Sawmill safety and Hearing aids

Mt406 · February 16, 2018, 11:48:47 AM

I have 3 hearing test that all same the same thing I can't hear.
The Doc wants me to were them all the time at least 8-10 a day.
She said if I don't the nerves in my ears wont work well with them.
The recommendation put them in in the morning and were hearing protection over them.

So hears my questions?
Are any of you guys wearing hearing aids at the mill with head phone type over them?
How's it working?
Is the dust and sweat effecting the aids?
Do you think it adds to the safety?

I have lost hearing in the 3-8000 range they tell me were you hear voices.
It would be nice to hear customer's wen out at the mill.
My wife thinks in don't listen to I have proof I don't hear her.

Thanks for any reply's
Scott

Even after ins they want 2500$ out of my pocket.

ButchC · February 16, 2018, 12:03:31 PM

I am as deaf as the come and been wearing hearing aides for over 20 years. It does indeed take a while for you and your ears to become comfortable with them and the only way it gets better is to wear them. That being said I dont wear them in noisy work environments because they are a huge annoyance when there is lots of noise around. Yes dirt and sweat affects them and they should supply you with a dry pack for that. As for the cost tell them to shove the $2500 hearing aides! It is a game that all the audiologists play. They push a certain brand not because they are the best but because they get the biggest kick back for selling them, they push the high end ones because that means the kick back is greater. The new technologies (and the country of origin) mean even the lower priced ones work great. My current ones are 2 years old. Told the audiologist that I didn't just fall off the turnip wagon and so I didnt want to hear about $2000 devises, a a matter of fact I didnt want the hear about $1000 ones. Choice was hers, make a sale and make a little o stick to the rhetoric and I walk out, I got a fine set of $700 hearing aides that work great. Good luck with whatever you chose.

Mt406 · February 16, 2018, 12:29:53 PM

Butch

You are right I felt it was all about the money.
They were the ones that were them out there thay will be ok.
And when thay quit. you can buy new again.
I have been looking online at some 1/3 the price.
My cell ph has more tech at a fraction of the price.
Becase the FDA call it a medical device they can charge.
feeling like i am being ripped off. >:(

Scott

garre1tt · February 16, 2018, 02:59:17 PM

I wear hearing aids but not normally while milling. I have worn them under my hearing protection before. Not real comfortable. They will dampen the sound electronically but seem to need to be restarted to hear loud enough when I stop milling. I have to do that after driving in the truck as well though.
I do carry them with me at all times so easy enough to put them in when a customer stops by.
They are a life changer.

21incher · February 16, 2018, 05:05:56 PM

I have severe hearing loss and wear behind the ear aids. When I use anything loud I just hit the mute button and with custom ear molds it all goes quiet. When mowing I mute the speakers and stream Bluetooth music to them. I used to have in the ear ones and they would work with standard ear muffs, but the new ones won't .

Magicman · February 16, 2018, 06:14:02 PM

Don't care what they say, I do not and will not wear them under muffs while sawing or any other noisy work. I wear earplugs when sawmilling, chainsawing, or doing tractor work such as bushhogging.

Percy · February 16, 2018, 08:40:50 PM

I tried wearing mine under my earmuffs...major pain...feed back squawking etc....then my son warren says to me while Im putting earmuff protection over my hearing aids...."Guess you wanna hear 'nothing' very clearly." I laughed my gutz out and quit doing that right then. I wear them constantly otherwise.

It was determined by "worksafe" that my hearing loss was due to my job and they pay for a pretty high zoot set of hearing aids. I threw in some money and got the top shelf ones. I can bluetooth music, watch tv, and hear the grandkids talking to me easily. They are great. They even supply all my batteries and wax guards etc.

Conversation between me and my buddies before we got hearing aids:
"Windy, isnt it?"
"No, its Thursday."
"So am I, lets get a beer." ;D

Gearbox · February 16, 2018, 09:06:10 PM

I have used aids for 20 years . When you get aids put them in and leave them in yes . After that I always take them out when operating any loud equipment . I prefer foam ear plugs because I think they work better than muffs . Big thing is anything over 90 decibles will still do damage .

firefighter ontheside · February 16, 2018, 10:02:37 PM

Well, I'm a little offended. My wife is an audiologist with a masters degree in speech pathology, a masters in audiology and a doctorate in audiology. She runs her own practice. She uses mostly Unitron because she believes they have the best device for her patients, but she is happy to sell a patient whatever they request. My wife does not push high end devices. She recommends what is most appropriate for her patients. Some people with severe loss need the more expensive hearing aids to be effective.

Places like southwest hearing center and other dispensers as they actually are, usually don't have an actual audiologist working there. At best you will,usually find a person with at best an associate degree. What you will probably find is a person with a dispensing license from the state. When these places advertise a free hearing test, it's free because they are not allowed by law to charge. These are usually the people who push devices people don't need and it's all about the money. It's unfair to judge someone like my wife along with them.

