I just had a hearing test and, I am sad to say, it didn’t go so well… looks like I am going to be getting some hearing aids. Not welcome news at all for anyone, let alone a 39 year old.
I talked to the miracle ear people, and, of course, they recommended their top of the line model, which, incidentally, is available in tan, charcoal and cranberry among others, costs right around $8000 for the set. Nice. I did have the opportunity to try a pair on and wander through a relatively chaotic department store, and yes, they do work, they work very well… but for $8000? These things fit in the change pocket of my wallet for crying out loud… (pun possibly intended.)
There has to be a brand/model out there that is more reasonably priced… somewhere.
I may be able to swing a workers comp claim on it, because it is quite obviously noise related, and I work in about as noisy of an environment as you can get, so there may be hope there, but my regular insurance says pretty much no way… believe it or not, hearing aids are considered ‘Cosmetic’ by the insurance companies… go figure.
Anyways, I’m wondering how this is all going to affect my bass playing… I mean, other than the hearing loss already has, that is… according to Miracle Ear, their top of the line model is basically a 16 channel EQ for full range sound reinforcement, so it lists music as one of it’s benefits, where as the next model down is only 8 channels, then 6. The other feature of the top model is a compressor which can target specific frequencies and lock them in at a set volume, which is designed to suppress loud noises. Maybe a good thing, too… I don’t know. $8000. Hmmm. What else could I do with that… lots.
I was hoping I’d go in and they’d find a huge ball of wax stuck in front of my eardrum, dig it out and problem solved. Nope. Not gonna be that easy.
I wonder what model Pete Townshend wears?
Yeesh.

DX

Sorry to hear about the hearing loss. I admit I have a little trouble hearing certain types of human voices of a certain frequency if there is some background noise. It sucks to have people repeat themselves. I would suspect that with the aides you will hear the frequencies that you have trouble with and things like playing by ear may be easier. You may even find that you don't like your EQ settings. My wife has hearing aides that she at times uses but unfortunately at the moment I don't know the brand but I don't think they cost that much. I think they were at the $3000 range or lower.

That's outrageous. Hearing aids are functional devices to help people with hearing loss, so it's incredible an insurance company regard them as cosmetic. It's frustrating that we all pay insurance, and we all seem to be insured for anything other than what we actually need.

I hope you manage to find something more reasonably priced and suitable than what the Miracle Ear Company are recommending.

They could be cosmetic.....if you are hiding the hair in your ears!

I don't think hearing music will be a problem but conversation will be. I spent most of my life in loud indutrial environment and my hobbies were loud music and skeet shooting. I can't hear anything above 11,000 Hz. I can hear my Tinnitus quite well when everyting is quiet. Saving grace, I play bass, sounds just fine.
$8,000 is discouraging, I guess I will never have hearing aids unless President Obama buys them for me.

I'd just say, in the words of the old R&B song, "you better shop around."

I find I have to ask my kids, my daughters especially, to repeat themselves several times over more often than not lately, and like b5, if there is any background noise at all, forget about a normal conversation.
The way it was explained to me is that as the lower frequencies (can't remember the actual numbers) = volume, and the higher frequencies = clarity, so as the ear is processing this data, when the higher frequencies are missing, anything in the normal conversation range is overpowered by the lower frequencies. As musicians, bass players especially, we all have a pretty good understanding of how all that works, but it was pretty interesting having it diagrammed out by a specialist like that.
For me, it explains alot as to why my in-ear monitor mix is always so crappy... I'm hoping that this will clear things up for me although, with hearing aids, I won't be able to use the 'buds anymore.
I've started the process to detemine whether the company will honor a W/C claim, and I know they have done it in the past, so we'll see.

DX

When we are young, we refuse to believe that all that loud noice will not affect us. Like, we can smoke 3 packs a day and our lungs will be just fine. Well, later in life, I realized how stupid I was.
Rocky

The insurance company would probably pay for the kind of hearing aid that sits behind you ear with a tube that goes over it and into your ear canal, which would undoubtedly be less expensive than then ones that fit in your ear. With them it's all about cost. They don't care how dumb or old you look with a pound & a half of machinery stuck to the side of your head.

But hey, if they found out your were ever in a rock band, they might refuse to pay for any kind of hearing aid altogether, and say they aren't paying anything because you didn't protect your ears...

The ones I looked at are actually the behind the ear type... turns out the in-ear variety are just basically amlpifiers with no EQ control or any adjustability at all. I guess the reason for the 'Cosmetic' label is because people can take them off at will... I didn't catch the full conversation between teh tech and my wife, but that was the jist of it.


