Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Second opinion on hearing aids

42 replies1.4k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic
Reply
Edited

I would like to get a second, unbiased opinion for my Phonak Sphere Infinio hearing aids. Despite many tweakings/adjustments etc, the aids still remain tinny etc and uncomfortable. I’ve been told that the brain needs to adapt to the new hearing, but after quite a long while, I would have thought this would have happened. I live in London and welcome any thoughts/recommendations.

22 people in this conversation14 min readJump to latest

I have been wearing hearing aids for 21 years and the Phonak Spheres since the first of December. I absolutely love my Phonak Spheres, but my audiologist and I have been working together to get my speech understand as good as possible for 8 years. It would help if you posted your . Also do you have domezls or custom ear molds. To me the Spheres have a wonderful natural sound. My Oticon INTENT1 have a tinny sound even with adjustments to increase the lows and lower the highs.

Sharing your would be helpful. Do you have domes or molds on those Spheres? If domes which style?

Thanks

It would be helpful if you could post your audiograph or enter it in your profile.

You have been asked many times to post your but have not done so. If you are still unhappy at this point, the best advice I can offer is to move on to a different audiologist or different hearing aids. Good luck and wishing you the best.

She hasn’t been back since she first posted only 10 hrs ago.

Maybe we should give her a little more time to log in again and check her replies and see if she posts her audiograph.

Honestly, I just started a trial on the Phonak sphere

For me, I’m not feeling like the experience has been all that great for myself. It’s very I would say Tinny like you said.also hear some kind of swooshing if you look at my , I have a profound loss though yes I’m hearing things that I didn’t hear before with other aids but honestly, I don’t care about the things I’m hearing I go back for an adjustment on Monday so we’ll have to see how it goes. Trust your gut if you don’t like it move onto something else. That’s what I’m planning on doing. I wish that my experience was like others, but it’s not.

In reply to @Shanie

When I selected the Spheres, my audi commented that they had a lot of returns. I asked why and was told that they didn’t like the sound. They are very different than my previous brands, kind of sound like I am in a tunnel and streaming has too strong a bass sound. I like the molds better than any previous ones. I have several items I want addressed when I go in for my first adjustment. I figure I will get used to the new sound just like I did with previous. I like the improvement in hearing in a restaurant, not as good as expectations from all the comments around here. All in all Keepers here so far (1.5 weeks in).

In reply to @cvkemp

I won’t be seeing my audiologist until the end of next week and will ask for the to be sent to me. I have tulip shaped domes. It’s good to hear that you are having a good experience with the Spheres and that they have an excellent natural sound.

I will do once I have seen the audiologist at the end of this week - will come back to the forum to ask how to post the .

In reply to @Shanie

Hi Shanie, I am very sorry to hear that you are having the same problem with Spheres. I have asked the audiologist several times if Phonak Spheres are the best for my hearing loss and the answer is always yes. After so many adjustments and no real improvement, something is clearly wrong. And that’s why I am looking to have a second opinion somwhere else. Like you I wish that I had the same positive experiences that others have had, but sadly this isn’t the case. And also the provider I am with hasn’t suggested trialling a different set of aids. I hope that you have a better outcome when you next see the audiologist and wish you all the very best.

I agree Judi,

I am going to do some research and make some suggestions for my next appointment with my audiologist.. hoping for the best for and others ..

I’m assuming when you say “uncomfortable,” you’re not experiencing a fit problem/sore ear, but more of an irritating hearing experience. Ear molds, domes, etc., play a key role in hearing aid performance along with the aid itself. You are correct that it does take time to adjust to your first hearing aid, but that adjustment period for most people should take two to three weeks. Using the every day. The actual trial period should be at least 30 days, with a preference for 45 to 60 days. During that period its critical to have your aid adjusted by your Audi at scheduled times to try to find the sweet spot in aid performance. Though many times I could tell within 24 hours of receiving a new aid that it was not going to become a keeper, due to the poor incoming sound level I was experiencing.

The one thing to be careful about is not keeping your aids past the trial period if you’re unhappy with them. Hopefully, you have a signed agreement with your Audi regarding the return of aids you’re not satisfied with. Which should be a totally free test trial period, with your money back if the aids are not up to par. I’ve found it’s best to find an Audi that offers a variety of hearing aids made by different manufacturers, versus just one brand. Your some what boxed in if your aid dealers only offer one line of aids - say Oticon and don’t offer Phonak, ReSound, Starkey, etc.

At some point, though, during your trial period and after say (one to three aid adjustments), you’ll have to decide if you want to cut bait and try a different hearing aid brand, or go fish for another Audi that offers XYZ hearing aids. Or keep the aids you’ve been issued.

Related discussions