[Tweeters] Hearing Aids for Birding?

[Tom Benedict via Tweeters]

>When I’m with some young birding friends with excellent hearing, my friends occasionally hear some high-pitched voices way up there that I struggle to hear.  Maybe I’m asking too much, but the frequencies seem to top out at about 8000 Hz, even when adjusted with the equalizer.  But it's a lot better than it used to be. 


Yup. The audiologist I used told me “I cannot restore hearing. Once it is lost it is gone. What I can do is improve what is left."


>The other problem with hearing aids is they amplify all sounds, not just the birds you want to hear.  So rivers, highways, footsteps, people talking, etc, are louder as well, sometimes getting in the way of hearing the birds. 


Among other things. Who knew that slippers were so loud? And the sound of wind hitting the windshield while driving! I stopped wearing my hearing aids at dinner and when loud talkers are around. I’m a nervous and anxious type in general and have grown accustomed to my ‘quiet’ so don’t use the hearing aids unless I’m going to a presentation or music performance.

Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA


> On Aug 10, 2025, at 13:56, Bob Boekelheide via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> 

> Hi Jim,

> 

> I use Phillips hearing aids I bought at Costco, which work very well for me.  At Costco they have “hearing aid specialists,” not audiologists.  Before buying mine, I visited both an official audiologist as well as a Costco hearing aid store, both of which gave me what seemed like virtually identical hearing tests with virtually the same results.  The main difference was that the Phillips hearing aids at Costco cost $1500 and the other hearing aids through the commercial store cost $4500 - $6000.  Just like the more expensive hearing aids, the Phillips use a cell phone app to choose different “programs” and sound levels, as well as an equalizer to adjust frequencies within each program.  The app works very well, recently updated to increase its speed.  I hate to sound like a Costco commercial, but it seemed like a no-brainer to buy the ones at Costco, which include free cleanings without an appointment and regular free appointments for adjustments and updates.      

> 

> When I first went in, I jokingly told the “specialist” that my measure of success is to hear Golden-crowned Kinglets 100 feet up in the Doug-firs.  I was losing high-frequency hearing above 3000 Hz, which these hearing aids definitely help.  I’ve been very pleased, but….  I can now hear Golden-crowned Kinglets surprisingly well when they are nearby, but, dang it, I still have trouble hearing them 100 feet up in the Doug-firs.  When I’m with some young birding friends with excellent hearing, my friends occasionally hear some high-pitched voices way up there that I struggle to hear.  Maybe I’m asking too much, but the frequencies seem to top out at about 8000 Hz, even when adjusted with the equalizer.  But it's a lot better than it used to be.  There are a whole lot of bird sounds between 3000 and 8000 Hz.

> 

> The other problem with hearing aids is they amplify all sounds, not just the birds you want to hear.  So rivers, highways, footsteps, people talking, etc, are louder as well, sometimes getting in the way of hearing the birds. 

> 

> Hope this helps,    

> Bob Boekelheide

> Dungeness          

> 

> 

> From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu <mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu>>

> Subject: [Tweeters] Hearing Aids for Birding?

> Date: August 9, 2025 at 10:22:23 AM PDT

> To: via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu <mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu>>

> Reply-To: jimbetz at jimbetz.com <mailto:jimbetz at jimbetz.com>

> 

> 

> Hi,

> 

>   I'm interested in knowing what others experience is with hearing aids

> and the use of them for birding.  Please include brand names for the aids

> you have used/are using.  Also please share how well/not so well they

> are for the purposes of birding.  Thanks!

>                                   - Jim in Skagit

> 

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