What? What did you say?

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Bill in Oregon
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What? What did you say?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Had an audiologist check my hearing last week, and sure enough, my inability to hear the higher frequencies is severe. The audiometric chart showed the classic noise-induced hearing loss "notch" at about 4000 Hz. The power saws, chainsaws, duck guns, handguns, diesel engines and other life essentials have exacted their price.
The audiologist suggested that I am a very good candidate for hearing aids, but boy, the price for a really decent set is steep at $5K-$7K.
Think I will soldier on for a bit, but I know that this kind of hearing loss can worsen depression among other side effects.
It ain't easy being a rapidly aging Baby Boomer.
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2ndovc
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by 2ndovc »

I have the same issue and I just turned 54. :shock: I've been to the audiologist and she pretty much told me the same thing about hearing aids. I told her I'd pass for now.

Don't know if it effects you the same way, but outside or in a quiet room/ house I can hear very well, but in a noisy environment the sounds all mix together and I can't hear a darned thing! I've described it to other people that it's like being in a large room with poor acoustics, putting a stereo in each corner, turned up loud and set one different channels.

My dad always made us wear ear protection when we were kids, but no one said anything about the damage that power tools can do. Started wearing ear plugs in my late 30's but the damage was already done.
Until Covid came along, I didn't realize how much I relied on reading lips to understand some people. Especially high pitched voices.

Someday we'll get Bionic ears! :D

jb 8)
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Bill in Oregon
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Jason, the intuitive lip-reading was more important to me than I realized until all the masking started.
There are no quiet rooms for me, as my severe tinnitus follows me like it was a close friend.
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by earlmck »

My medicare supplement picks up the first $2500 on hearing stuff, which is enough to get Costco's top of the line ones. I use them when I am going to be around a group of people; still reasonably OK in a one-on-one situation (if the other guy will speak up a little!).
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by gamekeeper »

I was told by a doctor in my thirties that I would be completely deaf by my fifties, at 73 I can still understand folks who don't mumble but require subtitles on TV, crowded rooms are a nightmare I try to avoid. The cheap hearing aids I have tried only amplife the mumbling and do not help. The expensive ones will have to wait.
Most of my hearing damage was done as youngster when working for Westley Richards repeatedly firing shotguns in a factory yard and testing cartridges in a small shed without hearing protection :roll:
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JimT
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by JimT »

Tinnitus is my friend.
When the grandkids get noisy, I put in ear plugs and listen to tinnitus.
Nice for napping. Sort of like playing a recording of ocean surf. Or cicada's.
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Old Savage »

They can get a fine speaker in a cell phone but come up with these outrageous prices for hearing aids.
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GunnyMack
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by GunnyMack »

Only 52 but I do have hearing loss. I avoid crowded places for the above mentioned reasons plus I hate crowds to begin with.

I've always have foam plugs in my watch pocket and use them daily.

Circular saws are what I blame it on.

I've been looking at the noise canceling plugs that also amplify like the Walker game ears but im too cheap to spring for em! :lol: I really only want them to be able to hear the bells on my dogs when bird hunting.
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765x53
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by 765x53 »

JimT wrote: Sun Dec 19, 2021 12:27 pm Tinnitus is my friend.
When the grandkids get noisy, I put in ear plugs and listen to tinnitus.
Nice for napping. Sort of like playing a recording of ocean surf. Or cicada's.
Mine sounds like spring peepers. I first noticed it one evening while enjoying their chorus then, realized there was snow on the ground. :)
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by jeepnik »

2ndovc wrote: Sun Dec 19, 2021 11:06 am Someday we'll get Bionic ears! :D
jb 8)
They already do. A former coworker’s daughter had an implant the interfaces directly to her brain. The kid had to relearn how to hear but it works.

I think it took the kid all of a minute to figure out how to connect her phone so she could listen to music again.

