Hearing issues and signal attenuation

Broadstone, I've worn hearing aids for just over a dozen years, nothing like Buconero, but long enough to offer some comments.

First off, I agree with him that properly fitted and adjusted aids will enhance your life, not just music listening. And I suspect the two pair you tried were not quality devices. I say that since you consider equalizers out of your price range and then you sold both pair on eBay!

Proper hearing aids must be custom fitted, both physically to your ears and sonically to correct for your specific hearing loss. The size of your canals should not be a problem. And the itching can be cured by prescription medication or Cortisone cream.

In addition, do you always listen alone or do family or friends ever join you? All the well-intentioned advice for speaker set up, equalizers, etc. may result in changes that any other listeners might not be happy with.

Quality hearing aids are not cheap and they must be fitted professionally by an audiologist. The type sold on line or at Sears for a couple of hundred bucks will hardly ever be satisfactory. Some medical insurance may cover part of the costs but unfortunately too many will not.

So forget the suggestions from those who have not experienced this themselves and go for properly fitted devices. They you should be free to pick whatever speakers are most musically pleasing, not those that attempt to fulfill an inappropriate task. Your life will be brighter.

Good luck.

Ok and thanks for these observations and suggestions. I'll address the hearing aids once again first. In the last two years I've tried two different aids manufacturers and 3 different audiologists. These were high end aids costing over $9000 between the 2 of them. No matter what we tried I could not wear them for more than an hour before itching turned into a significant earache which would last into the next day or two. We even counseled with the manufacturers in an attempt to find some modification that might alleviate my issues. Thank goodness that I received a refund after one of the providers gave up but I sold the other pair on eBay for a major loss. So, then, I totally agree your observations and opinions but I simply can't wear them and will no longer try.

On top of simple age related hearing loss I also have a case of hyperacussis and tinnitus. I have an appointment with a tinnitus specialist next week; he sounds knowledgeable but, based on my general knowledge of cure failures for that issue I'm not getting my hopes up.

To summarize my hearing issue as I understand it I offer the following. Using a test cd, sitting in my normal (centered) listening position, using a gradually increasing frequency from about 25Hz to 2KHz the sound seems centered to around 4KHz where it begins increasing right weighting through to my loss of hearing somewhere between 7500 and 8000Hz. I also feel discomfort in the area of 1400 to 1500Hz

With these amateur findings in mind, coupled with my inability to use hearing aids I think the only logical choice may be an equalizer so today I bought an inexpensive graphic equalizer just to experiment. If it looks like it may be my answer I'll come back to seek more advice on types and brands that would be best for more permanent use.

Correction.....I should have stated that the range of frequencies tested was to 20K, not to 2KHz

Obviously you need to do what you are most comfortable with, so I'll just offer this.

The first audiologist I visited seemed intent on selling me the most expensive aids possible. That was over $6K more than a dozen years ago. I think when I tried to explain my needs for best musical accuracy he thought he could over sell me. I really felt like I was visiting a shyster car dealer!

Then a friend suggested I try a local university that has a speech and hearing department. Because they are non-profit they could advise on what best suited my condition rather than highest cost. Now speech perception was improved immediately but it took a few visits and adjustments to fine tune my music setting (with my aids up to 4 EQs are possible) so that brass and strings sounded natural and not edgy and harsh. Patience paid off.

Thanks Pryso. I have no doubt that aids are in my future at some point and for more than just listening to music but, as I mentioned, I purchased a graphic EQ today and finished installing it about 2 hours ago. There's no doubt that an equalizer will be a permanent addition for at least until that time that I find a way to use hearing aids.

The frequency control is impressive and the ability to bring the stage to the center where it belongs brings even more enjoyment back into listening than I had anticipated. The only drawback so far is that I think it degraded the overall sound quality which may only be a matter of adjusting to this new balance.

The EQ I bought is an older Soundcraftsmen 12 band per channel unit with sliders that are a bit rough so I'm going to be looking for advice in my search for its replacement that won't break my bank.