Hearing Aids

[GunnyJC]

My hearing aids came in this week and I wore them while hunting for the first time this morning. I had no idea all that racket was going on in the woods. Funny thing though. All those animals went back to sleep when I took my hearing aids out.

Be careful. I do believe I can hear what you're thinking now.

[358 Win]

Gunny, my wife is tired of repeating everything to me. Should get a serious hearing test. I know I need hearing aids but they are too expensive for my budget and didn't do anything in the Navy to qualify for VA help. I guess I'll just have to keep saying, huh?.

358 Win

[Mr Fixit]

Whats that? Same thing here...wife would like to kill me sometimes, she now calls it selective hearing. Mr fixit

[Sweetwater]

My wife loves me too much. She keeps my hearing aid appointments on the calendar! LOL! I started wearing them in '91 - one of my hunting pals was complaining about the noise the cows were making on a ranch at the base of the mountain we were driving down. I didn't hear a thing but his diesel engine. He shut the motor off and we coasted down the mountain. I could see the cows long before I could hear them. A month later, I was in my first set. Heard coyotes for the first time!! The next fall, I heard elk bugle for the first time. I don't hear "everything", but I do hear more than I did before.

358 Win - regarding your "didn't do anything in the Navy" - I was a Finance Specialist. Most of my North Idaho friends are veterans. They encouraged me to apply. My income was too high. Then, I went unemployed for 13 months. The VA accepted my application on a "hardship basis" and gave me a lower priority, like a 6 or 7, so my doctor visits are timely as long as there are not a lot of guys with higher priorities, which would be fine and proper, but so far I've never noticed any delays in getting an appointment. When they did the initial physical, it included a hearing exam. Just like the one I took when I got my first set of hearing aids. Then there was a 20 question written test. The audiologist read my answere and went H'mmm. (The only exposure I had to rifle fire that was service connected was in Basic Training) I said what does that H'mmm mean? She said, the VA just bought your hearing aids for the rest of your life!! That is significant as they have really gone up in price over the years and they need to be replaced about every 7 years! I'm on the 2nd pair from the VA and I couldn't be happier, and they supply the batteries free!

Bob, I'm sure you were subjected to rifle fire while in your Navy Basic Training. They did not want to know about my history of loud engines, rock 'n roll guitars, and a lifetime of guns without hearing protection (that wasn't preached in the 1950's). You just might have a shot. Now that I am back to work, they backcharge my insurance, but I don't have to pay any more than I ever did for my visits. And, did I mention the hearing aids were free? I pay $50 for that visit and have to go to Salt Lake City. My regular appointments are at the VA Clinic in Rock Springs, about 15 miles East of here. Good Luck with it.

Jeff

[Tomray]

Jeff,
Good thing you "typed" all that , cuz if I have to listen to you...............I might have missed most of it!

Yup!.............I need hearing aids, too..............I've finally admitted it to myself, and now I need to do something about it............

Maybe those will be my Christmas present to myself................

Its just a LOT of money, that I can't shoot, drive, eat, or , ......well....................... know!

Tom

[myflatline]

Check out Costco if you have one near by. I paid out the nose for mine, if you sweat they squeal and short out.So much for living in Florida. At the Enoree gathering I had a chance to visit with RBRider, he is very DEAF. He is the one that suggested Costco, said his new ones did the best and were affordable. I'm on the fence on a new set of ears or finally getting some teeth

[Sweetwater]

Maybe so, Tom, but you will "hear" all that you really have missed. My favorite things to hear are my grandchildren. I didn't hear a lot of what my kids said - they say I didn't listen....

Jeff

[WTB]

Gunny, my wife is tired of repeating everything to me. Should get a serious hearing test. I know I need hearing aids but they are too expensive for my budget and didn't do anything in the Navy to qualify for VA help. I guess I'll just have to keep saying, huh?.

358 Win

US Navy Flight Deck Veteran's Group……….many of us need hearing-aids.

[Sweetwater]

Lots of stuff makes them squeal. Favorite squeal is my 3 year old granddaughter. She puts her ear on mine and then giggles as they squeal with the feedback. Sweat, rain, cold (changes how they fit) - then as your ear mold ages, it will lose its fit and they won't work worth a hoot and the tubes get hard and don't transmit the sound waves.
My new ones don't have tubes, but rather a braided wire so we will see how well they last in my lifestyle. I kept my old ones and wear them to work (underground trona mine) and for dirty jobs on the weekends. Ms Annie is off to Missouri this week, so I'm running barefoot - no hearing aids. Got the satellite radio cranked up "LOUD" (never saw "100" on the volume before) and accompanying with my guitar. Don't be ringing my doorbell, it won't be heard. I'll answer the phone as the screen lights up!!

Jeff

[ole timer]

Huh.Too all the above when they work hearing aids are great. When they dont work worthless. Cheers