hawker
DFO Veteran
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The last time there was a thread on this issue was 2018 and a lot of technology has changed since then. And unfortunately, we all play an instrument that can really impact our hearing...not just at the gig but throughout our lives. And unlike our eyes...there is no surgery or medicine that will help your hearing once you begin to lose it.
I started wearing COSTCO hearing aids two years ago. I started playing drums when I was 13 and I'm now 72. I've lost most of my highs and other frequencies as well. I stopped gigging a three years ago for multiple reasons but now I realize I was not hearing any vocal cues, song titles, etc. on stage. Also why band members were saying things about my drums and cymbals that didn't make sense to me. And why I could never hear the piano out front or on stage...when no one else was having issues. Losing your hearing happens so slowly over such a long period of time that you just don't realize it. Are you 35 and when you get in your car you can't believe at how loud you had the volume? That's where it starts; actually it's already started. And it ain't getting better unless you make some changes. My generation did not grow up with headphones, but if yours did then you MUST address this in your life. If you're gigging in a loud band without hearing protection...take action while you can. It's a tiny investment that will make the last half of your life much more effective and pleasurable.
Sorry, didn't mean to make a speech. But while hearing aids are much better than they were, they are still a hassle and a pain in the butt. And if you ever lose your keys or glasses.....wait until you get hearing aids. OK, I'm using the actual COSTCO brand hearing aids even though COSTCO carries multiple brands. They run from $1300 to $2800 with different features. I have the $1300 ones and I have not yet played a gig with them. This Saturday I am going to a jam session with the guys I used to play with to see how then might or might not work out. Before I bought them I heard from several drummers here that they could never use them on the bandstand. I'm hoping now that's it's been a few years that maybe current technology will allow for it. It's not fair for me to try to play in a group when I can't hear certain frequencies or volume levels. They won't like it and I'd feel terrible about it.
So, anyone hear using newer hearing aids and doing well with it on the gig? Any thoughts or suggestions would helpful I'm sure.
I started wearing COSTCO hearing aids two years ago. I started playing drums when I was 13 and I'm now 72. I've lost most of my highs and other frequencies as well. I stopped gigging a three years ago for multiple reasons but now I realize I was not hearing any vocal cues, song titles, etc. on stage. Also why band members were saying things about my drums and cymbals that didn't make sense to me. And why I could never hear the piano out front or on stage...when no one else was having issues. Losing your hearing happens so slowly over such a long period of time that you just don't realize it. Are you 35 and when you get in your car you can't believe at how loud you had the volume? That's where it starts; actually it's already started. And it ain't getting better unless you make some changes. My generation did not grow up with headphones, but if yours did then you MUST address this in your life. If you're gigging in a loud band without hearing protection...take action while you can. It's a tiny investment that will make the last half of your life much more effective and pleasurable.
Sorry, didn't mean to make a speech. But while hearing aids are much better than they were, they are still a hassle and a pain in the butt. And if you ever lose your keys or glasses.....wait until you get hearing aids. OK, I'm using the actual COSTCO brand hearing aids even though COSTCO carries multiple brands. They run from $1300 to $2800 with different features. I have the $1300 ones and I have not yet played a gig with them. This Saturday I am going to a jam session with the guys I used to play with to see how then might or might not work out. Before I bought them I heard from several drummers here that they could never use them on the bandstand. I'm hoping now that's it's been a few years that maybe current technology will allow for it. It's not fair for me to try to play in a group when I can't hear certain frequencies or volume levels. They won't like it and I'd feel terrible about it.
So, anyone hear using newer hearing aids and doing well with it on the gig? Any thoughts or suggestions would helpful I'm sure.
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