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Second opinion on hearing aids

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Hi Judi - I am using the Phonak Infinio Spheres. However, it has not been a straightforward journey!! I first tried the Spheres back around September 2024. I had an awful time with them mainly due to firmware issues and Bluetooth. I returned them. I then tried Starkey Edge and also Widex (my previous ’s were Widex). However, the support I got from the Audiologist was not up to my expectations. So, I went back to my original Audiologist that fitted my original Spheres and asked for another trial which I got. From all of this, it made me realise that it is not just the HA that is important, but also the ongoing support after purchase. I cannot fault Boots Hearingcare here in the UK.

So, am I happy with the new Sphere Ultras that I am using - yes, but … for my hearing loss and to achieve the best performance in noisy environments I have Phonak Active Vents with Titanium moulds fitted. These give me a closed vent for noisy environments and open vent for quieter environments (your Tulip domes are open and will allow a lot of background noise into your ear that will “swamp” the amplified signal from the HA’s). Worth discussing with your audiologist to see if the Active Vents would suit your hearing loss (I have a mild to moderate higher frequency hearing loss typical of an age related hearing loss :woozy_face:).

Sorry for the long reply, but it is important that you end up with the best solution for you :+1::blush:Good luck.

Just had another look at my domes and they are more sort of bell shaped rather than tulip. The domes also have two tiny holes at the tip.

If you are in London, book to go and see Matthew at Harley Street Hearing. Matthew as well as being the lead video guy for hearing Tracker is the best audiologist I have been with in 27 years of hearing aid wear. He fitted my Spheres which are the best aids I’ve ever had a couple of years ago.

What you and others describe here to me sounds like auto sense is selecting the wrong programs at times. The auto sense function has many different settings and parameters and each of the scenarios can be tweaked and structured. Get this wrong and agressive noise reduction can result.

As for tuning for Music, that’s how I met Matthew, that was my challenge.

Harley Street Hearing | London Audiologists & Ear Clinic2

Harley Street Hearing is the largest independent ear clinic in London, offering hearing solutions to suit your lifestyle, click here for more.

I moved to Phonak Sphere when they were launched in the UK in 2024. They have been a game changer for me. Yes, it has taken patience (and many audiologist visits) to get them ‘right’, but the effort has been worth it.

But as others imply, it depends on your hearing needs and what you were used to. I suffered a sudden worsening of my hearing and went through a period of social isolation, unable to follow conversations- so anything positive was a revelation. If your hearing was better, you may well miss the natural sound you were used to.

My only problem is music; I can no longer ‘hear’ complex music as it sounds discordant and strings in particular are like mush. But this is not the fault of Sphere- it’s my cochlea failing to sense a nunber of frequencies.

Whatever your situation, I think you can conclude that Spheres set the benchmark for most users with severe hearing loss. It’s a frustrating journey, but there’s no silver bullet that will ever bring back the perfect hearing we may once have enjoyed (I hope that isn’t too defeatist). For most, satisfaction comes from the ability to comprehend conversation again- even in noisy situations- and experiencing a natural sound world (from birdsong, to the sound of a dropped coin, to a creaking stair) that had been closed to us.

Good luck on the journey.

In reply to @threluja

Hi threluja, Yes, I’m in London and am also with Harley Street Hearing. I’ve had several audiologists tweaking my Phonak Spheres but not with Matthew. Maybe it’s time that I did go and see him. However what puts me off a little, is that he advertises Phonak a lot - having seen his videos. I’m wondering if he has a particular investment in Phonak. I’ve no idea what the audiologist I saw a couple of weeks ago, did with her tweaks - but having lunch with a friend last Saturday, the nosie was horrendous, Roger ON3 worked a bit, but in the end I switched Roger off and turned on noise in loud places, which helped a little. And the tinny sound etc sounded to be worse. Pleased to hear that Spheres are working so well for you and that they continue to do so.

Pleased to hear that he sorted out the tuning for Music

I generally don’t use Roger these days, noise with Sphere is so much better in the situation you describe here.

Matthew sells many different brands and reviews many of them too just like the Phonaks.

Edited

I tried the Phonak Sphere - the latest ones only last month. They have been returned! The sound sort of pulsed which was very off putting and uncomfortable. The wind noise was an issue when I was in the garden and just generally nothing seemed right about them. I didnt like Roger being pushed, my handbag is heavy enough as it is!But the killer was that it made my iphone useless. I live in Dorset. I am now trying out Starkey Audeo - again latest model. Sound is very much better other than in company. I can tweak the app, so we shall see!!! Good luck.

