Hearing Aides????

AlK

Well-Known Member
The time has come for me to get some hearing aids. I’m sure that I’m not the only one that has this problem. So any information both pro and con that you guys can provide will be appreciated. One thing I already know is these things are not CHEAP!
 
No they are not cheap, I have had hearing aids for 20 or so years now got mine thru WCB for noise exposure. they have come along way, I get a new pair every 5 years, they used to sound real tinny but the new ones I just got sound so natural including the bass and midrange I love to have them in

The pros---- You will hear things you havent heard in a long time, Including the wife
They are comfy dont know you have them in. You may wear them to bed and not know it
Most are programmable and can be set to what YOU like or need, the hearing place will do that
fantastic for hunting, turn them up or down, you can hear a fly fart
You can hear things a person with normal hearing cant
most are directional, you know where the sound is coming from
You wont have to ask everyone to repeat themselves, etc

The cons for me anyways, not good in the wind, mine are not good on the phone but I just had my new ones 4 days and I have some learning to do

I have the ones that go right in the ear made by Phonak, most places will let you try a pair just to see how you like them and so they should for 1000s of dollars, hope this helps you a bit pm me if you need any other info
 
Do they help tinnitus? I'm getting a pair in the next while, my hearing is worse than I thought. No more saying "what?" when the wife says something to me.
 
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Funny that this thread came up. Well after telling my dad for the last two years he needed to get hearing aids he got some a few days ago in Victoria. I think he would of not bothered with them since he thought we were the problem not his hearing . It made for some long days in the boat answering all my own questions...lol. The final straw for him was the Tinnitus that was driving him nuts for the last few months. Obviously the jury is still out but so far he is more than pleased with comfort...what he can hear now and the Tinnitus has already eased significantly for him. The place he went to recommended a mid grade model that they had good success with. They were around the 5 grand mark I believe but they also had a deal for BCAA members. They got the $100 membership and saved 10% so a pretty easy decision. There were some other things like batteries for 5 years etc... Not sure where he went but I can find out. I'm just glad he finally got the aids as he really was missing a lot especially a lot of stuff my kids would say to him with no reply. I had to tell them after more than once that he wasn't ignoring them just didn't hear them.
 
It's the tinnitus that's bothering me and it seems to be getting worse so it'll be a welcome relief to clear some of it up. I'll be getting mine through wcb at no charge.
 
I just got a pair through work as well. Mine were not so much for hearing as they were for the tinnitus. They play a noise similar to like wind chimes. Close as I can come to explaining it without hearing it yourself. There are different program sound that the hearing specialist can program into the hearing aids depending on your preferences. It sort of plays a background noise that cancels out the tinnitus and still enhances the hearing. Only had them for a couple months, but think they might work out to help relieve some of the tinnitus ringing.

Oly
 
Do they help tinnitus? I'm getting a pair in the next while, my hearing is worse than I thought. No more saying "what?" when the wife says something to me.


my ol man has wicked tinnitus from his military days "sniper trainer" he now has hearing aids that he puts in when his tinnitus acts up.. all paid for by our govt for his service. says they work great!
 
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i fish with many that have aids .its from listini from to many $ holes.When those devices are intergraded with other device(phone ,souner .ect .how are sport fishermen left out from your commertial activitys .remember fair chace sporting activity or i quit.
 
Just be careful and research and test extensively before committing to purchase. The profit margins on hearing aids are very generous, so don't be afraid to negotiate the price.
 
Anyone have any dealings with Costco. It would appear that they carry major brands and they seem to have better prices and I find Costco generally are good to deal with.
 
I have had hearing aids since 2006, mine are covered by work safe bc (wcb). I have heard good things from people who have used costco for their hearing aids, however, they don't do them for wcb claims, at least the last time I checked they didn't. I am lucky mine are all paid for along with batteries etc, as someone else said you get new ones every 5 years, mine have all been phonaks and have been pretty good, I have in the ear aids and have a pair of behind the ear as spares ( i got the behind the ears for my 2nd round but could not use them effectively at work (since retired) due to them being impeded by hard hats and other safety gear.

I have been using connect hearing (formerly island hearing) and they have been very good, they also have offices all over bc and across canada. if you are not icbc i would definitely check out costco, they have a good variety, locations all over, and a great service and return policy. I would definitelynot buy from a one or two shop outfit.

the one main thing I have some issues with is the background noise, eg at a party or lots of people talking at once at the bars and dinner etc. make sure you get a pair with good noise canceling features. mine have 4 settings usually most of my problems are not changing the setting after a few drinks when more background noise kicks in, lol.

I remember when I first got mine, pulling over in my truck trying to figure out what these damned new noises were. also before my hearing aids I used to say how quiet the motors were when guiding at the lodges and other guides would give me the what the eff are you talking about look , lol. didn't realise how bad my hearing was till i got the hearing aids. good luck with your search

cheers nicnat
 
I'm retired but I applied to WCB anyways because my hearing loss is no doubt from working in the shipyard for 30 years, haven't heard back yet,soon I hope. My neigbhor got his through Costco and was very happy with them.Funny my tinnitus sounds like a tree full of starlings all chirping at the same time,drives me nuts when I'm trying to sleep.Let the jokes begin now.
 
I know a few people including my next door neighbor who got hearing aids thru wcb after they retired so you do have a decent chance of qualifying for them I would say, I don't know anyone who has been refused so good luck.
 
Interesting, Iv had hearing aids for one year, first pair really didnt improve much, went to another outfit and they were very good. They recommended another updated pair which the right ear aid transmitted to the left ear, right ear totally 0, left ear still had some response. Well for a week and a half things were improved as I was impressed.. Guess what, on Boxing day every thing shut down, totally deaf. Lucky me. No one has the answers to that one.
You know I can cope with it but what is frustrating is when you first interact/converse with someone I tell them I am totally deaf. I then tell them you will have to answer by writing, yes you got it, they continue talking! WTF?
 
I'm retired but I applied to WCB anyways because my hearing loss is no doubt from working in the shipyard for 30 years, haven't heard back yet,soon I hope. My neigbhor got his through Costco and was very happy with them.Funny my tinnitus sounds like a tree full of starlings all chirping at the same time,drives me nuts when I'm trying to sleep.Let the jokes begin now.

I know when I was at the hearing doctor, he said silence was the worst thing for tinnitus. He suggested listening to a background noise when sleeping. Like the sound therapy alarm clocks. ( waves washing up on the beach, wind chimes, or killer whales eating all the excess seals) you know something relaxing. Same goes for during the day, always have a radio going, just to take your mind off the tinnitus.

Oly
 
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