I can hear!

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Simon G
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 01:06 PM

@Joe, I would suggest that reduced volume means less information getting to the brain and this will reduce the brains capacity to sort out the sound wanted from the background noise. We see this when people with only mild hearing loss struggle to hear the dialog in movies or the lyrics in heavily compressed modern music.

The brains ability to sort out the sound wanted from all the others is absolutely marvellous.

Simon

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 11:16 PM

What usually happens with me, is that discordant sounds overpower everything else I hear, and it drive me absolutely crazy. I guess I have to admit I was a bit unkind at a song circle last month, when all I could hear was what sounded to be very loud conversation in the next room. It made it almost impossible for me to sing, since I could hear the conversation but not the other singers. If a guitar (or especially an Autorharp) is out of tune or off tempo, I become completely unglued - and sometimes I'm not very nice about it. I'm just not able to "tune out" sounds that don't fit, and it makes singing very unpleasant for me when that happens.
Will hearing aids help solve this frustration for me?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: stallion
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 07:36 PM

I am very deaf (25% hearing) in my right ear and I manage by doing as Joe says , I have always had this condition so maybe I have learnt to live with it

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Lox
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 06:25 PM

The sound of the Rain ...

... pure music!

It makes a lovely chaange from all those bloody notes ...

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: ClaireBear
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:56 PM

Best wishes to both Animaterra's beloved and Joe.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 04:37 PM

I've had a hearing loss and tinnitus since I was in the Army in 1971. During the last year, it's become much worse and has begun to affect my participation in group singing. I can't situate myself just anywhere anymore. I have to be on the outside of the choir, with my nearly-dead ear away from other singers and sound sources. I find that often, I'm standing at right angles to other singers, just so I can get where I can hear right.
I'm just beginning threading my way through the medical bureaucracy, to see what I can do about this.
Wish me luck.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 04:18 PM

My husband just had his hearing checked this morning, which included a test with some hearing aids. He's been dazed and amazed ever since at what he's been missing.
Estimated cost for the mid-range model: $6900.

Yikes. Not sure how we'll do it, but I'd do anything to see that joy on his face some more.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 12:51 PM

If you've got hearing loss that affects low frequencies and not high frequencies, you might get that effect, Joe. Or, of, course it might just be that it's only annoying behaviour on the part of those ladies.

Good idea to get a hearing test to sort out which it is.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 08:23 PM

Patrick - it is lovely to read your story, although I'm sorry I didn't have the patience to follow your YouTube post all the way to the end.

I lost my hearing in one ear after a bout of flu in 1958, and the hearing in my other ear has fluctuated ever since. The NHS has been a lifesaver to me throughout that time, and I'm now enjoying the benefits of a digital aid which has made a huge difference to me. Technology just gets better and better, and I can now join in singing which I couldn't manage at all a few years ago. I don't sing very well (as my friends readily tell me!), but at least I can have a go.

Thanks for your contribution here. It really does help when you show what can be done.

Matthew Edwards

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 06:45 PM

Do you think that hearing aids might help me in singing sessions? I had an awful time at ours last night. One woman played an Autoharp that seemed very loud, and I could barely hear people singing. Then she and another woman had a conversation during an entire song, and I couldn't hear the song at all.

I got very bothered by all this and considered going home early, but I wondered if maybe it's my hearing loss that amplifies these annoyances into major problems. The Autoharp and converstation were both in the higher frequencies, so maybe it's my hearing and not the women that were the problem.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 10:30 AM

"God Bless the NHS" referred to my hearing aids. I'm aware that it's not quite the same over there when it comes to getting what you need.

It sounds as if Edthe folkie may have got his NHS ones before they upgraded to provide more modern digital hearing aids. Mine hasn't got a remote control, but that's as well - I'd be sure to lose it. I can't find the TV remote half the time, and that's a lot bigger.

And even when I left them in one day when I had a bath, they still worked fine, once I'd dried them out and changed the batteries.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 11:29 AM

I can only suggest to anybody who is suffering hearing loss to bite the bullet. Get a test and get an aid or aids.

I left it for years, got an NHS aid, which was sort of OK for some years, but eventually had another test and bought two in ear devices (admittedly at around £3000, argh!). These modern instruments are unbelievable - they usually have several programs e.g. normal, noisy environment, music, phone etc. Mine came with a remote control, and ear-to-ear communication (automatically varies volume as appropriate between l/h & r/h sides). They also remember how you use them so they can optimise performance, and even keep a log which can be read by a laptop! Mine aren't the really tiny ones which fit right in the ear canal, but they are pretty unobtrusive.

The downside is that they MUST be insured because sooner or later you'll tread on one, go swimming with 'em in, etc. Also keep on at your supplier if they don't fit exactly or otherwise give trouble. etc.

Congratulations Patrick on hearing again and I hope all goes OK.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Patrick-Costello
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 06:51 AM

> God Bless the National Health Service.

I'm sure they do good stuff, but here in the USA it's a bit more complicated . . . at least for now.

On the bright side, my heath insurance covered a good bit of the surgery (I think my Blue Cross card is proof that you can make your work freely available and still run a profitable business) and my students came up with some projects to help make up the rest.

