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Do EasyGuard domes require software changes

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Hi I’ve a pair of Phonak Infinio 90 Spheres currently fitted with medium sized open domes. If I swap to the new EasyGuard Domes will any software settings need to be changed?

I’ve had these for a year and inspite of various setting and dome changes, I don’t notice much improvement with speech in noise. Understanding higher pitch speech (mostly female voices) in background noise (eg in a cafe) remains a problem and continues to be my main concern. From what I’ve read the EasyGuard domes are mainly intended to help with wax build up rather than improving hearing performance. If so, I suspect I may need to try power domes which presumably will require adjustments to my hearing aids.

The new EasyGuard domes have a slightly different sonic profile than the equivalent non-EasyGuard domes. The Phonak Target fitting software allows you to specify the dome being used and EasyGuard is a separate selection setting than the equivalent non-EasyGuard dome - so I expect the software would make slight gain changes based on that. You mention that you are fitted with open domes which would not be nearly as effective in noise settings as a vented dome or especially a completely - as the open domes will not block any of the noise from getting through. From your , I would expect you to need the completely closed/power domes. Currently, I believe the vented domes are the only ones available in an EasyGuard version, although there will be open and closed versions soon.

@RogerBill said:

Now you mention it I think the domes I now have are vented rather than open.

Ah, ok. The EasyGuard domes aren’t going to help with the speech in noise. You should consider trying the or possibly the power domes for better hearing in noise performance.

@RogerBill said:

I’ve had these HAs for a year and inspite of various setting and dome changes, I don’t notice much improvement with speech in noise. Understanding higher pitch speech (mostly female voices) in background noise (eg in a cafe)

Probably you have too open acoustic coupling, which makes low feedback threshold which don’t let you get appropriate gain for high frequencies, which are underfitted.

With good low frequency hearing you probably experience upper spread of masking and more reception of noise, which is mainly low frequency sounds.

Like mentioned in previous posts - venting gives direct patch for noise to the eardrum, which reduces speech understanding in noise.

EasyGuard seems pretty closed. I propose to try lesser size diameter (e.g. S instead of M) and push them carefully much deeper, much closer to the eardrum. That greatly reduces occlusion effect and even gives additional “free” few gain due to lower volume of ear canal.

Which receivers do you have? M? With that high frequency losses, it is worth to at least try P, to check your audibility in that range. That may require event a few months of getting used to them.

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