Hearing Aid - update

[Togman]

There have been many threads on the subject of hearing aids recently. I thought I would post an update following my recent 3 yearly check-up.

I have been wearing hearing aids (both ears) for about 12 years now. Whilst being far from perfect, they have enabled me to keep performing both solo and in bands. On Thursday of this week I had my check up and full examination. A very pleasant lady carried out the tests and told me that there had been no further deterioration in my hearing since my last check 3 years ago. When she asked if I was experiencing any problems with my current hearing aids I explained that they were absolutely fine for most things, but I was having difficulties when performing music. To my surprise, she was very interested in this and explained that both she and her husband were both musicians (playing in a renaissance ensemble group). Her husband wore hearing aids - so should could relate to the problems I was talking about.

She kitted me out with a new pair of 'Danalogic Ambio 77' hearing aids. In addition to the 'standard' setting and the 'noisy environment' (restaurant) settings she has added a program for musical environments. Although there are tiny switches and controls on the hearing aids, this model can also be controlled via a smartphone (see below). There is also a 3 band equalizer that can be adjusted and saved for different situations.

I immediately noticed an improvement in sound when playing both my Acoustic and Electrics at home. Unfortunately, due to world events, it looks like it will be some time before I get the chance to see how they perform in a band situation.

 

[stxrus]

That is cool. Technology actually working

 

[FendrGuitPlayr]

I had a hearing test last year and was told that I was hearing impaired. My wife lets me know
each time I turn something up louder than it seems to her. I read the Clapton autobiography about
how he chose to hear things naturally (louder) than to wear hearing aids. I kind of feel the same
way but I've been seeing some ads for some new bluetooth sets. They sound interesting but I'm
not ready to try them just yet.

https://www.resound.com/en-us/hearing-aids/bluetooth-hearing-aids

 

[stonge]

Imagine if they could calibrate the frequency response on hearing aids to your individual hearing damage; like how a Kemper samples the amp output via a microphone and builds a profile of the sound picked up. Hearing is so subjective, but just the thought that you can now get different EQ curves through an app for different situations sounds like a welcome improvement. If you had an app with your own 10-band eq, you could just tweak it for your own personal mix of the world.

 

[BryMelvin]

Imagine if they could calibrate the frequency response on hearing aids to your individual hearing damage; like how a Kemper samples the amp output via a microphone and builds a profile of the sound picked up. Hearing is so subjective, but just the thought that you can now get different EQ curves through an app for different situations sounds like a welcome improvement. If you had an app with your own 10-band eq, you could just tweak it for your own personal mix of the world.

I have hearing aids via the VA They ARE tuned for the frequencies of my hearing loss.

 

[LutherBurger]

Imagine if they could calibrate the frequency response on hearing aids to your individual hearing damage; like how a Kemper samples the amp output via a microphone and builds a profile of the sound picked up. Hearing is so subjective, but just the thought that you can now get different EQ curves through an app for different situations sounds like a welcome improvement. If you had an app with your own 10-band eq, you could just tweak it for your own personal mix of the world.

That's exactly what they do, and a lot more. I hope you never need to experience the technology yourself, but the features and capabilities of modern digital hearing aids are astounding.

 

[telestratosonic]

I have hearing aids via the VA They ARE tuned for the frequencies of my hearing loss.

Mine are as well. Just got them from WCB.

 

[blue metalflake]

I’m dodging them so far, but amazing the technology available

 

[stonge]

That's exactly what they do, and a lot more. I hope you never need to experience the technology yourself, but the features and capabilities of modern digital hearing aids are astounding.

I didn't realize how far some of that tech has advanced; I don't have them myself but I'm a likely candidate in the future. It's great that it allows us to keep playing and enjoying music.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

OP, 'glad you are having a great experience with your hearing aids!

It was eye opening...err....ear opening...when I got my aids this past January. My left side loss wasn't much and primarily age related. My right, however, has been a problem for decades and needed major help. Wow. It's certainly not perfect, but I actually hear stuff with my right ear now including in frequency bands that used to just disappear. The singler--and I do mean singular--disappointment I have is that direct bluetooth music reproduction seriously lacks anything in the bass range, although that's not uncommon with any kind of "ear bud" situation. (no issue with in-room and in-vehicle music and bass response, however) I recently sat down at my keyboard to faddle around a bit and there clearly was a lot I had missed back in the day before I got the appliances. Oh, and controlling everything with my iPhone is pretty darn useful, too.

THe upside is that I hear almost everything. The downside...is I hear almost everything. LOL 'Can't use the "I didn't hear that excuse" anymore with Professor Dr. SWMBO for sure!

 

[Mechanic]

I’ve had Costco aids now for a few years. I use them only for important conversations with she who must be obeyed, and our kids and grandkids, doctors and the like. I get a once a year checkup and any updates to the software. It’s so nice to have the control I have from the phone.

 

[Ronzo]

Imagine if they could calibrate the frequency response on hearing aids to your individual hearing damage; like how a Kemper samples the amp output via a microphone and builds a profile of the sound picked up. Hearing is so subjective, but just the thought that you can now get different EQ curves through an app for different situations sounds like a welcome improvement. If you had an app with your own 10-band eq, you could just tweak it for your own personal mix of the world.

They can. But they don’t offer that level of control in the app. When the audiologist programs your aids, with newer models, the aids are individually programmed to invert the loss curve. The adjustments offered in the app are more fine tuning for different environments and social situations. But the audiologist’s programming capabilities are much more fine-grained.

OP, your app screenshots look much like those in my ReSound app.