VA - Hearing Aids Help

[pianoman9701]

I finally need to get some. What kinds should I research? Which ones can I use with shooting? Which ones in damp conditions? What are the best for charge length and quick charging? What other questions do I need to consider? Thanks all. 

[Hilltop123]

Tagging along

[wadu1]

Are you asking for aids or protection with audio?

[h20hunter]

Wife has had them for years...  I'll ask for a 1st hand opinion and post later.

[Buckjunkie]

I finally need to get some. What kinds should I research? Which ones can I use with shooting? Which ones in damp conditions? What are the best for charge length and quick charging? What other questions do I need to consider? Thanks all. 

I just got hearing aids for the first time one year ago. I went to an audiologist and they prescribed fancy $6,000 aids. I shopped around and settled on the Costco brand for $1,500. They are a game changer. I don’t shoot at the range with them, but haven’t had any issues shooting at game. They told me there was a feature that dampened loud noises, but I can’t really say I have noticed anything.

Not so good in wind as they crackle, but the phone app gives you full control. I have saved settings for various environments, such as hunting, restaurants etc.

[Moose Master]

Just starting out with mine.  2nd week.  Mine are linked with my phone and have not used all the different settings yet.  As I  learn more I will try to go shooting in December.  Mine do have a outdoors setting which is supposed to cancel out loud sound but I haven't used it yet.  Not much help to your immediate problems for purchase but asked lots of questions and be ready for stickers shock.

[Rainier10]

I have had AGX7 hearing aids for over three years and love them. They Bluetooth to my phone so phone calls ring in my ears. I can also listen to iTunes from my phone to the hearing aids. They don’t amplify noise over so many decibels but they also aren’t hearing protection. I wear ear muffs when shooting. You can’t swim with them but light rain is fine. They come with a plug in box that dehumidifies them every night.

They are expensive but when you spread the cost out over the last 3 years it is worth $50 a week to be able to hear my wife and daughters.

[tbrady]

I finally need to get some. What kinds should I research? Which ones can I use with shooting? Which ones in damp conditions? What are the best for charge length and quick charging? What other questions do I need to consider? Thanks all. 

I just got hearing aids for the first time one year ago. I went to an audiologist and they prescribed fancy $6,000 aids. I shopped around and settled on the Costco brand for $1,500. They are a game changer. I don’t shoot at the range with them, but haven’t had any issues shooting at game. They told me there was a feature that dampened loud noises, but I can’t really say I have noticed anything.

Not so good in wind as they crackle, but the phone app gives you full control. I have saved settings for various environments, such as hunting, restaurants etc.

I've had a few pairs and you just can't beat costco.  I got a set for around 1500 which were every bit as good as a 5k set before.  Not only that but you get a replacement insurance for 3 years or something like that.  My dad lost one of his and they replaced it for free.

As far as rain and stuff goes, if I wear a hood or some other hat that covers my ears it is fine.  They can stand getting a little wet.  And if you use costco and they get screwed up you just take them back.  The main  downside with costco is depending on the location it can sometimes takes weeks/months to get an appt.

[wadu1]

If it’s hearing aids you need get Phonak brand. Since you are a VET get them thru them. The VA gives you Phonak brands, batteries for life, repair for life and free replacement every 5 years. Just to let you know, my ENT said not to get the rechargeable ones. One they don’t hold up as well and fiddling with the little wax plugs.
If this COVID BS ever ends I’ll help you thru the VA process.

[mnb300]

I have had Oticon ITC hearing aids for a couple of years now and love it. it does crackle in the wind, I have not tried shooting with it, per my audiologist it does not shut off during loud sound it just doesn't amplify higher Db sound. he said just turn it off and use it as an ear plug when shooting. the Batteries last 5 days and I buy it from Amazon for $25 per 120. I made a mistake of going in the shower a couple of times with it, I just open the battery compartment and let it dry.

[2MANY]

Dumb question but does Costco do the whole hearing test and all??


What?
Did you say something??

[KFhunter]

ENT wants to drill a hole in my skull and implant bone conducting hearing aids

Then I guess I get a magnetic "puck" that sticks to the outside of my head.

I asked him about directional sound, but it wouldn't allow me to pinpoint where a sound is coming from.


I instead plunked down nearly 300 bux for walkers bone conducting head phones.  They suck, low quality and any wind whatsoever forget about it!

Gonna test with a beanie over the headset to help block wind noise - and hold them tighter to my head.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[2MANY]

I bought Sport Ear hearing aids thinking they would help me hear the elk bugles that my wife's ears can hear.
They suck in my opinion and make direction even harder.

I do need to get hearing aids.
I can't hear.

Now I need to work on my desire to hear what others have to say as well. lol

[storyteller]

I have worn hearing aids for over 5 years now, first ones were phonak, replaceable batteries, now I have signia which is the old siemens brand.   They are rechargable, did not like to charge them every night at first but  now it is ok.   
Note, both brands use wax traps, I dont think you can get away from that , it prevents you from having to go to the supplier to clean the wax out of them, if the traps were not there.   When the traps plug up, you cannot hear out of them.

No hearing aid will ever be as good as your original hearing.   People will hear things that you will not be able to hear, the downside of lost hearing ability.

[bracer40]

I finally need to get some. What kinds should I research? Which ones can I use with shooting? Which ones in damp conditions? What are the best for charge length and quick charging? What other questions do I need to consider? Thanks all. 

I just got hearing aids for the first time one year ago. I went to an audiologist and they prescribed fancy $6,000 aids. I shopped around and settled on the Costco brand for $1,500. They are a game changer. I don’t shoot at the range with them, but haven’t had any issues shooting at game. They told me there was a feature that dampened loud noises, but I can’t really say I have noticed anything.

Not so good in wind as they crackle, but the phone app gives you full control. I have saved settings for various environments, such as hunting, restaurants etc.

I've had a few pairs and you just can't beat costco.  I got a set for around 1500 which were every bit as good as a 5k set before.  Not only that but you get a replacement insurance for 3 years or something like that.  My dad lost one of his and they replaced it for free.

As far as rain and stuff goes, if I wear a hood or some other hat that covers my ears it is fine.  They can stand getting a little wet.  And if you use costco and they get screwed up you just take them back.  The main  downside with costco is depending on the location it can sometimes takes weeks/months to get an appt.

Definitely tagging along. Hunting with my son, it became very clear I needed to get fit with aids (just for hunting, I’m fine not hearing every request/statement from some around me😜)
If he hadn’t been with me, I would never have had the opportunity to get on several bulls only he heard. I was also saddened that I couldn’t hear the wolves he commented on for nearly an hour (tho, I did hear the bull advertising below camp right thru the wolf howls)