Audiogram and Phonak Infinio Sphere's

My audiogram is similar as well; low frequency not too bad, but high frequency is bad. I have Sphere i90s with vented domes. I’ve asked the audiologist if I could try Powerdomes, but was told the domes I have were prescribed because of my OK low frequency. My concern is that I am not taking advantage of Spheric mode which is why I bought these in the first place so I could participate in conversations in noisy situations. I tried Powerdomes once and they seemed to cut out most of the unwanted environmental sounds, but was told by the audiologist to revert back to vented domes. Comments are appreciated.

They are YOUR hearing aids and you are paying for help from a supposed Professional to help you. You should be telling the aud what you want … not them telling you what to do.
Have them make you embedded acrylic molds with a small vent and readjust the HA’s accordingly … then you will get the full use of the aids that YOU paid for .

I can understand the audiologist position: if they give you power domes and you get occlusion , you will return to him/her with more complaints. I, for example , detest the occlusion effect and the blocking of environmental sounds. Patients have too many preferences .

Try the powedomes in multiple environments. If you are comfortable with them, say that you already tried them and that is your preference.

Another option is to try ActiVents if you qualify .

I have power domes with P receiver and no occlusion at all despite my audiogram. If you feel occlusion effect (boomy own voice or very loud chewing sound during biting e.g. nuts) try to:

1. Pull your auricle upward and backward

and then

2. Carefully push receiver with power domes as deep as you can (It doesn’t require much force) - milimeter after milimeter.

If power domer will be placed at least partially in the ⅓ deepest part of ear canal, which is bony part - you will win!

@joeabecker said:

Followed your recommendations with the power domes and no occlusion and everything sounds great.

Great to know. Be aware that you probably need a small adjustments in gain due to higher insertion loss (earplug effect) of power domes to relieve the impression of being isolated from environment.

The gain from hearing aid should overcome that effect. Previously you hear more in processed sound + direct sound through vent, but after power domes, you’re left with almost only the former.

I’m fairly new to this forum but enjoy learning what I can. I’m going to see an audiologist next week for REM testing and will relay your suggestion. Will the audiologist know what “a small adjustment in gain” means? For my own information, is this gain in both high and low frequencies or does gain pertain to both?
In addition I was going to discuss Activevents to better take advantage of Spheric mode in noisy environments (the reason I bought these Spheres in the first place). Any comments on whether they would offer more benefit than powerdomes?
Thanks,
Joe

@joeabecker said:

I’m going to see an audiologist next week for REM testing and will relay your suggestion. Will the audiologist know what “a small adjustment in gain” means? For my own information, is this gain in both high and low frequencies or does gain pertain to both?

“REM will tell you the truth”

If Audiologist do know what to do with REM results, don’t worry.

@joeabecker said:

In addition I was going to discuss Activevents to better take advantage of Spheric mode in noisy environments (the reason I bought these Spheres in the first place). Any comments on whether they would offer more benefit than powerdomes?

I can’t provide you accurate information, because I don’t know your audiogram. However, if I were you with good results and earplug effect with power domes (check that with microphones turned off or HA turned off) I wouldn’t make things more complicated. ActiveVent is expensive and less reliable. You should change it about every 6-9 months.

Another option is cShell, but without audiogram I can’t speak much.