Hearing Aid

[DPK]

I'm going to have to break down & begin wearing a hearing aid. I tried one a couple of years ago, but took it back although it worked well & I probably needed it at the time. I just didn't like the inconvenience & there is so many things I'd rather spend $6,000.00 on.

The one I tried was state of the art zz neat. It linked to your smart phone via bluetooth & allowed setting tone, volume, on, off, stop & rewind of music & anything else relevant that you could imagine. You could play music in a room full of people without anyone knowing, listen to FM radio. Of course, you could answer, talk, & place phonecalls, & it even had GPS for when you mislaid it or wanted to be reminded of something when you arrived at a particular geographic location, ie, " get milk" when you arrive at the supermarket.

I would have kept it for the convenience if it hadn't cost so much.

Im going to get another one as described above. Can anyone tell me the pros & cons of using it while riding, especially as to the noise overwhelming the function of the hearing aid.

Also, can I use it with the Cardo system?

I can see where it has great possibilities for riding.

Thanks,

Dan

[eighty80]

I don't have the fancey ones (only$4000.00). But the Doc told me NOT to wear them while on the Trike or bike. So I don't.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

A few years ago when I rode a goldwing (2004 GW), I as wearing mine. They are the really fancy ones designed to do all mentioned above, plus the have sort of noise canceling. What happens the audiologist programs "negative noise" that cancels the ringing in my ears. They also interpret noises and adjust accordingly ($9,000 each $18,000 for the pair, thank you VA ... as a disable VET, I get them for free).

Anyway I digress. After spending many hours at the audiologist, I finally had them programed to my liking. Took them on a ride to Denver for a rally (250 miles). I was using them with my smart phone to listen to an audio book. The aides interpreted the "noise/book" as bad and kept lowering the volume.

I kept raising the phone volume and finally the aides realized I liked the "noise/book" and let me keep the volume at a level I could here the book.

I hadn't gotten 20 miles when a very aggressive truck driver passed me going about 90. The aides interpreted this new noise of the oncoming truck as important and jacked the volume to the max and cut out the BT audio. Instantly I heard/felt the truck in my helmet. I almost wrecked the bike trying to get out of it's way (not to mention ruined a pair of underwear). The rest of the trip they remained off. Moral of the story, I don't use the aides to listen to audio when on the bike anymore.

As a side note, my aides have multiple settings: Hi noise area, Low noise area, mute, etc. They also "talk" to each other, so when I push the button on one to change the program or the com unit button (small unit I wear as a neckless under my clothes) both aides change. Again I digress ... I have had my audiologist program a setting for my Harley when I went back to them. This program deepens the tone of the exhaust and takes away the highs from the engine ...

so when not using the aides to listen to audio, I can wear them while riding. The wind passing my ears was an issue, but the audiologist finally got the wind canceling adjusted correctly.

My advise ... wear them but beware of weird things they can do ... use caution until you get used to the features of your units ... my audiologist has no problem with me wearing them now on the bike ... just not while listening to audio through them.

I will warn you though, when I answer the phone by tapping the com unit under my shirt, and talk on the phone, I get some pretty wild looks. They look for a phone (in my pocket) or the bt headset (not worn). When they don't see either, they assuming I'm talking to myself or that I'm AB Normal.

I don't really understand this ... I'm just interesting enough to entertain myself.

[Brewster]

I've had hearing aids for about 10 years. I have to remove them when I ride because they just increase the road noise. They are not as luxurious as yours but they do the job.

[Illini_Triker]

I take mine off when I ride. After having to go back to a parking lot 25 miles from home to find one after taking my helmet off and one of then getting caught and falling to the ground.

[cavie]

I take mine off when I ride. After having to go back to a parking lot 25 miles from home to find one after taking my helmet off and one of then getting caught and falling to the ground.

That's why I take mine off to ride. Helmet will flip them out. Not worth the risk. Mine are $1800.00 each just for hearing. I don't need the BT/Audio BS. Don't work in the wind with my 1/2 either. Speakers in the helmet for music.

[dirtdobber]

Once you get em and try em while riding you will know what to do. Take you about time to get to the end of the drive way.
I had em but they could not keep em working for me something about electrical was killing em. I rode getting out of the parking lot. stopped and took em out.
My other friends that use em do the same thing.
Mine are free but there is no telling what you will get.

[HarleyPap57]

I have Ménière’s disease and Tinnitus which has gotten worse over the past 10 years. Just got a newer hearing aide that has 5 programs in it this past summer and had my ENT put an Off Mode in the fifth program so I can leave it in but just turns it off. That way I don't have to worry about loosing or breaking it putting it in and out all the time. Sucker cost $4,000 and my work insurance would not pay any of it.

[jtilmon]

I have the Starkey that fits inside the ear canal (about 6 years old and work fine) - they have noise suppression and I wear them while riding the GW Trike with my spouse and they work fine. But when I ride the 2 wheel Harley I do not use them, the pipes are a bit loud for hearing aids on the HOG. <br />
<br />
hope you find the best ones for you.

[pcombe]

MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME!

I never plug my helmet into the sound system, I love hearing every sound my bike makes. if I wanted to listen to bunch of B.S. I would stay home.

