Hearing Aids


I have used hearing aids for 20 years, but primarily for understanding voices in movies and TV. I was considering selling my Merlin TSM speakers, but in the meantime, my wife and family were starting to complain about my hi fi levels. I put the aids in, and...WOW....what a difference in clarity and depth! Why the heck didn't I try this sooner? This was one reason why I decided to stick with the Merlins. Well, as luck would have it....I have lost one of my aids. They (Phonak) were going on 10 years old so maybe it’s time to upgrade those. However, my insurance plan will only pay $1200 towards new hearing aids. The Phenol, at least 10 years ago, were quite pricey. Any thoughts from this sage group?

troutbum

I got the Widex Moment hearing aids about a year ago, and I am very happy with them. I found them recommended on a lot of on-line audio forums as well as a few reviews focused on music listening. 

Unfortunately, they are not inexpensive. On the plus side, it was like making a major upgrade to my audio systems. 

The biggest benefit has been that they have helped with my tinnitus. I find that I have more quiet days than noisy days. I'd estimate that I went from 40/60 (quiet/noisy) to 60/40. I also find it easier to listen through to the music on days when the tinnitus is present. But be forewarned, there is no guarantee hearing aids will help your tinnitus, so I consider myself lucky.

A friend has tinnitus, as I do, and found a hearing aid that helped.  So I decided to try the Widex Moment also.  During my hearing test, I found that I had “severe” hearing loss above 3,000 hz in my left ear.  I’ve only had the aid (I only have one and it only addresses frequencies above 3,000 hz) a few weeks but my tinnitus seems to be improving on some days (expectation bias?) although my audiologist said it will take time to improve.

What really surprised me was the soundstage on my system.  Female vocalists are in the center of the soundstage rather than off to the right.  Same with cymbals and other higher-pitched instruments.  The point is that I didn’t realize what I wasn’t hearing.  I wish I had had a hearing test years ago. 

I restored some hearing due to excessive ear wax. MediLisk HEARING RESTORATION SPRAY.....It seems to address the real problem. Just something to try...It works for me.

I have been wearing Oticon hearing aids for close to 20 years.  I've gone thru 3-4 generations, now using the Real 3.  It is not their priciest model, but it works well for me.  I just had my annual audiologist test and I asked the tech to spend some time on modifying the "My Music" setting.  Now they sound just fantastic for my surround sound system.  I wear them all the time and switch to setting 3 whenever I do serious listening.  All settings are available on my i-phone.  

I have a very nice stereo system that has evolved over many years. Music, especially jazz, is a real passion of mine. When my hearing began deteriorating, along with incessant tinnitus, I saw an audiologist. I informed her that music and high-end stereo was important to me and that I was afraid hearing aids would somehow compromise the essence of what I might be listening to, she said that Widex was absolutely the best for music. They were not cheap but they are incredible regarding critical music listening. I am now hearing the full musical spectrum…treble, midrange and bass. If you are a discerning music listener and have hearing issues I absolutely recommend Widex. I was stunned to find out what I had been missing in my music.