Hi! Im new to this forum. I have a lot of experience fitting hearing aids

@mikejfl said:

Hi! Im new to this forum. I have a lot of experience fitting hearing aids from virtually all the major manufacturers.

I’d be happy to answer questions of help with hearing aid ideas or fittings.

Look forward to being part of this forum.

Sorry, Mike, I’m new to these forums, and I think I replied to someone else’s post below. Please forgive me for the re-posting:

Thank-you for the tremendous service you are giving to everyone.

I am getting my first hearing aids, and I wish that I had known about this forum first. I have posted my audiogram below. I actually think my hearing is much worse than my audiogram indicates. I have a friend who has a similar audiogram, and she hears much better than I do. I have pretty severe tinnitus, so that complicates things.

I just ordered a Siemens Pure 301 online. Would a 501 be significantly better for me? I was told that there really isn’t much difference. Money is a big issue for me, but I want to be able to hear well. Also, would I be better off with a Motion if my ears can’t tolerate the irritation of the receiver? Or should I be looking at another brand entirely?

Also, can you give me some advice as to how I might get my aids adjusted once I receive them? They will come pre-programmed, and I can send them back for adjustment a few times, but I’m hearing that it’s best to have them adjusted while they are in your ears.

I got my audiogram done through the hospital. I actually got two audiograms done because I couldn’t get myself to pay the money for hearing aids the first year, so I had to be tested again the next year. So far, the hospital has received $500 from me for testing. The audiologist told me that she doesn’t make any money on the hearing aids, but she wasn’t happy when I told her I was buying them online- the aids were about $1500 cheaper online. It seems like she should be willing to at least do a couple of adjustments, since she did the testing, don’t you think? Or is that unrealistic to expect? I may end up just getting the self- programmer.

Here is my audiogram. Thank-you for your kindness. I can see that you are giving people experienced advice, and I think I’ve learned some from your advice to others already.

High regards,
Marina

125 Hz R-10, L-5
500 Hz R-10, L-10
1000 Hz, R-30, L-35
2000 Hz- R-45, L-50
3000 Hz- R-45, L-55
4000 Hz- R-50, L-50
5000 Hz- R-60, L-45
6000 Hz- R-50, L-50

@Marina said:

Also, can you give me some advice as to how I might get my aids adjusted once I receive them? They will come pre-programmed, and I can send them back for adjustment a few times, but I’m hearing that it’s best to have them adjusted while they are in your ears.

I got my audiogram done through the hospital. I actually got two audiograms done because I couldn’t get myself to pay the money for hearing aids the first year, so I had to be tested again the next year. So far, the hospital has received $500 from me for testing. The audiologist told me that she doesn’t make any money on the hearing aids, but she wasn’t happy when I told her I was buying them online- the aids were about $1500 cheaper online. It seems like she should be willing to at least do a couple of adjustments, since she did the testing, don’t you think? Or is that unrealistic to expect? I may end up just getting the self- programmer.

Regarding the Audi doing adjustments at no charge…just as you would not expect an auto-repair place to work on your car for free, you cannot expect an audiologist to do the same simply because she doesn’t make commission off hearing aids. His/Her expertise and time have a great deal of value and when a hearing aid is purchased, some of the cost (which is why they are more expensive than buying them on-line) pays for that. That is generally why most Audiologists will express displeasure when someone tells them they are purchasing them on the internet to save money. Frequently the person that “saved a bunch of money” by buying hearing aids of the internet ends up spending that amount and more to have a professional sit down and adjust the devices properly. As for programming them yourself, a poorly programmed high-end hearing aid will sound and perform far worse than a well programmed basic hearing aid any day. Programming is everything, and that is what you are be paying for, not the device itself.

Have you investigated your state to see if they have an office of vocational rehabilitation? Many, if not most, states do and have programs for individuals who are working or trying to return to work to help them with the costs of hearing aids. In Kentucky, they look at income, family size, and expenses to see if people are eligible. If they care they can get hearing aids typically at no charge or by paying a fraction of the cost (either $500 - $1000). I would strongly suggest looking into that option.