-Patrick

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 05:27 AM

Excellent news. ATB from Charlie in Dunfermline.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: gnu
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:21 PM

Oh my! How wonderful! Brings tears to my eyes. And joy in my herat.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Nick E
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:08 PM

What?... (Someone had to!)
Great News! :)

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 06:57 PM

Congratulations. It's a great feeling to be able to hear properly again, isn't it? My hearing loss has never been that bad, but even so, till I got kitted out with digital ones a couple of years ago, it was driving my wife mad, with me guessing what she was saying and getting the guesses wrong. Mondegreens in every conversation.

Great things hearing aids. Wouldn't be without my pair - though I might switch them off sometimes when the traffic is too loud, or there's some loudmouth at the next table. Which means in a way I'm better off than before I needed them.

God Bless the National Health Service.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Patrick-Costello
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 06:32 PM

> I'll be interested in learning how you're doing as time goes on.

So far so good. I can communicate with people a lot better and I can go to the movies and actually understand the dialog.

Being able to hear has made music a lot more fun. I don't have to hunch over my guitar anymore.

The real test for the Baha will be September 17-20. More than 40 of my students from around the world are coming to Crisfield for our Fall Folk Retreat. I can't wait to see if I will be able to interact with a group of musicians again.

The sound quality of the Baha isn't perfect, and it only gives me sound on my right side so I can't hear anything on my left. That makes it a little scary when I am riding my bike or taking a walk because I can't hear cars coming up behind me. But today I was able to sit by my window and listen to the rain for the first time in a long, long time so I really can't complain.

-Patrick

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: M.Ted
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 10:37 AM

Pat, though I've enjoyed your informative and enthusiastic posts here for a long time, I didn't realize that you were hearing impaired until relatively recently. I suddenly understood that "You can do it if you try" attitude that runs through everything you do, and I suddenly had a lot more appreciation for your work.

I'm happier than I can even say that you've found a way to recover your hearing, and I hope that things just keep getting better for you. You deserve to get back a little of the good stuff that you've been giving out--

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: olddude
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 09:01 AM

Sandra
good luck and you are in my prayers.

Dan

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 08:17 AM

My father in his 90's tried many different hearing aids and found them all frustrating. Some got clogged with wax build-up. All had tiny controls that he found hard to manage with his poor eyesight. None worked very well in a crowd situation. We finally resorted to headphones and a mic where at least he could carry on two-way conversations.

The bone-anchored hearing aid would appear to be a much better option.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 07:57 AM

It's great to read such positive news!

I'm happy for you and others who have benefited and will benefit from this remarkable procedure.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:37 AM

Bloody brilliant. Wonderful news!

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:14 AM

Delighted for you. Erica and Bryn

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 03:09 AM

Good man - enjoy the music!

Will

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Rog Peek
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 02:59 AM

That's brilliant, really pleased for you!

Rog

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 02:46 AM

marvels of modern technology!

sandra (heading for 2 cataract operations)

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 11:52 PM

Hi, Patrick -

I'll be interested in learning how you're doing as time goes on. I've had a hearing loss and tinnitis since I was in my twenties; but now at age 61, it's becoming a little frightening. I suppose I need to do something about it, and I don't like the idea of hearing aids.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: ClaireBear
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 11:28 PM

O wonder! I can't begin to imagine how grand.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Alice
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 11:09 PM

Wow!! That is wonderful!!

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Kosmo
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 11:05 PM

That is just wonderful! The things modern tech. can do! I too need glasses, though not the extent of you mum, but when I was 17 everything became rather squidgy, and I'd not noticed it happening. I tried on my mates glasses and voila! I could see stuff and I was a lot less clumsy!

I'm so glad you can hear, that's just terrific :)

xxx
Kosmo

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 11:00 PM

OUTDAMNSTANDING!!!!

Simply too good and too cool..........I can't imagine....

Spaw

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 10:50 PM

That is really neat! Congratulations!

As a little girl my mom needed glasses but no one knew until she was quite a few years old. When they finally got her some, she had to learn to walk again because everything was so clear and seemed to rush right up to her putting her off balance. She said she just marvelled at how she could see individual leaves on the trees and actual birds, rather than blurs.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: frogprince
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 09:34 PM

From the link: " he's designed banjos that have extra-vibrating handles so he, or anyone else who can't hear, can feel the notes on his fingers."

Some people get a lemon and make a little lemonade; some people turn in into wine. Good for you.
                            Dean

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 09:29 PM

Great news. I'll have to follow up your lead in a few years or so I'm sure.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: open mike
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 09:27 PM

hope the little sounds (like the chewing of potatoe chips) do not become too bothersome!

and that the chirping of birds, the croaking of frogs , and sounds of crickets bring you joy!

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: olddude
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 09:26 PM

How absolutely wonderful ... just wonderful, I am so happy for you

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Peace
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 09:19 PM

Ah, man, that is GREAT news. You must feel wonderful.

Subject: RE: I can hear!
From: Patrick-Costello
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 09:12 PM

Cursed blue clicky! Try this link instead.

Subject: I can hear!
From: Patrick-Costello
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 09:10 PM

I started losing my hearing right about the same time I got serious about music. Over the last twenty years I have been slowly going deaf but still managed to keep playing.

On August 25 I had a bone-anchored hearing aid activated at Johns Hopkins. I can hear!

Full story and a video here:
http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2009/08/31/my-near-deaf-youtube-guitar-teacher-can-hear-again/

Everything sounds wonderful!

-Patrick
http://dailyfrail.com/