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Shooting Ear Buds as Hearing Aids or Vice Versa

6ShotsOr5?

6ShotsOr5?

NBRSA TSRA NRA
Gold $$ Contributor
Due to family complaints, it’s time for me to either get some hearing aids or a new family. I’m working on the first option at this time.

Is anyone using their shooting electronic ear buds as daily wear hearing aids? Alternatively are you using your regular in-ear hearing aids as hearing protection when shooting? If yes to either question, what product are you using and what are the pros/cons you have experienced?

I found a lot in past threads about what electronic ear buds people liked for shooting but nothing about the daily wear hearing aid angle.
 
This is my 3rd set of hearing aids and, by far, the most advanced to date.
this is the first set that has suppression capabilities to assist with higher decibel noises.
First observation, based on my experience.
I venture 99% of the shooting ear buds are NOT made with the sophisticated electronics needed to serve tuning them to help you hear daily goings on around you. If there are those will likely cost as much or more as a set of very good hearing aids.
Second, and this one is painful.
You will never be able to buy hearing aids that will allow you to hear as well as the original equipment God gave you. AND please do not ever count on hearing aids to provide adequate hearing protection from the Db's associated with gun fire.
 
6ShotsOr5? said:
Thanks @shoot4fun, don’t worry, I haven’t decided to try this … at this time I just want to know how it worked out when somebody else did it.
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When set in the proper mode I am able to get suppression for 22LR (especially suppressed rifle) but no way for anything centerfire. I could do okay firing a CF suppressed if I wasn't on the firing line with other unsuppressed and/or braked rifles.
 
I take out my hearing aids, I get 'feedback' from my attenuators. I'm able to turn up my attenuators for conversation and range commands. I've tried the electronic 'ear buds' (Walkers) they were unsatisfactory, so I gave them away. I could not get a good fit. I shoot mostly 17HMR, 17 Hornady Hornet and 222 Rem. If I shoot something bigger I wear foam plugs and my attenuators. I got my hearing aids at Costco, reasonable price and I get the world's best service without charge, I highly recommend them. The people are salaried, they don't work on commission.
 
Kittitas George said:
I take out my hearing aids, I get 'feedback' from my attenuators. I'm able to turn up my attenuators for conversation and range commands. I've tried the electronic 'ear buds' (Walkers) they were unsatisfactory, so I gave them away. I could not get a good fit. I shoot mostly 17HMR, 17 Hornady Hornet and 222 Rem. If I shoot something bigger I wear foam plugs and my attenuators. I got my hearing aids at Costco, reasonable price and I get the world's best service without charge, I highly recommend them. The people are salaried, they don't work on commission.
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+1
 
gary0529 said:
+1
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not for range use ,but i bought a set of audien atom hearing aids for under 200 dollars and they work great.they store in a little charged case that keeps them charged of if the charge goes dowm pull the little case out of your pocket and put them back in and they recharge very quickly.volume adjustable.they work great but are not for range use.i have worn them all day and have never had them go dead. you have to get use to any hearing aids.
 
I take out my hearing aids at the range and wear walker razor muffs. I prefer full coverage of my ears. I was told by an audiologist that ear plugs are not enough protection.
 
br1111 said:
not for range use ,but i bought a set of audien atom hearing aids for under 200 dollars and they work great.they store in a little charged case that keeps them charged of if the charge goes dowm pull the little case out of your pocket and put them back in and they recharge very quickly.volume adjustable.they work great but are not for range use.i have worn them all day and have never had them go dead. you have to get use to any hearing aids.
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One thing for sure and food for thought, those you bought are $5000+ less than the guy with a shingle out selling them down the street.
 
Just got a set of Phonak hearing aids 4 days ago. They work great but haven't been in a crowd yet. Gal said they could be worn when shooting. Put my muffs over them, fired a shot....WRONG....went back to fitted plugs and muffs. No biggie.

Never could shoot without double plugging.

How much are Costco's?
 
I have a set of Oticon hearing aids that cost $6K.The audiologist said that they have clipper technology that will close at the sound of gunfire or other loud sounds. She also said, "do NOT use them for hearing protection at the range. They are not intended for that use". She did say that they can be worn with quality over-the-head hearing protection but that sounds counter-intuitive to me. I remove mine before getting out of my truck.

