la bala Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Got to go Wednesday, i am getting as deaf as a post, or everyone is mumbling . Do any of you lads wear one, I find them little shove in ear defenders really uncomfortable. Any of you wear the one outside the ear. Anyone give me there views on the different types. Thanks boys, I said Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I've been wearing hearing aids, if that's what you're asking about, for just over a year. I've lost 2, at £70 each replacement cost. The lady who tested me said. "However have you gone through life like that? I bet you don't socialise much." Many a true word spoken in jest. Get the NHS ones, I did, as I heard a rumour that they would not be free for much longer. They are £1500 each retail. The smaller ones would not be good enough, they told me. Because I shoot right-handed, my left ear was the worst one, but I don't think it helps that one much. The right ear one makes sounds a bit sharper, the left ear one seems to fill up the base noises a bit. There are volume controls that I turned down a bit to get used to them. You don't realise what you were missing, noise-wise. The volume control doesn't seem to work on one at the moment. It just means a walk-in visit to the hospital before 1200 and they fix things. They have your hearing settings saved on the system, but if you lose the ear-piece, they have to take another impression and it's a week or 2 to wait for a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I had a hidden in the ear one for one ear years ago. Never got on with it, really uncomfortable. Cost £1300 at the time. Now I have the NHS ones for both ears. The moulds that fit in your ears can get a bit uncomfortable by the end of the day, but they do make a big difference. I wear mine mainly when I go out. OH knows to talk clearly and face to face so I manage at home. I use my NHS moulds on some noise suppression hearing aids I got from USA for shooting. I swap them back afterwards as they aren't as good as the programmed ones from the NHS for normal hearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 To add to the above, I too wear hearing aids, since 2002. I was left deaf after a couple of minor strokes. I could never get on with over the ear defenders, they always bashed my gunstock. I originally had the passive moulded soft plugs by Emtech and found them great, if you did not engage in conversation. As an Instructor I found that I was taking the damned things in and out in order to converse with people. I bought the Cens digital plugs, but I was told that I could only have the hard plastic variety and NOT the soft rubber type (something to do with the electronics). After a couple of attempts they managed to get the fit bearable, but they were never very comfortable, however they did work well and enabled me to converse without removal of the ear plug. After around 6 months they started to go wrong. The switch on 1 became faulty and you never knew if they were turned off correctly, it was also difficult to adjust the volume levels. Back they went to Cens and they were fitted a new switch and generally refurbed. After another 18 months or so they became faulty once again (the switches once more). Back again to Cens, this time it was a bill for £150. They now reside in their box in a drawer at home and I have been using the Howard Leight ear defenders. They work great, do not bash the gunstock and the batteries last a hell of a lot longer than the Cens. They are also a hell of a lot cheaper to buy ! With regards to hearing aids, be prepared to find holding a conversation in a noisy environment almost impossible and missing most of any conversation that you may have. On the PLUS side, hearing aids can be turned OFF and you will develop the knack of not letting SWMBO see you do this, so I suppose 'every cloud has a silver lining' as they say (or at least I think that was what they said !). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I'm not deaf and don't use deaf aids but i do install lots of AFILS (Hearing loops) the "switch to the T position" signs you see around, you can get small ones for the TV at home so you don't deafen the family and some mobile shave them built in(BLackberry were good for this) this means instead of using the built in microphones the loop transmits directly to the hearing aid using a magnetic field. Like most things they come in cheap and expensive guises but should make life altogether more pleasant they are part ofthe DDA so having them and them being operational and up to a standard is a legal requirement just like a ramp for wheelchairs. Not who i work for but one of the main suppliers. http://gordonmorris.co.uk/ I recommend http://www.univoxaudio.co.uk/they are the best we have tested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Thanks for the comments guys, on reading my post again i didnt make it very clear that i was asking about hearing aids, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Are we talking hearing aids or defenders or both ? ..hearing aids first ..had the national health ones and was supposed to wear two but it echoed, made it sound like you had your head in a metal bucket so I only used one , which for a few years did a sort of job , but once the hearing starts going it's only going to get worse so after a while I had to bite the bullet and go private .This is a virtual cartel ..every thing is the same price for the same product , their is virtually no difference in anything on offer , Siemens would appear to make the most up to date hearing aid on the market , every one is the same money within a few quid apart from spec savers who are able to offer a slightly cheaper deal ...the top of the range best you can buy are the thick end of £3000 ..they do come in a nice box though .....are they worth the dollar ??? .....still trying to make my mind up .....I am bloody careful with them though .hearing protection .... Buy the very best you can and save what you can of your hearing , none of the hearing aids come close to what you are given by nature .