Pio1980
AK Member
Thnx for the heads-up, I'll check on upgrading my disability status next visit.
Hearing aids & High End, who has 'em?
- Thread starter Pio1980
- Start date
Thnx for the heads-up, I'll check on upgrading my disability status next visit.
Pio1980
AK Member
The stimulation of using my devices regularly seems to have somewhat improved my hearing when without, which I find interesting at least.
Otherwise I've found that like Ann I hear noises just fine unassisted but not much going on in the mid-upper end so speech comprehension and intelligibility are negatively affected. TV, radio, and movies can sound muddled, muffled, and distant without the devices. I've pretty much always heard better thru good headphones then loudspeakers at reasonable loudness levels tho' the Aleras with the original custom settings give me a brighter, clearer, and more 'immediate' sounding experience than headphones (without EQ), intelligility is comparably effortless. The success of the result no doubt will be as much or more with the audiologist as with the specific device.
Otherwise I've found that like Ann I hear noises just fine unassisted but not much going on in the mid-upper end so speech comprehension and intelligibility are negatively affected. TV, radio, and movies can sound muddled, muffled, and distant without the devices. I've pretty much always heard better thru good headphones then loudspeakers at reasonable loudness levels tho' the Aleras with the original custom settings give me a brighter, clearer, and more 'immediate' sounding experience than headphones (without EQ), intelligility is comparably effortless. The success of the result no doubt will be as much or more with the audiologist as with the specific device.
MWalt
Super Member
Keep in mind that if you are already service-connected for hearing loss that the VA will determine your rating based on the severity of your disability. In Title 38, United States Code of Federal Regulations, there lies a rating schedule for just that purpose. If you aren't service-connected, when filing your claim, focus on your duty responsibilities, especially jet engine noise exposure. Even if little or no hearing loss was detected at discharge, your focus should be on "acoustic trauma" due to said exposure. I have also found that the Montgomery VARO is more vet friendly than many of the northern VARO's so you have a better shot at a disability grant.
FauxHall
Super Member
Atypically, I lost the bass in one ear this summer in what's called "sudden hearing loss."
The doc didn't have a good cause but it might be from too much Cialis - now there's a difficult lifestyle choice!
Hearing aids can't do much for bass loss I'm told. What has helped with my music listening are two processors I bought - a BBE Sonic Maximizer and a DBX 4bx compander and impact restorer. Both seem to make bass lines more comprehensible although they tend to make vocals a bit rough sounding.
The doc didn't have a good cause but it might be from too much Cialis - now there's a difficult lifestyle choice!
Hearing aids can't do much for bass loss I'm told. What has helped with my music listening are two processors I bought - a BBE Sonic Maximizer and a DBX 4bx compander and impact restorer. Both seem to make bass lines more comprehensible although they tend to make vocals a bit rough sounding.
Pio1980
AK Member
Sounds like you have an HF loss and a device should help you with this.
Pio1980
AK Member
Unfortunately there seems to be no "free lunch" with most processing devices, including most multi-featured 'digital' aids. I'd like to see a device that a good headset could plug thru that could correct according to one's measured loss using the Etymotic 'K'-amp protocols. http://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearthemusic/2012/killion-had-it-all-figured-out-in-1988/
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Pio1980
AK Member
Depending on your hearing loss profile the GHI Simplicity 270 Hi-Fi is a no-frills assist device made for musicians and probably the best such economical choice at ca $1k a pair, also available singly or with a larger power cell as the EP. Wal Mart and Sears carry them. The ReSound Verso at considerably greater cost is the only SOTA digital full-featured device I know of to specifically mention suitability for music. I presently am trialing ReSound Aleras thru the VA and while not bad for music generally would not recommend them for anyone that must hear their own voice as a performer such as a choral singer. For some odd reason they overload and distort my voice when I speak loudly but not seemingly anything else.
Most sellers/dispensers/fitters offer a trial period.
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kuad
Super Member
It is only on certain recordings that the ride cymbal fades on my right ear (when wearing headphones), would a hearing aid remedy this? Would I be able to wear with headphones?
Also I really noticed this with my recent acquisition of Beyerdynamic DT 770 600 ohm. Heard frequencies I never heard before.
Also I really noticed this with my recent acquisition of Beyerdynamic DT 770 600 ohm. Heard frequencies I never heard before.
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I suffer from tinnitus.
My hearing loss is very minimal and at this point the audiologist tells me that all I am missing is the subtleties of a symbol crash.
I find this more than acceptable for my age (56).
Tried hearing aids to help with the tinnitus but to no avail.
Tinnitus is in part responsible for my becoming an audiophile.
Listening to music is therapy that truly works for me.
Unfortunately when I stop listening the tinnitus returns.
Thus my listening sessions have become doubly pleasurable.
