On Sept 5, 1972, going active duty, I swore the oath twice more, once at the Los Angeles Induction Center, before the flight to Lackland AFB, and once again at Lackland, to begin 6 weeks of Basic Training.
I’ll admit there were a few times during those 6 weeks where I asked, “What in hell have I gotten myself into?” Did I mention my enlistment was not for 4 years, but for 6? Then in Sept of 1978, I did it again.
I enlisted as an aircraft mechanic. After graduating Basic Training, I left for Sheppard AFB to start my Technical Schooling. The first thing they issued me in my first class was ear plugs. I didn’t know how important they would be.
I spent the next 6 years working on an Air Force flight line. Okay, it was 7 years. In Thailand, I had a hanger job, but a taxiway was 30 feet from our shop, with a line of F-4s another 30 feet from there. The background noise was loud. While there, I spent a few weeks at the taxiway that intersected with Runway 12, working on a Crash Crew for 12-hour shifts, as we gave air cover during our final pullout in Laos, Cambodia, South Viet Nam and the recovery of the SS Mayaguez.
During those weeks on the Crash Crew, it was constant loud noise. I developed a Prickly Heat Rash by wearing ear protection 12 hours straight. A four aircraft flight of F-4s took off from our end of the runway using full afterburners. As soon as they cleared the departure end of the runway, another four aircraft flight of F-4s started their takeoff roll from Runway 30, heading our way. F-4s always take off using full afterburner. Meanwhile, at our end of the runway, another flight of four was taking their position for takeoff, with a long line waiting behind them. It was a loud environment that never stopped being loud.
When stationed state side, it became clear I was not a mechanic. I knew the systems well, and knew what to do to fix a problem, but I had no mechanical talent. So, I cross trained into a new career field. I became a Security Policeman. The new job kept me on the flight line. It wasn’t until I was PCS’d (Permanent Change of Station) to Malstrom and was assigned to a Missile Flight that I was away from loud noises, unless we were taking a Huey ride to or from our Launch Control Facility or on the range. But the damage was done.
For 11 years I was immersed in noise. Not that noise was eliminated after I left the Air Force. It was not. My hearing was such that by then I didn’t notice it as much. The bill was coming due.
I’ve had surgery on my right ear for tinnitus. I fired a handgun without ear protection one too many times. Being lefthanded, I was a bit surprised it was my right ear that took the hit.
I say “what?” “I didn’t catch that,” and “could say that again,” a lot.
My doctor sent me to an ENT to have my hearing checked. I am in Medicare now. Guess what health issue Medicare does not cover? They cover the hearing test, but not the hearing aids. Hearing aids are not cheap, not the ones that would help me the most, anyway. Sandi, my better half, got me to enroll with the VA. I enrolled over the phone, and the next morning, I had an appointment for a date 6 weeks out, at the VA not 22 miles from the house.
I knew my hearing was bad before I made my first appointment with the VA. The hearing test was done outside the VA on referral by my doctor. Even after the test I had no idea how bad it was, the doc said I had significant tinnitus my in right ear which I already knew, it was the reason I was referred to him in the first place.
On my second appointment with the VA, I picked up my hearing aids. They were programed by the Audiologist specifically to my hearing needs, then fine-tuned when I picked them up.
It was an interesting process, the fine tuning. I have no idea what he was doing. Okay I followed some of it, but not much.
The Audiologist showed me the proper way to put them on and take them off, then he put them in my ears and powered them up. I was shocked at what I could hear when they came on, such as his shoes on the carpet and sound of the fabric of his clothes as he moved back to his chair. What surprised me the most, was the sound of my voice.
I was already in love with these hearing aids.
We paired both hearing aids to the App on my phone before I left. Each side set to 0. There are 5 settings above and below 0, so, this seemed best. I could hear my shoes on the pavement. I could hear each breath I took. Driving home, I could hear the turn signal click and the sharp snap as the turn signal lever snapped off. Small things, but things I have not heard in years. I had forgotten what every day things sounded like.
When I got home and walked from my truck to the house, it sounded like there were birds everywhere in our yard. Inside the house Sandi turned her back to me and whispered, “Can you hear me?” WOW, loud and clear. In hearing my own voice as loud as it now sounds has had unexpected fallout, Sandi keeps telling me I need to speak up.
