How good is your hearing?

[>>>---WW---->]

Do you remember POK3s post a few days ago about having the dizzy spells? Well, each guy that answered and stated that they had the same problem at one time or another, also seems to have had hearing problems, including yours truly. So after fighting the problem for many years, I decided it was time to do something about it. And here is what finally convinced me to do something.

I had drawn a limited entry hunt that at my age was a once in a lifetime hunt. I was out hunting with a younger fellow and trying to locate elk. Finally after several attempts in verious spots with my location calls, the young man looks at me and says, " You are a pretty damn good caller but I just don't understand why you never go after an elk when he answers your calls". I told him that is the plan but so far I haven't heard anything respond. To which he replied, "Hell, they been answering you everytime"!!!!!!!!!!

WOW! Something needed to be done. So I finally convinced myself that I did in fact need hearing aids. I shopped around and found a set that was programable with three different settings. #1 was for normal hearing. #2 was for when you are in like a crowded room with lots of background noise. And #3 was what I like to call elk hunting mode. I had them program #3 up so I could hear a pin drop at 100 yards. Well maybe not quite that far. LOL! But I had them really crank it up. Lucky for me, the audiologest was also an elk hunter and understood what I wanted.

It is amazing to get your hearing back. I had no idea what I had been missing. And I can now hear elk bugle with my bionic ears that others with good hearing often don't hear.

[cnelk]

After shooting rifles and handguns for many, many years [without hearing protection I may add] I have lost mid-range hearing in one ear
The best way to describe it is I can hear crickets in one ear, but not the other.

Bill
Can you be more specific about your hearing aids?
Type? Cost?

I work for the school district and I just installed a new audiology lab. And I get to be the 1st one to get a test!

[Swede]

I usually think my hearing is still good, but my wife might disagree. Anyway I can still hear an elk bugle off in the distance, but Willie has to learn to speak up. LOL

[>>>---WW---->]

cnelk: Mine are Nuear brand. Three setting levels and very expensive. They are behind the ear type. I had a friend that bought his from Costco and he is happy with them. But he has only the one setting.

Swede: My wife got tired of hearing me say "Huh" all the time to!!

[cnelk]

My hearing became a WHOLE LOT better when my wife became the EX-WIFE...
And that too was expensive... but worth it

[foxvalley]

I also had to get an "elk amplifing devise" a few years ago after getting into a heated exchange with my bro-in law about where the elk was calling from. Sounded to me like he was across the canyon,but in reality he was RIGHT above us. The cost is about the same as a top of the line bow, all set up,including a doz. arrows and broadheads. ouch.

[CrazyElkHunter]

My hearing is pretty bad. Drove a loud delivery truck for 31 years with metal racks and trays. Wife still works and her insurance will pay for part. Very expensive and only good for a few years, so I just learn to live with it. The tinitus (constant ringing buzzing sounds) drive me more crazy than the bad hearing. Getting old sucks.

[bullrub]

My hearing is pretty bad. Drove a loud delivery truck for 31 years with metal racks and trays. Wife still works and her insurance will pay for part. Very expensive and only good for a few years, so I just learn to live with it. The tinitus (constant ringing buzzing sounds) drive me more crazy than the bad hearing. Getting old sucks.

Boy you got that right crazyelkhunters, it sucks

[easeup]

huh?

yes sir mr.>>--ww-->> I too am very interested in your experience with the products.
An honestly, you are the only guy I know still bragging on their aides after using them awhile.

So on your hunt mode 3 with amplification cranked up, you hear more but what do you do about the wind noise or other offense sounds?

[Buglemaster]

I'll tell it to ya straight! The luxury of hearing far outweighs the inconvenience of some wind noise.I am lost without my $4000. ears.If it gets real bad you have the option of just taking them out.What you do need to consider is if you need hearing aid "tethers" just incase one falls out while hunting...WW, what do you think??

[POk3s]

I know I hear better in my left ear then my right ear....and my right ear is the one with the issue GO FIGURE. I'm only 21 so I'm hoping I still am hearing everything! I've never said "no" yet to anyone that has said, "did you hear that?"

[ElkNut1]

All I'm going to say is "not good" -- Being a Masonry Contractor for over 30 years has taken its toll on them!!!!

ElkNut1

[Lefty]

Hunting/shooting, construction, power-tools and driving with an open window has hurt my hearing.

We need to use our hearing and what some may consider loss in reality is just we dont recognize sounds. Most guys I know dont recognize when they hear something.

I can be in a crowd of people and I "hear" the goose off in the distance , everyone else is clueless. As a kid in the woods I learned the differance betreen a leaf falling to the ground, a squrril looking for food, or a deer taking a step. Just good woodsmanship, something few hunters aquire.

[>>>---WW---->]

Wind noise????????????? I very seldom ever get wind noise. With quality aids, that doesn't happen. Products like Game Ear and others are junk compared to the real thing.

Buglemaster is right about the teather. I lost one and I almost cried like a little baby. (not really) But it was $800 to replace it and that was under warrantee. Mine were the price of two fully decked out Mathews bows. But the Mathews I have now is eight years old now so I figure I have saved enough to compensate for the hearing aids by not buying a new bow every year or so. LOL!