Hi Mike,

I have been using hearing aids for 6 years. I don’t wear them all the time. Mostly to watch tv and in restaurants crowds etc. I have had balky Resound aids for many years. They worked pretty well to screen out unwanted noise.

In January of 2010 I got a new set of aids. Uticon EpoQs. They are interesting Hi Tech gadgets Pretty good at reproducing natural sounding voices but very bad ad screening out unwanted sounds in loud conditions. For example I can usually listen in to the conversatins around me at other tables quite well while not being able to hear and understand the people sitting around me in my own group at my table. Same thing in the car. Cant hear others nearly as well as I could with the old Resound aids. What are your thoughts? Is this a product problem common complaint? Or, is it is something an ontologist could correct?

Thanks for your help

Joel.

Hi Mike J.,

I am new to this site. My wife has some hearing problem and Adiologist has recommended that she should use a hearing aid. I would like to know what kind and brand of hearing aid will be suitable for her. Her audiogram is as follows.

Fred

----250–500–1000–2000–3000–4000–8000–SRT–WDS–MCL–UCL

R—30----25----25----40----60----60----60----20—96%–65—95

L—10----20----22----35----60----55----45----20—96%–60—95

Hey,

I am getting Phonak solana cic monday. My audiologist said I have very small ear canals and if they don’t fit how she likes she will order microtech axio st. My hearing is not the worst but it is worse on every point from 2 years ago. take a look. Input is welcome.

@Joel_Auther said:

Hi Mike,

I have been using hearing aids for 6 years. I don’t wear them all the time. Mostly to watch tv and in restaurants crowds etc. I have had balky Resound aids for many years. They worked pretty well to screen out unwanted noise.

In January of 2010 I got a new set of aids. Uticon EpoQs. They are interesting Hi Tech gadgets Pretty good at reproducing natural sounding voices but very bad ad screening out unwanted sounds in loud conditions. For example I can usually listen in to the conversatins around me at other tables quite well while not being able to hear and understand the people sitting around me in my own group at my table. Same thing in the car. Cant hear others nearly as well as I could with the old Resound aids. What are your thoughts? Is this a product problem common complaint? Or, is it is something an ontologist could correct?

Thanks for your help

Joel.

Joel,

The problem you describe is due to a compression issue.

The audiologist can make distant/soft sounds less noticeable and closer/louder sounds more noticeable by adj the compression kneepoint/ratio.

By the way,

This is Allen, a so california audio;ogist

@alwood said:

Hey,

I am getting Phonak solana cic monday. My audiologist said I have very small ear canals and if they don’t fit how she likes she will order microtech axio st. My hearing is not the worst but it is worse on every point from 2 years ago. take a look. Input is welcome.

This is Allen, a SoCal audiologist.

Alwood,

From your audiogram, your hearing loss is VERY slight. If it were me I would not prescribe hearing aids,not enough benefit to justify the cost/hassle of hearing aids.

Having said thathowever,if you are noticing a signifigant problem hearing people, then you might want to try aid sand see what they can do for you.

My guess is that you won’t find them all that helpful

@Marina said:

Sorry, Mike, I’m new to these forums, and I think I replied to someone else’s post below. Please forgive me for the re-posting:

Thank-you for the tremendous service you are giving to everyone.

I am getting my first hearing aids, and I wish that I had known about this forum first. I have posted my audiogram below. I actually think my hearing is much worse than my audiogram indicates. I have a friend who has a similar audiogram, and she hears much better than I do. I have pretty severe tinnitus, so that complicates things.

I just ordered a Siemens Pure 301 online. Would a 501 be significantly better for me? I was told that there really isn’t much difference. Money is a big issue for me, but I want to be able to hear well. Also, would I be better off with a Motion if my ears can’t tolerate the irritation of the receiver? Or should I be looking at another brand entirely?