The absence of the tinnitus and the beauty of the music.
There is a silver lining behind every cloud.
My heart goes out to those you who have serious hearing disabilities.
Art
My hearing loss is very minimal and at this point the audiologist tells me that all I am missing is the subtleties of a symbol crash.
I find this more than acceptable for my age (56).
Tried hearing aids to help with the tinnitus but to no avail.
Tinnitus is in part responsible for my becoming an audiophile.
Listening to music is therapy that truly works for me.
Unfortunately when I stop listening the tinnitus returns.
Thus my listening sessions have become doubly pleasurable.
The absence of the tinnitus and the beauty of the music.
There is a silver lining behind every cloud.
My heart goes out to those you who have serious hearing disabilities.
Art
Pio1980
AK Member
It is only on certain recordings that the ride cymbal fades on my right ear (when wearing headphones), would a hearing aid remedy this? Would I be able to wear with headphones?
Also I really noticed this with my recent acquisition of Beyerdynamic DT 770 600 ohm. Heard frequencies I never heard before.
Hearing aid devices are primarily suitable for every-day activities involving auditory interaction and a bonus when suitable for music enjoyment. For non-professional home music enjoyment where headphones are acceptable or preferred a good quality headset with EQ added mirroring the users loss profile is probably the best approach.
I have used some 'phones with my Alearas but my experience is still extremely limited, I prefer loudspeaker for home listening and therefore would have to accept the compromises inevitable with aids, I formerly heard more better thru 'phones but it wasn't as fulfilling to me as with speakers. YMMV.
Pio1980
AK Member
Thnx Art!
I have moderate loss and mild tinnitus and the therapeutic effect is also what got me attracted to "Hi-End" audio in the mid 1970s, it was absolutely sensual how it enhanced what I could hear from the records tho' I could but afford a lesser-scale approach. Given my progressing loss I do find that the devices enhance the enjoyment by increasing what I can hear now.
Best Rgds; Steve
To my knowledge, at this time, there are no 'hi-fi' hearing aides no.
I am fitted with Siemens Pure 301 digital aides, with in the ear speakersunits and open type domes in the ear, which helps not to cut off what freq you can still hear well.
For me it is not so much for loss of hearing - my tests are pretty much in line for my age - but for tinnitus which I got from 20 years of prednisone and several nasty aenesthetics used in operations. The HA for me produce white noise, and if I so choose amplify a little so my ears are never bored and the inner noise levels take over..
Things to avoid are ibuprofen, aspirin, etc.. It is called ototoxicity - chemicals which cause hearing loss or damage. Also ofcourse don't overindulge on loud music.. Although legal limits for workplaces etc are set around 83dB above which protection must be worn, levels lower like 70db at prolonged exposure already causes loss.
There is in the USA a company that supplies very good HA their models are called RITE if I remember corrrectly, which come with software in which you can tweak the settings yourself but extreme care must be taken. HA do amplify sounds above levels that damage healthy ears, let alone damaged ones!
Some devices come with their own interface, and others adhere to standards which means they need a separate costly device like hi-pro http://www.diyhearingaids.com/VirtualTechnician.aspx
http://hearingaidforums.com/showthread.php?t=9840 Good information on this subject on that forum.
I am fitted with Siemens Pure 301 digital aides, with in the ear speakersunits and open type domes in the ear, which helps not to cut off what freq you can still hear well.
For me it is not so much for loss of hearing - my tests are pretty much in line for my age - but for tinnitus which I got from 20 years of prednisone and several nasty aenesthetics used in operations. The HA for me produce white noise, and if I so choose amplify a little so my ears are never bored and the inner noise levels take over..
Things to avoid are ibuprofen, aspirin, etc.. It is called ototoxicity - chemicals which cause hearing loss or damage. Also ofcourse don't overindulge on loud music.. Although legal limits for workplaces etc are set around 83dB above which protection must be worn, levels lower like 70db at prolonged exposure already causes loss.
There is in the USA a company that supplies very good HA their models are called RITE if I remember corrrectly, which come with software in which you can tweak the settings yourself but extreme care must be taken. HA do amplify sounds above levels that damage healthy ears, let alone damaged ones!
Some devices come with their own interface, and others adhere to standards which means they need a separate costly device like hi-pro http://www.diyhearingaids.com/VirtualTechnician.aspx
http://hearingaidforums.com/showthread.php?t=9840 Good information on this subject on that forum.
No ear crutches here and only one piece of "high-end", but major eye problems with crutches and a piece of digital gear called a Squeezebox Touch that I can't see from even 3 feet away and that's with my eye crutches. Got a tablet so I can see it and work it with my eye crutches.
Pio1980
AK Member
Sorry, dunno what you are asking. Update to prior post perhaps? Could you elaborate?
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