FolkGuitar

A friend just asked me, offline, 'why' I used the third program as 'ear plugs' vs just turning off the hearing aid or turning down the volume to zero. Most hearing aids don't have an on/off switch. 'Some' have a volume control switch... but not all. Most common today is to see a volume button or rocker, and a program pushbutton. It's faster and easier to just press the button to change program then multiple presses of the volume rocker. Simple as that. ????

Yes, you most certainly are thinking correctly! One thing you may like to do is take notice of the various 'options' that the different brands and models offer. Question them. Will you really need the telecoil if you don't live/move in an area where the theaters and halls are equipped for telecoil? You do have to pay extra for it, but if you basically don't need it, why include it? Most better brands offer 3-5 programmable programs. How many do YOU need? I use one for 'normal, everyday walking around.' I use another in noisy restaurants when I want to have a directional mic pointing at the person sitting opposite me so as to reduce the sound of the people at tables behind and beside me. I have a third program that I set to ZERO sound. Ear Plugs. I use that when I'm on the motorcycle or in very noisy places. I never use my 4th program. One thing most people don't realize is that the guts of these major name brands are all made in the same few factories. One factory for everybody's microphones, another factory for everybody's speakers, another factory cranks out the ear domes, etc., etc., and the Brand Name assembles them... or they buy assembled components and just snap 'em together with their brand name on them! However, sticking with one of the name brands is a great way to go. Finding a reliable source online 'can' save you a considerable amount of money. The really better hearing aids generally start around $2500-$4500 each, but find the right place and you can cut a thousand off the price. Personally, I use a place in Indiana called Hearsource (www.hearsource.com) They carry Widex and ReSound, as well as lower end models. Great for buying, great customer service, great repair when needed service (I've only needed twice in 20 years) Good luck in your search. Getting good hearing back feels nice...

Request to Weather watchers in Chiang Mai. I'd like to locate a few professional quality online daily weather map sites for Chiang Mai province. For those of you used to nautical and aeronautical weather charts... this is the sort of thing I'm looking for. I have been studying up on how to interpret them (my 10th grade Earth Science class all but forgotten) and would like to put together a clickable list of good chart sites for weather interpretation. Thanks.

1. Sorry, I don't know. I have never seen it in use. But modern hearing instruments are being designed with user friendliness involved. The fitting software that audiologists use to adjust the hearing aids simply isn't that complex, and could easily be put in phone app size. It's actually much easier for the user to get the correct fitting as they no longer have to 'translate' their hearing into words the audiologist can understand regarding the quality of sound. The user can be listening to, for example, music, and adjust the sliders back and forth until they 'hear' exactly what they want, rather than saying; 'No... too much... take it down a little.... no that was not enough... take it down just a little more.... hmmmmm.... almost, but can you get rid of the snarly sound? (if you are controlling the adjustments yourself, you avoid all of that, and get it exactly to you liking!) 2. Yes and no. Which do you prefer; heavy bass, light bass, heavy mid-range, heavy treble, etc.,? Of course, each of these can be modified... a bit. Each model of every brand has a slightly different sound quality. Although the higher priced models will have 'better' sound quality, is it the particular range that 'you' wish to hear? 3. Sure.... they love to have their incomes cut by modern technologies. I've never had to wait for a queue number in an audiology office or hearing aid shop.

One of the shops I visited today was Audiomed. They told me that they would have to special order Starkey. That means one would not be able to listen to the voice quality of the different models before buying, and that voice quality really does change from model to model. You're welcome. If you have other questions, just message me. There is so much misleading info out there, much of it put forth by audiologists who need clients to be chained to their services in order to make a living. A lot of it just isn't true. You CAN adjust your own hearing aids without having to go to Audio school for 4 years, but the audiologists tell you that you can't. They won't even sell you a copy of the adjustment (fitting) software. But many of today's hearing aids can be adjusted with a Smartphone... if... the audiologist will teach you how. But then, they don't make any money when you come back to have an adjustment. If you plug into some of the audiology forums, you can read what different audiologists are saying about these new self-adjustable hearing aids. They ain't happy.

