"EHEE!?!" "WHUH'D YOU SAY, SONNY?"

[kenny]

https://www.bose.com/en_us/landing_pages/hearing-screener.html

I just took this 5-minute, at-home, online hearing test from Bose.
I didn't even know Bose sold hearing aids and (because of the potential conflict of interest) was a bit skeptical about trusting this test.
But read on.

You will strain to hear the most quiet parts of this test.
I even found I needed to hold my breath; it's that quiet.
To minimize ambient noise take the test at a quiet time of the day (perhaps late at night when there is less chance of a car diving by) use earbuds or headphones - preferably without that open-air foam because an air-tight seal against your skin is more sound-tight.
I'd even move hair out of the way.
Unplug anything that makes sound, fans, forces air heater, aquariums, ultrasonic diamond cleaners, refrigerator, etc.

It's totally anonymous.
The only personal info they ask for is your birth year.
That makes sense; it is a hearing test and might be adjusted for ears of different ages.

They play 23 recordings at various volumes of a woman saying three numbers.
There is also background white noise that also varies in volume.
When I took the test I was a bit unsure of the numbers for three of the recordings, and could not make out the numbers for 3 of them.
Either her voice was too quiet, or the white noise was too loud.
So, as instructed, I just randomly guessed 3 numbers in order to continue the test.

There are 4 possible test results of your hearing loss.
Severe
Moderate
Mild
None.
I was very surprised I got "none", because for a few years I've had increasing difficulty making out speech in a noisy environment.
My SO knows he has to speak up if I'm standing near our refrigerator, a running faucet, or my aquarium with its bubbles and filter hum.

Considering the birth year I gave them means I'm in my 60s ... and they are trying to sell me something ... privately ... online ... I'm surprised they gave me a "None" result.
That makes the test seems legit to me.

Now I can stop worrying about needing a (probably uninsured) hearing aid or even pay to get tested.
... and it was fast & free.

 

[VRBeauty]

Thank you for posting that, Kenny. I’m in your age bracket, and I’ve been thinking it’s time to at least get a baseline hearing test, but my health provider is still limiting in-person visits rather severely. I’ll have to try the Bose test when I can find a sufficiently quiet environment. (Or maybe I can try it with a good pair of headphones?)

I watched my father’s hearing loss get progressively worse as he got older. It got bad enough that he gave up talking on the phone - to his sisters who live too far away to visit, and to old friends he used to keep in touch with by phone. He was never a great communicator, and the conversations were usually brief, but it was hard to see those last connections whither away. (Even hearing aids and found amplification phones didn’t work in the last few years.)

What I learned from my father’s experience is that it’s important to tackle hearing issues early. Apparently there’s a brain connection that goes beyond the physical aspects of hearing - my very lay understanding of it is this: the brain has to make sense of how certain sounds put together. The brain is constantly reinforcing those sound-word connections as we hear others talking. The brain will start to “forget” some of those connections with even mild hearing loss, so that at some point, understanding speech will become more difficult even with amplification. So… catching hearing loss early is important.

My hubby had mild hearing loss on one ear when we first started dating. It wouldn’t have been obvious to most people, but our frequent interactions made it pretty obvious to both of us. I was very impressed when he decided to get a hearing aid to address that mild loss, even though he could probably have “made do” without it for quite a while longer.

 

[Elizabeth35]

I would not trust an online test, and that's because I am hearing impaired.

If you are having any issues whatsoever---see an audiologist. Yes, you need to go into the little booth and put headphones on. It's the only accurate test. They will test hearing with the headphones on your ears and on your skull (bone conduction testing).
I would recommend anyone who is 50-60 or older and who has struggled in restaurants or with background noise to get a baseline test. Or you struggle on the phone or have your TV louder than others need.
It stinks losing your hearing, but it is also super hard on the people around you.
You miss out on conversations, misunderstand and in general make everyone else compensate for YOUR hearing loss, which can be remediated with devices.

 

[lulu_ma]

For anyone US based, many Costcos offer free hearing screenings (probably best to call and make an appointment in advance). I took both of my parents for their screenings at Costco.

 

[diamondringlover]

I had my hearing checked a couple of years ago due to some medical issues at the time, I am very lucky I have excellent hearing for a women about to turn 61

 

[AGBF]

I had hearing loss when I was in my 30's and it was supposed to be permanent. I wore one hearing aid and adjusted to living with it. Then my hearing came back fully and improbably for several decades. Now I am losing it, due to reasons other than the one for which I lost it the first time. I think this is due to age. I need a hearing test, because I think I might benefit from a hearing aid again. My hearing isn't terrible, but I know from experience as a much younger woman that I do not have to let it become terrible. I was lucky enough that I never had terrible hearing. (I am 70 now.)

 

[DAF]

BOSE will be selling over the counter hearing aids for mild hearing losses. Anything worse than that, you have to be evaluated and fit by a professional. Changes in federal regulations are allowing companies like this and Apple to get into Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs).

 

[MrsBlue]

I'd be afraid of them broadcasting commercials through the things.

"That last conversation was brought to you by the National Pork Board. Pork! the other white meat."

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Has anyone noticed with mask wearing how much we all must lip read without even knowing it?
it seems everyone is finding it hard to catch everyone's words

thanks for the link Kenny
i might do it latter
i will be very surprised if i have anywhere near perfect hearing as i listen to music very loud on earbuds and that will not change becacsue some music is just better very loud

 

[kenny]

I'd be afraid of them broadcasting commercials through the things.

"That last conversation was brought to you by the National Pork Board. Pork! the other white meat."

Excellent point ... and

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

yum
bacon !



ok ok ill do the test

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

hmmm
it new i was in NZ and tried to redirect me to a store near me

moderate
thank you Mr Bruce Springsteen

goes with the failing eye site, the dicky knees and achy joints

getting old sucks