Author: john brush
Date: 2007-05-03 09:55
I wonder how many clarinettists on the BB suffer from high frequency hearing loss? Three years ago I bought a pair of digital ITE (In the ear) hearing aids which were programmed to help this, but found they were useless when playing the clarinet. They totally distorted the sound produced by the instrument, I believe, because the microphone is sensitive to bone transmission through the head. (For the same reason, when eating, an annoyingly loud crunching noise was heard). Also they were uncomfortable to wear,and they gave a kind of boxed in feeling, due to the fact that they shut off the ear almost completely.
National Health hearing aids don't seem to be much better. However, recently I have tried out a pair of digital Siemens Centra hearing aids, which are BTE (behind the ear) and they suffer from none of these problems. They are also very discrete and difficult to see, and though expensive, allow me to play my clarinet without any problems. They do not change the character of the sound I hear, including normal listening, and I find them comfortable and easy to wear all day.
There are probably other types available which are similar, but I thought this information might be useful to BB readers. Now when playing in an orchestra, there is a good chance I can hear what the conductor says. I am delighted with these aids, and they have the bonus of being adjustable by means of a neat little transmitter unit held in the hand.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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