Hearing enhancement

[Tail Feathers]

I knew my hearing was getting worse but when my buddy heard three gobblers and I heard zero (with one being some 200 yards away), it's obvious I need more than my hearing aids.  I had them cranked up too, just below the level where they begin to squeal with feedback. 
Howard Leight muffs don't do much better.
Anyone find anything better?

[tikka]

Talk to your Audiologist.    I just got a new pair of hearing aids and they are substantially better.    Todays Aids can be bluetoothed to your cellphone.  Can adjust as needed then.   

I have a phone setting in mine,  I use that when I am wearing my electronic shooting muffs, don't get as much feedback that way.

Hearing isn't like when I was 20,   but not much lese is either. 

[Tail Feathers]

Talk to your Audiologist.    I just got a new pair of hearing aids and they are substantially better.    Todays Aids can be bluetoothed to your cellphone.  Can adjust as needed then.   

I have a phone setting in mine,  I use that when I am wearing my electronic shooting muffs, don't get as much feedback that way.

Hearing isn't like when I was 20,   but not much lese is either.

Yes, mine bluetooth to my phone as well.  Thats how I turned the up.  I can adjust different frequencies and everything but it's not enough anymore.   
I probably should, but my insurance only pays for new hearing aids every three years and I'm on year two.  Hoping for some magic off the shelf help here.   

[tikka]

Ok,  Sorry.  Can't help anymore.     I am worried that i will loose to much hearing and not be able to hear turkey's also.  Can't hear them as well if they are far away.   

stay safe. 

[Moh20]

I've been having the same problem my son will hear them but I can't even with my hearing aids cranked all the way up when they're 200 yards away. It gets pretty frustrating when I'm by myself. I'm gonna see if my hearing aid guy can turn them up some without messing them up for regluar hearing.

[jhoward11]

I feel for you all. My buddy has issues with his hearing, and he has his aides blue tooth also. He says certain frequencies he can hear good, but when he does hear a bird, can't tell what direction unless right on top of him. So i'm usually his hearing aides and we just go together, which is fine. We build all sorts of memories. If anyone comes up with something that works well, post please. Good luck

[Chief Razor]

I have tried lost of different hearing enhancement and protection devices over the years. Many of them do work and allow for a greater range of hearing some better then others. One thing that I have found to be a negative is determining direction. All that I have tried have been a disadvantage when trying to determine direction and or distance.

[johnnyk2000]

Check out Tetra hearing. They are very pricy but I used pair of my buddies and those jokers worked. Not sure if i want to spend that money yet. I could tell the direction of the sound. Pretty neat

[Treerooster]

I've been wearing hearing aids for over 20 years now, probably closer to 30 years. Couldn't hunt turkeys without them and they help a lot with other game I hunt (like ruffed grouse). I lucked out tho, I not only married an audiologist, she has a PHD, use to be a clinical audiologist and is now a professor at a university and does a lot of research in noise induced hearing loss.

Everyone can have a different type hearing loss. Mine is in the higher frequencies.

My hearing aids have 3 programs. One is for normal use and has omnidirectional microphones (pick up sound all around), one is for noisy situations and is for places like a restaurant (these microphones are more one directional), the other is a custom program I had my audiologist set up for me. I call it Nuclear.  It is very LOUD and I can only use it in fairly quiet situations. I have been able to hear and eastern gobble from about 3/4 of a mile and a Merriam's from over a mile when conditions are right. I've measured those distances with a GPS. However I can't even move while in that program as even the little noises I make are just too loud. But it works for me to locate birds. I had my aids fitted at a university clinic and the students & supervisor worked with me on my "Nuclear" program. There is also volume control on all the programs.

As far as locating or being able to tell direction...for me it takes practice. I need to wear my aids regularly for a good while before I can really tell direction. It takes effort on my part. I can even be fairly good at judging distance too. I think it is important to find something that may work and stick with it a while. I can't just put something on and expect to judge direction & distance right away.

Some other notes:

I use in-the-ear aids for my hunting. Not the real small ones but the ones that are custom molded to fit the bulk of my ear opening. I like these because wind noise is less (much less than behind-the-ear aids) and they help protect my hearing from loud impact type noise, like from a shotgun.

On windy or rainy days I wear a boonie hat. This helps with the wind noise and will keep moisture of my aids in the rain.

I take good care of my aids with nightly maintenance. Make sure the microphones screens are clear of debris, clean the wax guards or change them if needed.

I always have 3 spare batteries with me. In case 2 go down and/or I lose one when I drop it in the leaf litter. 


One final note. Hearing aids are NOT as good as good ears, not even close. Take care of your hearing (even if its already damaged) in all facets of life. Hold on to what you can. Once damaged it doesn't come back.

[Moh20]

I guess the positive thing about my hearing aids is when I do hear one I definitely know it's time to sit down quick.

[Mossyguy]

I have hearing aids that Bluetooth through my phone and I can hear but it's difficult to tell exactly where the bird is. I've used my son's Walker muffs and I experience the same thing. It's tough for sure. More often than not my dad goes with me...he can hear and I can see so we help each other out 

[rifleman]

I have hearing aids now courtesy of the VA.  Mine a pretty low level I believe because I still do not hear all that well.  Before I got the aids and presently I use the Howard Leight hearing enhancers and I like them.  They are simply a light a light headset type.  The good thing is they cancel noises such as a gunblast if you need ear protection to shoot at targets.  I think I got mine from Amazon.  If they are turned up and you try to walk they amplify so much that you'd think you were an elephant. I hunt one place near the Interstate and they can be bothersome with the roar.