Melodeon.net Forums
Discussions => General Discussion => Topic started by: Alan Morley on July 30, 2019, 10:08:35 AM
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Since I started playing in local 'pop' bands in the mid 1960's my hearing must have been deteriorating slowly. Also fitting kitchens and using power tools without ear defenders added to the problem.
I have been aware of my tinnitus for a number of years but recently became aware of another problem.
In musical terms, my bass and midrange hearing is fine but the top end ( treble ) was lacking. The 'top end' adds the definition to what you hear.
A week ago a trip to our local Medical Centre confirmed my belief and resulted in me being fitted out with a couple of hearing aids. - Treble boost....
The result is that I'm hearing my various melodeons and guitars as they should sound. Totally richer and more defined
If anyone here thinks that they might be suffering with slight hearing loss, I recommend having it checked out. It was all FREE on the NHS and the difference it's made has put a smile on my face too.
Alan
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I have had standard nhs hearing aids for some time with a little esily reached volume control on each which was extremely useful particularly in sessions as you could if desired turn your immediate neighbour up or down or even off as well as effectively balancing your own treble bass relationship!. I have just been issued with new ones about a third of the size. On asking the audiologist where the volume control is she said Oh you can have that as an app on your phone. Sorry, can't quite hear you, hang on while I find my phone!! The best example of digital ridiculosity that I havae ever come across - and some bugger must have been paid to ''design'' that!
george
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I suppose one has to balance out the bulk of fitting more into the actual body of the hearing aid, against the reduction in size, and reduced visibility which moving some of the control outside of the actual hearing aid gives you.
SJ
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no logical reason why they should be smaller and presumably less visible. Nobody wears invisible spectacles
george
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Vanity is a strange affliction George. Many people don't want to wear specs for appearance sake, and even more feel the same about hearing aids. Sad but true.
SJ
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strange indeed! I wonder if that's why some relative beginners fell they have to buy costalloti's rather than the good old hohner pokerwork
george
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no logical reason why they should be smaller and presumably less visible. Nobody wears invisible spectacles
Of course they do. But they usually call them contact lenses. >:E
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I’ve had hearing aids for years , but I’m still waiting for the upgrade that will cancel out Davy Davy Knick Knack ;)
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You need the Paddy Wack version.
SJ :M
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As I understand it, the phone app is not just a volume control. If allows more specific tweaking and altering the quality of sound in different situations.
My friend has aids she bought privately and has a very small thing she carries in her handbag that allows similar tweaking of the sound in situations such as crowded pub, noisey situations that can overload a hearing aid.
Q
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I am just not taken by all this digital stuff be in on a car or a hearing aid - much prefer a proper knob or handle
george the luddite!
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"George the Luddite" What a great title for a tune ;)
SJ >:E
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Whilst I agree, it doesn't need to over complicate things:
The hearing aids do have a volume rocker switch on them, this is added imorovement to enable you to get better hearing in difficult situations.
And of course your nhs hearing aids are now digital!
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mine doesn't
G
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"George the Luddite" What a great title for a tune ;)
SJ >:E
feel free to compose/think one up anybody ,preferably with a bit of a brass band flavour and suitable for north west morris!! I might even have a go myself
george
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I now have the NHS digital upgrade hearing aids. I have a complicated hearing loss which is mainly on the lower voice .Since I have had these aids and I can control them from my smartphone or the aids themself and I am in my element. They are marvellous. I have been wearing aids for 15 years or so and these are the best. I can stream music straight from my phone to my ears or any programme that is running and when my phone rings it goes straight to ..yes .. my ears. Brilliant. I have four settings which include a music setting. Live music when playing is a little more difficult but still manageable and because you can use your phone no-one knows you are adjusting your 'ears' as I like to call them, they just thing you are rude playing on your phone Ha! Whether is is any use or help I don't know but I for one are very happy with them.
Lizzy
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We've had (to my knowledge) two members of our band who wear hearing aids - though I haven't yet spotted the miniature digital type - I guess that's the idea! I can see why control switches would be removed in the miniaturisation process as these features add no size to the electronics but have a size requirement if they are to be manually manipulated.
One of our users plays melodeon and I would guess his prescription is largely treble boost as we had to work at learning the basses of a new tune. In a band context he could not hear the bass in the surrounding noise. The other user plays fiddle and prefers to switch his ears off when playing as the close proximity makes them unbearable. These "shortcomings" might be overcome with remotely controlled, one design fits all electronics with adjustable frequency response, but a phone is rather a clunky thing to handle whilst playing. I suppose a smart watch could perform the basics, maybe more if the control process can be simplified by creating presets.
Anyway, good luck to you all with your new kit - let's hope that with a little prctice it makes life better.
Rob.
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no logical reason why they should be smaller and presumably less visible. Nobody wears invisible spectacles
george
My audiologist asked me what color aids I wanted. I asked if they had any bright orange ones (I have the habit of misplacing mine.) She laughed. They only sell dusty brown and flesh colored ones that camouflage remarkably well on a table of magazines.
My aids (16 band equalizing, and 4 programs for different purposes) really help me on the melodeon. I use a program that mutes the treble a bit or the box sounds excessively reedy. I absolutely hate the way my baritone Morse concertina sounds with my aids, so I take them out when I play that.
It's a little worrisome that I may not be hearing the box the way others do, but I usually play on my own, so that doesn't matter in my context much.
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My audiologist asked me what color aids I wanted. I asked if they had any bright orange ones (I have the habit of misplacing mine.) She laughed. They only sell dusty brown and flesh colored ones that camouflage remarkably well on a table of magazines.
My granddaughter aged 6 has a sparkly purple hearing aid so bright colours do exist.
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I use an aid on one side. Not sure about getting a purple one!
I’d love one that picked up and amplified my car indicators!
Playing melodeon with my aid in is a very different experience from playing without it.
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There is a massive amount of adjustment that can be made to improve the sound you perceive to be real.
The audiologist will have a sound profile of your audiological response and can boost the parts of the signal that is below a 'normal' hearing response by programming your aid.
It is no longer a simple volume control.
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My granddaughter aged 6 has a sparkly purple hearing aid so bright colours do exist.
That's excellent! A lot less stigmatizing when it's treated like an accessory rather than a prothesis.
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Yes they can be a fashion accessory.
I remember a friend of mine, a well known national compare and caller at folk festivals, came into the dance tent with his cycle, clad in red lycra and matching bright red aids!
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On the lug (haha!) as usual, I don't suppose that anyone on here has an old fashioned ear trumpet going spare? (Strictly for listening to melodeon recordings, of course!)