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Bose Hearphones

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Re: Bose Hearphones

#301
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a similar problem in loud spaces. Given my activities (motorcycling, guitar playing, powertools, etc) I had assumed my hearing was bad, but when I went to an ENT/audiologist for unrelated things I had them give me a good test on a whim. For me, the results were that I have hearing ability on-par with a ~5 year old, and they only see adults like me every 18 months or so. I've got a printoff of the chart around…

>"For me, the results were that I have hearing ability on-par with a ~5 year old, and they only see adults like me every 18 months or so." Can you elaborate on this? Is this good? Does that age correspond with undamaged hearing?

Yeah, that's the implication. Age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis; it's quite common. Some of it can be attributed to being exposed to loud noises throughout our lives.

Re: Bose Hearphones

#302

For what it's worth, this tech has been available in hearing aids for a long time already. I carry a remote that can: * switch my hearing aids between 5 different programs depending on the environment. * play "fractal" like tones to combat my tinnitus * adjust the volume including muting the outside world * play music from anything with a 3.5mm jack (bluetooth also available) * hear calls from my phone * probably mor…

[deleted]

Re: Bose Hearphones

#303

For what it's worth, this tech has been available in hearing aids for a long time already. I carry a remote that can: * switch my hearing aids between 5 different programs depending on the environment. * play "fractal" like tones to combat my tinnitus * adjust the volume including muting the outside world * play music from anything with a 3.5mm jack (bluetooth also available) * hear calls from my phone * probably mor…

I think (or rather I hope) that it's the price tag and ease of acquiring them that makes this special.

I have wished to friends and to a couple people like me for a hearing aid for hyper-vigilant people. Something that turned down the entire world, except for human speech, by 10-20 dB. I have my fingers crossed that these Bose devices can be re-purposed for this, just by turning down the gain to near ambient, so I can finally have some fucking peace and quiet.

Then maybe I won't think these open seating environments are the worst development in software for the last twenty years...

Re: Bose Hearphones

#304
post #58
post #2

Someone will have to explain the difference between these and your average hearing aids, which perform a very similar function, but tuned by an audiologist to your needs.

Hearing aids compensate for a health problem, the goal here seems to be to improve hearing even for those that don't have hearing problems. If hearing aids are glasses, these are binoculars/telescopes/microscopes.

Maybe a better analogy is ... if hearing aids are glasses, these are reading glasses.

i.e. off-the-shelf, self-diagnosed, cheap and easy solution for part-time use without getting "medical"

(I say "cheap" because I don't know what the Hearphones will cost but I've helped relatives shop for hearing aids and WOW ... from what I gather, as you step up in price in a company's line of hearing aids, ticking off more boxes in their feature matrix, they're probably just enabled bits of code in an otherwise identical DSP ... and the price increments go like this: $3K-$4K-$5K),

Re: Bose Hearphones

#305
post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have the opposite problem. I can understand people fine in noisy environments, but I can't speak loudly enough for other people to understand me. The end result is pretty much the same, though. I end up not really talking to people much in super noisy environments because it's too much of a struggle for me to try to talk loudly enough.

That's an early warning sign of Parkinson's disease. You might want to google and make sure you don't have any of the other early warning symptoms.

It's very interesting and a little scary that you mention that because, while I don't have any of the other warning signs, my grandfather recently passed away just short of the age of 80 from complications due to Parkinson's. For my own sanity I don't want to jump to any conclusions but I'll look into it, and I thank you for the suggestion. For what it's worth my voice has been relatively low and soft my whole life, so it's not a recent change or development. (I'm currently 27.)

Re: Bose Hearphones

#306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I went to an audiologist a few years back because I could hear certain things that would drive me up the wall. I thought it might be tinnitus or something like that- I ride motorcycles, am on the water in boats, use power tools, etc. Turns out I have exceptional hearing as well, and much better high frequency responses than an average 30 year old. Certain cheap lights and power transformers can drive me absolutely fr…

This is me too. Also, treble-heavy noises like squeaks drive me insane.

There is not a hinge in my life that goes un-lubricated.

Re: Bose Hearphones

#307
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do hearing aids with those feature cost? I feel like even premium Bose products would be cheap in comparison

Yes, they're expensive. I think I payed $6000 total for 2 hearing aids with a 3 year service contract and expect them to last 5-6 years (possibly longer). You can certainly get cheaper ones though without all the bells and whistles. You're right though, Bose is going to have to come in way below that price ;)

I've been amazed for a long time at the cost of hearing aids. Surely the tech is not that costly nor that specialised? How much do those $6k devices cost to make, I can't imagine it's even a 10th of the sale price?

Re: Bose Hearphones

#308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also known as the "I'm certain there's a TV that was left on somewhere in this house" phenomenon. I agree, annoying as hell.

Where "left on" means "merely plugged in, because they used a shitty noisy capacitor that whines even when on standby" OTOH, unplugging those devices saves you energy.

Exactly, it doesn't even need to have a picture on the screen.

Re: Bose Hearphones

#309
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a similar problem in loud spaces. Given my activities (motorcycling, guitar playing, powertools, etc) I had assumed my hearing was bad, but when I went to an ENT/audiologist for unrelated things I had them give me a good test on a whim. For me, the results were that I have hearing ability on-par with a ~5 year old, and they only see adults like me every 18 months or so. I've got a printoff of the chart around…

I went to an audiologist a few years back because I could hear certain things that would drive me up the wall. I thought it might be tinnitus or something like that- I ride motorcycles, am on the water in boats, use power tools, etc. Turns out I have exceptional hearing as well, and much better high frequency responses than an average 30 year old. Certain cheap lights and power transformers can drive me absolutely fr…

I've wondered if hearing loss can be induced purposely for specific ranges for cases like this. Maybe just loud sound of a given frequency would work since that would only resonate with and damage its associated hairs inside the ear.
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