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Anyone else enjoying retirement as much as me?

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I thought I was enjoying retirement til reading all this hearing loss stuff. :argh:

Have tinnitus and don't hear very high frequencies anymore. Don't hear many of the cicadas when on walks with the family anymore. guess that could be a blessing.

Maybe I'll ask the VA or TriCare and see about getting some hearing aids someday.

But... 5 1/2 years later since retiring at age 40 and not getting another W2 paying job has been wonderful. Many folks that retire from the military seem to lose purpose, but I'm loving life more than I ever have. Living life with my wife and watching our 12 year old daughter grow up is a blast.

Mowing 1 acre is fun too....
 
After the VA gave me a set, I realized we have birds in the yard, the cicadas that I was hearing constantly were not there anymore (tinnitus) and the little clicky thing got real loud when you hit the turn signal in my truck. The best part is being able to NOT hear the tinnitus sounds when I have them in. Even if I couldn't hear better, the reduction/elimination of the tinnitus would be worth wearing the hearing aids.
 
tejasbusa said:
After the VA gave me a set, I realized we have birds in the yard, the cicadas that I was hearing constantly were not there anymore (tinnitus) and the little clicky thing got real loud when you hit the turn signal in my truck. The best part is being able to NOT hear the tinnitus sounds when I have them in. Even if I couldn't hear better, the reduction/elimination of the tinnitus would be worth wearing the hearing aids.
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I wish my wife's hearing aids worked better. I'm soft spoken, and I have to raise my voice still, which makes me sound like I'm mad. I also have to work hard at facing her when I'm talking. Getting on my knees in front of her doesn't hurt, LOL.
 
lddave said:
I have had three years of good results with $1500 Phillip’s hearing aids from Costco .
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I’m happy with my Costco set.

They replaced a ~$5200 set from an audiologist - after those finally died.

The Costco’s are just as good- but I had to have them set to my liking as I learned what they could be / do by having the expensive pair first.


Ear Cones with holes in them are the ticket for allowing some ambient noise to pass through to the ear canal. Solid cones don’t work well for me as it feels like I have ear plugs with microphones in.

For any of y’all using similar Hearing Aids that have solid cones I would give these holy ones a shot. They’re free if you ask for them wherever you got your hearing aids from- Costco in my case, I like them much better myself.
 

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Thats been a issue for me all along , the audiologist say I need solid cones and I cant stand the plugged ear roaring noise . I just walk out of their office and find another one when they think they know more about what I need to hear than I do . Good thing Im not paying for them .
 
I run solid on my really bad ear and vented on the other. I was told the reason is really bad ear needs about all the hearing aid can output and the other is just a helper with improving targeted losses of ambient sounds.

I hear the roaring in the bad ear all the time - it is only relieved a little bit when the aids are in
 
If I am lazy and ride without earplugs just 6 miles to the Thorndale Mall (Dollar General) and back my hearing is really bad that evening while watching TV. Usually an old movie from the 40's or 50's. I recently bought a box of 200 earplug sets or would it be earplugs sets. Two to a set individually packaged.
 
I wore plugs all the time when I rode for years , Howard Light corded . Boxs of them and bagged sets in every pocket . And the fridge , I discovered they are really easy to insert when they are cold and expand real slowly to a perfect fit every time. but last couple years I would put the plugs in and hear absolutely nothing . And I am not comfortable hearing nothing when Im on my bikes . I dont hear sirens if Im in my truck with the windows up now .
 
Texasrider58 said:
Please let me know what your complete assessment of them are. Once you get them, I would order the filters, they keep earwax out of the aids. I get them from Amazon also. Keeping your ears clear will help a good deal too with the aids and filter replacement. Hope they do what you need. I could only speak for my experience. My hearing is pretty bad and left ear is about gone. I had them tested and they say my inner ear part is the problem.
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Not great so far. Might help a little. Only been 24 hrs. Still messing with them.
 