I’ve had my spheres since October 25, initially I didn’t get on with them so purchased custom c shell moulds and then had vent holes put into them to alleviate the occlusion. Finally using the Target Software my husband tinkered with the programming until I have the best experience of any aids on my almost 30 year deaf life. Some clear comparison with my phonak paradise aids are : able to hear in the car, able to hold a conversation in a very noisy bar , and have a chat with the bar staff while she served me. Better performance with the TV- can now watch without subtitles if I don’t want immersive viewing. Much greater clarity of speech and adaptability to circumstances.a rich sound for music through Bluetooth. I wear them 16 hours a day and don’t fees as if I have any aids in.

I have been using P90’s (my first aids) for about 3 yrs. They seemed to work well, the only exception being difficulties with getting Bluetooth connections. I decided I needed a second pair should my P90’s need to go back for service. Because of my seeming good result with them I decided to stick with Phonak (I also have Target software). The day I tried streaming music I immediately realized that the Spheres sounded MUCH better - almost as though I had headphones on. I realized that they likely didn’t have perfect optimization yet. I never reached the end of my trial period as the receiver of one aid starting shorting out and they had to be returned. I am now waiting for my FOURTH PAIR to arrive as the first three all exhibited the same issue! I feel a bit like a fool now.

I keep the Bluetooth Streaming off unless I explicitly use it as there are way too many apps and things on my phone that engages it. To me, that’s when I get the tinny sounds. Another time things don’t sound right is when the Spheric Speech in Loud Environments or Music program switches on in places like grocery stores or in the car. Try switching to a Calm program to see if that helps.

I have been wearing hearing aids for 50 years, and like many others, these are the best I have ever had, by far. I canceled a cochlear implant when I got them. I hope you can find a way to make them work for you. Please try turning off the Bluetooth streaming and switch to a static program to see if either helps.

In reply to @SandraN

Good to hear that the Phonaks are working so well for you. I’d love to be able to say the same, but I have to say that my social life is ruined, because the Phonaks I have still sound metallic, sharp and loud, despite so many adjustments. I’ve had too many headaches from the sharpness and sometimes it is so awful that I can’t really hear properly. As I type this I have just made a note for the audiologist re: vent holes. On the plus side, the Phonak Spheres are very comfortable. I still can’t understand why the audiologists can’t do better with the harsh/tinny sounds after a year.

@Judi_L said:

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.

That sounds frustrating…especially after multiple adjustments. The “tinny” or overly sharp sound is something quite a few people report, and while adaptation does play a role, it doesn’t always fully resolve that perception for everyone.

Getting a second opinion is definitely a reasonable next step, sometimes a different audiologist may take a different fitting approach or fine-tuning strategy.

Separately, for certain situations like conversations or noisy environments, some people also explore using a setup to bring the speaker’s voice closer rather than relying entirely on processing. I’m the co-founder of Jabees, and we’ve developed a system called HearLink Hearing Essential Kit2 (a small wireless mic paired with bone conduction headphones). It’s not a replacement for hearing aids, but occasionally used as a complementary option in specific listening situations.

Hope you’re able to find a setup that feels more natural and comfortable.

Edited

In reply to @Judi_L

If you’ve had several software adjustments and tried various molds (possibly different sizes) and still have the metallic, tinny incoming sound, I’d move on to a different aid. If you have not exceeded your trial warranty period. Regarding proper fit, all aids (not just Phonak Spheres) should fit comfortably inside or outside your ear. There’s always a chance you initially received an aid that’s not functioning properly beyond what your audiologist can do. In that case, your aid should be sent back for retesting and your warranty trial period extended. Based on your previous posts, though, it’s probably time to try a different aid or a different aid with a different Audi. Good Luck

In reply to @Judi_L

a friend went through similar experience with hearing aid just sounding tinny despite her high frequency hearing loss and accurate . in the end the audiologist suggested she may have dead regions in the cochlea reduced the volume completely above 5 kHz and made the “sound recover” more aggressive. which seemed to help A LOT.

In reply to @choccybiccy69

@choccybiccy69 said:

in the end the audiologist suggested she may have dead regions in the cochlea reduced the volume completely above 5 kHz and made the “sound recover” more aggressive. which seemed to help

It is disturbing that audiologist and miss this very important information so often. It happened to me as well more than a few times. The fitter pushes powerful hearing aids for hearing dead zones all the while the patient is going nuts about their hearing and pain.

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