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Equalizers-Using to compensate for hearing loss

Several months ago I was active on several forums regarding age related hearing loss and the use of hearing aids. Because it's common for listeners to start having some deficiencies as they get older and because I've had experience dealing with this issue, I thought that I could offer some useful advice. After I was fitted with good quality hearing aids i got back much of the upper mid to high frequency detail that I very much missed but there was still something missing as regards what I'll call continuity(?).

To compensate for the tapering off of hearing acuity which for me begins in the area of 5000Hz and totally drops off at about 7700Hz, I'm considering the addition of an equalizer in the system. My thinking is that, because hearing aids are little more than sophisticated equalizers, I could accomplish the same improvement without having to wear them.

This brings me to my request for your advice; first of all, I would like to know if I'm missing something or if there's a flaw in my logic. Secondly, if it appears that an equalizer might be the answer, which type and manufacturer is recommended. The little research I've done leads me to believe that the addition of an equalizer will have a negative overall affect on sound quality and that the best ones are quite expensive. With this in mind, I would like to try something that won't break my bank to, at least, do a trial before I commit to a higher quality component.

BTW, my present system consists of, among other things, the hybrid 100W Rogue Audio Sphinx, Shanling solid state CD player and Martin Logan Odyssey speakers.
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Showing 2 responses by broadstone

broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
310 posts
 
Thanks very much to all of you. I'm more comfortable now with the idea of at least trying the equalizer approach, and will. Peppermill, your response was what mine would have been before I bought mine and it makes a great deal of sense. Yes, with properly adjusted quality hearing aids one would think that hearing should approximate hearing normalcy of one's younger years and there's no doubt that, when wearing them I'm hearing upper frequency detail that I had lost.

I've been involved in this hobby for over 50 yrs and, except for speakers, I've never spent $5000+ on any single component, which is what these hearing aids set me back. The only time I wear them, though, is when I'm actively listening to music. Therein may be part of my problem; I've not worn them enough for my hearing to adjust. Besides, if I wear them for more than 1/2 hour, itching in my ear canals becomes uncomfortable and distracting. I've worked with 2 audiologists on this issue.

Anyway, using my hearing aids may well be the better choice and could end up being my ultimate choice but, whichever way I go, I appreciate the helpful advice I've gotten here.
broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
310 posts
 
Thanks, Buconero. I thought I had researched this issue fairly well having spent several weeks off and on studying the subject using the internet, used 3 different audiologists and 2 pairs of high quality aids. Both sets use two microphones each and sported 4 different customizable listening programs with volume controls adjustable separately for each ear. I'm not dissatisfied in general with their ability to deliver those frequencies that I was missing and even though I tried, I'm not saying that I have chosen the absolute best devices to address my issues. The improvement though is remarkable.

My problem with these aids is that they cause itching in my ear canal that lasts for hours even after I have removed them. If I try to endure this itching and leave them in for an extended period, the itching develops into an earache. I spent weeks working with the last provider and used ear drops that were supposed to desensitize the skin to no avail. We even replaced the ends with non allergenic silicon tips and that didn't help either.

Anyway, the reason I'm looking into an equalizer is that I found that I could hear upper frequencies fairly well at higher volume settings so it crossed my mind that if I had a way to use higher volumes to bring those frequencies to my hearing, but keep those frequencies that didn't need amplification under control, it would, at least, bring some improvement.

I could be wrong.
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