I would like to ask for help.
I just got an Oticon iic, for hearing loss on the right. I quickly get used to new sounds, but with the audiologist I definitely need additional adjustments. What worries me is the pain in the lower part of the ear canal, which I immediately reported and the aufiologist said that a new impression would be needed. One more thing, when chewing, the brace seems to move and deafness occurs, should it have sat deeper in the ear? Also looking at pictures online, my iic doesn’t have a vent hole?
I am also attaching a picture of the setup. I’m still adjusting but I don’t know what to think. Do you have a suggestion for tuning… I also tested the tones and I can’t hear 8khz tones through the device?
A deeper mold should at least significantly help with migration of the device and resulting occlusion with jaw movement. Pain in the canal can be caused by a couple of different things, but because modifying a custom device in office can be tricky i.e. can easily result in breaking the device altogether, sending in to the manufacturer for remake is appropriate. Including a new impression with the remake request is common as well. It is not unheard of for the impression material to warp or otherwise change shape slightly during shipping, which can result in undue pressure on parts of the canal from the device.
Audiometrically, I would expect a vent to be added to the hearing aid. The only reasons I can see for there not being a vent are:
Anatomically, there isn’t room for a vent.
A vent was ordered but the manufacturer forgot to put one in.
The person ordering the hearing aid specifically requested no vent. This seems super unlikely though.
The person ordering the hearing aid did not include an with the order. Also very unlikely, as I would not expect Oticon to be willing to make a custom device without an audiogram.
Regarding 8000 Hz frequency response, the long-story-short answer is that even based on Oticon’s published specifications, the frequency response of the Own 2, 3, 4, and 5 devices only extends to 7500 Hz, so you might should not expect response higher than that.
Thank you,
a new mold was made that fits comfortably and deeply and there is no more pain. We are trying to find a better setup. Automatic tuning gave pronounced sounds SH, C, C… It is adjusted but still lacks speech clarity. The device does not have ventilation, according to the audiologist, Oticon does not recommend them, which is strange to me. Although now with the deep setup I don’t have the feel of the barrel.
Please can someone give me some advice on how to deal with the blocked ear feeling with the iic device? I just have to pull myself by the ear to get rid of that discomfort. Is there a way of software adjustment?
Have a play with the 500-750Hz levels of gain. If the output here is running an inverse wave to the input, turning the gain up a little might give a damping effect. Especially with your own voice.
There is no vent. My audiologist is willing to make a new insert with a vent. I have no echo, barrel sound, etc. There is just a dulling of the sound until I move my ear or take the device out. My voice sounds fine to me. It is a simple muffled sound on all tones.
A new impression was made and now the machine goes really deep… Do you think ventilation would improve the situation? Picture of the first and second impression
I can’t really tell from that. The business end sits in the bony part of your canal. If the valsava manoeuvre doesn’t clear the issue, it’s unlikely that a vent will alter things.
If the output sits in wax or into the canal wall, you’ll get a flat/distant sounding response.
The sound is generally clear. For some reason, it becomes weaker during wear when I have to either pull the ear or pull out the device. I’m under the impression that it allows him to ventilate that way?
Weaker during wear means the canal is building moisture, the ear is swelling or the position is changing. Also potentially if there’s wax in the mic or the receiver tube beyond the trap, the moisture from your canal is making it block the input or output.
When I plug my nose in I blow, the sound improves. I will try a new print and vent. Also does anyone know how to fix the vibration of a loud sound, such as a child laughing. I didn’t have that problem with the first print.
In that case an exterior slot vent might be easier to get in the shell as it requires less wall depth to do it. You also might be making your ear more compliant to incoming sounds by inflating your drum too, so it might not just be the output of the aid causing the issue.
Wales, UK