On Fri, 31 May 2013 12:20:31 -0500, dpb wrote:

On 5/31/2013 11:20 AM, Jerry wrote:
When my father-in-law comes over, usually to watch a ballgame, he always
has the TV sound down low. He says it bothers his hearing. Since FIL is
always the first one here, and other company come, they ring the door bell.
He's asked us numerous times to turn down the volume on the doorbell.

We've tried to explain it would be better if he adjusted his hearing aids,
but he insists the doorbell is too loud.

After writing below, I reread this. His hearing aids are adjusted for
most of the day. He doesn't know when the dooorbell will ring. If he
sets his aids down low just in case, he won't be able to hear you all
or the tv.

Like the other guy said, a sign that says to knock. A different
frequency that might not bother him. Or he'll hear the knocking and
can answer the door himself.

...

There may not be much he can do, unfortunately. There's a phenomenon
(learned about this w/ my mother and her hearing loss and the good and
bad about hearing aids) that the dynamic range that is audible shrinks
to a very small fraction of normal. So, even though they can't hear low
sound levels, the difference between what is low and what is perceived
as painfully load is very small.

If that is the (or a contributing factor to the) problem , it is a
physical problem and hearing aids can't help cure it. You might suggest
another visit to the audiologist, though to see.

Not a good tactical move. "All I asked is that he tone down the damn
doorbell and now he wants me to spend time and money to see an
audiologist. Medicare doesn't pay for a second visit in a year for no
new reason." (I don't know what Medicare pays for, but it still
throws the burden back on the FIL.)