Digitals - what are todays options versus back in 1998?

Dixie

Dixie

Farting Snowflakes
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I used to wear a digital HA - it was my first and only HA - and I hated the experience because the adjustments were never right and I hated the fact that I had to wait weeks for adjustments. Plus it always shut off constantly when a car drove by, someone shuts a car door, someone snaps their fingers, a plastic cup gets crushed, I mean just every day occurances and it would shut off for 10 seconds then come back on. It absolutely drove me insane.

Not only that the endless disputes with my parents over the thing were stupid as well. My dad threw my first aid out the window because he thought it was meat - I took it out because the windows were rolled down and the loud whoosh of the wind was deafening. Guess who got blamed for that? I did.

It was hard to believe that one little device could cause so much upheaval.

I will never again use a in the ear aid - way too much ear wax to deal with.

So with me getting insurance from work very soon - I plan on getting a new hearing test done and reapplying for a BTE digital aid.

BUT heres what I need from the aid itself-

Not to constantly shut on and off due to every day noisy occurances such as cars and trucks. Also doesnt need to shut off when I am at work because the environment itself is noisy. Also I need something thats somewhat waterproof since I also work in a very wet environment.

The ability to use headphones without feedback because I go walking often using my mp3 player (and yes its on max volume right now and it doesnt bother me but others say they can hear the music when they stand beside me.)

The ability to take sweat - because I also run with a buddy of mine from church 3 days a week.

As well as cold temps because I am an avid duck hunter and it gets nasty out there.

I plan on getting a BTE digital aid - so whats the best option out there to look for??

Thanks :afro:
 
Todays hearing aids are different from back in the late 90's. In 98 manufacturers used a compression strategy that clipped sound if it got loud enough (peak clipping). Meaning the hearing aid would sound like it shut off, then turned back on, then shut off again. Now most hearing aids utilize whats called "Wide dynamic range compression" WDRC (doesn't clip). This compression is the reason why old analog users who try digital aids may state it's too soft (ie...not enough power).

With todays hearing aids I can disable or limit the noise cancellation. Cold temps shouldn't really affect a hearing aid too much, but some do report issues. Today's hearing aids are better at handling moisture, but it's still the #1 killer. Unfortunately there's no way around the fact that water destroys electronics. You can have a BTE with an added moisture coat to help protect it. If you plan on using your MP3 with the hearing aids you could opt for any BTE thats capable of having a DAI or a hearing aid like the Oticon Epoq that connects to various devices via Bluetooth.
 
For one, what is DAI????

As for bluetooth - Im not even sure my mp3 player is bluetooth compatible, lol. Its an off-brand player. Im just now getting into the 21st century, :lol:
 
thank you hear again! this may be something I need to discuss with my audie - she may be able to come up with something that will suit me. I admit this may sound a tad lazy but at work they allow headphones, so I have this 'need' for music during those boring 2-3 hour spans of doing the same thing over and over and over again with no one to converse with. I have to have something to keep my mind going somewhere.....
 
I got easy solution to wax built up, headaches, etc... I quit using HA years ago! Been in complete silence for 29 years and still loving it!
 
that was my solution up until recently - Im somewhere between being deaf in both ears and hoh in my right with complete deafness in my left.

I would rather just go deaf and get it over with rather than struggle more and more each day to hear. But alas God isnt that kind.
 
Dixie said:
thank you hear again! this may be something I need to discuss with my audie - she may be able to come up with something that will suit me. I admit this may sound a tad lazy but at work they allow headphones, so I have this 'need' for music during those boring 2-3 hour spans of doing the same thing over and over and over again with no one to converse with. I have to have something to keep my mind going somewhere.....
Click to expand...

LOL! I know what you mean! Ever since I received my CIs, I find myself listening to my pocket radio or my MP3 player all the time -- while waiting for a taxi, going for a walk or riding the bus. (Since I'm bilateral, I can always keep one CI on to hear what's happening around me -- although when I'm taking a walk, I don't listen to my MP3 player since that requires headphones.)

I'm sure your audi will find something that works for you. :) I started using DAI with my BTE aids in 1995 and it worked great both for listening to music and for use with my Comtek FM system.

Let us know how this all works out for you!
 
I sure will but I just found out that I have to wait six months from my hire date before I qualify for insurance - so I have to wait another 4 months at the least before I can do anything. Another one of life's annoyances.
 
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