but my hearing aids with replaceable batteries have lasted 7 years, much longer than hearing aids with non-replaceable rechargeable batteries.

hotspur wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 9:24 am Had the Signia hearing aids for a couple of weeks before returning them for a full refund. They were great for picking up sounds I didn't particularly need to hear, like my shoes squeaking while I walked, but they didn't help with conversation or watching television. I turned them on and off while watching the news and there was no discernible difference. The only situation that really bothers me is a crowded room with everyone talking, and then the hearing aids seemed to pick up every conversation. I'm 78, and if my hearing gets no worse over the next 22 years, I'll be happy

Funny, how gun ranges insist on eye and ear protection, while the M14 army of the mid-sixties did no such thing. I guess that may be partly responsible for any hearing loss now. I only flew one C130 (on leave from Pope Air Force Base to Mildenhall, England), but helicopters by the dozen (all kinds), plus loads of L19 and L20 fixed-wing aircraft. Stood near a few firing M60s, too, and no one ever thought to give me hearing protection, although the M60 crews had earplugs. I guess I'm lucky I can hear at all.

That’s too bad man, all of what you said could have been softened, smoothed out, heightened lowered fixed arranged much much better than what you experienced. That’s the whole point of these digital products. Of course, all of it is moot if the audiologist doesn’t know how to fix it how to make it work. You did the right thing and returning them if they weren’t working for you but I’m telling you that the ones that I have in my ears now help me to hear so well! No, having said that, I don’t have a particularly difficult hearing loss to work with although it is severe. I hope the next time you try to do better and I don’t know where you live but if you ever do and you want to consult me I’d be glad to help. P.m. me for my phone and I’ll be glad to help you out.

A man told his doctor he thought his wife might have a hearing problem, so the doctor told him what to do.

The next night after dinner, she was in the kitchen doing dishes and he was watching tv in the next room. He said in a normal voice, "Bring me a beer." After nothing happened, he said it more loudly. Then he walked to the kitchen door and said it again. His wife replied, "For the third time, get your own damn beer!"