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 With regards to hearing aids, be prepared to find holding a conversation in a noisy environment almost impossible and missing most of any conversation that you may have. That was my problem 'before' I got hearing aids. More than one person talking talking and it was hopeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 That was my problem 'before' I got hearing aids. More than one person talking talking and it was hopeless. rjimmer, I know what you are saying, when my family visit i dont hear a word they are saying. Strange really, i visit an old mate who has a bit of a deep voice and i hear him pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 That was my problem 'before' I got hearing aids. More than one person talking talking and it was hopeless. It is my problem AFTER I got hearing aids. I can vouch for the 'loop' system at home. Absolutely brilliant invention. Is it possible to have one fitted to a hoola hoop that I could wear full time ? I am due to go and get new NHS aids next week, mine are several years old and past their 'sell by' date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 I wear 2 they take a bit of getting used to and when a setting was tweaked everyone was quite in close talking but the car down the road was like an F1 car right behind me at full revs. Once set up properly they do help and once I got over the stigma of wearing day to day life was improved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 (edited) I wear NHS ones, small brown in colour, comfortable enough to wear all day , nice to hear what the grand kids are saying , I have high end hearing loss , I didnt realise how much hearing I had lost till I had them fitted , can be a little overpowering when 1st worn , the world can be a very noisey place. Edited December 1, 2015 by deny essex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Since getting hearing aids, I am able to use the car radio, and hear what they are saying on radio four, while driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRYAN3 Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Hello Guys. I SAID HELLO GUYS. anyone there? Where does one get started. Do we try to get to see our regular doctor or go to a walk-in or what. Atb Bryan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 I was referred by my GP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Hello Guys. I SAID HELLO GUYS. anyone there? Where does one get started. Do we try to get to see our regular doctor or go to a walk-in or what. Atb Bryan. Quarter past one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRYAN3 Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Good man Walshie, mine's a bitter, cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 (edited) Hello Guys. I SAID HELLO GUYS. anyone there? Where does one get started. Do we try to get to see our regular doctor or go to a walk-in or what. Atb Bryan. Go to your doctors and he will refer you if he feels they are needed. Edited December 1, 2015 by deny essex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Should wear two Mate, But right is worst one,gave up watching TV, whats the point.?. Said to the wife,let me turn the sound off,same thing really,needless to say she wouldn't.. Yes, get them done,but you do have to persevere with them,irritates for a while,you are not used to them that's obvious,Then if not IN You do miss birds singing etc,good thing if you don't wish to have sounds coming take them out or turn the volume to Low..lol. Doesn't solve all poroblems,but,, they do not let high pitched blasts in either, sort of Blocks high frequency shotgun blast's.. it also lets you hear the kettle boiling,so get off your bum and make more cups of tea..lol.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snarepeg Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Had mine over 32 years. Without them I cannot hear a thing, 85 percent and severe to profound. With them I can hear everything and understand nothing, it's like being in a bee hive, Social side, I read and let other people do the talking/listening, it's easyer. I to 1 not to bad but group talk, forget it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Had mine over 32 years. Without them I cannot hear a thing, 85 percent and severe to profound. With them I can hear everything and understand nothing, it's like being in a bee hive, Social side, I read and let other people do the talking/listening, it's easyer. I to 1 not to bad but group talk, forget it. +1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Have heard locally that the NHS now only supply one aid per person, could be down to people having two and not using any, like one upstanding old thing I know of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripey999 Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 I have worn over ear aides for a few years and so glad I do. My hearing was damaged in the forces but I never really noticed as it happened over a long period. Your GP has to refer you then the hospital test and decide if you need them or not. I lost the higher frequency sounds and a fair bit of lower ones. The technician plugs the new aides into a PC and there is a graph showing the range that you can hear. The technician then adjusts the aid to allow you to hear the frequencies and volume that you have lost. Absolutely brilliant but for the first few days, having a pee is terrible. The sound of pee hitting the water in the loo was deafening. For the first few months they encouraged me to drop in for adjustments. The aid picks up sound from front and back and I couldn't tell where sound was coming from as it seemed to be all round me. I had them adjust the pickups so that I pick up 60% volume from the front and 40% from the rear. Now I can tell where the sound comes from. The loop at home sounds great. I use Howard Leights for shooting. The NHS aides don't like water (or sweat) so Howard leights are great for shooting but I am deaf when beating. NHS gave me one for each ear and supply the tubes free whenever I damage them but the aide itself is £70 if damaged or lost. Batteries last about 10 days and they are free from hospitals or chemists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted December 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Well, had the first hearing test today, the result, only have 50% hearing in each ear. All those years driving heavy earthmoving machinery took its toll. I have to go back for a 1 hour test in a weeks time, but wondering if i should book into the Doctors first, maybe get a bit of financial help off NHS, i have paid in all my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 Well, had the first hearing test today, the result, only have 50% hearing in each ear. All those years driving heavy earthmoving machinery took its toll. I have to go back for a 1 hour test in a weeks time, but wondering if i should book into the Doctors first, maybe get a bit of financial help off NHS, i have paid in all my life. If you go NHS, they are free, and £70 every time you lose one instead of £1500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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