Any Deaf, or Severely Hearing Impaired Detectorists?

[DizzyDigger]

Recently bought a Nokta FORS Gold, and although it's primary
mission is finding gold from the smallest of nuggets on up, it's
also got the same coin shooting circuitry as the FORS Core, sans
only the beach mode.

Due to disease and surgery, I am completely deaf (-0- function)
in my right ear, and the left ear is now dealing with the same
disease. I can get by, but there not much hearing left in my
remaining, functioning ear.

I chose the Nokta FORS unit mostly due to it's unique vibration
feature built into the grip, but also because it is one of the top
VLF detectors out there. I've gotten amazing depth on coins,
and in fact I think it's a deeper hunter than my old Fisher CZ-6a.

Been considering a small modification to the FORS Gold to enhance
it's overall usability for us deaf folks, but would like to hear from
other hearing impaired users first, just to make sure it will provide
the needed benefit for others besides myself.

 

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[tcornel]

Did you look into the Black Widow headphones by Detectorpro? They are designed for hearing impaired. Great ambient noise reduction and sound can be directed to one ear if you wish.

 

[T.C.]

HUH?? Seriously though, I have tinnitus and bad hearing loss from not wearing proper hearing protection (dumbazz kid). I use the single cup Killer B's. I have to turn the volume all the way up to hear, which makes it exciting when I hit overload or a strong target!! I purchased the single cup, so I could hear someone walking up on me....DUH....I still can't hear someone approaching!! My huntin' pardner uses regular set of headphones worn over his hearing aids....says he doesn't get feedback.

It really sucks having hearing loss....I do feel your pain!! Good luck to ya findin' something that works

 

[MrMikeJackie]

If you or someone you know is electronically inclined, see if you can mod the machine to incorporate lights as a visual aid. Gl HH Mike

 

[BARKER]

Hi Folks; I to have hearing Loss. I think this hobby is way to long overdue for a set of hearing aid compatable headphones for those of us who are deaf or hearing impaired. I want to know if "ANYONE" has an answer to this problem. It is TIME. We NEED it now. Calling all genuises here. I think this is a subject that needs to be talked about a lot more here. Thanks. PEACE:RONB

 

[firemac]

I have a set of Starkey hearing aids that pair to my phone, and use the Grey Ghosts that have separate volumn adjustment for each ear cup. They fit nice while wearing the aids. If I get a call, I can leave on the head phones and answer. HH

 

[DizzyDigger]

Tcornel: Good thinking! Black Widow's are great headphones, but
when there is no function in the ear, the sounds are literally falling
on "deaf ears". They are a great tool for the hearing impaired.

TC: Just as you do, I have roaring tinnitus in both ears 24/7. When
using headphones, the sounds a detector makes can be almost like
torture at times. Yeah, I can hear 'em and also differentiate between
the high, med and low tones, but I'd rather not have to listen to all
that racket as it seems to just suck the fun out of the day.

Mike Jackie: You've got the right idea, and I'm hoping a solution
will soon be available.

Spent a bunch of time just staring at my Nokta FORS Gold while
pondering how it could be improved for the deaf or seriously hearing
impaired. Think I've come up with a good idea.

First, I can't hear the "beep" when using the Auto-GB feature (press
the button on top of the grip and bounce coil up and down a few
inches). We need a LIGHT to come on at the same time as that
beep occurs, telling us the detector is now properly ground balanced.

To compensate for the common 3-tone ID system, all we (deaf folks)
really need is are lights which correspond to each tone.

Here's the recommended solution that I've sent to the Nokta Sales
Manager:



Green LED on the grip lights up to tell us the unit is now
ground balanced. (should come on for 2 seconds at the same
time the "beep" confirming proper GB occurs)

Red, Orange and Blue for Low, Med and High tones.

Unit already has a very good vibration system built into
the grip for when a target is located by the coil.

For the deaf, we can now take advantage of the best features
of the Nokta FORS detectors (Core and Gold), and no headphones
or amplified listening devices are required. With that modification,
a fully-deaf person should be able to go out detecting and have
the same chances for success as a hearing able person..