Also, can you give me some advice as to how I might get my aids adjusted once I receive them? They will come pre-programmed, and I can send them back for adjustment a few times, but I’m hearing that it’s best to have them adjusted while they are in your ears.

I got my audiogram done through the hospital. I actually got two audiograms done because I couldn’t get myself to pay the money for hearing aids the first year, so I had to be tested again the next year. So far, the hospital has received $500 from me for testing. The audiologist told me that she doesn’t make any money on the hearing aids, but she wasn’t happy when I told her I was buying them online- the aids were about $1500 cheaper online. It seems like she should be willing to at least do a couple of adjustments, since she did the testing, don’t you think? Or is that unrealistic to expect? I may end up just getting the self- programmer.

Here is my audiogram. Thank-you for your kindness. I can see that you are giving people experienced advice, and I think I’ve learned some from your advice to others already.

High regards,
Marina

125 Hz R-10, L-5
500 Hz R-10, L-10
1000 Hz, R-30, L-35
2000 Hz- R-45, L-50
3000 Hz- R-45, L-55
4000 Hz- R-50, L-50
5000 Hz- R-60, L-45
6000 Hz- R-50, L-50

I’m curious Marina,

Why would you expect the audiologist to not charge for her time/expertise???

Do you work for no compensation??

My aids have been helpful. I am on day 5. It is helping me in the classroom. For a lot of normal conversation they don’t change anything. But my daughter, students, and husband they have made a difference. They are low and soft. I am glad I got them. Plus I don’t think my loss is done and these will change with me.

Hi Mike,

I am new to this forum, so any help or advice from anyone is greatly appreciated

I have Moderate to severe hearing loss. I had a bad experience with my last hearing aids which were Sonic Balance in the ear model. I had a lot of trouble understanding speech as well as hearing the soft sounds. I disliked these aids with a passion!

I am due for new HA again:eek: as my work involves lots of meetings and conferences and making presentations. I have seen 2 different audi’s one has suggested the Bernafon Veras, the other has suggested the Oticon Agil. Which would you recommend? I would greatly appreciate your help and advice here.

My hearing has gone down since last year :(, so I am waiting for my latest report to arrive and will post my details next week.

Hi Mike,

I currently am using widex clear 440’s with open domes and like them. I have an old widex CIC for my right ear as a backup if I have a breakdown, and I am thinking of getting a backup for my left ear as I need to use my aids to work. I don’t want to spend a fortune for another widex aid as a backup that will be used only for emergencies. Given my audiogram and the fact that I work in a noisy environment and need to clearly hear people talking, will one of the self programming aids from Hearsource or America Hears be adequate or will the quality be so far below the clears that it will be a waste of money and really not usable, or do you have another alternative?( by the way I tried Phonak smart 9’s and agil pros and really could not use either of those very successfully in my work environment and during my trials had to eventually use my old widex in one ear to really hear well enough, although the pros were not too bad) Thanks

–250–500–1000–2000–4000–6000–8000
L -48—38----40----42----50----60-----65
R -45—45----50----45----50----47-----62

I doubt Mike will be answering your questions, he has not logged into the board for almost a year.

Hi Ho Mike J: I have just recently begun my search for hearing aid performance and am somewhat impressed by the Bernafon Chronos 9 fast AGC. This is different from other devices I have looked at, but I don’t know if the differentiation of phonemes associated with high frequency loss is actually better than the standard channelized frequency equalization schemes. Do you know anything about the actual algorithm that is used? If AGC were fast enough to amplify the fricatives such as k, t, f, s, th etc. associated with high frequency loss it seems that clarity and word understanding could be improved without UCL or LDL onset.

Is the Bernafon approach really a better way to go?

I have speech recognition problems. In which frequencies does most human speech fall? Female and children’s voices are especially difficult.