Go figure, a guy will spend tons of money on clothes and equipment but your hearing, especially for elk hunting, is far more important in my book.

Also, for you guys asking questions, the aids are tuned accordingly to your hearing loss. I said mine have three different settings. #1 and #2 are tuned for my personal loss. But #3 (elk hunting mode) I can have programed anywhere I want it. Many aids do not have that option. I wouldn't have a set that didn't!

[pointysticks]

timely thread..i have that ringing in my ears.

guns, motorcycles, and loud music. the trifecta of hearing damage.

just in case that didnt do it..i have a career as an engineer for big highway jobs. pile driving, etc.

i dont notice the ringing until i am hunting. sitting quietly in the wilderness, the buzzing is really obvious. my earing is diminished but ok for the hunting life..

CNELK, the exwife comment. hahahha..i snorted coffee. hurts! i have my first ear doc appt on the 22. timely.

[elkaholic]

My left ear is the bad one. If the right ear is in the pillow I can't hear the crickets, lift my head and I can hear them. So far I don't have the ringing sounds...yet... The wife keeps telling me she will be getting me hearing aids for Christmas because she is tired of me saying "huh?"
Like to think I will be ok for a few years as I'm 31.

[bullrub]

My hearing is just fine. HUH! WHATS THAT YOU SAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Magic]

Bill, maybe it is also time for me to check in with the ear/hearing specialist. The only thing that I can plainly hear are the constant chirps, ringing, buzzing, etc. that goes with tinnitus. Apparently my wife's speech is also deteriorating because I am constantly having her repeat what she says.

[idahoghost]

70% gone in both ears. Always ringing. According to the hearing specialists, hearing aids won' t help. On the bright side my elk calls always sound great... Or at least to me

[>>>---WW---->]

So good to see you in here Lynn. But dang, I wish you guys would stop talking about the crickets and ringing in your ears. Mine do it all the time. I'm so used to it that I don't even think about it until you guys mention it. Then it drives me nuts. My wife probably thinks I'm already there! Especiall when she hears all those funny elk sounds coming out of the man cave.LOL!

[Broken arrow]

Had two rupured ear drums. I have a hole in my right ear drum. I have a 30% loss as of now stuff always sounds like its comming from a different location I have to rely heavily on sight and smell.

[Bullnuts]

It's kind of weird but I didn't start going deaf until I turned 40. Up until then I could pretty much hear elk hooves hitting the ground when they were coming (or going), but lately I've been surprised by elk just showing up. I pretty much can't hear bugles anymore either, but the kids can and they get me turned in the right direction! I've been seriously considering some new ears but just can't part with the money right now. It would be great to be able to hear over the tinitus, though. Maybe next year.

[Eric B.]

Huh ? Theres food in the clearing ?

[hornart]

Here is something for you guys to consider,,the shooting muffs that amplify regular sound but shut off shooting sound,mine work great but have yet to hunt with them on.

[Harmy]

One thing I have been doing so far this season while scouting is holding my bugle tube up to my ear and using it to amplify sound. It seems to work for me and allows for better directional determination.

[dreamhunter]

I feel very fortunate that I still have good hearing.Sometimes I wonder though,around the house it's harder to hear with all the different noises.teens watching tv....one volume..LOUD,the dogs barking,the fans running,the thoughts in my head from thinking and then my wife says something and i say WHAT,come again,lol.
Overall though its good

[tracker]

Something for those of you who are veterans to think about. If there is any chance you were exposed to loud noises in the service file a claim through your county service officer. I was a tank gunner and it worked for me. If you tell them you have the ringing in your ears, that HELPS your case (they have no way to check). They give you free of charge top of the line hearing aids. Plus batteries and supplies. Mine retail at about $2,700 each.

[Magic]

I wonder if that would work for a guy that discharged out 45 years ago.

When we would leave the firing rang, after a day of firing an M1, my ears would ring for a couple of days. I have always known that the firing range killed my ears. They ring constantly.

[Harmy]

Magic, my step father was able to get VA benefits to cover his hearing loss (Navy-pre Korean war around aircraft). I think it was something like 45 years between when he went in for the first time and when he left the Navy.

[Magic]

I intend to check with our county VA guy tomorrow.

[tracker]

I got out of the service in 67 and got mine about 5 years ago.

[Jahnke76]

Its weird for me because when Im hunting I can hear a turkey gobble a few miles away or hear geese a few miles away but cant hear my wife or mother in law at 10 feet.

[tracker]

Magic, did you talk to your service officer?

[Bullnuts]

You know, I never even thought of contacting the VA on this. I worked on a flightline for a lot of years in the AF, and was also a firearms instructor, so I might be covered as well.

[Curvebow]

I resemble all of you with tinnitis and a 90% hearing loss in my left ear after a childhood incident (kissing a sidewalk hard and being knocked unconscious!). I have been tested several times and know that a hearing aid will help. Especially now that I'm well past the half-century mark, I know that the right ear is somewhat impaired by stuff I can't hear on TV.... I have been "mono" hearing for so long that friends no not to holler for me in the timber as I would guess wrong and they'd never see me. Better that they come to me, rather than the other way around!

You all are inspiring me to splurge and not buy guns, bows, arrows, etc for a while so I can budget hearing aids!

Great thread Bill!

>>>>-------->