I got used to mine. I lost a left one and bought another set. Took me a while to get comfortable with them. I hope I didn't give you a false sense into purchasing them. We each hear differently. I know my left is gone but this set does help me. Good enough I can deal with it acceptably.
 
Texasrider58 said:
I got used to mine. I lost a left one and bought another set. Took me a while to get comfortable with them. I hope I didn't give you a false sense into purchasing them. We each hear differently. I know my left is gone but this set does help me. Good enough I can deal with it acceptably.
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Oh nothing against you, maybe it'll work out. Know what's funny. My wife has bugged me for months to get these, I've worn part of 2 days, she hasn't snapped to it yet. Lol.
 
I struggle with tv volume as I listen at around 35 volume control. The wife says that is way too loud for her. When I wear the aids the volume is set around 15. I will say, being retired and away from shop noise has helped me out some. I do have riding that changes pitch and level. These are not perfect by no means but the expensive ones did not help me.
 
Texasrider58 said:
I got used to mine. I lost a left one and bought another set. Took me a while to get comfortable with them. I hope I didn't give you a false sense into purchasing them. We each hear differently. I know my left is gone but this set does help me. Good enough I can deal with it acceptably.
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Keep messing with the settings, got it close now. Might be worth it. And wife still hasn't snapped to it. Even when I turned tv down.
 
Texasrider58 said:
Just curious, have the aids helped any ?
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They help although it seems like they just magnify everything, guess what choice, lol. Just haven't came to terms with them. Uncomfortable so don't wear like i should. I know growup and use them. Which I will.
 
In some settings it seems to magnify a good bit. I guess I have gotten used to them. They are not perfect but they do help me some. More so than the 4.5K to 5K models before. I no longer buy batteries either. Hope I didn't sway you in the wrong direction.
 
Texasrider58 said:
In some settings it seems to magnify a good bit. I guess I have gotten used to them. They are not perfect but they do help me some. More so than the 4.5K to 5K models before. I no longer buy batteries either. Hope I didn't sway you in the wrong direction.
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Nope, it'll workout! I was just hoping it'd be night and day like my eyewear addition was. lol
 
Just posted a CO comment and realized something.

However will I not get hurt, sued, or arrested now that I am not
- taking ~100 annually mandated HSE, ethics, financial, and HR trainings,
- wearing fall protection etc over 4ft,
- not certified to, but working on, my own electrical circuits, plumbing, equipment et al
- getting 6 mon 3rd party inspection and yearly proof test on my engine hoist and lift gear
- wearing FRE’s in my shop,

I have even (GASP) run a machine w/o a guard and bypassed safety controls

That’s it - I’m fired
 
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FE_Rex said:
Just posted a CO comment and realized something.

However will I not get hurt, sued, or arrested now that I am not
- taking ~100 annually mandated HSE, ethics, financial, and HR trainings,
- wearing fall protection etc over 4ft,
- certified to, but working on, my own electrical circuits, plumbing, equipment et al
- getting 6 mon 3rd party inspection and yearly proof test on my engine hoist and lift gear
- wearing FRE’s in my shop,

I have even (GASP) run a machine w/o a guard and bypassed safety controls

That’s it - I’m fired
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Interesting. From working and in a supervisor roll for years, it has made me conscious about safety. It has changed my mindset working around equipment at home. Power equipment and especially around moving and operating farm equipment such as swather, balers, etc. I catch myself being mindful of the safety aspects of daily life.
 
Texasrider58 said:
Interesting. From working and in a supervisor roll for years, it has made me conscious about safety. It has changed my mindset working around equipment at home. Power equipment and especially around moving and operating farm equipment such as swather, balers, etc. I catch myself being mindful of the safety aspects of daily life.
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I’m with you - 37 years in the oilfield designing, building, experimenting with equipment running up to 40kpsi and 600F has really shaped how I run the home machine shop, tractors, balers, use lifting gear etc

But really - did you need to have annual training that never changes content or format on: don’t pour oil in the parking lot, don’t pat Betty’s backside, don’t steal scrap, don’t go up 40 ft w/o a harness etc
 
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