Profound thanks to Colin for starting this thread and his insight to the whole hearing loss issue for musicians. Everything here confirms my own experiences with hearing aids. It’s soon time for my fifth set. A retired organ builder, treble deaf from years of tuning loud reeds with no ear protection, I still do some key holding for a younger tuner who assures me that the top octave of the great fifteenth is actually playing.
Priority consideration for new devices will be based upon what is best for conversation. If a music program is also offered, amplitude in the speech range will be reduced and the near useless algorithms that introduce surround sound and tremulant turned off. As usual, finding an experienced audiologist who can fine tune the aids will be the most challenging part of the decision making process. Properly adjusted, I expect to enjoy music again, and organs with screechy upper work may actually sound better.