Google bionics + hearing. It’s pretty amazing stuff. And it’s getting better and smaller all the time.
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Blaine »

Years of shooting without ear protection. Even the DIs didn't get excited when we didn't use the useless plugs the Army handed out.
On top of that, a band rehearsal will produce sound levels of a consistent 100 to 120 Db, so, there's 60 plus years of that, daily before I retired.
I got hearing aids from VA about four years ago, but can't abide them, they don't do much good for me. Oh, well.... :roll:
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jeepnik
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by jeepnik »

I have the double whammy hearing loss and tinnitus. There is an upside. I'm not the most people oriented person. I tolerate the majority, barely. Most friends and family know so at gatherings they usually don’t want to talk about what I consider inane things. If I want to converse with someone we move to a quieter place.

Folks have mentioned hearing aids but they don’t do anything for tinnitus. I’ll just stay blissfully hearing impaired.

Actually, that’s one of the best parts of retirement. I no longer have to suffer fools or deal with folks I don’t want to.
Last edited by jeepnik on Sun Dec 19, 2021 5:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Blaine »

Folks have mentioned hearing aids but they don’t do anything for tinnitus.
VA told me they could use a computer to set the controls on mine...it didn't work for me. I guess some people get relief when their "ears" are fine tuned to block that frequency range.
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M. M. Wright
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by M. M. Wright »

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones (I prefer blessed) as my VA hearing aids really work for me. They even suppress the tinnitus. One of them is lost right now. My left ear was impacted by the surgery to remove a tumor from my jaw, didn't get the inner/outer ear canals exactly aligned when they put it all back together so the device becomes uncomfortable after an hour or so.

My tinnitus sounds exactly like cicadas except the volume does not rise and fall like they do. Just the constant buzz. VA even gives me a little money for the disability. I just let it build up in it's account until there is enough to buy another SAA Colt.
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marlinman93
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by marlinman93 »

Bill in Oregon wrote: Sun Dec 19, 2021 10:42 am Had an audiologist check my hearing last week, and sure enough, my inability to hear the higher frequencies is severe. The audiometric chart showed the classic noise-induced hearing loss "notch" at about 4000 Hz. The power saws, chainsaws, duck guns, handguns, diesel engines and other life essentials have exacted their price.
The audiologist suggested that I am a very good candidate for hearing aids, but boy, the price for a really decent set is steep at $5K-$7K.
Think I will soldier on for a bit, but I know that this kind of hearing loss can worsen depression among other side effects.
It ain't easy being a rapidly aging Baby Boomer.
Bill, Go to your local Costco and check them out. A good friend of mine just got a pair of hearing aids there, and is extremely happy with them, and the whole process. $700 a pair, and they can be tuned, adjusted, and set using his smart phone. They also are bluetooth capable, and connect to his cell phone by just tapping one hearing aid.
He was like you in not wanting to pay those crazy prices, so he's tickled with the much cheaper price!
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TraderVic
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by TraderVic »

I've been deaf in my left ear since I was 32 when an acoustic neuroma (brain tumor) was removed.
I see my audiologist next month to see about getting refitted with a new set of hearing aids.
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Tycer »

Tinnitus. ✅
Hearing loss. ✅
Kind regards,
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octagon
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by octagon »

Lost 80% of upper frequencies at 16 yo. I KNOW I'm getting older as I look around the Hospital room tonite, they did TWO surgeries today to get at gallstones, and remove gallbladder today... nice folks but dang! Been having awfull symptoms for 2 weeks, all went perfectly, I feel better now.
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Grizz
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Grizz »

Tycer wrote: Sun Dec 19, 2021 9:49 pm Tinnitus. ✅
Hearing loss. ✅
D i t t o
mickbr
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by mickbr »

I got the quadruple whammy
hearing loss from army
Tinnitus -the ''orchestral package''- whistling, electrical static, hissing, crickets.
Hyperacusis- hard to handle some loud sounds.
Cochlear hydrops in left ear( which unfortunately is my formerly good ear) . Disease, not caused by hearing loss. You get attacks which delete low frequency hearing each time. Hard to correct by aids as low frequency loss reduces speech discrimination so increasing the volume just produces loud muffled noisess lol. Hydrops also adds a permanent low rushing noise tinnitus, covers the base section in the orchestra :D

I got them all in that order. The first three ended my use of safari type calibres, 416 ribgy, 460wby etc. Pistol calibre cabines saved the day for me, got me back into and enjoying shooting again a few years ago.

