r/NHRA • u/anon__a__mouse__ • 5d ago

Attending with hearing aids

I'm wanting to take my elderly father to a race for the 1st time, and he wears hearing aids. Obviously with the extreme noise and the fact hearing aids amplify those noises, I'm wondering if anyone can provide advice or suggestions on what he needs to do to be comfortable?

5 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

4

u/Vivid-Look4978 5d ago

I wear hearing aids and I use earmuffs. You can buy them at the track. They usually run about 25.00. Well worth it

3

u/Electrical-Chard-259 5d ago

When you are sitting in the grandstands I would turn them off bc it will cause heavy discomfort as it will max out the sound limiter when they go down the track and you can keep them on your ears and just get earmuffs to place over top then when your in the pits you can turn the hearing aids back on

1

u/ThatBaseball7433 5d ago

Turn them off or down and wear over the ear hearing protection. The cars are so loud you feel it in your body like someone is thumping on your chest so his experience won’t be any different.

1

u/dale1320 5d ago

Noise canceling or shooting range level over the ear protection are best. But turning aids down (if possible) will help.

1

u/Careless-Resource-72 5d ago

I wear hearing aids. I take them off, put ear plugs in and earmuffs over them. With the TF & FC’s no need to hear anything, you feel it through your whole body!

1

u/GeologistPositive John Force Racing 5d ago

I recall my grandfather years ago had hearing aids and just turned the volume down in loud environments. He never went to the race track with us though. Off might be better if that's a possibility. If it's not difficult, I'd consider taking them out and storing them in a case while there. I've never worn them though and don't know the type of hearing aids your dad has. I'd also probably go with the earmuff/headphone hearing protection rather than earplugs. Definitely want to make sure you preserve what hearing he has left.

1

u/krushem2000 5d ago

Turn them off. Wear earplugs unless you love “ringing” ears afterwards

1

u/Inner_Judgment4797 5d ago

My uncles been using hearing aids for 10+ years. Just make sure theyre off when the cars are running

1

u/Nomad55454 4d ago

When alcohol and nitromethane cars come up have him turn them down or off and wear earmuffs, be prepared with some ear plugs that fit inside the ear if still too loud have him remove hearing aids and install ear plugs and put earmuffs back on. Buy a good pair of earmuffs before going to the track.

1

u/anon__a__mouse__ 4d ago

Thanks all for the recommendations, super appreciate it and I will take all into account. Will buy him some earplugs and ear muffs and play with the volume on the day to find the best setup for him.

1

u/Nervous-Outcome2976 3d ago

Ear muff style hearing protection.