NVanHiker

I can relate. I keep putting off getting them, partly because of the expense, but mostly out of vanity.

"As always, the Ukrainian military had closed the road to traffic before hitting the enemy target. The cyclist, however, appeared from a side country road that wasn’t closed.

Ignoring the MLRS in front of him, he drove in front of it just as the missiles were launched.

"F*ck!" a shocked operator commented on the situation, while jet flames raged behind the guy.

The biker didn't even look back, just slightly hunched his shoulders and continued on his way".

(2) Ukrainian HIMARS launch as a cyclist casually rides past. : CombatFootage (******.com)

MinnMan

I have hearing aids and they are well worth it, but I don't dare wear them while cycling. Sweat damage would be significant.

Steve B.

I wonder if Strava or RWGPS has a setting "avoid military targets".

Chuck M 

Costco was a more economical option for me. And behind the ear hearing aids are not that noticeable.

MinnMan

BTW, in Europe hearing aids are sold in shops more similar to opticians here, and they are far less expensive - for the same manufacturer and model.
The high costs of hearing aids in the US is a racket.

smontanaro 

I have hearing aids, never wear them while riding (risk of damage or loss). I don't find they are all that helpful anyway. For me, they mostly reduce my tinnitus when it's worse than usual. I second the opinion on Costco though.

Iride01 

Maybe a good example of when one shouldn't be doing an Idaho stop at an intersection. Or maybe it's good that they did do a Idaho stop.

I think this is a youtube link to some of what the OP was talking about.

daniell

That is no longer the case. presently hearing aids can be bought in the US over the counter.

nomadmax 

Now, cue the "A car was parked in the bike lane!" thread. Pffft

Trakhak

Obvious market niche---hearing aids that look like expensive stereo earbuds.

smontanaro 

I haven't checked yet. Have prices started to come down? I paid about $1600 for my pair from Costco in early 2020. That was interesting with the pandemic shutdown.

Peruano

On my way to Costco today for the test which is bound to show I need hearing aids. Price stays at $1600 at least for the behind the ear version. The in the ear version may be more. Isn't technology wonderful. I'll ride out bicycles but not do without hearing aids.

Carbonfiberboy 

The OP's link doesn't work, but the link in post 7 does, thanks Iride01. That's just what it's like living in a war zone. Nothing to do with hearing aids. I'd get on my bike and get out of there, too. Tough folk, those Ukrainians. In the last century, they've been through what no one here can even imagine

rumrunn6

the new normal. at least he ducked

indyfabz

I’ve seen some advertised on TV for something like $350. OTC sales were just allowed recently.

Chuck M 

I'm skeptical of the TV advertised hearing aids, but I'm skeptical about a lot of things. However I do think a hearing test with someone that can interpret the results of the audiogram is important. Because in addition to being a skeptic, I'm a cheapskate, I went to Costco. My first set never really helped me as much as I hoped. The specialist that set them up would not listen to me and fiddled with every setting according to what she thought I needed. My second set I got a few months ago performs much better. I went in for the fitting for the second set loaded for bear. The young man convinced me to let him try what he thought would work and it turned out they performed great. Out of curiosity he looked at my previous program done by the first person and agreed it was clear she didn't know what the hell she was doing (I paraphrased his more professional statement)

I think if you want to hear noises, the TV specials may be OK. But if you want to hear and understand speech, you may want to check into a professional. And the IP68 rating doesn't make me afraid to take my old bikes out to listen to the 40 plus year old freewheels.

