Our audiologist, Michael Oscarson with Audiologists Hearing Center, pointed out something to my husband and me at our recent appointment. We were talking about our travels all over the country and he reminded us that when driving or towing an RV it is extremely important to be able to hear what is going on around us. Semitrucks and other vehicles approach quickly, road construction equipment is loud around us, and we especially need to hear emergency vehicle sirens. And being able to identify the mechanical sounds of the RV or tow vehicle is of no small significance.
Hearing tests
My husband and I just had hearing tests and weren’t surprised to find that our hearing has worsened over the last few years. My secret agenda when I made the appointments was for my husband to turn the “@#$@” TV down, his phone, and YouTube, too. My complaints seemed to fall on literally deaf ears.
Both of us had been losing hearing, subtly but definitely, as we age. I asked about over-the-counter hearing aids. They are great for mild to moderate hearing loss, but ours was too severe. Time for new hearing aids. (Way too expensive hearing aids for my taste, but they seem so necessary.)
Amazing new hearing aids
These are not your grandma’s hearing aids! It is a new day. Our audiologist took our hearing tests, connected the computer to the hearing aids and programmed them. He then connected the hearing aids to the Resound™ brand “cloud.”
He said to call him with any changes I wanted after a few days of wearing them. I wanted them a bit louder than the default. He changed the settings in his office and the changes went directly to my hearing aids in the RV over the internet. Wow!
The downside is the cost. The upside is that I can now control the hearing aid volume on my phone—selecting sound for restaurants and live performances. My phone calls can now go directly to my hearing aids as well as my music, Pandora and anything else I am listening to. I can even shut the volume off if my husband’s TV volume is still too loud! Is it time for your hearing test too?
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Seems less like a story and more like an ad.
Hi, Curt. So, just because someone is thrilled with a new product, especially when it improves their hearing, and then writes about it, that makes it an “ad”? If Nanci were paid by the manufacturer to endorse the product, or if we were paid to run that post, then it could be considered an ad. But if it were an ad, it would have been labeled as such. This was just a personal review from a happy (better-hearing) customer. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
If one or both of you are veterans you may qualify for free hearing aids from the VA. VA only buys and provides the absolute latest and greatest hearing aids. I paid over $4,000 for my first set of hearing aids several years ago, then later learned about the VA. I got new ones free from the VA last year that would have cost me over $6,000 from other providers. And yes, they have all the bells and whistles.
I am going to VA soon for hearing aids too. I worked for 36 years in, on, and around fighter jets in the Navy. My wife has been on my case for years to go get this done. I think it’s time.
Had sudden hearing loss occur last year in my right ear (no explanation), got my hearing aid in February. I won’t say I love it, but it is so much better than not hearing. And it is amazing how well it works and the things the app allows me to do!
Got hearing aids this year (I am in my late 70s). Wow. What an incredible change! I can hear birds singing in the morning and wind in the trees – all sound I missed out on for years and didn’t even realize it! They connect to my phone via Bluetooth, features for music when working out, easy of phone conversations and more. I should have done this years ago!
After 30 plus years of wearing hearing aids and not being able to use a telephone, 3 years ago I got a new set with blue tooth and a new smart cell phone. all I can say is wow! what a difference. I can now talk and understand what is being said on my cell phone unless the person has a high pitched whiney voice. I have a 85 % hearing loss. I still can’t use the home phone. (no blue tooth) Now for some aids for my dear wife. whose hearing is starting to go. We are in our eighties.
I literally had to ask our primary doctor to order hearing tests for both of us, and I went first. I was told I now had a baseline to detect future changes but I did not yet need hearing aids. My spouse was surprised (I wasn’t) that she needed hearing aids. I knew we would be in for several thousand dollars. She likes the Bluetooth connections. She occasionally says she can’t tell the difference with or without aids – to which I, and others, tell her WE can tell the difference in how often we have to repeat ourselves. She still listens to the TV at a much higher volume than I do. But the reductions in arguments about what I said or didn’t say is worth it.
My hearing aids can be controlled by a smart phone app. Still hate them.
I agree. I have been wearing Hearing Aids for 16 years and have a love/hate relationship with them. None of them work well in a noisy situation like a busy restaurant. Since they amplify sound at specific frequencies they can’t tell if the sound is a voice or a dropped dish. All are amplified the same. Somehow the human brain can differentiate those sounds but not a hearing aid . They do help as I can not hear very much when they are out of my ears. I highly recommend getting a hearing test. Usually no charge, just have to endure a sales pitch if you are judged to need one. Or you can take one of the free tests, like AARP’s, online. https://www.nationalhearingtest.org/wordpress/?page_id=2730