Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Audiogram and Phonak Infinio Sphere's

This topic is closed.

48 replies1.5k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic

image
Hi again: Here’s my latest . I, as do many people, have trouble in noisy environments. My Phonak Marvels are 6 + years old and not doing well. I’m thinking of getting the Phonak Infinio Spheres I90. Does anyone have an opinion if they would be helpful/appropriate based on my audiogram?

Thanks in advance for any information/suggestion.

16 people in this conversation14 min readJump to latest
@michael1 said:

Phonak sound recover.

Possibly wouldn’t need it if the gain is set correctly - unless there’s evidence of really poor high frequency resolution you’d risk introducing more distortion to the overall signal by turning it on.

In reply to @Um_bongo

Thanks for replying. My plan is to have the audiologist set the aids up so Spheric mode only starts when sufficicnt backgroound noise is encountered. I need that but also better performance in regular day environments with the grandchildren, family, etc. The Phonawk Marvel’s that I’ve had for 6+ years are not cutting it now. I’m looking for overall improvemnt in multiple situations/environments and get, as close as I can, to a “set it and forget it” pair of aids and I’m hoping the Infinio Sphere’s do that. Time will tell.

I’ll give an alternative take. I don’t think you’re going to get great benefit from the Spheres because you have pretty good low frequency hearing. I’m assuming you’ll be using open domes. The Spheres won’t be able to do anything to block low frequency noise that comes through your open domes.

Just guess work but I would think they would be better than open domes, but I think it’s still going to be a challenge to reduce low frequency noise when you have such good low frequency hearing.

From reading many forum reviews on the Sphere aids I would not recommend them with your hearing loss.

The members with the most complaints using the Spheres have good low frequency hearing. Those that love the Sphere aids do not have good low frequency hearing and use occluded molds.

Edited

In reply to @michael1

My is similar and I do not use sound recover with my non-Spheres (and I use Oticon OpenBass domes, I don;t even need , no feedback issues). Music and environmental sounds sound horrible with SoundRecover to me.

I agree with what others have said re: spheres and your. hearing loss - they will work well for you but you won’t get the spheric benefits because you use vented(closed) domes, which don’t allow the HAs to do noise management effectively, as others have said

At the same time, I’ve read that the non-Sphere and the Sphere are now about the same price – no harm in getting the Spheres if they similar price.

In reply to @MDB

Thanks for the reply. What aids do you think are the best for me especially in a noisy setting?
This is getting a bit complicated but I guess that’s the challenge- to find the right aid and the right fit!

Edited

If you are happy with your Phonaks then you can stay with Phonaks. It is not that the Sphere won’t work, it is that you won’t be using the star features with the domes you are most likely to be prescribed (You will be paying for features you won;t be using)

Only way to find out is to try few models.

I mentioned our hearing losses are similar - I recently got Widex and I’m in love with them. I also like my Phonaks. In the end, it is a personal choice.

Um_bongo, How were you able to tell from her that she had distorted hearing? I should be able to read an audiogram by now, but am still hindered.
Thanks for any help.

In reply to @OcramSagev

Thanks so much for your reply and sharing your experience.
Does Widex help your hearing in loud/noisy settings? I’m not happy or unhappy with the Phonak brand I just want something that works to help’s imporove my hearing in all settings (if possible).

I’m very happy with my Widex. Since I don’t want to use occluding domes , using that use strong noise management does not make much sense, as others have commented in this thread.

Widex has two features that are game changers for me: Puresound and high frequency boost . Pure sound delivers very natural sound and the high frequency boost cranks up the high frequencies. These features allow me to understand speech in noise while also allowing me to hear environment sounds, which I love because everything sounds very natural.

This year I’ve tried Signia , Rexton , Phillips , Phonak and Widex . Before, I used Oticon. Phonak and Widex are at the top of my list (signia /rexton at the bottom ) . All of them programmed similarly. Again, this is a personal preference and I’m not claiming that one brand is better than the other .

So I recommend you do what I did , try different brands

Consider activevent receivers. They plug up in certain situations and block out noise. Then unblock in most situations.

WH

Edited

In reply to @Raudrive

@Raudrive said:

The members with the most complaints using the Spheres have good low frequency hearing.

As a rule of thumb I agree, although it isn’t my case despite having good low frequency hearing. I have power domes now, previously with Paradise with cShell with 1mm diameter vent.

@Beatrice57, I could try, even Marvel at first, with power domes placed deep enough in ear canal to decrease the risk of occlusion effect.

If you don’t have problems with occlusion effect with power domes and Marvels, the Sphere may be good.

Keep in mind that after changing from closed to power domes you may need new adjustments (preferably -based fitting). I erroneously didn’t do that in the past and I ended with feeling of too much isolation from the environment. That can be corrected by proper adjustments.

Related discussions