Looking for a lightweight simple headset to use with hearing aids when traveling with guide using an audio box. What models seem to work best?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18319 posts
Hi there -
While you're waiting for responses from firsthand hearing-aid users, these previous threads on the same subject may provide a useful browse.
https://search.ricksteves.com/?query=headset%2C+hearing+aids&button=
Posted by
Minnesota
775 posts
There are many other similar headsets available on Amazon. Sometimes the tour guide has headsets like this available, but I don’t count on that.
I actually take one hearing aid out, put it in a safe place, and use this (which I find more comfortable in any case than the ones that go inside my ear). I find that by adjusting the volume I can hear just fine. But it can also hang over the ear and hearing aid.
Posted by
Michigan
632 posts
Try using a bluetooth adapter, if your hearing aids are bluetooth compatible. Airfly is one brand, but there are others.
Posted by
Bend, OR
2138 posts
Check with your hearing aid brand to see if your hearing aids will connect with Airfly to connect with the Whisper systems. Even though my Oticon hearing aids will Bluetooth connect with my phone and my IPad, they will not sync with Airfly, something about low frequency. It’s unfortunate because it’s so much easier than using a headset. Hopefully yours do.
Posted by
Seattle suburbs
120 posts
One additional caution. If you plan to use headphone with a wire jack or on an AirFly be sure you take a mono to stereo adapter. We ran into whisper system on a Spain tour that was a mono system. We had to use the low cost ear plug they provided. Difficult to do if you are wearing hearing aids. My Rexton aids do not pair to my AirFly model.
I use AirFly on the plane paired to Apple earbuds or Bose over the ear head phones. While on tour I use AirFly connected to an Apple earbud in one ear or a Bose wired earbud set. That said: prepare best you can and enjoy the trip.
Posted by
NJ
3 posts
Another consideration for those who may search this topic and see this thread. Some hearing aids use proprietary bluetooth and cant connect directly to AirFly or other bluetooth devices, even though the hearing aids work with your phone. I learned this as I ran into an Apple store during my last RS tour and purchased the Airfly after being impressed with another tour member using it to stream from the Whisper to his airpods. My version of Oticon brand hearing aids do have an adapter to allow them to use bluetooth (Oticon ConnectClip Bluetooth Streamer $250) . That set up is - plug the AirFly into the Whisper box, AirFly connects via bluetooth to ConnectClip which connects via bluetooth to my hearing aids. That is an expensive batch of gadgets to keep track of and keep charged, but once set up it will be nice to be cordless to hearing aids. I have also purchased a cheapo $15 headset (Sonic Technology) for our next tour this fall. Will report back on how these options work.
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2586 posts
My husband just wrapped up 2 tours and used an inexpensive set of Bose headphones. He wears them over his hearing aids and plugs the audiovox into them. He does pay attention when he takes them off that he doesn’t dislodge the hearing aids. They’re very light weight and easy to carry when he doesn’t need them.
Posted by
4 posts
I just posted in response to another post, but I'm looking for a solution that's discussed here - how to connect Rick Steves' little boxes to my Rexton hearing aids. I'm told the Airfly won't fly with Rexton. I have expensive Bose noise canceling headphones (that take up ¼ of my suitcase), and I have Apple AirPods. I was just miserable on my last RS tour trying to hear the guide and swapping one hearing aid for the very low-fi earpiece. I guess I'm just kind of fussy, but there's got to be a solution out there for people like me that doesn't involve spending a fortune and having more components than my stereo system!