Subject: Re: solicitation of hearing aid testimonial
Date: Apr 25 16:12:24 1996
From: Tom Foote - footet at elwha.evergreen.edu




On Thu, 25 Apr 1996, BRIAN SCOTT wrote:

> Hi tweeters:
> I've been very interested in the recent postings concerning
> Barbara Haas' hearing aids for birders suffering from high
> frequency hearing loss.

Brian--

I'm really puzzled by some of the responses to the Hearing Aid
posts..I'm mystified by the information that seems to be
(mis)leading Tweets that it's possible to recapture the high
end of your hearing with a mechanical aid. I have been wearing
a hearing aid for 10 years or so and I can tell you that you
will get amplification..but NO HIGH END HEARING WILL RETURN!!
If you couldn't hear a bird and get hearing assistance and can
now hear it, it's because of the power boost..if you are deaf
in the frequency you need, no amount of power will help..
You will never recapture the overtones in a Mendelsohn violin
concerto no matter how much money you spend on your ears..this
doesn't mean you should give up the notion of amplification..
and yes hearing aids are designed to boost the frequency range
where you are weakest, but you still need to have some hearing
in that range in order for the boost to work...you also need to
be prepared for a cacophony of ambient noise..i.e., the boost
will also amplify the dishes clanging, silver banging, table
conversations next to you in the restaurant, which will be
quite distracting until your brain kicks in and suppresses
that noise...that's the price for being able to hear (most of)
the conversation of your dinner partner...

The doctor who examined me said he's really perplexed by the kids
who are blowing out their tweeters with their Walkman machines
and the incredible power in their cars..we are going into a time
when the generation coming up will be very deaf..I mentioned this
before (in a previous post) He said most of his practice today
is made up of kids in their late teens whose mothers drag them
in saying *He doesn't listen to me..*..

Advice is cheap.. :) here's mine:

If you are having trouble hearing birds, then by all means
seek assistance..but, consider a regular hearing exam. If you
are over 40 chances are you may need the kind of assistance
that cannot be adequately provided by a generic set of
ear amplifiers no more than a set of reading magnifying glasses
off the rotating display at Payless will help everyone..

There really shouldn't be any stigma attached to wearing an
aid...when I went to take my flight physical a few years ago
the doc who examined me asked me how long I'd been wearing an
aid and how I liked it...after talking about it for 5 minutes
or so, he produced his own FROM HIS SHIRT POCKET..I felt
obliged to tell him it would work better in his ear..

I'm happy to continue this off net with anyone who needs
advice, assistance, consolation, absolution, whatever..

Get your hearing tested at a reputable clinic..your
partner will appreciate being able to turn down the TV..
as will the neighbors.. :)

Tom...(what'd he say?)









However, these are far from inexpensive.
> Before I make the financial venture of purchasing a pair, I
> wonder if there is anyone out there who has tested them and
> how they are different from a regular pair that has the high
> frequency end amplified in relation to the lower end.
> I appreciate any input and thank you in advance.
>
> Brian Scott
> Langley, BC
> PISHER at msn.com
>