Now, if I can just get them (Nokta) to listen to us...

 

[CaptEsteban]

I also have severe hearing loss plus tinnitus. I am not totally deaf , but maybe 70% hearing loss. I have hearing aids but they don't work well with my headphones . Most detectors I can use if the volume is turned up all the way on the machine & there is a separate volume control turned up all the way on the headphones. Like most people hard of hearing, I have severe high-pitch hearing loss. This little device helps with those detectors that I have trouble hearing . It has another volume control on it, plus you can change the tones, to a tone that you can hear better .

 

[GibH]

Have any of you hearing impaired folks looked into bone conduction headphones?

To the OP: It shouldn't be hard rig up an LED to plug into the headphone jack.
Metal detecing for the deaf or hard of hearing

 

[DizzyDigger]

Have any of you hearing impaired folks looked into bone conduction headphones?
To the OP: It shouldn't be hard rig up an LED to plug into the headphone jack.

Those bone conduction headphones are a great idea for the impaired..

For those not familiar, those with one good ear and one bad ear can benefit.
The bone conduction will carry over to the good ear, and you'll hear sounds
much better.

The single LED wouldn't help much, as the target ID lights up each time a target
is passed over. The addition of the 4 LED's in the grip of the Nokta FORS units
will tell the deaf user all the same info as a hearing able person, including all
3 tones of discrimination.

In my situation, I have Bi-lateral Meniere's Disease, and it's progressive. Back
in 2009 the vertigo issues from the right ear became so serious that I had
to have the vestibular nerve severed, so there is no longer a neural connection
between the ear and the brain. The disease had already taken 95% of the hearing,
so I really didn't lose any hearing, but that same nerve carries all the info from
the ears balance center.

When the disease gets bad enough in my left ear, the same surgery will
need to be done, meaning complete deafness. Might have a option for
a cochlear implant, but that is questionable.

The modification such as I'm suggesting for the Nokta grip should be a huge
asset to deaf folks who want to get out and detect like the rest of us, and it
also won't require that any additional gear be purchased or used.

Started detecting in the early 70's and still enjoy the heck out of it.
These days I'm concentrating more on nugget hunting, but I don't
pass up many good coin shooting opportunities either.

I honestly don't want to give up this awesome hobby just because my ears
won't work, and the 4-LED strip either built in, or as an add-on, will let me
keep hunting without missing a step.

Nokta is based in Turkey, and unfortunately there are some troubles happening
in their country at the moment, so it might take them awhile before they can
actually address this. If they choose not to pursue it, maybe I could get one
of the other manufacturers to consider it (or some version allowing the same
abilities).

 

[T.C.]

Have you seen the infomercial about the Amish tried and true, 3 week plan to restore hearing?? I know..I know, it sounds like a bunch of B.S. but, when a person becomes desperate, you will try just about anything. I'm thinkin' about it, for $39 what the hell!! I spend more than that in gas drivin' over to the desert. Just a thought....

 

[Keppy]

All you have to do is buy a .... Nokta Fors Core or Nokta Fors Gold detector and your hearing problems with your detector would be solved...

 

[Nitric]

Maybe this is mentioned in the thread...

A chip and vibrator type motors, like in cell phones or game controllers, rumble packs, etc...may be of help if someone could build. It would need to transfer the sound from the machine to vibration. I'll think on it a little and "call a friend" to see if there is something he knows of for a simple build, that would almost match the sense of sound, to vibration in variation. And be plugged into the headphone jack...If any of that makes sense! Different tone runs,different motor, or a pattern on the motor. Not sure how hard it would be to build. and could be in a band that went around the wrist, wrists or forearm? Maybe, someone knows more about that stuff in the forum too. I can't imagine it would be too hard, for a few tones. Then you wouldn't be limited to watching the lights and could look around while using your machine, was my thought to it.

My terms aren't right, so it's hard to get the idea across. or maybe something like that already exists...