Now, I'm pretty sure my wife would not recommend to wear hearing aids under ear muffs. I can ask her if you want. She will give you a very educated opinion. Even people with hearing loss can damage their hearing more. She wants me to wear plugs and muffs at my mill and while using other loud machinery.

Gearbox · February 16, 2018, 10:12:35 PM

Butchc You could have done the same thing a Wal Mart for $39.95 . There called Game Ears . I have used them in emergency. annoying to use but you can hear .

Oliver05262 · February 16, 2018, 10:30:43 PM

A lot of you are veterans, and if you ask at the VA, you can get an appointment for a hearing test, and may qualify for free hearing aids. I got them several years ago, and even though I don't wear them as much as I should because of noisy work environment, I really do appreciate them. There are times when I need to turn them down a tad, but there are a lot of sounds that I would never hear again if I did not have them.

firefighter ontheside · February 16, 2018, 10:43:06 PM

Also, if you are more than 40 miles from a VA facility you can go to a local audiologist. The program is called Veterans Choice. My wife has been helping veterans get their hearing aids recently.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 16, 2018, 10:57:21 PM

I don't wear ear protection...never have. Was around loud music for years and now a loud sawmill and a loud wife. smiley_curtain_peek

Doctor says I still have 20 / 20 hearing.

Magicman · February 16, 2018, 10:59:06 PM

WHAT?? I can see your horns moving but you ain't tooting.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 16, 2018, 11:01:19 PM

Quote from: Magicman on February 16, 2018, 10:59:06 PM
WHAT?? I can see your horns moving but you ain't tooting.

I have bad vocal tooters. :D

Mt406 · February 17, 2018, 12:21:06 AM

Firefighter

No offence meant toward your wife.
I know there people out there that there goal is to help.
I just ran into two that is was about the money.
One quoted 7400$ by the time my hand was on the door knob she was down to 3200$
Really frustrated can't see, can't hear, and we wont go into the rest of the thing that don't work right.
Getting old sucks and to all you guys older than me hats off to you.
Your tuff. 8)

Scott

firefighter ontheside · February 17, 2018, 09:41:34 AM

Mt406,

In the future I would be sure of what credentials your audiologist has. They are all in business to make money, but some have better ethics than others.

Unfortunately for some folks who have profound hearing loss, it's expensive to get aids that will help them.

I did ask her about aids under muffs. She said the only time she would recommend that is in a situation where a person is in a setting where they need to be able to hear immediately after removing the muffs. Her example was in a factory where a person may have to remove the muffs to talk to a coworker. She said that muffs over your ears creates a situation where you're creating a moist environment which could be detrimental to your aids. For us working at a mill by ourselves, she said it's not worth the damage you may do to your aids to have them on under muffs.

Good luck to ya.

petefrom bearswamp · February 17, 2018, 10:10:05 AM

I only wear mine in social situations.
When milling, shooting, planing or chainsawing and other noisy endeavors, if I need to communicate with others I just yell loud and they yell loud back.
Sometimes I dont want to hear what the wife has to say.

Magicman · February 17, 2018, 10:15:05 AM

Pete you are a bad man, but you are good.

firefighter ontheside · February 17, 2018, 10:25:40 AM

Mt, I just reread your post and realized you wanted to hear clients at the mill. In that instance she would say wear your aids with muffs that have good NRR. You can get devices to dry your hearing aids overnight. There are several options. One has a UV light that dries the aids. Others have dessicants to dry the aids, but the dessicants wear out over time.

petefrom bearswamp · February 17, 2018, 11:19:03 AM

I have such a drier.
I use it when I get in the shower and can hear the water REALLY well.
U can figure out why.
I bet nobody else has done this.

firefighter ontheside · February 17, 2018, 11:28:08 AM

Pete, Cindy said "that's usually what happens". I don't think you're the only one.

Kbeitz · February 17, 2018, 11:37:07 AM

Check into worker communication hearing aids in noisy environments.

21incher · February 17, 2018, 12:39:15 PM

Quote from: petefrom bearswamp on February 17, 2018, 11:19:03 AM
I have such a drier.
I use it when I get in the shower and can hear the water REALLY well.
U can figure out why.
I bet nobody else has done this.

I have done that. Mine are ip67 rated and supposed to be good for submersion in up to 1 meter of water so they survive. $1699.00 at Costco gets you a fantastic set of aids. They do require a ENT prescription before selling to you and give you a 6 month money back trial with no questions asked on any of the brands they sell. I got prices 4x that for the same technology at other dispensers.
When I mute my set with custom silicone molds you hear nothing, it shuts down the mics. They are quieter then any other type of protection I have ever used. I guess everyone has different results depending on the domes or molds they are fitted with.

Percy · February 17, 2018, 02:16:46 PM

Wife:You never heard a thing I just said.
Me: That's a weird way to start a conversation. ;D

bodagocreek2 · February 18, 2018, 10:41:01 AM

I received my hearing aids from the VA also, but they are the only ones that can adjust them.

