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Re: Playing with Hearing Aids

Author: bill28099
Date: 2018-01-20 09:58

The only hearing aids that work well for me in music ensembles are 30 year old BTE analog aids made by companies such as Unitron or Phonak. My aids are only for people with severe to profound hearing losses as they are truly high power and use 625 batteries. I do have problems even with these aids playing clarinet duets. However, compared to modern aids they really stink for speech. I have a profoundly deaf clarinet playing friend who uses a modern digital aid in one ear and an old high power analog aid in the other. Check around your local hearing aid dealers as they might have a trade in that they would be willing to sell you cheap and help you program it. Most good quality old analog aids come with 4 pots you tinker with for best results. A good quality used analog aid in perfect working condition will cost you around $250 and once I got lucky and picked up 4 for $100.

If I didn't have music to play I would definitely run to Costco and buy a pair of blue tooth compatible modern aids so I could use a cell phone.

According to my ENT's audiologist the only company making modern aids that would likely work well in the music environment is Widex. I've never been able to evaluate them as no one in my area carries the brand. Maybe there is a Widex user on this BB who could comment.

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you don't even know you should ask.

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