Hearing loss

G

Graham_Wright

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 Dec 2002
Messages
8,193
Location
Gloucestershire
www.mastaclimba.com
As a child, I suffered measles which, according to a specialist, has resulted in my high frequency hearing loss in later life. The same specialist told me that the problem is becoming increasingly widespread due, in his opinion, to the "disco" effect.

The consequence to me is that I find it very difficult to understand conversations without (unconcious) lip reading and button beeps, audio alarms and the like pass me by unnoticed. I have a spare pair of ears (the wife's) but when she is not around, audio warnings from nav kit (such as depth alarms) I will not hear.

Manufacturers of equipment are generally not interested in doing anything about this probably as the piezo-electric audio transducers used because of their small size operate (exclusively?) in the higher frequencies.

Is there any solution to this?
 
just a thought, but i wonder there is a way that you could wire up an led to the piezo-electric bleepers from the depth sounder (and others) alarm. you would at least have a visual alarm.

Probably have to ask an electronics whizz - not me!
 
I have the same problem apparently down to noise at work.
My sounder alarm became hard to hear so I purchased a larger (louder) piezo and wired it in parallel to the existing one, fitting it just inside the cabin, because it is not fitted in a closed space it is much better to hear.
This was on a Navman sounder and has been like that for around 2 years now.
Maybe you can disconnect the old one but dont overload the circuit.
Pete
 
As a child, I suffered measles which, according to a specialist, has resulted in my high frequency hearing loss in later life.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And all the time I have been putting it down to 'failing faculties' in fact I considered myself the Head of the Failing Faculty.
 
[ QUOTE ]
CAN YOU SAY THAT A BIT LOUDER

[/ QUOTE ]

Yours does not count. teachers selective hearing is learnt
 
Try a strobe light...

How about trying a 12v strobe light - something like this maybe? Might need to run it through a latching relay so that it keeps flashing until you cancel it. Good thing about strobe is that you'll notice it even in peripheral vision.
 
The vibrator and lights option is a good one, the hard part is breaking into the existing kit and adding mods.

It is feasible to fit a small transmitter to the instruments to set off a vibrating alert in your pocket, and a bright LED (much like a stately home call panel) in a prominent position on board, maybe two, one above the door and one at the nav station.

The problems with this is having transmitters inside sensitive equipment.

The other option may be using whats there, if your kit is nmea then you may be able to use this, but it will probably require a central processor to work with the signals and a good knowledge of software to convert the signal into something of use, i.e. when the depth is 7ft the alarm should sound, you will no longer be using the sounders built in depth software and need to make the processor you have built sound at this depth...

On the other hand, raymarine tablets already take feeds from all your instruments and will take an external alarm, I asked if I could fit an external alarm to my RADAR to have in the cockpit; Raymarine build a seatalk alarm, but it is really not cheap, but this has the benefit of doing everything you want already and being external means you can modify the alarm to light lights or indicators and not the actual instruments.

Sorry to ramble, this was just thinking out loud and not based on hard fact, you said you were just looking for ideas and possibilities.

Maybe you could talk to someone like nasa, they always seem very open to new ideas from the end users.
 
Re: Try a strobe light...

what would a strobe do to your night vision? Serious question..

Also, is a strobe a good idea, people can fit if exposed to strobes...

Not trying to be negative I hope you understand.
 
As a fellow sufferer (high velocity rifle,the culprit) you have my sympathy.
In the old days Raytheon used to be very helpful with this sort of problem and produced adaptions for people with visual and hearing problems.Don't know what they are like now though.
Also worth having a word with the RNID as they have all sorts of bits of kit to help with this sort of problem.
 
Re: Try a strobe light...

Agree, I don't think you'd need a strobe at night - just a smaller flashing light would be OK. Also, on most boats, it's more likely that there'll be 2 people in the cockpit at night.

As far as inducing fits is concerned, I think the flashing speed needs to be quite a bit higher than 100 per minute to cause problems.
 
Been giving this some more thought.

Would it not be possible to have a noise activated relay with the sensor/s close to the alarm source/s.This could then activate a separately powered alarm of your choice.

Bit beyond my skills to devise something but I'm sure some of the bods on the forum could knock something up.

Site that started this train of thought;
http://www.discovercircuits.com/S/sou-operate.htm
 
What a great flurry of helpful ideas! This forum can be a friendly place!

Maybe to compensate, my low frequency hearing acuity is better than that of my wifes who can still hear bats (at the age of **)!

There are low frequency sounders around and they are cheap. The obvious solution would be an output from the relevant bit of kit (just a contact closure would suffice).

I am encouraged to hear that Raytheon used to be sympathetic. Having frequently advised others to talk to Raymarine, I ought to take my own advice. All my kit is Raymarine and if alarms can be output on NMEA or Seatalk that could well do the trick;- I'll ask.

Thanks to everyone again.
 
Let's know the outcome, please.

There are some of us on here who may also benefit at some time in the future when our hearing goes off a wee bit

I'm only "selectively" deaf at the moment. Usually when SWMBO is trying to get me to do something !
 
If it's any comfort, you are not alone! RNID estimate about 1 in 7 of the population have this problem to an appreciable extent.
FWIW I've just wired in a Garmin GPS and it has one output lead dedicated for use as an external alarm. It can be wired to a buzzer or similar device (depending on current drain, may need a relay). I had assumed, rightly or wrongly, that most such devices have something like this.
 
<< The consequence to me is that I find it very difficult to understand conversations without (unconcious) lip reading and button beeps, audio alarms and the like pass me by unnoticed. I have a spare pair of ears (the wife's) but when she is not around, audio warnings from nav kit (such as depth alarms) I will not hear.>>

Do you wear hearing aids? One of our sons has had a significant high frequency hearing loss, from nerve damage, since birth and while hearing aids can't bring back what's destroyed, he wouldn't be without them.
 
I also have a pair of aids (analogue, waiting time for <u>assessment</u> for digital is 18 months!). Very effective while indoors, but very subject to wind noise when outside. I've asked about techniques for reducing wind noise, but get the standard answer: "Nobody's ever asked about that before." Any ideas?
 
professional microphones all have that foam/hairy covering to reduce wind noise, could you do something similar.

On board I am sure you are less worried about the way you 'look', so could you not have a less aesthetic solution; maybe a wind protected microphone and a say comfortable full ear headphone?

I am only guessing as I don't know how deep in the ear you need the aid to be in order to work, you could of course use an in-ear and then put a cup type defender on that ear?

Can you still get the older type of hearing aid with the external speaker that was hung around the neck? My only basic knowledge if from the Fawlty Towers (FAW L TY TOWERS) episode
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top