I wear a pair of high quality Sordins and they are better than anything that I've ever worn before.
 
D Coots said:
Just got a set of Phonak hearing aids 4 days ago. They work great but haven't been in a crowd yet. Gal said they could be worn when shooting. Put my muffs over them, fired a shot....WRONG....went back to fitted plugs and muffs. No biggie.

Never could shoot without double plugging.

How much are Costco's?
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Thanks to everyone that has responded.

@D Coots I’m not sure about all the hearing aids from Costco but for the models I’ve been looking at, the over the ear rechargeable models are around $1500, and the in ear models which have regular batteries are $2000.
 
Kittitas George said:
I've tried the electronic 'ear buds' (Walkers) they were unsatisfactory, so I gave them away. I could not get a good fit.
Click to expand...

Fit, as in sealing the ear canal, or fit as in being comfortable? Or both, I suppose.

I have a pair of Etymotic amplified plugs. I ended up modding them, replacing the supplied ear tips (the piece that goes into the ear canal) with a pair of soft foam ear plugs with a hole punched through them. I lose some of the amplification, but they're now comfortable enough to wear all day.

Ignore if not interested: I use Moldies Softies plugs (can find them on Amazon), compress them lengthwise into a small disk, and punch a small hole longitudinally with a leather plier-type hole punch. On my plugs the ear tip attaches by pushing a small silicone tube over a stud on the device; I use the original silicone tube (or a piece of replacement tube) and contact cement the plug to the tube. Attenuation of outside noise is greatly increased, and amplification is only slightly diminished. Increased comfort is the greatest advantage.
 
divingin said:
Fit, as in sealing the ear canal, or fit as in being comfortable? Or both, I suppose.

I have a pair of Etymotic amplified plugs. I ended up modding them, replacing the supplied ear tips (the piece that goes into the ear canal) with a pair of soft foam ear plugs with a hole punched through them. I lose some of the amplification, but they're now comfortable enough to wear all day.

Ignore if not interested: I use Moldies Softies plugs (can find them on Amazon), compress them lengthwise into a small disk, and punch a small hole longitudinally with a leather plier-type hole punch. On my plugs the ear tip attaches by pushing a small silicone tube over a stud on the device; I use the original silicone tube (or a piece of replacement tube) and contact cement the plug to the tube. Attenuation of outside noise is greatly increased, and amplification is only slightly diminished. Increased comfort is the greatest advantage.
Click to expand...
I tried changing the ear part without any success. Also the connecting wire could get along with my shirt collar, turning my head pulled the ear piece out.
Thank you for the response, Merry Christmas, George
 
I would like to use 'ear buds', the attenuators I have (3 pairs) don't fit, I get my cheek pinched. Maybe my face is just too fat. The 'ear bud' sales reps should do clinics at the various sportsmen shows. They may increase sales or discover more ways to accommodate fit. I don't know if the 'big box' outdoor stores stock the more expensive 'ear buds'. But purchasing just for fit would be a pain in the neck. Maybe a well advertised "clinic' at a 'big box' store would work.
 
I have Meniere's Disease so my right ear is for all intents, about 90% deaf. I've been using the ESP Elite Classic (analog) for about 20 years. They are custom fit (molded) and fit nicely for all day comfort https://www.espamerica.com/elite-classic/

I've been using them for all of my shooting needs as well as for my sound amplification needs for the past 20 years. They work well for hearing rustling leaves when hunting, or in everyday situations such as gatherings, etc. .

The one place they don't work well is noisy restaurants, the banging and clanging amplification drives me nuts and I usually just avoid thse types of settings.

Hopefully this coming year I am going to order the Apex digital model and give them a try. Hoping the custom tuning of this model is able to accomplish more yet.

Ymmv.

Bryan
 
Sign language. Wife has been bugging me about hearing aids and my response is that "I've heard at all before." Parkinson's has taken her voice, for the most part, and signing makes sense to me.

My granddaughter goes to a school for the deaf and blind, so I thought that signing is something, as grandparents, we could do to communicate with her. I know what your thinking and no she's not blind.

Classes are free. I hope your first solution works out for you.
 
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