Well I�ve known for some time now that my hearing was not quite as good as it was when I was back in high school. With the equipment I have I could tell I did not much in the way of high frequency response but didn�t think too much about it. But more recently I noted that understanding people in noisy environment was becoming a problem and I had to ask people to repeat what they said.
So last week I broke down and had an official hearing test done and yes I have a major loss in the ability to hear high frequencies. So I am now the proud owner of two new hearing aids. These have come along quite away from grandpa�s hollowed out steer horn.
They are a small device that is worn, and is virtually hidden, behind the ear. From there a thin tube with a wire in it wraps around to the speaker that is inserted to the ear, but does not seal off the ear thus allowing low frequency sound to enter in a normal manner. This helps retain the ability to determine the direction from which a sound is coming from.
Each unit has two microphones; one faces forward the other to the rear. By waving a magnet near each one the front microphone can be turned off, if you in a windy situation, or they can be programmed for noise cancellation if in a noisy environment. The signal from these microphones is then feed through an amplifier and a 32 channel equalizer that is custom programmed to compensate for your hearing loss. They also can be programmed to turn on to any volume level this is comfortable, from there you can manually readjust the volume as needed. The amount of electronics that is crammed into this tiny little package is amazing.
Now my hearing loss has been very gradual over a long period of time as a result I was not really very aware of the degree of change. So when I put these on I was shocked at what I heard. Wall switches make an amazingly loud snap when turned on or off, water running in a sink takes on a new sound, I could understand what people where saying in a crowded restaurant, and do you know that when you walk on dried leaves they make a crunchy sound?
I can also hear my wife better when she is talking, but then I can always turn them off if desired.
There was an herb I read about that brought back hearing in many people. I'll have to find that book. It was written by a German herbalist. It won't hurt to add a cup of tea to your day especially when you're talking to your wife with your hearing aid off. lol
Did you ever consider trying ozone ear insufflation? I have heard how it has returned hearing for some folks.
That is something I did not know. Or that there is a tea that might help.
Quote:
I'm glad for you! It reminds me of when I got a new eyeglass prescription and until then didn't realize the lights on traffic light are made up of a bunch of little lights that you could see.
But I hope it's not overwhelming after having some degree of silence for a while. I heard a deaf person on a tv show say to a hearing person who was in a noisy place, 'How do you stand it? I couldn't take it if I couldn't check out sometimes.'
That is so true!
Now it is really nice to be able to clearly hear people when they talk. But it is a really noisy world out there and yes it can be a bit overwhelming thus it is equally nice to be able to turn it off at will.
Many years ago when I got my first pair of eyeglasses I had same experience.
He had me put on the new glasses and look out the window at the building next door which I knew it was a brick building but now I could count the bricks!
I'm glad for you! It reminds me of when I got a new eyeglass prescription and until then didn't realize the lights on traffic light are made up of a bunch of little lights that you could see.
But I hope it's not overwhelming after having some degree of silence for a while. I heard a deaf person on a tv show say to a hearing person who was in a noisy place, 'How do you stand it? I couldn't take it if I couldn't check out sometimes.'
I had an elderly friend who could not hear high notes. It was so bad, they had to change is doorbell.
Can you hear good clear stereo now? Can you enjoy a classical orchestral concert? I don't know if that is even one of you genres, but it would be interesting for you to see what you missed from an orchestra.
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- Jim
�Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.� Sir Winston Churchill
Ah I see you have asked a question. I apparently missed it.
They are expensive at $2200 for the two of them. But they do pack a lot of electronics into a small package. Each one is custom tuned for each ear. Of course I could have gotten the ones that are custom fitted and go entirely within the ear for even more money.
These are worn behind the ear and are pretty much invisible, not that I care if someone notices them any more then when I put on my glasses to read something.
Clear hearing. A blessing (one of many) we all take for granted.
Every place I go I tend to see young people wired into their ipods with that ever present unfathomable thud of the music they're listening to. Makes you wonder what their hearing will be like in years to come.
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....It is our deeds, the accumulated acts of goodness and kindness, that define us and ultimately are the true measure of our worth. Service is the coin of the spirit.
Well I�ve known for some time now that my hearing was not quite as good as it was when I was back in high school. With the equipment I have I could tell I did not much in the way of high frequency response but didn�t think too much about it. But more recently I noted that understanding people in noisy environment was becoming a problem and I had to ask people to repeat what they said.
So last week I broke down and had an official hearing test done and yes I have a major loss in the ability to hear high frequencies. So I am now the proud owner of two new hearing aids. These have come along quite away from grandpa�s hollowed out steer horn.
They are a small device that is worn, and is virtually hidden, behind the ear. From there a thin tube with a wire in it wraps around to the speaker that is inserted to the ear, but does not seal off the ear thus allowing low frequency sound to enter in a normal manner. This helps retain the ability to determine the direction from which a sound is coming from.
Each unit has two microphones; one faces forward the other to the rear. By waving a magnet near each one the front microphone can be turned off, if you in a windy situation, or they can be programmed for noise cancellation if in a noisy environment. The signal from these microphones is then feed through an amplifier and a 32 channel equalizer that is custom programmed to compensate for your hearing loss. They also can be programmed to turn on to any volume level this is comfortable, from there you can manually readjust the volume as needed. The amount of electronics that is crammed into this tiny little package is amazing.
Now my hearing loss has been very gradual over a long period of time as a result I was not really very aware of the degree of change. So when I put these on I was shocked at what I heard. Wall switches make an amazingly loud snap when turned on or off, water running in a sink takes on a new sound, I could understand what people where saying in a crowded restaurant, and do you know that when you walk on dried leaves they make a crunchy sound?
I can also hear my wife better when she is talking, but then I can always turn them off if desired.
Very glad for you. It will greatly improve your quality of life.
Sound! Sound! What�s that sound I hear?
Hybrid Mode