Sorry to blab on Bill, but I feel your concern. These days I dont care what my ears are doing, I double ear protect and just have fun.. My tinnitus puts me to sleep too
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by 2ndovc »

octagon wrote: Sun Dec 19, 2021 10:29 pm Lost 80% of upper frequencies at 16 yo. I KNOW I'm getting older as I look around the Hospital room tonite, they did TWO surgeries today to get at gallstones, and remove gallbladder today... nice folks but dang! Been having awfull symptoms for 2 weeks, all went perfectly, I feel better now.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Sir!
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Bill in Oregon
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

If I go forward with this, it will likely be the Costco route. I hear a lot of good things about their hearing aids and service for what they cost.
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Griff »

Hearing loss in both ears, dramatic in left ear. VA Doc asks why just one? Told, the Navy only gave me one pillow, wasn't big enough to wrap around my head, & slept in a steel box during gunfire support. Tinnitus gained intensity after a bout with a ear infection. They gave me hearing aids and for the 1st time in years I could hear in stereo! Found out the left speaker in my truck was fine, the static was my tinnitus! (yes, cicadas sometimes, other times it's a hum... or both)! Turning up the left volume helps me overcome the tinnitus. Both the mics are on top of my ear, if someone is talking behind me, it drowns out the person in front! And yes the computer controlled aids are great for evening out the noise levels.
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by octagon »

Thanks for kind wishes Jason, my condition is shortly to be upgraded to an infected pancreas which can kill you in a very unpleasant manner. Death does not scare me, really. Weeks of more pain certainly does, don't know if I'm up for much more than I've been handed down to date. Thought I was tough before today...whew!
Bill in Oregon
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Octagon, good gracious, man! You have my intercessory prayers on this cusp of Christmas.
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by hfcable »

JimT wrote: Sun Dec 19, 2021 12:27 pm Tinnitus is my friend.
When the grandkids get noisy, I put in ear plugs and listen to tinnitus.
Nice for napping. Sort of like playing a recording of ocean surf. Or cicada's.
i am with you. i find it very soothing. tinnitus helps me go to sleep vey easily.. if it ever stopped, i would wake up, sit up, and say ' what? what happened ?'
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by hfcable »

Bill in Oregon wrote: Mon Dec 20, 2021 7:56 am If I go forward with this, it will likely be the Costco route. I hear a lot of good things about their hearing aids and service for what they cost.
i have the costco units. very reliable and easy to use.
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Bill in Oregon
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Harold, do you have feedback issues from time to time with the Costco aids?
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by hfcable »

Bill in Oregon wrote: Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:25 pm Harold, do you have feedback issues from time to time with the Costco aids?
not once ! never. no squealing etc. and i adjust them with my cell phone [ bluetooth ] and set the left ear a bit higher than the right. you can also customize the frequency response for music or conversation, traveling in the car etc

i use them most of the time. but when i am alone, i dont bother .... what do i need them for then ? [ i never listen to music, dont have TV, never watch movies etc ]
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by gray1 »

My father in law had hearing aids and wouldn’t wear them.He would rather you repeat what you said three times.His sister is deaf and won’t wear hers.My brother recently acquired some and when we’re talking he says I don’t have them in could you tell .Not a problem I’m used to it.
I’m gonna need them one day .I think I damaged my hearing when I was a teenager by not wearing protection.I’ve said it really must be a hassle wearing or installing those things based on those who I know have them and wont deploy them.
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marlinman93
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Re: What? What did you say?

Post by marlinman93 »

Bill, The only complaint my buddy has with his from Costco is everyone keeps telling him to speak up! He used to speak loudly when he couldn't hear, and now that he hears well he talks very quietly, and I have to tell him to speak up so I can hear him. He said his middle aged kids, and his wife are always telling him the same thing.
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