First week with hearing aids

[Kingcreek]

It’s taking some getting used to
Still experimenting with the technology, the different filters, volume, and mode settings on my phone app.
I am realizing just how much I haven’t been hearing. Some things are just weird. Like the first time I used the automatic coffee bean grinder. I set the number of cups and pushed the start button and had to cover my ears and run into the next room. The racket was painful. And my turn signal sound in my jeep is totally different.
I was MC for a music event in an auditorium last night. Weird when I was at the mic but the concert was more enjoyable.
I’ve had hearing loss since age 14 when my cousin and I were bouncing down across a Nebraska hay field in the old ranch truck on our way to check an irrigation well when his dads .257 Roberts went off in the gun rack behind my head.
AC/DC’s first album tour, lots of other concerts both attending and working security, farm equipment and guns…
It’s interesting but I’m glad I finally did it. I’m still acting like I can’t hear my wife. I don’t want her to know I can hear her now.

[K Frame]

WHAT?

I'm getting to the point where I really think I need hearing aids... primarily because my hearing in certain ranges is just complete crap.

And background noise? I'm boned.

And yah, a lot of mine was firearms related... shooting a lot without hearing protection as a teen.

And running lawn mowers, tractors, chainsaws, etc. Oh, forgot about the jack hammer...

These days I do any of that and I double up on hearing protection -- foam plugs AND ear muffs.

[grampster]

Swmbo has had hearing loss that has evolved over the years.  Me to a lesser extent.   I've purchased a variety of hearing aids for her over the years.  All sent back for refund.  All of them produced a tinny echo in her head when she talked.  She just couldn't deal with that.
Recently I purchased for both of us a set of Wireless HearSound earbuds to listen to TV.  They don't interfere with the volume from the TV.  Wow, it sure is great to listen to TV movies etc and actually hear what's going on.  HearSound wireless buds are terrific.  I've talked to the CEO of the company.  He's very involved in customer service.  I'm gonna suggest he should think about regular hearing aids.  He's also the retired president of AudioVox and was instrumental in bringing SiriusXm to the USA.

[Kingcreek]

When it comes to hearing aid distribution, Costco is second only to the VA.
$1600 for the pair with charging hard case. 36 hours per full charge, 3 charges on the case before I have to usb it. The app shows charge status and even does a “find my hearing aids” location thing.
Very happy with the testing and programming, device quality, etc.
I have phone pairing and it included a free tv streaming device for the tv I don’t have. Also a nice soft case for when I swim laps and leave them in my locker.
My BIL spent $4000 but his don’t seem to do anything more than these.

[Kingcreek]

Grampster, I tried the 2 top brands and the only real difference I could tell was Phillips made my own voice sound like I was in a steel barrel. Other people’s voices didn’t sound that way. She said everyone is different and they don’t work the same for everybody. They set me up with test pairs and let me walk around the store with them before deciding which if any.

[K Frame]

Coworker of mine has hearing aids through the VA (also has two knees, a hip, and recent back surgery through the VA).

Because of the classified environment in which we work he had to jump through all sorts of hoops to get approval for his hearing aids to be used in the SCIF because they're blue tooth. Took weeks, during which time we had to shout at him.

[Kingcreek]

Mine has blue toof also. They beep when I am getting an incoming call and a double tap on either one is supposed to answer but it hasn’t worked for me in the 2 times I’ve tried it.
Opening the phone and a quick tap works great though.
I like being able to listen to podcasts through them.

[K Frame]

Mine has blue toof also. They beep when I am getting an incoming call and a double tap on either one is supposed to answer but it hasn’t worked for me in the 2 times I’ve tried it.
Opening the phone and a quick tap works great though.
I like being able to listen to podcasts through them.

His do that, as well. Freaked me out the first couple of times he was chatting away with the phone in his lap...

[Big Hairy Bee]

I've been using Apple's Air Pod Pros to help.  For less than $200, they are amazing.  My coteacher asked about my experience with them and now her mother and her daughter are both rocking them.

[Northwoods]

Coworker of mine has hearing aids through the VA (also has two knees, a hip, and recent back surgery through the VA).

Because of the classified environment in which we work he had to jump through all sorts of hoops to get approval for his hearing aids to be used in the SCIF because they're blue tooth. Took weeks, during which time we had to shout at him.

My dbs system also required approval. It uses Bluetooth to communicate with a remote i have to change stimulation settings, and the doc can get reports of system performance, battery state of health, make changes to stimulation programming, etc.