 

[GibH]

I understand what you're dealing with DizzyDigger. I had to retire 4 years ago because of balance issues. I had read quite a bit about Meniere's thinking that may be what was causing it. My problems turned out to be pathology to the central vestibular system, they can't do anything about it.

All you have to do is buy a .... Nokta Fors Core or Nokta Fors Gold detector and your hearing problems with your detector would be solved...

His very first sentence said he has a Fors Score Gold.

 

[BARKER]

Hi Folks; Why don't WE start getting on the Whites, Garretts, Tesoro manufacturers to start building units for the deaf and hard of hearing. I think I'm going to start a Campaign here. This is flat out to dang important to ALL OF US to let this continue. I'm positive their engineers can come up with something. WE are their bread and butter now lets get them to grease our palms.!!! This is a serious issue. What say you guys ?? I await. PEACE:RONB

 

[DizzyDigger]

Have you seen the infomercial about the Amish tried and true, 3 week plan to restore hearing?? I know..I know, it sounds like a bunch of B.S. but, when a person becomes desperate, you will try just about anything. I'm thinkin' about it, for $39 what the hell!! I spend more than that in gas drivin' over to the desert. Just a thought....

Save your $$, as it's a borderline scam. All they offer is some vitamins
and extracts that won't do a thing for your hearing.

All you have to do is buy a .... Nokta Fors Core or Nokta Fors Gold detector and your hearing problems with your detector would be solved...

Keppy: I have a FORS Gold (Pro Pack) already. The vibration is a big
help, but falls far short of the detector being used by a deaf person.
You can't ground balance it, nor can you take advantage of the 3-tone
discrimination system.

A chip and vibrator type motors, like in cell phones or game controllers, rumble packs, etc...may be of help if
someone could build. It would need to transfer the sound from the machine to vibration.

The FORS series from Nokta has the vibration built right into the
grip. I've suggested the colored LED lights as they are much easier
to interpret than having to determine a slight vibration change.

Hi Folks; Why don't WE start getting on the Whites, Garretts, Tesoro manufacturers
to start building units for the deaf and hard of hearing. I think I'm going to start a Campaign here.

Thought I was already doing that...

Realistically, that market is small, and very few of the manufacturers
will be willing to invest much of their R&D budgets for that purpose.
The Nokta unit is already half-way there, and if there is room in that
grip for the LED's, then it's an easy modification for them to do, in
principle.

All we (deaf folks) really need are visual indicators of what the speakers
are putting out, including some confirmation that the detector is properly
ground balanced.

 

[Keppy]

Well i put this somewhere else but it looks like it should be here ..ACE 250 had a light that hooked up to it years ago on Ebay .. When you made a target hit it would light up .. It did not go over big so it is no longer around .... It is a item that very few use so to have made and not sell does not make sense here is a photo ...

 

[Keppy]

You know they make the vibration for the Garrett Pro Pointer and works great ... So why not put the same vibration in the detectors ..?

 

[G-bone]

Boy oh boy this thread is LONG over-due.
I too have hearing issues and would absolutely love to have an MD that used Vibration and lights.
Even if I did not have hearing issues, I would use lights/vibration and loose the head phones altogether.

With today's technologies, I am actually shocked that the main manufactures have not incorporated these functions already.
Variable vibration and LCD with color spectrum analyzer, Every target has it's own color frequency and RPM and a graph showing depth of any given target.

It really is a no-brainer here.

 

[Keppy]

HUH?? Seriously though, I have tinnitus and bad hearing loss from not wearing proper hearing protection (dumbazz kid). I use the single cup Killer B's. I have to turn the volume all the way up to hear, which makes it exciting when I hit overload or a strong target!! I purchased the single cup, so I could hear someone walking up on me....DUH....I still can't hear someone approaching!! My huntin' pardner uses regular set of headphones worn over his hearing aids....says he doesn't get feedback.

It really sucks having hearing loss....I do feel your pain!! Good luck to ya findin' something that works

Yes i am getting hard of hearing also and it does suck .. But so far i do not need to get a hearing aid .. And to me that is great ...