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To: Red Badger

Might be nice to try. In my case I won’t get a hearing aid unless I can pay for it *after* I’ve used it, I’m not pouring money down that rat hole.

My problem is that audiologists have told me (and experience bears this out) that amplifying sound won’t do me any good. I can’t discriminate sounds well. IOW, if I can’t understand what someone is saying in a situation, making it louder will not make it any clearer, just louder.

If I am in a crowded restaurant with a group I pretty much smile and nod. Which probably pleases my wife, anyway.


9 posted on 06/17/2011 12:43:12 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s....you weren't really there)
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To: ChildOfThe60s
"My problem is that audiologists have told me (and experience bears this out) that amplifying sound won’t do me any good. I can’t discriminate sounds well. IOW, if I can’t understand what someone is saying in a situation, making it louder will not make it any clearer, just louder."

That is just what the digital aids are for. They split the sound "spectrum" into 12 or so separate bands, and amplify them by differing amounts to correct for your specific type of loss, be it high frequency, low frequency or "notch" loss. The old analog type aids had VERY limited capability along these lines. I've worn HA for about 25 years, and made the switch from analog to digital about eight years ago.

Huge difference!!!

19 posted on 06/17/2011 1:06:31 PM PDT by Wonder Warthog
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To: ChildOfThe60s
Might be nice to try. In my case I won’t get a hearing aid unless I can pay for it *after* I’ve used it, I’m not pouring money down that rat hole.

I wanted to do that too but it wasn't necessary, after trying them in the office I was convinced. That was almost three years ago and I believe it was the best $5,000 I've ever spent. I live in a new world now.

Hearing aids are advancing all the time and I believe that most, if not all hearing loss is pretty much covered now. I never did understand the price tag though.

Find a company that will give you a free trial, I'm sure they are out there.

32 posted on 06/17/2011 2:21:28 PM PDT by Graybeard58
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To: ChildOfThe60s
P.S.

Don't get just one hearing aid. I've never understood the logic to having a "good ear" and a "bad ear", unless of course you already have good hearing in one and bad in the other.

33 posted on 06/17/2011 2:23:36 PM PDT by Graybeard58
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