Who has hearing aids?

[Dave W]

I have had a hearing loss since I was a kid and it has grown progressively worse. Right now I have 3 different ringing going on in my head and it is hard for me to understand things these days. I haven't had my hearing checked in 20 years but I know its bad and I am coming to acknowledge the fact that I need hearing aids at 46.

Anyway, I was just at the TTHA show and Sport Ears had a booth. Basically e salesman said that these were the same aids as their dedicated aids except the Sport Ears have a sound compression feature to block against gunfire. They also said these were cheaper because they fell into a "sporting category" or something like that rather than a Medical category. They were wanting to test me right there, take a mold of the ear, sell me the product and the the factory would customize it according to my ears and mail it out.

I just couldn't see buying $2000 worth of hearing aids out of a booth at a hunting show.

What do I need to know about hearing aids? Do you need to hearing specialist? Do other hearing aids have the sound limiter? What should a set of aids cost me? I know Wildman had heck getting his to work right.
Does anybody know about Sport Ears?

What do I need to do?

Thanks
Dave

[Froggy]

I wear them courtesy of the Veteran's Administration. If you are a vet, go to the VA and ask for a hearing test. Tinnitus is the ringing sound and is annoying as heck.

Mine have several features along with a remote control.

[Dave W]

Has anybody heard of the Senta brand?

[Rudey]

I've had progressive hearing loss since I was a kid. It started showing up on my charts around the first grade. I hear (no pun intended) that they have some models now that will actually help with the tinitus??? Anyone know if that's true?

I sure would like to hear better, but I can't afford those things. They're expensive!!!

[bowbroadhead]

I have beltone, both ears, check out as many brands as you can, wrap around the ear with tube is ok but inside the ear is better. If you decide on wrap around ask about the molded pod instead of the tube that goes into the ear canal

[old goat]

i have had hearing aids for 30 years and believe me they help and are needed but will never compare to good hearing. first get a hearing test done to see if you have nerve damage, them look around, the inter ear is old school and you have to get a mold done to make them fit, i started wareing behind the ear,open canel aids about 4 years ago and love them but the cost is 5k for a pair, if you want all the bells your could spend 9k. Mositure is a big problem and get a dryer to put them in at night, i have looked at Sport Ear and others an i will try them soon because of the price, but not the inter ear ones. the behind the ear can not block gun shots.

[bwssr]

Beltone Optimas here...beltone will test you, as well as most all other brands. A good aid will help you hear what you can hear, they can NOT fix what is gone. Had mine since the my early 20's...start with the volume looooow, work the volume up slowly....you'll be amazed at what you haveen't heard in a long time...but you have to wear them to get used to them...

[innergel]

My daughter is profoundly deaf and has worn a hearing aid in her right ear her entire life. Go find an audiologist and have them give you a hearing test. They'll put you in a little sound proof booth and play a series of tones. You indicate whether you can hear them or not. They'll have the results right there.

Hearing aids are expensive. My daughters are $1800 each, and they are not the most expensive ones. If you have seen what goes into making them and the tiny technology inside, you'll know why they are so expensive. The only features I'd say to make sure you get are and on/off switch and a volume knob. The sound supressor for shooting is a good idea too.

I'd also spring for the supplemental insurance. That will run you $300/year. I used to think it was expensive, but then I realized a single service on them runs about $250 and go up from there.

[big papa]

Wow. I believe that I am losing my hearing as well. It is hard for me to understand what other people are saying sometimes. And It is extremely hard if there is other noise around. Half of the time I can not understand what people are saying on the phone. I talked to a nurse up at the ER and he has beltone brand hearing aids that fit inside his ear. He said that he loved them and they are comfortable.

[poisonedbrew]

i do and i've tried the behind the ear and in the canal types. for me, the in the canal type wouldn't last very long do to all the moisture. and like others have said, they can be very pricey, but once you can hear again, it's more that worth it.