Exactly... never mind the drill rigs, heavy equipment, explosives, helicopters and other loud work related sources... they will argue just as strongly that I ALWAYS wore my hearing protection at work so it couldn't possibly be from THAT exposure... go figure.

DX

I am big on safety...personally and for the people that work for me. I tell them once, and that is before they ever use a piece of equipment or go near anything that is loud, that PPE must be worn.

I have fired 3 people for not using PPE on the spot. Call me a weeny or an asshat prick boss, I don't care. Part of my responsibility as a manager is to make sure everyone makes it home safely, just as they were when they left. Well, at least at work...I can't control crazy drivers.

As far as insurance companies go...they suck. It doesn't surprise me at all that they won't cover it.

Sorry to hear about that, Dan. I know so many players who have hearing loss to varying degrees. I hope you find a solution that will work for you.

I had custom earplugs made about 10 years ago with various db filters -- 15, 25, plus a dynamic filter that starts at 5 db and then kicks in when a really loud sound occurs. I use the earplugs at every gig, no matter how "quiet." I put them in about 10 minutes before the set to get used to the change. I put them in the minute I walk on stage to set up also -- to protect from the weird soundcheck noises, feedback, snare drum rim-shots, etc. I am so used to them now, it feels pretty natural.

I've only been using the earplugs for 10 years -- my first 30 years of playing music was unprotected though . . .

I don't know if earplugs will help your situation at this point. You can't get lost hearing back, but you can prevent further loss when you are making music.

Here at the mine safety is a huge issue... we all have the same attitude as you, and in fact, this is considered one of, if not the safest mine in the country... most standard PPE is free issue and no expense is spared to improve and expand on our safety program... we have a team of full time Industrial Hygienists who's sole purpose is to come up with those improvements and monitor the existing programs. This is the only place I've worked in this industry where the prevailing attitude is one of safety over production, and 'if it doesn't get done safely today, we can get it tomorrow...'
I just got a pair of fancy noise cancelling/amplifying earmuffs from the IH team to try out, so we'll see if that is an improvement over the old ones... it should help while I'm at work, but they are kind of bulky to be wearing around town...
I also have a meeting scheduled with them and my boss this week to get the ball rolling on a W/C claim for the hearing aids.. hopefully that will work out.

DX

I've played witrh standard foam earplugs before, but since we went to in-ear monitors I had to stop doing that... lately because of the hearing difficulties and other sound issues on stage I've gone back to using an amp/monitor set up, so I'll probably end up bringing plugs in next time around.
The hearing tech explained that the hearing loss I'm experiencing is due to the excessive sound waves damaging the fibers in the ear, but that also, the part of the brain that proceses hearing basically atrophies like a muscle after not being used for so long, and if we can get the hearing aids in before too much time has passed I should see some natural improvement once the brain starts hearing and processing those frequencies again. The damaged fibers won't come back, but with the help of the equipment the brain can regain some of that function. So there is some positive...

DX

Originally Posted By: picker

But hey, if they found out your were ever in a rock band, they might refuse to pay for any kind of hearing aid altogether, and say they aren't paying anything because you didn't protect your ears...

Exactly... never mind the drill rigs, heavy equipment, explosives, helicopters and other loud work related sources... they will argue just as strongly that I ALWAYS wore my hearing protection at work so it couldn't possibly be from THAT exposure... go figure.

Sorry to hear about your dilemma Dan. I have some personal experience with these workers comp people. The co I work for has their own WC dept. In other words, the co owns it. This may be the same with your co and if so, that puts you in the sticky situation of keeping your job, as it did me.
Don't EVER tell WC or your employer you play in a rock band. The first thing workers comp will look for is a pre existing condition. Although snare drums and cymbals DID contribute to my tinnitus in the 80's.
WC doesn't care a whit about your problem. They're actually worse than your insurance co when it comes to paying out and I would swear that the doc they sent me to on my claim was in their pocket.
WC will stall and try every tactic they can to not pay you and at the same time smile in your face. They try to make you so frustrated that you give up on your claim, then it's over.
From talking to others who have gone through it, the best thing to do is find a lawyer w/epx in WC claims. Better yet, find one who used to be a WC judge, because if WC does offer you a settlement it will a paltry sum rather than what your problem is worth. Is hearing loss worth only $10,000?
Good luck.

That is great that the company is good with safety. I see a lot of stupid stuff day in and day out.

I forgot to mention that I hope it all works out for you.

Stinks about your hearing. It also stinks that the cost for the hearing aid that would be useful is so expensive.

Do not lie to your insurance company. It is not worth it.

Beware of people who encourage you to lie. They have no skin in the game. When you get caught, it can be brutal.