[Elecraft] Off Topic Hearing Aids
k6rb at baymoon.com
k6rb at baymoon.com
Fri Jul 23 18:38:50 EDT 2010
As a hearing-impaired operator, I wanted to let you all know about a
fairly recent hearing-aid technology. It is manufactured by a company in
Newark, California, and the device is called a "lyric."
It is a small, completely-in-the-canal device. It sits a millimeter away
from your eardrum. So, it is in essence an ear-canal amplifier that boosts
the natural sound coming in the ear canal (rather than amplifying sound
picked up on an outside the ear canal microphone.
The difference is nothing short of dramatic. Sounds are much more natural
sounding. There are no whistles like one gets with a partially in the
canal device.
It is inserted and left in place for about four months at a time. Then, it
is removed and replaced with a new pair. So, no batteries to mess with, no
daily insertion and removal, etc. I'm in a clinical trial on a new model
that is even smaller. This one will ultimately allow one to use ear plugs
and scuba dive. The current model cannot be used where ones head is
immersed in water - so no swimming, no diving.
I can't wait to try them during the next contest (I just joined the
program). I had a partially in the ear device which I hated and never used
with the radios. Now, maybe, I'll even enjoy phone contests instead of
trying to make sense of the garbled sibilants.
Rob K6RB
> Mike,
>
> I have hearing aids - behind the ear type. The only problem is that
> many headphones produce feedback, so I use speakers. I do have a couple
> set of headphones that work OK with them - they have large cuffs and
> hold the transducers further from the ears than most. Go to an audio
> shop and try the headphones before buying.
>
> Forget the Bluetooth and other external devices IMHO, those hearing aids
> have progrms that can be set.
>
> I have one program that has no noise reduction, just the amplification
> that matches my hearing loss, and I use that for listening to ham radio
> or music. Many audiologists do not consider a program like that for
> most users, so just ask. If your dad is normally in a low noise local
> environment (home situation), it will sound more natural. Yes, if I
> kick in the NR on the hearing aids, CW sounds choppy, but SSB voice is OK.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> Mike Short wrote:
>> My dad recently got fitted with new hearing aids, and is a ham.
>>
>> They are here:
>> http://www.phonak.com/com/b2c/en/products/accessories/communication/icom/ove
>> rview.html
>>
>>
>>
>> He did not get the iCOM unit yet, but will probably soon. Any hints,
>> ideas,
>> etc to help get him back on the air?
>>
>>
>>
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