FLPINERAT · February 18, 2018, 10:54:14 PM

Lot of good info and comments...I've wore em since my mid 40's.

Any activity that is hot and sweaty I hate wearing them (usually won't, but use muffs if the chore dictates)

I have Resounds...and they work for me.

If you need them, and can muster the cost, do it for those around you!

The problem I had with the "game ear/amplifier" variety is the inability to course sounds.

Deer/Gobbler = 3 Hunter = 0

ButchC · February 19, 2018, 07:57:48 AM

Quote from: firefighter ontheside on February 16, 2018, 10:02:37 PM
Well, I'm a little offended. My wife is an audiologist,,,,

Was going to send you a PM but a public apology to you and your wife is in order. One of my large faults is throwing groups of people into a basket and calling them all the same, my apologies offered for that.

That being said I have been wearing hearing aides for many years and figured out real quick like that you go to an audiologist, not a hearing aide store,, I do know the difference. Each and every one of them has tried to sell the top end of the spectrum first. Are they the best? quite possibly, are they needed? Define need,, which depends on what value a person places on the gain in hearing from spending up to 10X the money. Of course if a person is not spending his own money then "the best" takes on an entirely different meaning. Years ago there was indeed a large difference from the low end to top end in hearing quality but not so much now. There is a huge difference in bells and whistles, and one must decide how many he wants.

Again apologies to your both you and your wife for the slur.

firefighter ontheside · February 19, 2018, 08:55:21 AM

Thanks Butch.....for myself and my wife. I understand your frustration. There are those providers who just want to sell the highest dollar devices to make money. To find two of those in a row would be even more frustrating. Years ago there was difference in buying digital or analog aids. Now they are all digital. Also, as you say, there are lots of bells and whistles that you can get. Direct to smart phone and other Bluetooth technology, companion mics, connectivity to your TV.
Some of these are just for entertainment, but some of them are nice to have so wearers can be connected to the world. Especially when people have been "disconnected" for a long time. She often tells me about people crying when they first get fit. That's her reward for the profession and not going to the bank.

I'm glad you know the difference between audiologists and dispensers.

If you have any questionson audiology, I'd be happy to pass them on to Cindy. I will also tell her that you said you were sorry. ;-))

Mt406 · February 19, 2018, 10:15:25 AM

Firefighter

Sorry from me also.
I am starting to understand how frustrating and emotional this hearing loss is.
And how disconnected I have been over the years.
I it weren't so far to were you live your wife would have a new patient.
I don't know if each state has different requirements for audiologist.
I had to see a actual audiologist for my ins to help pay the one they recommended was 60 miles away.
So if your wife wants to set up another office I know a good place.
Thanks to all for taking your time write.
I don't think I will were them under head phones.
I think I will be getting them from Costco its coming down to warranty and price then features.

Thanks Scott

trapper · February 19, 2018, 10:30:32 AM

My wife went to an audiologist at the medical clinic we use. After testing my wife the audiologist told my wife she did not need top of the line ones. Mid range in quality would work for her and that is what we bought.

Kbeitz · February 19, 2018, 12:35:15 PM

If you don't mind good high dollar used ones check out E-bay for some great deals.

Magicman · February 19, 2018, 01:25:43 PM

There is much more involved than just buying hearing aids Kbeitz.

A hearing test must be done to determine the frequency ranges of the hearing loss in each ear. After that each individual hearing aid is computer adjusted/tuned to match the hearing test. Only the frequency ranges of the hearing loss is amplified and transmitted to the individual ears.

firefighter ontheside · February 19, 2018, 02:36:48 PM

Thanks Scott.....I appreciate it. I doubt she will be opening an office in Montana, though I'd love to visit her there.

As Magicman points out, there's a lot more to it than just buying some hearing aids. On eBay, you're getting some aids that were set for someone else. If you put them on, they're not going to be set appropriately. You will need to get a hearing test and find someone to set them for your particular hearing loss. You will have to pay that person for ALL of their time.

When a person buys new hearing aids from Cindy, they get free cleanings and adjustments to their hearing aids. They will also have a warranty as much as 3 years.

Bill

petefrom bearswamp · February 19, 2018, 03:09:15 PM

Local Audiologist office sent me letters every few months.
Bought my first set there, and they mostly sat in the drawer.
Went back and got a new test there and the guy tried to push the $7,000 set on me, was pretty high pressure which I do not like.
It was timely that consumer reports magazine came at that time and recommended Costco among some others.
Ended up getting them there as the fellow recommended a mid priced ($2900) pair.
My insurance will stand up to $3,000 every 4 years which is pretty good.
Great people at the local Costco, I dont think he is an audiologist tho, but he used the test I brought from the other guy.
I stop for a cleaning every time we shop at Costco
Now if I could only get the rest of my body to function better.