Hearing Aids and Bass Boats

[2tall79]

Hey all,
I just picked up my first pair of HAs and I was wondering how they do at 50 mph in an open bass boat.  They are the behind the ear RIC type. Do any of you take precautions?  How so?  Thanks

[Jig Man]

I would like to know how you make out.  One of the guys who fishes with me won’t wear his in the boat.  He says the wind noise is too much for him.

[MickD]

Don't even take them to the water unless you simply cannot hear without them.  Then protect them with a buff and be very careful when removing the buff that you don't lose the aid.  Too easy to lose when working with buffs, hats, sunscreen, etc.  Don't ask me how I know.

 

I doubt if they are insured.  Normal homeowners policies don't cover them and few companies offer insurance even with extra pay specifically for the aids.  

 

With mine the wind noise was not a problem, (I seldom took them on the water and always wore a buff) but they would make the engine noise worse.  As one would expect.  I expect at 50 mph and no coverage like a buff that the wind would take them right off.  

[2tall79]

I bought them at Costco and they do cover loss and damage for two years......but only once.  I think I might just leave them in the truck.  Thanks

[WRB]

They are a problem waiting to happen in a bass boat, especially if you are not use to wearing them. Hearing aids are not water proof and magnify sounds you don't hear or tuned out without them. They are helpful hearing natures sounds, birds, animals and fish splashing. Not a easy call.

Be careful and try the hearing aids being aware you have them in. If you fish with a partner that mumbles all the time it's nice to know what is being said...or maybe not!

Tom

 

[NHBull]

I got mine last year and they are water resistant.  I did swim with them once and they were OK.  The wind can be aggravating 

 so I started  wearing a necktie over my ears or a hat with a back flap.Driving the boat was not an issue.....fishing with the wind from the back or side is. 

[MickD]

I've worn my Phonaks into the shower a number of times for short dunks and they were not damaged.  The only times I ever took them fishing in the boat was when I forgot them.  I have very severe hearing loss at high frequencies, but normal at low frequencies.  I never thought I was gaining anything with them on in the boat.  Mine were covered by Auto Owners home owners policy with a rider, but AO doesn't offer the rider any more.  I think they were losing to fraud and carelessness.

[WRB]

Hearing loss is common with men over 50 and that is about 50% or more of the bass anglers on this site, good topic. Most of us have loose hearing in the low and high frequencies with OK levels in the mid range. Women voices are usually in the upper mid range so men can't hear them well. Caution, aides improve hearing all frequencies including women voices.

I am not sure how I lost my lost most of my hearing, shooting and drag racing didn't help, but it's mostly inherited. I knew it was time when listening to live concerts and couldn't hear instruments I could see being played. It's amazing how hearing loss occurs slowly over time until it's nearly gone. If you have aides wear them, they prolong your hearing ability improving quality of life. Wind noise becomes white noise in a short time as you adjust to hearing sounds that have been missing for years.

Tom

 

[The Bassman]

34 minutes ago, WRB said:

Hearing loss is common with men over 50 and that is about 50% or more of the bass anglers on this site, good topic. Most of us have loose hearing in the low and high frequencies with OK levels in the mid range. Women voices are usually in the upper mid range so men can't hear them well. Caution, aides improve hearing all frequencies including women voices.

I am not sure how I lost my lost most of my hearing, shooting and drag racing didn't help, but it's mostly inherited. I knew it was time when listening to live concerts and couldn't hear instruments I could see being played. It's amazing how hearing loss occurs slowly over time until it's nearly gone. If you have aides wear them, they prolong your hearing ability improving quality of life. Wind noise becomes white noise in a short time as you adjust to hearing sounds that have been missing for years.

Tom

 

Really not trying to be silly but would like to hear more about your drag racing experience. I know southern CA was where it became popular and have to believe that you're familiar with a lot of names from the 60's.

[WRB]

54 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Really not trying to be silly but would like to hear more about your drag racing experience. I know southern CA was where it became popular and have to believe that you're familiar with a lot of names from the 60's.

Off topic,

A good friends dad was into drag and dry lake racing. I started driving my freinds C fuel altered in the late 50's and C fuel to A fuel dragsters until late 60's so know most of SoCal racers of that era.

where I worked the sales mgr owned a fuel flat bottom and know some of the drag boat racers from the late 60's to early 70's.

Tom

[2tall79]

3 hours ago, MickD said:

Don't even take them to the water unless you simply cannot hear without them.  Then protect them with a buff and be very careful when removing the buff that you don't lose the aid.  Too easy to lose when working with buffs, hats, sunscreen, etc.  Don't ask me how I know.

 

I doubt if they are insured.  Normal homeowners policies don't cover them and few companies offer insurance even with extra pay specifically for the aids.  

 

With mine the wind noise was not a problem, (I seldom took them on the water and always wore a buff) but they would make the engine noise worse.  As one would expect.  I expect at 50 mph and no coverage like a buff that the wind would take them right off.  

Losing them is my main concern.  They are so tiny and light weight , I probably wouldn't even notice.  I lost one in the house last week and found it in the dog's bed where it fell.  My app has a "Find My Device" feature or I never would have found them......I don't think it works underwater though.

[WRB]

Your sun glasses help to hold the aides on the top of your ear, but they also tend to remove them if you remove the glasses and forget you are wearing them. My suggestion is try them being aware you have them on. I have driven bass boats over 80 mph with hearing aides on, just don't turn your head.

Good luck, getting old isn't easy.

Tom

PS, they weren't in the dog!

[Columbia Craw]

At seven grand, I'm not willing to risk losing mine.   Having hearing loss is the pits.

[papajoe222]

I leave them in the truck the majority of the time.  The better half insisted I wear them when we're out together, well, until last year. I lost one while portaging from one strip pit to another. I didn't notice it, but she insisted I'd turned them off, because I kept asking her to repeat herself. Expensive mistake on my part. Now, she just yells, but she gets tired of doing that eventually and just keeps quiet. Silver lining. ?

[Hammer 4]

Yeah, at 7k..medicare doesn't cover hearing. I lost 65% of the upper freq's due to shooting and loud music, now I have to live with it, just can't afford to buy them..