themp

Started the hearing aid search this spring based on my kids and grand kids complaining I was always saying "huh". Went to a professional hearing aid center recommended by a few folks I knew. Took the hearing test and was prescribed a behind the ear hearing aid, cost was $3500.. I am outside most of the day and found that the wind noise was awful. I also found out that all this Bluetooth connection stuff to your phone is basically useless. Playing music over your hearing aid is just terrible. Get a pair of AirPod Pros and you can make them into decent hearing aids using transparency mode. And then stream music on them and it is wonderful as they play the music based on your ear test that you entered on setting up transparency mode. The other Bluetooth features like restaurant setting, television viewing, vehicle setting, just did nothing for me. So, I decided to take them back and give Costco a try. I went in knowing I did not want Bluetooth and not behind the ear. I ended up with a Complete-In-Canal(CIC) hearing aid and they work well and are good in the outdoors with wind, cost was $2500. Started looking at over the counter hearing aids(OTC) and found out that Sony had released their OTC hear aid in December and it is a repackaging of my current Costco hearing aid at $1000. But, in looking at the specifications closely the Sony hear aids have been dumbed down in terms of frequency range and DB range. So, the OTC version is not the same. And this makes sense, OTC may work for you but the quality of the aid is not going to be what you get from a professional. OTC hearing aids at this point sound appealing but in the end the hearing aid racket still wins.

lex further

Same here, never wear mine on my trips. First of all they don't fit under my helmet (does someone know a good helmet suitable for hearing aids?) and second it is just uncomfortable with all the sweating etc. I can still hear the cars and stuff, so i consider it is pretty safe. In all other cases i have extra batteries and domes on me (order hearing aid supplies online) , so i am not run out of the battery when i need it the most.

philbob57

Starting in 2019, my Costco HIS recommended using the aids while riding for my moderately to severely messed up hearing. I like hearing nature, the cars coming up behind me, and riding companions, if any. Just got new ones, and they're the best I've owned since 2010.

FDA-approved OTC aids aren't as good as professionally fitted aids, as mentioned above. ('Fit'ted meaning 'programmed'.) Some manufacturers - ReSound is one - have created brands that don't use the audiologist practice model. GN ReSound's Jabra Enhance Pro can be purchased and set up online. Costco also sells Jabra Enhance Pro 10s. The best online HAs are very close to the top of line HAs for a lot less money. Costco is cheaper for the Jabras.

Ziphearing saves a lot of money for audiologist prescribed brands (Phonak, ReSound, Starkey, Rexton, Widex, Oticon, etc.).

lex further

And the prices are lower for those devices, which is great.
These days we can easily find hearing aid online and compare the prices in few different shops.
For those who are buying a first pair of hearing aids, it is really necessary to visit an audiologist first and see what is going to be the best fit.

Swampthing 

my tinnitus has been getting worse and is starting to really bother me vs just being annoying when things are quiet. My hearing was tested not too long ago and I was “borderline for needing hearing aids “ whatever that means. I have some high frequency loss and sometimes things get muddled in meetings where a lot of people talk simultaneously.
Your statement about using the aids for your tinnitus got me wondering if aids would be useful for mostly tinnitus relief.
Since this is a bike forum, I should mention that the tinnitus isn’t really bothersome when I’m riding, except maybe on quiet nights if I get my fixie out.

Alan K

As is the entire cost structure of health-industry (notice the deliberate elimination of the word care), which includes cost of insurance, cost of procedures, cost of drugs.

Our own government has become malevolent enough to prevent the VA to negotiate volume discounts with pharmaceutical industry for drugs for their patients (veterans).

For a great many things, the US consumers are overcharged with collusion of our elected officials (pre-purchased by the industry).

Alan K

Not directly, but in the final analysis, quite possibly. It becomes a matter of increased signal to noise ratio.
Part of the training in using hearing aid involves a user to learn what to ignore and where to focus. The brain finally becomes more adapt at it and things seem to improve, not because the patient’s tinnitus is less severe, but because the patient is able more easily focus on the increased desired signal (for example, conversation) and ignore the spurious sounds which would seem relatively less loud. But for this to happen, you have to wear your hearing aid most of the time even when you are not in a conversation with people… it effects everything, listening to music, watching a show etc.

MinnMan

Probably true. Hearing aids have not really helped my tinnitus, but also I just can't get used to wearing them all the time. I put them in when I know I will need them to hear people talking, but I avoid them when I otherwise wouldn't.

Swampthing 

I got a set and use an app on my phone to give me background sounds to mask the tinnitus. They are nice when I’m working or writing or reading.
They are also really good for answering my phone which connects directly to the hearing aid, and I say “what” a whole lot less these days and can actually hear people talk when I’m out in the wind or at a loud construction site.