Using Headset with Hearing Aids…

[Piper J3]

I posted this about a year ago in VAF > Main > RV General Discussion > Deaf Pilots. I’d like to post here in the RV-12 thread if moderators will allow - reason is many Light Sport Pilots are older folks who may be afflicted with hearing loss. The original post didn’t get much play I think because the post was difficult to find. Maybe the moderators would even allow this to become a sticky thread.

I have been using hearing aids in conjunction with aviation headsets for over twenty years and not satisfied with the result until I discovered hearing aids that are Bluetooth controlled by cell phone. The hearing aids I wear are behind-the-ear. The problem with using conventional hearing aids is feedback when the headset is placed over the ear. Because the hearing aid is trapped inside the cup of the headset the microphone and transducer get into a feedback loop.

Enter new hearing aid technology that includes Telecoil option. Telecoil receives electromagnetic signals instead of acoustic sound waves. This solves the feedback problem when wearing headset in conjunction with hearing aids. Not all hearing aids have Telecoil – it is an option that is specified at time of purchase.

Here’s the setup… Have your audiologist make a special program titled “Airplane” that is selected on your cell phone. This program does several things automatically – shuts off (mute) microphones in both hearing aids, turns on Telecoil, and sets correct gain (volume). I have an Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset, so in essence, I have double the background noise reduction – hearing aid microphone shut off and the ANR. Dead quiet and zero feedback... win-win situation. The Telecoil has outstanding audio quality. I can finally hear ATC and CTAF very distinctly. Intercom in the airplane is now pure pleasure. With the above setup my RV-12 now sounds like a very quiet turbine...

[Norman CYYJ]

I got my audiologist to make one of the programs for use in a plane with a headset. That program is down 6db from the normal listening mode. Works very well and no feedback.

[Richard Spatz]

Jim & Norman,

Can each of you share the specific brand/manufacturer and model number?

This might help the rest of us who have not been able locate a hearing aid which successfully works inside of a headset.

Thanks
Richard

[Piper J3]

Sure…

Philips Brand HearLink 9010 miniRITE T
Purchased at Costco - Mar 2019

The key is a digital hearing aid with multiple programs selectable by Bluetooth cell phone. Hearing aid needs to have Telecoil. Most mfgrs have Telecoil option when placing order.

[Handclutch]

Phonak Marvel 70. I had to insist on Telecoil option as the young things saw it as old technology and couldn’t understand initially why Bluetooth wouldn’t work. Actually they were very helpful - just different technology experiences.

+1 for what Jim says, best I’ve heard in an aircraft since my young days.

Jack

[Norman CYYJ]

I started out with Costco brand many years ago and they programed it for me, I then got a set Phonax aids and had them program them now I have Signia and they are programmed. None of these aids had the Tela coil

[Check6]

Disclaimer....I do not wear hearing aids. But just a thought, have you tried the CQ headset in the ear headsets? I would reach out to them and see what they are doing with pilots that wear hearing aids. It may be worth a try and they stand behind the product that if it does not work they will take it back. They are excellent to deal with and it is an outstanding product. It's like all the other stuff we use in these planes it takes a little trial and error to make it perfect for us. They are a VAF advertiser as well.

[rvanstory]

Originally Posted by Check6

Disclaimer....I do not wear hearing aids. But just a thought, have you tried the CQ headset in the ear headsets? I would reach out to them and see what they are doing with pilots that wear hearing aids. It may be worth a try and they stand behind the product that if it does not work they will take it back. They are excellent to deal with and it is an outstanding product. It's like all the other stuff we use in these planes it takes a little trial and error to make it perfect for us. They are a VAF advertiser as well.

I wear "in the ear" hearing aids and recently switched to the Quiet Technologies in the ear headset. (Similar to CQ, just different brand). Of course I have to remove my hearing aids when wearing them, but man, the sound quality difference is HUGE from my Lightspeed Zulu headset. Radio transmissions are MUCH better and the music sound quality is far superior. When listening to music through Garmin audio panel, it has gone from sounding like AM radio quality to true hi-fidelity sound. Since I'm already used to something being in my ear, the switch was easy.

[Norman CYYJ]

My problem with the in ear headset is that I need the hearing aids to correct for the frequency loss. It doesn't matter how loud in the ear or headsets are when you have losses at certain frequencies. Went flying once while my aids were being repaired. Everything was fine till I went to depart the airport that I flew to. The ground controller was now a female and I could only make out maybe one out of ten words. Finally got my passenger to tell me what she was saying. Take off was fine the controller was a guy and I could hear every word. It's a real bummer!

[Piper J3]

I forgot to mention in post #1 above that Telecoil program can also be adjusted for frequency equalization just like the normal hearing program and TV streaming program.

Such things they have these days…