Re: [Harp-L] RE: Hearing Aids

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Danny, you make it seem as if I know what I'm talking about.  
But actually I had a 2 1/2 hour phone conversation with Carl Beitler  
(sound engineer from Chicago).. And this was the hot topic.

 People loosing some of their hearing and then their body  
compensating for it. Trying to make up for the loss. Much the same as  
a blind person compensating elsewhere for the loss of one of the  
senses, and other senses become more acute.

 THEN when their hearing is improved, suddenly it's TOO much and the  
body has to RE-adjust. Carl allowed as how, a person begins to play  
'inside' of themselves, and the constant awareness of the affliction  
begins to affect everything they do. Which is BAD. Extraneous  
unnecessary influences do nothing to improve ones playing. And having  
a clear head with no side aggravations is better.

Then, when the sense comes back (especially suddenly..as in the case  
of a NEW set of ears, eyes, whatever), the initial..let's say  
surprise, is something the body takes a while getting used to.

smokey joe and the Cafe s

On Feb 27, 2009, at 10:42 AM, Danny G wrote:

>  Has anyone on the list had any experience with harp playing and  
> hearing aids? I just got fitted for a(sorely needed) pair today and  
> while my guitar sounds great, if a little tinny, my harps sound as  
> if each single note is doubling. I go back Tuesday for some final  
> tweaking and i will certainly mention this phenomenon to the  
> audiologist, but i thought i'd run it by the group first. By the  
> way, these things are supposed to be state of the art. Probably  
> just not state of the harp. Thanks,
>                                Mike
>
> My hearing loss came from exposure to loud noise.
> I got a set of "state of the art" (politically correct for too  
> darned expensive) hearing aids and had the same problem you're  
> having. I agree with Joe on why this happens.
>
>  I don't wear hearing aids when I'm playing. The sound system  
> already amplifies the music. Re-amplifying the already loud music  
> with hearing aids becomes painful, causes ringing in my ears and  
> probably makes my hearing loss worse. I wear earplugs when playing  
> amplified.
> Ear plugs will allow you to hear yourself better than hearing aids   
> (as Joe said) "because your mouth (& nose) connect to your sinus',  
> which, in turn, connect to your ear canals"
> Danny G
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l