[Elecraft] OT: Hearing Aid Advice

[Kevin Luxford]

Hi Chuck,

I have had hearing aids for about 12 years or more.  I started with 
Phonak analogs (BTE) which were great for hearing music (the audiologist 
fitted a program which further emphasised the high frequencies), then 
had some Phonak digital (BTE) which were also good, but I did not like 
them for concerts as much as the old analogs.

I have just been fitted with ReSound Alera 7 BTE aids, and the 
difference is like night and day.  I purchased the optional microphone 
that my much better half can wear or clip to her clothing and I also 
purchased the TV streamer.  Both of these devices use the 2.4 GHz band - 
a bit like Bluetooth, but is not Bluetooth.  The TV streamer can be used 
with any audio output - including Elecraft radios!  The bud which goes 
in the ear is much smaller than the full in the ear molds that the 
Phonaks require.  The advantage is that for me the build up of wax in 
the ear is greatly lessened.  With the Phonaks, but 3 pm in a working 
day, the irritation in the ear was just about intolerable, and I would 
remove the aids and clean the wax from them and from out of my ear.  
Don't ask me how I did this - you would not want to know.  The Alera 7s 
are so small that people often just do not notice them.

The only downside, so far, is that use of the wireless devices chews 
through the aid batteries fairly quickly.  Also I have to ask the XYL to 
ensure that her necklace can not bang against the microphone, as the 
noise in the ear approaches the threshold of pain.

Another plus is that there is no acoustic feedback howl if I put on 
earphones while wearing the aids.

All the best

73
Kevin
VK3DAP / ZL2DAP