Guitarists with hearing aids please advise.

[guitargabor]

Originally Posted by AndreF

Hi Gabe,
That's quite a high price to pay for something that costs a fraction of that to manufacture.
Technology has evolved quite a bit in the field of the hearing challenged, and the line between what the FDA allows to be called a hearing aid and what's not has really blurred when it comes to commercially available products. And that translates into huge price differentials.
I'm chiming in because I've been reading an excellent and fascinating book on the current science of hearing called "Volume Control", written by David Owen, a very fine writer from the New Yorker.
Volume Control
Fortunately I'm not in need of any hearing aids (yet), but if I ever do, I'll be glad to have read this book.
Since you have some time before your trial for these aids expires, you might want to check that book out. It just might save you a lot of money, and have you looking elsewhere for much less expensive, but no less effective, hearing relief, like Bose for example....

I have heard(no pun intended!) from an ENT specialist that there is a HUGE mark up on hearing aids in general.

Gabe

[Gitfiddlemann]

Originally Posted by guitargabor

I have heard(no pun intended!) from an ENT specialist that there is a HUGE mark up on hearing aids in general.

Gabe

Unfortunately, that's true. Charging thousands of dollars for a part that costs just about a hundred dollars to make.
The winners: Hearing Aid manufacturers (they have a nice cushy business model going), and audiologists.
The losers: Us, of course, who else.

Technology is our friend though, and starting to shake things up in our favor.

[tinnitus]

Figures... first week of 2020, I finally told Mrs. Tinnitus she had suffered long enough with my bilateral hearing loss (big notch in the range of a female voice, electric guitar and hi-hat cymbals). I said something like, "2020 is the year I break down and buy hearing aids." Then we got a global plague to deal with, and cue the crickets chirping (not that I could hear them0. So today (July 24), I was pleased to see the hearing center at Costco open and doing business again.

My criteria for hearing aids will include bluetooth for phone calls, audiobooks, etc. Programmable for various noise environments (background noise in busy restaurants is the worst). And rechargeable. Last thing I need is to spend my days and nights messing with tiny batteries, wondering if they're still good or not.

Two brands/models at Costco seem to meet my specifications, and I'm wondering if any of you guys and gals have real-world observations to share.

Philips Hearlink
and
ReSound Preza

They cost the same and have the same features. There seems is a slight edge for the Preza because the recharging station has a 3-day battery for camping, etc.

Appreciate any feedback you all might share. Thanks.

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by tinnitus

Figures... first week of 2020, I finally told Mrs. Tinnitus she had suffered long enough with my bilateral hearing loss (big notch in the range of a female voice, electric guitar and hi-hat cymbals). I said something like, "2020 is the year I break down and buy hearing aids." Then we got a global plague to deal with, and cue the crickets chirping (not that I could hear them0. So today (July 24), I was pleased to see the hearing center at Costco open and doing business again.

My criteria for hearing aids will include bluetooth for phone calls, audiobooks, etc. Programmable for various noise environments (background noise in busy restaurants is the worst). And rechargeable. Last thing I need is to spend my days and nights messing with tiny batteries, wondering if they're still good or not.

Two brands/models at Costco seem to meet my specifications, and I'm wondering if any of you guys and gals have real-world observations to share.

Philips Hearlink
and
ReSound Preza

They cost the same and have the same features. There seems is a slight edge for the Preza because the recharging station has a 3-day battery for camping, etc.

Appreciate any feedback you all might share. Thanks.

You should ask to try them. In the end, the extra features and gizmos only matter if you wear them. You won’t wear them if they sound bad. Every person’s hearing loss is unique. But a guitarists/musician’s hearing loss is even more so.

[tinnitus]

Good idea. I'll confirm first, but I'm under the impression that anything can be returned to Costco up to 90 days.

[guitargabor]

Appreciate any feedback you all might share. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

I had a trial the Phillips Hearlink from Costco.

They were quite inferior to the Widex evoke brans that I have been using now the past 6 months.You can follow the older posts in this thread regarding my decision.

If you are not at all concerned about the quality of recorded music or how your guitar sounds, then the Phillps hearlink would be fine.

Gabe

[tinnitus]

After a month with new hearing aids (rechargeable this time), I have a counterpoint to at least one post above.

Figuring I could return them to Costco for a full refund if I didn't like them, I invested in a pair of their Rexton M-Core R-LI.
- Recharging station included (AC & USB powered, 24-hour life per charge)
- Bluetooth
- iPhone programmability
- Outstanding warranty (even covers loss for 2 years)

Gotta say they're excellent all around. I was very cautious given the warnings I've read here that acoustic guitars WILL sound terrible with less expensive/lower quality hearing aids. Not so with these. BTW, I still play with/without hearing aids. When I use them, I like how bright and clear my acoustics and electrics sound (like when I was a teen before military, concerts, firearms and garage bands all took their toll). All music sounds bright and clear now, not just my guitars.

YMMV, but given the excellent quality of my hearing aids, customer service and warranty, I cannot advise against giving Costco a try (they sell several brands and models). Caveat: I don't know anything about the Kirkland "house-brand," because those require batteries, which I will not use.

[tigobah]

Originally Posted by leew3

and in response to the OP, check out whether your aids will gradually adapt to the sounds of instruments. I've worn hearing aids for about 10 years and when I got my newest pair they sounded like the amplification was overwhelmed by some guitar tones (aka 'clipping'). I had them programmed with a separate music channel which helped, but gradually either the aids, my brain or likely both adapted and my guitars sound great now with the aids in. As I noted in my post above, I got mine online from Audicus and would recommend them.

This was the point I was going to make. My hearing was damaged while in the Navy in the 1960s and I wore hearing aids for years until they no longer helped me. Then 20 years ago I was implanted with a cochlear implant and that's a whole other experience. It took close to a year for my brain to hear speech in a "normal" fashion and probably longer for music to sound right. The point is, your brain needs time to get used to the sounds coming in. And you need to wear the aids constantly, even while playing the guitar even though you think it sounds lousy. I may not be a good guitar player but I've had a lot of experience with hearing loss.

[fretfile100]

A suggestion for Woodbox regarding variable dynamic range in tv listening might be an av receiver. Even the less expensive ones have a feature to compress the volume for late night listening. Of course you would have to invest in some loud speakers but it might mitigate those large sound variations. Not to mention the horrible sound of most tv speakers.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by guitargabor

About 5 weeks ago I visited a hearing center and was recommended to try a pair of Widex Evoke hearing aids.They are pretty darn good and very accommodating with music and guitar playing.Their price is quite high in the $6K range.

Today I also received a pair of Philips "hear linK",supposedly the top end that Costco offers.They are very reasonable at $2500 per pair.

I am very disappointed in these Philips ones with respect to music.

My Martin has a sound like the chorus mode on acoustic amps.Other sources of music also sound very artificial.

Anyone else have this issue?

My dilemma is : are the Widex pair worth the extra $3500?

Any advice is appreciated as I am new to this game..

Thanks ,

Gabe

I have no answer for you as my last attempt to get new hearing aids were Resound and I got the same "chorus" effect.

Also I have a half Burmese cat with a VERY PIERCING voice and wearing aids when he's hungry, cod, wet, is positively painful.

I do wish that TV actors would stop mumbling!