Hearing Loss

[Larry Boekeloo]

I've struggled with 35% hearing loss over the past 9 years.  I finally spent the money and bought hearing aids 3 years ago - what a difference for normal every day life.  However, they didn't help me much with ham radio but I suffered through by putting the small Heil headset ear piece on top of the hearing aid where the microphone was located.

A month ago, I purchased new hearing aids (well my insurance did) and they are fitted with blue tooth.  I wear a small blue tooth box around my neck which is connected to my cell phone via blue tooth.  It's incredible talking on the phone now.  But the best part - I have a small cable I plug into my external speaker and then into my blue tooth box around my neck.  The audio from the K3 is pumped into both hearing aids.  I can't believe the difference it has made.  With the new QSK feature on the K3 and the blue tooth hearing aids, I can pick out CW signals that I would have never deciphered before.  And, copying SSB is incredible too.

If you can afford the hearing aids with blue tooth - don't hesitate.

Larry, KN8N
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[Phil Kane-2]

On 1/8/2015 7:32 AM, Larry Boekeloo wrote:

> I have
> a small cable I plug into my external speaker and then into my blue
> tooth box around my neck.  The audio from the K3 is pumped into both
>  hearing aids.

I have the same type of device (Phonak ComPilot).  The only "downside"
is that it runs the battery in the device down rapidly when used
in the streaming mode.  But you are right - it makes all the difference
in the world.
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[AA6VO]

FYI, streaming to the Phonak ComPilot does wear the battery down in a few hours, you can keep it plugged in to the charger while using it (provided you are not moving around, of course!).

[mcduffie]

> FYI, streaming to the Phonak ComPilot does wear the battery down in a few
> hours, you can keep it plugged in to the charger while using it (provided
> you are not moving around, of course!).

I've mentioned this on at least one other group, but will repeat it here for
those who haven't heard it.

The Phonak TVLink Basestation is VERY useful in my shack.  I suspect the base
station will work with any number of Blue Tooth devices.  I use mine with my
Philips Bluetooth headphones.  Apparently it will act as a headset too, but I
don't want/need that, and I doubt the acoustics will be very good since it has
no boom mic, only a built in mic.

If you think amplification will work for you, without the high frequency
enhancement of your hearing aids, it may work well for the hearing impaired
(works for me).  I use mine for roaming around all over the house, and to a
limited extent, outside.
http://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/SHB7000_28/bluetooth-stereo-headset

For those who are not hearing impaired, the fidelity of the Philips unit is
excellent, and goes down to about 40Hz on the low in, 20K plus on the high end.
I can't hear much over 3K, so that doesn't matter to me, but the low end
fidelity is just plain excellent and I love them.  The battery last for hours,
and charges from a USB port.

Gary
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