I went looking around today, and found two shops that would 'special order' Starkey and ReSound brands (two leaders in the market,) but would not offer the same factory 4-year warrantee, only 6 month, and could not provide repair services. So, I was incorrect. Recognized name brands ARE available in Chiang Mai, but...

Sorry, but I can't answer that. My connection with Sriphat for audiology service was only for a comprehensive hearing test, not buying hearing aids. I don't know if they sell them, or recommend someplace in town. If I had found a place here in Chiang Mai that sold nationally-recognized brands, I may have bought here in town. All of them had posters and other advertising for name brands on the walls of their shops, but didn't sell them, and only sold their store brand. Perhaps things are different now. As it was, I bought online, and will do so again when I need new ones. I've been dealing with this ( https://hearsource.com) company for over 20 years with no complaints, either buying, repairing, or having them spend 90 minutes online WITH me, at now extra cost, teaching me how to use to use the fitting software so I can now adjust my own in the comfort of my home. Personally, as hearing aids often need to be adjusted once or twice a year, and one has to pay each time, I prefer to be able to do my own adjusting while wearing the devices so I can adjust and correct the sound rather than trying to tell the audiologist that it now 'sounds like a fork got stuck in a garbage disposal' or music sounds 'bad,' and hope the audiologist; A- speaks enough English to know what I'm saying, or B- knows what "I" actually mean when I say "bad." If you have questions about this (self-adjustment software) feel free to message me. I'll be happy to help. Hearing aids 'can' be a wonderful, life-changing investment. It really pays to get exactly what you need, in terms of device abilities, controls, and sound output, and don't expect that if you go for the very low end units that the sound will be natural. That takes some money...

Does this shop carry and service nationally-known brands of hearing aids, or only their own store brand? I've found that to be the case in every shop I tried, since the place in Panthip Plaza closed. I had to buy online, get the adjustment software and learn how to fit my hearing aids (there are companies that provide this service,) and for the past several years have been doing all my own adjustments. It ain't rocket science.

One can make 'cold-water' (also called 'Sun Tea,') with ANY tea. No need to buy something special. In fact, it may be the most commonly used method in the US Southern states for making 'Ice Tea.' Just fill a pitcher with water, put in the proper amount of tea leaves or bags for the amount of water, and set it aside (on a window sill? Or not...) In just a couple of hours one will have a nice pitcher of tea. It won't have the depth of flavor of a brewed cup of tea, but it works very well for iced tea.

People are starting to wait for blinking red lights to turn green...

Proper peer-reviewed citations, please, to substantiate your statement. Otherwise, all you are sharing is your own personal thoughts backed up by internet "conclusion shopping," that parrot back your own beliefs.

I'll second what you say, but both for Lazada and Shopee. Fresh stock delivered quickly.

Since I've been in Chiang Mai, the city has twice tried setting up modern, large public bus systems with routes all around and outside the city. I rode them a few times myself. Usually they were just about empty. I guess the locals prefer the old ways.

I've never seen the 'Sabrosso' brand extra-virgin named in any of the Scam Oil Lists. Not cheap, but very nice for cooking or even dipping bread.

No problems for us. My wife filled out the online forms for both of us, and we received replies a few hours later saying the applications were accepted. A few days later, we received the actual papers to be used at the next filing. Smooth as can be. My wife is not a native speaker, neither Thai nor English, but had no difficulty navigating the Immigration website.

Mine too, at Sriphat Medical Center and done by Dr.Paradee, was just about 70K for both eyes, including mono-focus lenses. In at 11am, home by 2pm each time. 23 minutes in the operating room for one, and 28 minutes for the other (she was teaching a student that time.) No problems with follow-up care.

My wife wants one of these plastic or ceramic coffee filter paper holders that fit over a mug or small pot, and I haven't been able to locate one so far. I've looked in Starbucks, Central, Tessco Lotus, Doi Chang. Everyone is selling the paper filters, but not the holders. (TIT) I'll probably look in Big C, HomePro, Central Festival, and Makro tomorrow. Have you seen one of these in the area?