Career change

[Pat-inCO]

Yesterday brought into clear focus one more career opportunity that I
managed to not foresee. The first is the obvious "weather broadcaster"
on a TV station. Know nothing about the subject, get it wrong most of
the time, and still get paid handsomely.

The one that came out yesterday is audiologist. This one requires a bunch
more education and increased sensitivity to people's feelings, yet it is
THE up and coming speciality to make money at.

I was in at the car dealership having the studded tires taken off and the
non studded tires put on (now that I'm well in my 70s, it seems best to let
someone else do it), and a lady (about 40s would be my guess) came
into the waiting area. She immediately got on her phone making, first
a business call, then switching to a personal call. So what, right? Except
that she was using ear buds and I, sitting two chairs separated from
her, could hear every word of both sides of the conversation. Can
everyone say "almost deaf"? I expect teenagers to make bad decisions
about their health and well being items, but not someone in their 40s.
(I'll ignore smoking and heavy drinking :roll: )

SIGH! Another career opportunity I missed! :roll:



Peace and serenity be upon you,
until something more interesting happens. :wink:

 

[graygun]

I hate that they think we want to be part of their conversations.

 

[Pat-inCO]

I hate that they think we want to be part of their conversations.

True, but on the positive side, it was not . . near . . as bad as it would
have been had she been on "speaker-phone". :wink:

 

[CGDustDevil]

I've been distracted many many times with people seemingly talking to nobody in particular as loudly as they can possibly jabber with those hands-free ear pieces on. It gets REALLY interesting when they get animated and you can only hear one side of the conversation. Very inconsiderate... Heck, I go outside to answer/talk on a cell phone WITHOUT an earpiece... I don't wanna be a part of anyone's conversation, and I can well imagine nobody wants to be a part of mine!

 

[WAYNO]

Audiologist. Are there any on this forum? Car salesman and audiologist I see as interchangeable careers. Sell anything to anybody, finance them, never look back. Kind've slimy.

In fairness, I might be wrong. Maybe there are some scrupulous car dealers or hearing aid dealers that I've not yet met.

A very hard of hearing acquaintance of mine did very well for a lot of years with an old antique hearing aid. The hearing aid salesman got a hold of him, convinced him his old hearing aid was junk, sold him a very high dollar unit, and with his new hearing aid now hears worse than ever. Why can't a salesman just say, "your old hearing aid is working well, so there's no reason to sell you a new one".

The c-pap sales industry also comes to mind. Why are the sleep study professionals also the ones who actually sell the c-pap product? Is that not a serious conflict?

And optometrists? I know as a kid the optometrist sold my Mom glasses for me when I didn't need them.

WAYNO.

 

[Rancher Will]

Pat in-CO, I notices that you too use studded tires in the Winter. I have used studded tires on all of my cars and light trucks since they were first invented by Coors Porcelain over 45 years ago.

Perhaps you noticed just a week or so ago the Democrats in the Colorado Legislature killed a bill that would have required everyone driving on I-70 West of Denver to have "Winter Tread" tires in the winter months, as trucks are required to have chains. The bill did not specify Studs but did, to some extent, modify the existing law that has mistakenly permitted "All Weather Tread" for years. All Weather Tread has never been "Snow and Ice Tread" that is needed between Denver and the I-70 Ski Areas.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

"I'm in the store now". --- "I'm at the gas station now". ---- "I'm standing in line now". --- Bla, Bla, Bla. :roll:

 

[Mobuck]

I was in town one day when I saw the "free hearing test" van sitting in front of the bank. Stood in line for a few minutes and then went into the booth for the test. It's supposed to be sort of a soundproof cubicle, right? By the time I could hear the tones, my Son standing on the sidewalk(and everyone else standing in line for the test) could clearly hear the sounds. At the end of the test, I got a "consultation"--it went like this:
tester "Yes Sir, you definitely have serious hearing loss and need to see an audiologist."
me "So, what kind of list are you putting me on?"
tester "No, no, you NEED TO GET A HEARING AID"
me " What does getting a ring made have to do with a hearing test?"

 

[Pat-inCO]

Pat in-CO, I noticed that you too use studded tires in the Winter. I have
used studded tires on all of my cars and light trucks since they were first
invented by Coors Porcelain over 45 years ago.

Well . . . Studded tires and full time four wheel drive (Subaru).

