Phonak Ultra upgrade - how do we feel about it?

“Phonak Audeo Sphere Ultra Infinio I90” that’s the heading on a dealer web site. Do you think most people would assume that was a firmware upgrade, or a type of hearing aid called “Ultra?” The leading ANC headphones from Bose are called “Quiet Comfort Ultra.” If you buy QuietComfort, without the Ultra branding, you will miss several features. I think Phonak had the same idea in mind with this incremental firmware upgrade. Otherwise why are some audiologists charging several hundred dollars for a free firmware upgrade? I don’t think Phonak is holding anything back as far as regulations and manufacturing can keep up. Hearing Aid conglomerates, just like big pharma, use whatever tools fit in the envelope and charge whatever you and I are willing to pay.

@Baltazard said:

I feel wery wery baaad, I do believe that phonak could (must) have had this technology 5 years ago, but have chosen to not release it until after lumity…

Why do you feel that way? It’s sort of an odd, paranoid thing to feel.

Not paranoid or odd.

Color or taste including feelings aren’t meant to fit anybody’s square or circle or triangle …. a part from…

Your daily wise up hours, I need to right a book about that, me sinking.

Having said that, apart perhaps from auracast, the rest could have been implemented in Paradise,

I mean, I can tell you for sure that phonak didn’t have the sphere stuff ready back when Paradise was released. I was just wondering what made you think they did.

Mainly because LEA/Auracast transmitters/receivers, microphones will/are considerably cheaper then the grossly overpriced Roger.

And the kids aren’t locked into the one brand of hearing aid. And kids who wear devices for other reasons than hearing loss are also catered for.

When the VA volunteers to provide it to me I am going to accept it

Yes this happened to me today. I went back as mine were initially programmed to have only the ERA chip SILN. I had asked for the Spheric AI Deepsonic SILN program. This change was done but it wiped out the non-AI one and some others that were carried forward from my old aids (that are no longer needed so I did not care) I am interested in adding a theater program. I am going to the Boston Pops Christmas concert on the 23rd and that could be useful although I was thinking the music one would be good enough and maybe better than one targeted at speech. For my Maine State Music Theater I need one that can handle both speech and music - broadways. Hmmmm.

@Teewens said:

. I have large vented domes with m receivers

@Raudrive said:

Looking at your audiogram you might consider power domes or molds. Your hearing experience should get much better.

Definitely. You, @Teewens, should give a try at least P receiver or even UP, because the latter has better response in highest frequencies. I wait for the custom earmold with UP.

@Teewens said:

He is also going to give me a trial with activents.

You have too bad hearing in low frequencies to have ActiveVent. There is PDF with eligibility criteria on Phonak website for professionals (but accessible for the rest) or even in this forum.

@peter2 said:

My audiologist set up a special Theater program for me, but a few weeks later it mysteriously disappeared along with other adjustments he had made.

Try to make another program in MyPhonak app. Go into the manual Spheric program, give it maximal Speech Focus (to fight echoes), perhaps maximal Noise Reduction (or less, try it) and Speech Clarity mode in the uppermost part in the screen, which changes the 3-band “equalizer” to get more midg and highest frequencies.

How do they update their software?

Why couldn’t you get a noahlink wireless and target, and do it yourself as I did? Honestly took ten min once target was updated.

I did ask permission from my audiology dept first. But they said, in effect, “Go ahead.”

WH

Sounds like your provider did a great job programing manual Spheric speech in noise for you. I am close, but need additional adjustments. Trying to get a Phonak audiologist on the call with my provider that actually has programed them vs an audiologist that has read how, but never programed the Spheric program. My Auto base program is close to perfect. Frustrating that Phonak has the audiologists available to help out with this, but not all are real world experienced. Getting on a call and getting off to find that they failed to know what to set creates additional weeks of hearing fatigue.

Why? Costco is only a vendor, Costco doesn’t make the hearing aids or created the firmware.

I have had my Phonak Ultras for about a month, and I’m loving them! Big improvement over the Paradise. One thing that is frustrating is that I cannot seem to be able to use both the Sphere program and Roger streaming from my On at the same time. Now that Sphere allows me to hear in noise so well, I’d like to simultaneously use my Roger On to hear my soft spoken friend better. With the Sphere her voice is better than without, but not as good as when I clipped the On to her. I want to be able to hear her AND her husband and another coulple we regularly meet for dinner in loud restaurants (are there any other kinds of restaurants?).