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NHS Oticon Engage Vs Phonak Nathos Nova M

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Newbie here :slight_smile: I was put onto NHS about 10 years ago, Oticon but I dunno the name. About 3 years ago I was put onto the Oticon engage which was better. At Christmas everyone was complaining that my hearing was worse. I had an appointment at Hidden Hearing and they were very good, gave me a short trial of Oticon Intent 1 which made a big difference but at £3000 I was thinking Hhhmmm. So I tried NHS again and had a consultation, they increased dome size from 8 to 10 and gave shorter tubes plus added Speech in Noise programme (I think its great because when I go back to general its like going from colour to black & white). Said I need a hearing test to have different HAs. Waited 2 months and rang up, turns out I’d been put on the list for Scrivens, who I’d never heard of. Anyhoo managed to make an appointment in a months time, which was today. They’re prescribing (I think because I didn’t hear the name clearly) Phonak Nathos Nova M which I get fitted in about 3 weeks. Has anyone experienced the change over from Oticon to Phonak?

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Thanks for the reply, looks like the Phonak may be better for my hearing loss. I’ll be very pleased if I can get the phone through them, I have a modern Android (Samsung S23 Ultra) but the Oticon software has no option to connect and phone calls really make me sweat!

As @Zebras says, Phonak are really good with Android and will connect to just about any Bluetooth device for streaming. Their TV Connector is superb too. Vareful fitting is important though

I only just stumbled over this site and it feels American but there is UK input :slight_smile: There appears to be the ability to code or program the that the NHS prescribe. Is there a dedicated thread or a go to person who wouldn’t mind answering a noobs questions?

In reply to @mikewot

Hi Mike
To program the Novas you need Target software which is easy to find and download. You also need a Noahlink Wireless device available for about £100 on eBay or Amazon and a PC. You also need a code to unlock the aids. I did ask an NHS audiologist about programming aids and was put off but that was 10 years ago so maybe worth asking. The Novas are great for phone calls and streaming and fine for most situations. I struggled with them in group situations so I shelled out for the latest Phonak Infiniti Spheres at £4k. But maybe I needed a more powerful aid due to my hearing loss and / or poor word recognition? Sounds like your local NHS audiology dept is really on the ball. Great to hear and good luck to you.

Thank you young man :wink: Another month before the NHS/Scrivens actually fit the new . I’m going to be very interested to see what they do in the way of domes and what program is installed.

I’m at the severe hearing loss level.

That’s good. It should be a decent experience then. Try and remember to get a copy of your . It’ll help you, and others, understand what’s going on.

With severe loss, you may be borderline on benefitting better from custom moulds. I would expect you’ll get thin tubes and closed (2 small holes) domes. Nathos Nova can work with both thin tubes with domes, or Anchors with thick tubes and moulds. Custom slim Tips can also be used with thin tubes, although the NHS wouldn’t stretch to them.

Anyway, if you’re tech savvy, and keen to self programme in the future, try to watch what they did in the software.

Good luck
Peter

From memory, your high frequency loss is outside the fitting range of the Nathos Nova. You may be better with Naida SP or something similar

Peter

Hello all,

Would welcome your thoughts on this. It wasn’t Phonak which I received today but Bernafon Viron VNA7, these are made by oticon. Similar Bluetooth limitations as Oticon, only 2 programs and can’t connect to my phone, lappie etc.

I have asked several online HA providers on their recommendation for HAs based on my . Surprsingly they all came back with the most expensive - Phonak Audeo Infinio Sphere i90 :slight_smile: I must admit I’m tempted because they’ve received fairly rave reviews and although very expensive through most places, like specsavers at nearly £3000 I found one of the online places (wholesale hearing, which gets 4.8/5 on Trustpilot) knocking them out for £2350 which includes the Go (travel) charger which others charge an extra £270ish for.

I’ll give these Bernafon a go but interested in your thoughts :slight_smile:

So far my right ear dome kept popping out, they had changed my dome size from 10 to 8 vented. I went to a different branch today and had the domes changed back to 10 plus retainers added.

Speech isn’t very clear, although louder/more distinctly speech. Maybe my brain is still adjusting :slight_smile:

Google search suggests viron is discontinued by NHS so sounds like a Scriven special.
As far as domes go then bear in mind what @PeterH says for the future.
You may want to experiment with other types after you research the subject eg tulip.
Even if you don’t want to it’s worth exploring the diy section on here

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