I CANT PICTURE MYSELF GETTING A PAIR OF HIGH TECH HEARING AIDS THAT DO EVERYTHING BUT RUN THE AUTOMATIC TUNE UP FEATURE ON A BIKE, CONTOL A PACEMAKER AND POWER THE COFFEE POT? (well maybe the coffee pot?)

ALL I WANT IS TO BE ABLE TO HEAR CONVERSATION DISTINCTLY, MOST TIMES I SHUT THE SOUND SYSTEM OFF ON MY TRIKE BECAUSE ALL I WANT TO HEAR IS THE MOTOR RUNNING AND BE ABLE TO JUDGE TRAFFIC SITUATIONS AROUND ME, AS FOR THE INTERCOME AND CB? WHO THE HELL WANTS TO HEAR PASSENGER CHATTER AND I DONT REALLY DONT GIVE A **** WHAT TRUCKER BOB AND MOTHERTRUCKER ARE DOING TO ENTERTAIN ONE ANOTHER.

If you run the speed limit who cares what the po-lice are doing?

I HAVE A SIMPLE SET OF $1000.00 3 PROGRAMED VOLUME SETTINGS THAT THE MINERS HOSPITAL PAID FOR AND I UNDERSTAND THAT COSTCO HAS AN AID THAT WILL DO THE TRICK FOR ALLOT LESS THAN A $1000.00.

UNLESS I NEEDED SOMETHING TO CANCEL RINGING IN MY EARS OR HELP WITH TINITIS I JUST HAVE TO WONDER HOW ANYONE CAN TRULEY JUSTIFY PURCHASING SOMETHING WITH SO MUCH OVERKILL ADDED IN WHEN THEY KNOW DARN GOOD AND WELL IT'S A NOT A ONE TIME COST. EVERYTHING ELECTRONIC WILL WEAR OUT, THE BUTTONS WILL STOP WORKING,THE PROGRAMS WILL WEAR OUT.

Any combination of electronics and mechanics is not a Question of if it will break, Its a question of when? Are you fooled into thinking the company doesn't want to charge half the cost to repair those aids? What is the warranty date? because you bet it will break two weeks after the warranty expires just like everything else made today.

AND I CANT SEEM TO FIND ANY OF TODAYS MUSIC THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PIPED INTO MY EARS ANYWAY?

When the hell did Madonna become classic rock and todays country is yesterdays bubble gum music?

MY MOTTO?

KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID, THAT GOES FOR ALL AREAS OF MY LIFE!

take A LESSON FROM forest Gump, STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES!

Besides I can think of a whole lotta things I could use on my trike for that amount of dinero?

That amount of bucks finance one hell of a dream ride, give me a choice and I know what's important and what isn't.

You may chastise me now if you wish but it wont change SIMPLE LOGIC?

[FuzzyWuzHe]

The problem with the KISS principle is very little of the world subscribes to it ...

To get the noise canceling to "quiet" the constant grinding noise in my head, you must get all the bells and whistles ... just like health care ... you really can't order from a menu ... guess that's why Obama Care requires prenatal coverage for my girlfriend whose had a hysterectomy. You pay for things you don't need all the time.

[DakotaTG]

I've had hearing aids for about 12-14 years. The first ones were the in-ear and analog. Second ones were also in-ear but digital. I could wear them while riding and not have any problems. Current one is the behind the ear and ran about $3600 for the pair. I have tried wearing them while riding but the bows on my sunglasses will hit the button and it will start changing programs and of course they communicate with each other so both start doing it. I have had my helmet knock them off while either putting it on or taking it off. So I just don't wear them while riding. I can always adjust the volume on the radio so I can hear it just fine and I also have the SENA SMH10 and I just adjust the volume to what I need.



The best things in life aren't things.

[Shimpy]

. I have had my helmet knock them off while either putting it on or taking it off. So I just don't wear them while riding.
The best things in life aren't things.

Been there, done that. I once removed my helmet and the left one fell out unbeknownst to me. I found it on the ground after stepping on it with my heavy motorcycle boots, crushing it to the cost of about $1500.
My newest ones are bte and seem to work very good but I am very vigilant removing or putting on my helmet. Also sunglasses can interfere with bte, causing them to become dislodged from behind he ear (bte).

[bongobobny]

Interesting thread as I just started wearing hearing aids myself. Never gave a thought about riding and wearing them...

[Tumbleweed]

Been reading this thread with interest. i recently received notice from the VA that my disability claim was approved for service connected tinnitus and hearing loss. Anxious to get the hearing aids! I understand the VA only provides top quality devices. My guess is I will not wear them with my flip up helmet.

[scribe5]

I just got my BTE aids a few months ago. At the ENT doctor's office, they would have cost me close to $6,000. The same ones cost $2,700 at Costco and have a better guarantee. They work great, but I would not wear them while riding. I put in tuned ear plugs to cut the engine and wind noise (probably what messed up my hearing in the first place) but still allow me to hear music and voice through my SENA's.

[dirtdobber]

Reckon I will find out. The V.A. said I was getting hearing aids again. They did not ask me, they just said I was getting them. I have a good Doctor there. So I guess I will find out what they are handing out after all.