Funny, Hunting with Hearing Aids

[IslandHunter]

I am in my 30s, had pretty bad hearing my entire life, it runs in my family. It got bad enough in my early 20s I started wearing hearing aids. Until recently I have been wearing an old pair that were well past their prime and hardly helped at all. Just a few weeks ago I got a new pair that work really really well. Maybe too good.

I was out deer hunting this weekend and decided to turn these things all the way up... I have never been so spooked out by all the weird noises in the forest. As dusk fell and the owls started hooting, frogs croaking, coyotes yipping, squirrels and other critters running up and down the trees next to my stand. It was crazy. I have been in these same woods since I was a little kid, never remember hearing all of these noises.

With hearing aids it can sometimes be hard to tell where exactly a noise is coming from, and with them turned all the way up I can hear all these new sounds. So unfamiliar sounds, you can't tell where they are coming from, in the dark, in the woods, sure kept me on my toes.

Ill probably keep them at a normal setting from now on.

[timberfaller]

Glad to hear! pun intended.

My hearing loss, aids don't help.   Audiologist told me that I needed to figure out how to lip read.  Problem is I've never learned or seen deer, elk or bear lips move to figure out what they are saying!!

[Mossbak]

Do you mind telling us what brand you are using now? 

[vandeman17]

Reminds me of the few times I have worn the ear muffs that also amplify while duck hunting. I would get all excited and hit my knee when I heard a duck, thinking it was right on top of us but then finally see it way off in the distance flying the other way. 

[wadu1]

The new technology now with hearing aids is something. My new ones I got are crazy about 80% better than my last set. My new ones are Phonak Sonova's they sync with my phone and TV 100% better than my old pair. I opted for ones with batteries over the ones you need to charge. 
Today 9/11 I found out my SXS has an electric fuel pump, never heard it before.

[smalldog]

I have worn hearing aids for 30 years now and I only use them when I sit a stand. When hiking I never wear them for fear of losing them, they are very expensive. I am lucky that I get mine through L&I from lose of hearing working in a machine shop most of my working life. I have been retired for almost 20yrs now and my hearing is really bad now. I love sitting in ground blinds that have 180 degree see through walls. Used to use a tree stand and now I like the ground for fear of falling out of the tree. I took me a long time to get used to sitting, but found that sitting and being able to use my hearing aids works for me. Just have to be careful about not making them squeal and you not realizing they are squealing. It is nice to be able to hear the things around you.  Good luck hunting

[WRENCHMAN]

Man. I know how it is. I am 46. Was supposed to start wearing hearing aids when I was 12. Didn't start wearing them until I was 22. But now I have to have them. Going to be fitted with new ones next month.

[IslandHunter]

Do you mind telling us what brand you are using now?

Mine are Oticon supposedly the best of the best but that's what every audiologist says about what ever product they get get the most commission on. I have had them about 6 weeks and am really happy with them so far. They are programable so the default program reduces some background noise and prioritizes human speech and what ever sound I am facing. The second program I call my hunting program it doesn't block the background noises and does not prioritize direction.

Kind of funny I picked them up on a Thursday and left the day after to spend a weekend with a group of friends. I just sat there overwhelmed that I could hear 6 different conversations going on at once when typically I have a hard time following one. I got used to them pretty quick the only issue I have is trying to determine where some sounds are coming from. I think I am getting better with time but I think there will always be some directional limitations with hearing aids.

Looking forward to spending more time in the woods with these. I would be hiking with my buddies and everyone would hear a gobble off in the distance or a grouse thumping and everyone would stop and quietly listen while I kept tromping along through the woods with no idea. I am sure they will find something new to give me *censored* about that's what friends are for.       

[Ridgeratt]

I have Phonaks. when I got them, I felt like a dog with a silent dog whistle from the amount background I could hear. It was a bit overwhelming. But when I got mine, I did ask if they were noise cancelling for gun fire. They said they didn't so if you discharge a weapon, you could be in for a shock.

[Mossbak]

Do you mind telling us what brand you are using now?

Mine are Oticon supposedly the best of the best but that's what every audiologist says about what ever product they get get the most commission on. I have had them about 6 weeks and am really happy with them so far. They are programable so the default program reduces some background noise and prioritizes human speech and what ever sound I am facing. The second program I call my hunting program it doesn't block the background noises and does not prioritize direction.

Kind of funny I picked them up on a Thursday and left the day after to spend a weekend with a group of friends. I just sat there overwhelmed that I could hear 6 different conversations going on at once when typically I have a hard time following one. I got used to them pretty quick the only issue I have is trying to determine where some sounds are coming from. I think I am getting better with time but I think there will always be some directional limitations with hearing aids.

Looking forward to spending more time in the woods with these. I would be hiking with my buddies and everyone would hear a gobble off in the distance or a grouse thumping and everyone would stop and quietly listen while I kept tromping along through the woods with no idea. I am sure they will find something new to give me *censored* about that's what friends are for.       

thank you 

[bigmacc]

Lots of good advice and fellowship here. Find out what works best for you. They are all different.👍

[Stein]

Reminds me of the few times I have worn the ear muffs that also amplify while duck hunting. I would get all excited and hit my knee when I heard a duck, thinking it was right on top of us but then finally see it way off in the distance flying the other way. 

 

I put them on in the woods once and my neck muscles got sore from gophering left and right to see where the elephants were coming from.

[Mallardmasher]

I too have phonacs, birds and small critters are load, deer sound like a heard of buffalo, sometimes I miss the peace and quiet. But not hearing the sounds everyone else does for the last 35 years, has me wondering what all have I missed

[GWP]

I got one of the new Costco sets with blue tooth connection. Heard a 'notice tone' and it did not click what it was (Yes, I read the manual) until I realized I was missing one of my hearing aids. Retraced my steps until it gave another notice that it was 'now in range' and started looking.
Found it! Very useful feature!
My Grandmother wore hearing aids and it would drive me crazy as hers would be squealing away without her noticing. Now that I have them I understand how that can happen.
My Mom and Dad wore hearing aids as well. Doubt my Mom or Grandmother were around many loud noises for any length of time. It for sure is not all loud noises that causes hearing loss.
There are times I take them out or shut them off so I am not distracted or irritated (yelling/crying kids) by the higher pitched noises.