Nasty roads and I only have to watch out for the dummies
that do not prepare. :roll:

 

[toysoldier]

Hearing aids are one fo the biggest medical scams today. Think about it. Your I-phone has more capabilities than you will ever figure out how to use, and costs hundreds. A hearing aid that, at best, selectively amplifies sounds, costs 2-3 thousand. Where's the 60 Minutes investigation of this rip-off?

 

[m657]

I missed the opportunity as well on 'hearing aids'.....my best buddy was an electronic genius and circa 1966-ish was working with a hearing aid guy to develop custom molded devices. He was astonished at the prices the dealer could collect, for at the time what amounted to a ~very~ small handful of parts worth well under $10.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Since this has kind of morphed into a hearing discussion . . . . .
. . . . . yet on a gun forum . . . . .

I'm still looking for some hearing protection that is in-the-ear, yet
provide the hearing protection AND amplification as needed that
a pair of Pro Ears muffs do. The technology is obviously there, yet
we see none like that. I'll guess that it is a function of the battery
capacity. The Pro Ears use either the "N" type or CR123s. The
battery itself is as big (bigger?) than you would want the ear piece
to be.

Take the "run time" from 250 hours to 12 or so. That would be 5%
of the battery capacity needed for Pro Ears. Then set it up with
and inductive charger, like you can get for cell phones, and
recharging the batteries would be EeeeeASY.

ITE, 30+db of protection, hear range commands very well, OR the
sounds in the woods as you hunt . . . . . . . :shock: .
Some day maybe? 8)

 

[Poco Oso]

Since this has kind of morphed into a hearing discussion . . . . .
. . . . . yet on a gun forum . . . . .

I'm still looking for some hearing protection that is in-the-ear, yet
provide the hearing protection AND amplification as needed that
a pair of Pro Ears muffs do. The technology is obviously there, yet
we see none like that. I'll guess that it is a function of the battery
capacity. The Pro Ears use either the "N" type or CR123s. The
battery itself is as big (bigger?) than you would want the ear piece
to be.

Take the "run time" from 250 hours to 12 or so. That would be 5%
of the battery capacity needed for Pro Ears. Then set it up with
and inductive charger, like you can get for cell phones, and
recharging the batteries would be EeeeeASY.

ITE, 30+db of protection, hear range commands very well, OR the
sounds in the woods as you hunt . . . . . . . :shock: .
Some day maybe? 8)

I just picked up a pair of these at Sportsman's Warehouse for $30.00, to try out. They come with 3 different sized rubber tips for different fits. Not the most comfortable but they do appear to amplify and block loud noises. I haven't shot with them yet, but used them in the shop with saws and routers. I don't think I'm any deafer (is that a word?) than I was.

 

[Pat-inCO]

I just picked up a pair of these at Sportsman's Warehouse for $30.00, to try out.

Color me skeptical.

The Pro Ears are in the area of $300 for the pair. and I found one type
of ITE that are close to what I would like, but they are $500/pair.
Somehow I doubt the ones you have for $30 would do as well as either
of those. :wink:

I also have a pair of Peltor 7S that I've been using for years that ran
$125 when I got them. I thought they were good, until I tried a pair of
the Pro Ears.

Just wish these had been available when I started shooting. :roll:



P.S. Still a whole LOT better off than one guy I used to shoot with.
He and I met in a fast food place a few years back. His comment
was "You remember how I said I didn't need ear muffs when we were
shooting trap?" I said yes, and he said "I WAS WRONG! I'm deaf now
I WAS WRONG!" :shock:

 

[Poco Oso]

I just picked up a pair of these at Sportsman's Warehouse for $30.00, to try out.

Color me skeptical.

The Pro Ears are in the area of $300 for the pair. and I found one type
of ITE that are close to what I would like, but they are $500/pair.
Somehow I doubt the ones you have for $30 would do as well as either
of those. :wink:

I also have a pair of Peltor 7S that I've been using for years that ran
$125 when I got them. I thought they were good, until I tried a pair of
the Pro Ears.

Just wish these had been available when I started shooting. :roll:



P.S. Still a whole LOT better off than one guy I used to shoot with.
He and I met in a fast food place a few years back. His comment
was "You remember how I said I didn't need ear muffs when we were
shooting trap?" I said yes, and he said "I WAS WRONG! I'm deaf now
I WAS WRONG!" :shock:

Meh. Thought I'd bring them to your attention, since you asked. Maybe I'm so deaf already, I don't know the difference. Way too many years of shooting and using power tools without protection. I had cast iron eardrums too. :wink: