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Hard-of-Hearing Advice? (1 Viewer)

gthang

Ford Focus Fanatic: mmmmmm... 3.1415926535.....
As many of you now know, I'm a hearing-impaired birder. However, I've been listening to the sounds that I hear when I'm down at the pond.

I would like some advice on how to improve my chances of spotting a bird after hearing it, and also how to amplify the sounds (all without spending a dime!).

I just got back from the pond, and must say there was a noticable difference between listening with a hooded shirt, and listening without a hooded shirt. To me, the hooded shirt not only serves as an amplification device, it also helps narrow the search area down. In fact I spotted more birds after hearing them than I have up until this point. Normally, I only see the birds when they fly out in front of me. Now, with my hood on hy head, the bird sounds were amplified and got louder the closer I turned toward the sound. In fact, I heard a mewing kind-of sound, and when I turned toward it, I saw a Grey Catbird (there were two of them later on, and they were probably defending their nest). I also spotted a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker; It seems to be at the same exact height on the same exact tree every time I see it (Probably a nest?). I could hear a bird crying like crazy from the same tree when there was nothing there.

Does anybody have advice for me to increase my chances of finding the bird that's calling, and also, I've been wanting to find a Kingfisher or an Owl down there. Any advice to find these birds?
 
Hi Gthang,

What sorts of hearing aids can you get in the US?

I don't use one myself so don't know for certain, but I think they're fairly cheap or even free here on our national health service, if a doctor prescribes one for you.

Michael
 
I wear a Behind-The-Ear hearing aid, a programmable analog one. Phonak makes them.
I don't wear it-the-ears because they're harder to remove... I like to sleep without them in.

So, any advice?
 
I once met a birder in Wells Wood in Norfolk on a particularly good October day that had hearing aids. He had the most amazing amazing ability to pick up Firecrests and Yellow-browed Warblers, but he couldn't hear a Chaffinch!
 
Though expensive a quality digital H.A is the way of the future -like digital images, programmed "manipulation" can improve sound quality, reduce interference & even allow sound filtering & enhancement....... -with one of these you'll be able to hear George Bush think (aye, right!). :h?:
 
I don't even want to hear the name George Bush... He stimulated the economy via habitat destruction, and other environmental damage. I even blame him for my hearing loss, listening to him mention the Iraqi war over and over again...
 
Steve G said:
with one of these you'll be able to hear George Bush think (aye, right!)

Erhm, as Ghtang said, no thanks...

Anyway, I myself have a problem, not so much with actually hearing the sound, but rather judging from what direction it comes from. I found an easy (and free!!!) way of improving this. When I hear a bird I fold my hands around both ears, only leaving an opening to the front (i.e. the direction I see). Then I turn my head until the voice is magnified the most. Voila! That's the direction. Even without caring to much about direction, it actually magnifies the sound quite substantially.
It may look stupid, but people always seem stop laughing when I mention what species I have located in that way ;)
 
LOL! Like I said, the hooded sweatshirt does the same thing. The only problem with your method, is that my ears whistle...
 
gthang said:
LOL! Like I said, the hooded sweatshirt does the same thing. The only problem with your method, is that my ears whistle...
I sounds as if you have the right idea with the directional hood, you just need to amplify/clarify it somehow!. I guess it would help to find another person interested in birding/wildlife you could go with!

Can just imagine another birder creeping around trying to ID and locate the strange whistling bird!.
 
Rasmus Boegh said:
Erhm, as Ghtang said, no thanks...

Anyway, I myself have a problem, not so much with actually hearing the sound, but rather judging from what direction it comes from. I found an easy (and free!!!) way of improving this. When I hear a bird I fold my hands around both ears, only leaving an opening to the front (i.e. the direction I see). Then I turn my head until the voice is magnified the most. Voila! That's the direction. Even without caring to much about direction, it actually magnifies the sound quite substantially.
It may look stupid, but people always seem stop laughing when I mention what species I have located in that way ;)

Very good advice,Rasmus.
For any doubters out there,try using the technique described by him and then turn your head towards your computer...eureka, the sound is magnified!
 
I have a somewhat similar problem but mine is more related to certain frequencies apparently. I hear the majority of birds just fine, but am completely incapable of hearing others at all. I have been within 20 ft of
Blue-Winged Warbler, Golden-Winged Warbler, and Black Throated Green Warbler while watching them through binoculars and seen them throw back their heads a belt out a song that I am simply unable to hear. I can see their throats puffed up and beaks wide open and its like nothing is coming out! My son and various other birding companions can locate these birds from hundreds of yards and I can't hear a doggone thing from them. It gets so disconcerting that at times I actually have to quit watching them (beautiful though they are) to lower my frustration level. I saw an ad or review recently for a product (I think it was in BWD) that is made for this specific problem but I believe it was @ $800.00 or so. I use Ultravids so I don't mind spending money for good products but that seems to high a price to pay. Has anyone heard of anything else that might help me? Has anyone tried a Walker's Game Ear or similar product, or do they just amplify what you can already hear? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Paul
Sioux Falls, SD
 
In a twist of irony, my hearing aid that I currently wear has prevented my from hearing certain frequencies. Without the hearing aid, I could hear the frequencies that I couldn't hear with my hearing aid... Turns out that the program for that hearing aid (the left ear) was replaced with the program from the right hearing aid, which I no longer use...
 
Rasmus Boegh said:
Erhm, as Ghtang said, no thanks...

Anyway, I myself have a problem, not so much with actually hearing the sound, but rather judging from what direction it comes from. I found an easy (and free!!!) way of improving this. When I hear a bird I fold my hands around both ears, only leaving an opening to the front (i.e. the direction I see). Then I turn my head until the voice is magnified the most. Voila! That's the direction. Even without caring to much about direction, it actually magnifies the sound quite substantially.
It may look stupid, but people always seem stop laughing when I mention what species I have located in that way ;)


Something fishy's going on here...
 
You know that when you put your hand with the palm's to the back and place them on your cheeks, and rotate them in a way that imitates gills of a fish... That's why I said that "Something fishy's going on here...". Sorry if you didn't know what I was talking about...
 
gthang said:
You know that when you put your hand with the palm's to the back and place them on your cheeks, and rotate them in a way that imitates gills of a fish... That's why I said that "Something fishy's going on here...". Sorry if you didn't know what I was talking about...

NP. I was just wondering what you ment. Absolutely no harm done ;)
 
Rasmus Boegh said:
Anyway, I myself have a problem, not so much with actually hearing the sound, but rather judging from what direction it comes from.

Got the same problem myself Rasmus, I'm totally deaf in my left ear. Sometimes I can hear that something is real close but cannot pinpoint the direction at all. I do a good impression of a Blackbird listening for worms as I swivel my head around trying to find the source of the sound.
 
I can tell you that using a hooded sweatshirt has made things much easier on my birding trips to the pond. Because the hood blocks out the sound coming from behind and the sides, you're more likely to find the bird when the sound travels directly into the hood. this directs the sounds right into your ears, and since turning your head sideways makes the sound louder and softer, you able to pinpoint the location of the bird a lot better.

In fact, I saw two heron species in one day for the third time. And they were both near each other within a few minutes.
 
try cupping your hands behind your ears and turning your head this might help. Other than that try the same with your thumbs in your ear or try them mixed until you get a better resonance. Without the db I know you can and cant hear, this is the only advice i can give, except visit a specialist and ask them to test you, and have a special aid made for you that suits your requirements.
 
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