In our office, the place where our computers are located, the clock on the wall is giving a loud tick tock. I knew it made that sound, but before the hearing aids, I had to concentrate to hear it. Now it was starting to get on my nerves. Watching TV without having to guess or ask about what was said is awesome. Before I was getting about 70% or less of what was said. Now I get about 95% or more. Learning how to use the app to get the best hearing for the environment I am in is going to take time. So is learning to ignore having speakers stuffed in my ears and the rest of the aids behind my ears.
My attempt to link my hearing aids to the Bluetooth on my MacBook Air kept failing. Going to YouTube was frustrating. Use the term Mac and the search gives results for iPhone and tablets. Using Bing gave much the same results. I had to get creative. But the results were mixed as in ranging from it how to do it, too, it could not be done.
The next step was the Phonak P90 Facebook Page, which was helpful.
I got up put in my hearing aids. The floor squeaks. In the kitchen making breakfast, there is a bird outside the window singing away. I am sure that bird has been there most, if not all mornings, but now I can hear her.
We went shopping. I knew there was music pipped in as at times I could hear it. Today I could hear the words and tell you where it was coming from. Plastic and paper sacks are noisy in the car.
The responses to my question in the Phonak P90 Facebook page continue to come in, so, I sit down to try once again. After several attempts, my right hearing aid pairs with my Mac. It works for about 3 seconds then quits. The left hearing aid won’t pair at all. But now, my right hearing aid won’t pair with phone app no matter what I do. It is annoying to control the volume on the left but not the right via the app. Then I remember, these hearing aids are mini computers. What do you do when a computer won’t do what it is supposed to do? You re-boot it of course. I grab the User Guide supplied with the hearing aids and follow the re-booting instructions, then attempt to pair the right hearing aid to phone app. Success. But what about the Mac Bluetooth pairing. I go to YouTube and pick a video, low and behold the left haring aid has paired. I decide I’ll take the win and stop there. A few minutes later, I am back on YouTube and both hearing aids are paired. How you may ask. I have no idea. I just pray I don’t have to do that again.
The next morning both hearing aids are still paired to phone and MacBook.
Update, I have to pair them once in a while. The easy way is to put them in the charger for about 30 seconds then pair them to the MacBook.
It can hear my keyboard, and Sandi using her mouse on the other side of our partner’s desk. The TV “Clicker” actually clicks. Who knew?
One evening about a week after I got my hearing aids I told Sandi to mute the TV, I could hear the Tornado Warning Siren at the RV park ¾ of a mile away. Yes, I have heard it before, but when the TV was off or I was outside and only when it was pointed at me when it was rotating. This time I heard it inside and over the sound of the TV. The storm popped up, spun up a Tornado, and within 3 or 4 minutes died out to a moderate rain event. Thank you, Jesus!
I average about 14 hours of wear time and for the most part don’t notice them as much. But when I take them out at night, the silence gets my attention.
I had my follow-up appointment with the Audiologist at the VA after about 2 and a half months.
A few weeks before, I removed and cleaned the dome on the left hearing aid. Later that day the dome came off when I removed the hearing aid. I looked for it but they are not large or easy to see. I put on a new one. At my appointment, Doc found the missing dome still in my ear. Doc said it happens all the time. She had to work to get it out, and to be honest, it was an uncomfortable time getting it out. Doc said she had one patient that FOUR domes stuck in one ear. Okay, one, I understand, but FOUR?
Hearing aids have opened up sound for me once again. They cannot cure my hearing loss and some frequencies are gone for good in this life, but what I can hear now is awesome.
Of course, just as I was getting used to phone app, Phonak decided to upgrade to a new one. I miss some of the finer functions the old app had. Still, I can set up for different conditions as needed. Just pair to the phone and select the condition I need. I can then fine tune it from there. The TV setting works great with all but the Hallmark Channel(s). From some reason their productions love loud music while people are talking. So, I set up the TV setting to help with those channels, and use the Automatic settings for other TV channels and general everyday situations.
I have changed the domes and wax guards on both hearing aids for the first time today, 30 Aug, and both feel more comfortable. And I think I hear better, though I didn’t see wax in the wax guards. Okay, I think you would need a large and clean magnifying glass to see if there is wax in the guards.
I thank God for inventing the people that have invented this technology, and the work they are continuing to do on this issue.