spinnaker

Dammit. I think I am to a point whee I will need to get hearing aids. My hearing has been going bad for years but I think it has gotten to a level where I need help.

I was wondering if anyone here wears them and if you waer them while riding? If so what style do you waer?

trailangel

Yes. First pair 20 years ago... 20 bit digital Widex CIC.. wore out in about 6 years. Went years without.
Now BTE digital ReSound from Costco. Better, more power, and half the price.
I have worn them while riding. They have several programs... one of which has wind reduction, and it works until about 30mph. I have a cheap RockBros helmet that has a visor that comes down the front, otherwise when wearing regular glasses they rest right on the microphone.... sort of annoying. I'm not wearing them in the summer... too much sweat.

Steve B.

Yes I wear HA’s but not when riding.

They make a GoreTex fabric cover for over the ear models designed to keep the sweat out.

I’ve used the aids once while riding, found the wind noise annoying. Stopped

spinnaker

So you wear BTE and not RTE? RTE seem to be the most popular but I understand that BTE is better for sweaty conditions. I am very reluctant to buy from costco or walmart. My hearing is too bad for one and I am afraid if I went "cheap" I would not like the fit or the programming I did and not wear them. Do BTEs have the earbuds?


It is really bothering me now wondering how much of my hearing lose was do to cycling? I have know for years that it seemed to kick up my tinnitus after a ride but was always reluctant to wear plugs. Now they have those cat ears and I just got a pair in but wished I had done something years ago. I guess you can't go back in time.

spinnaker

What style do you have? The ones with the earplugs? I think they are called RTE? Device goes behind the ear then there is almost like a earbud that goes in your ear. I beleive there is another type where it is just a tube.

I would think that the earbud type could help reduce wind noise with the proper programming,

Also do you think your riding was one of the causes of your hearing lose?

Which I would like to open this thread up to also. Comments from people who think hearing lose was caused by bicycling. I have been doing some reading and some studies show the noise level is beyond what is safe.

So my advice for people that have not yet experienced lose or have minimal hearing lose, figure a way to cut down the noise. I can't go back in time and undo what I did but you sure can stop from making the same mistakes.

sarhog

I wear OTICON minifit hearing aids. They have the thing that goes over the ear with an earbud. I got them for free from the VA. Wear them every day, all day.

mattbur

yes to wearing hearing aids but I've never tried them while riding. There is a fellow in our group that wears them and has a fuzzy wrap of sorts attached to his helmet strap that he says deadens the affects of the wind noise in his hearing aids.

zarbog

I wear hearing aids and they are over $3000 dollars in here in Canada. No way I wear them riding, I would be afraid of losing one when taking off the helmut for a break. But main reason is they are very noisy in the wind. Mine are behind the ear type, I had in the ear design ones years ago and like these much much better.

dedhed

[QUOTE=mattbur;21079377]yes to wearing hearing aids but I've never tried them while riding. There is a fellow in our group that wears them and has a fuzzy wrap of sorts attached to his helmet strap that he says deadens the affects of the wind noise in his hearing aids.[/QUOTE


https://www.cat-ears.com/

308jerry

I have behind the ear hearing aids also. Wind noise was always a problem. Now when I ride I use my Bluetooth earbuds, have to crank the volume clear up on high. Then when I'm done riding I put the hearing aids back on and still can't hear anything because I've listened to the music to loud.

Steve B.

As answer, I have behind/on top of the ear models, with the tube that goes to the in-the-ear tiny speaker. On my current model from HearUSA the rubber piece that keeps the speaker in the canal is sealed and does not have openings. I’m told this provides better sound quality and control. I have had Costco units where the rubber piece was perforated.

I’ve only worn my Costco units once while cycling, had wind noise so stopped using them. I suppose I could get them programmed differently, will have to ask.

My loss is not cycling related but is genetic, as my mother, as well as older sister and brother all wear/wore aids at earlier ages, so not a result of aging. As well I’ve worked 44 years in the theater business and have been subject too much loud noise while wearing amplified communications headsets, so have work related loss from that. In short I can’t hear sit.

trailangel

You don't get hearing lose from cycling.

BTE now called RIC or something similar. Mic and battery behind ear with clear wire to receiver (speaker) in the ear canal. They didn't make ear molds.

I don't get wind noise.

$3,000 is cheap for good hearing aids. I tried the cheap Costco ($1600) ones and bought the most expensive ones they had $2,700. THIS IS CHEAP.

Go to audiologist and they will be $7,000.

Don't go cheap on these.


Costco had the most up-to-date testing equipment and it's free. Although I didn't go to just any Costco, I read all the yelp reviews and went to the one that had the best Hearing Center reviews... right down to a certain person that the good reviews were based on.




If you don't have hearing aids you are more likely to get dementia as you get older.

Jon T

Yah, or something. 64 yo, spent 40 of 'em in a machine shop and have tinitus so bad I can't hear myself think. It was meant as a joke--sorry you took it wrong. Wanna' ignore me? I'm sure you're not the first and I'll lose exactly zero sleep over it. Maybe you're the one needing to grow up.
Jon

mattbur

[QUOTE=dedhed;21079408]

Yep...that's the ones. I may have to give them a go. Maybe my lbs has them or something similar. thanks.

RobGood

Yes, I always use hearing aids, even when I'm riding or running. It's part of my life and totally normal for me.

chaadster

oh, I get it now…and it’s funny!

An emoticon would have been the perfect addition and stuck the joke.

downhillmaster

Sorry, come again?

StanSeven

Ok, cleaned up the thread. Some comments were offensive to members. Hearing loss is a sensitive and personal situation.

joesch

Just want to add that any safety aids should be supported including hearing, seeing (mirrors/viewers/radar), lights.

If we could only get all those tuned out with music, etc off the roads, ie self inflicted hearing handicaps.

bruce19

My GF is is 68 and new to hearing aids. She doesn't use them on the bike because of wind noise and fear of loss and/or destruction . As others have said.

DaveSSS 

Cycling does contribute to hearing loss. A Google search will bring up several articles. At 68, my tinnitus has become bad enough that I decided to get a hearing test and see a specialist. I'll be getting hearing aids in the near future. I don't expect I'll wear them cycling. I bought a pair of deflectors for my helmet straps. Hearing aids can cost $6-7,000 but a lot of the cost is related to warranty and service after the sale. Not sure I'd take the online or over the counter approach.

https://cyclingtips.com/2017/08/list...-hearing-loss/

101stairborne

Also got my mine from VA. Don’t wear them when riding.
101st Airborne was my life for a year in I corp. Does Hamburger Hill, Ripcord, Khe Sahn, Bastogne ring a bell?

Wildwood 

Egadzooks, .
Left off helmets, high-viz clothes, cameras w/ lidar, phones/watches to alert falls, body armor, bear spray, whistles, first aid supplies, etc.
Hope my next bike doesn't come with fenders & airbags - or cost $35,000. Maybe hearing aids on the bike with collision avoidance alarm bells and steering. And increased insurance rates for the non-compliant. Every bike without hydraulic disc brakes must be scrapped they don't stop as fast. Bike rider's licenses and annual 'vehicle' inspection by the state. Yeah, all wins for cyclists?!?


sheesh.

Clear your handlebars and your mind will follow!

downhillmaster

Studies indicate that reaction time peaks at 24 years old and diminishes each year after that.
If you are truly serious about public safety I believe that nobody over the age of 24 should be allowed to cycle, drive, or walk on a public road. And ofc anyone under 24 should be using all safety aids including mirrors/viewers/radar 👍

joesch

Supported but not enforced, lets be reasonable