Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

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

This topic is closed.

121 replies44.8k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic
@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.

Hi Mike , I am new to this forum and new to the world of hearing aids . My 13 year old daughter Lily needs hearing aids for both her ears . The specialist referred us to the Australian Hearing Center , they have adviced me that the 701 pure is the right aid for her .Can you please give me some advice.
250Hz R20 L15 Thank you , I am very confused … Belinda
500Hz R25 L15
1K R25 L25
2K R50 L50
3K R50 L60
4K R75 L65
6K R70 L100
8K R80 L85

@mcmanus said:

Hi Mike , I am new to this forum and new to the world of hearing aids . My 13 year old daughter Lily needs hearing aids for both her ears . The specialist referred us to the Australian Hearing Center , they have adviced me that the 701 pure is the right aid for her .Can you please give me some advice.
250Hz R20 L15 Thank you , I am very confused … Belinda
500Hz R25 L15
1K R25 L25
2K R50 L50
3K R50 L60
4K R75 L65
6K R70 L100
8K R80 L85

While waiting for Mike’s answer, I would suggest you to try the Phonak Nios for your daughter. These are very good aids and also have the sound recover which will help your daughter a lot.

These aids are mid range cost aids but are really great as descrived by many.

I suggest you make search here on Phonak Nios and learn more about them.

@stream2525 said:

While waiting for Mike’s answer, I would suggest you to try the Phonak Nios for your daughter. These are very good aids and also have the sound recover which will help your daughter a lot.

These aids are mid range cost aids but are really great as descrived by many.

I suggest you make search here on Phonak Nios and learn more about them.

Thank you … I will look into the Phonak Nios … I need to educate myself quickly …
Kind regards , Belinda

In reply to @mcmanus

@mcmanus said:

Hi Mike , I am new to this forum and new to the world of hearing aids . My 13 year old daughter Lily needs hearing aids for both her ears . The specialist referred us to the Australian Hearing Center , they have adviced me that the 701 pure is the right aid for her .Can you please give me some advice.
250Hz R20 L15 Thank you , I am very confused … Belinda
500Hz R25 L15
1K R25 L25
2K R50 L50
3K R50 L60
4K R75 L65
6K R70 L100
8K R80 L85

Allright…well good morning :slight_smile:

While Siemens makes a good product they are becoming my favorite less and less these days. Again, they are good just not “my” favorite. Lots of people fit their products with great success I just prefer other products. Even if you went with Siemens it wouldn’t be wrong. Again I am speaking out of my preference and out of experience.

Now that I have qualified my opinion I have to say that after looking at your daughters my first initial thought was absolutely a Phonak product with the sound recover due to the “high frequency” nature of her loss.

If it were my child that is what i would go with for this hearing loss.

Ask your provider (assuming you like and trust there ability and bed side manner) if they can give you other options like Phonak. Could be that Siemens is what they prefer and are not as skilled at Phonak.

If you will…a hearing aid can be like a race car. If you gave my wife a race car (although fast) she wouldn’t be able to get the full use out of it. With hearing aids if the provider is not comfortable or trained or experienced with certain products you may not get the full experience or benefit from the hearing aids.

Hope this helps, and consult again with your provider. I’d be happy to help along the way and hopefully not confuse the matter. Remember too that the patient (your daughter) is not in front of me and I only have the info presented on the forum. So my advise or help is only my professional opinion.

Best,
Mike

Thank you for your helpful advice . She has been tested 3 times , the results I gave you were from her first test , I have requested a copy of the latest results . The first test was difficult because she had ringing in her ears, she had not complained about this before . I would like to show you her latest results when I get them . The hearing center did not talk to me about other brands . I have spoken with another Audiologist that I found on this forum , the down side is his clinic is one and a half hours from my home . Lily is struggling with the idea of wearing a hearing aid , small would be a plus . Would she suit OIO Lens . I am not sure if I have that right .Sorry for my ignorance . Kind Regards Belinda

@mcmanus said:

Thank you for your helpful advice . She has been tested 3 times , the results I gave you were from her first test , I have requested a copy of the latest results . The first test was difficult because she had ringing in her ears, she had not complained about this before . I would like to show you her latest results when I get them . The hearing center did not talk to me about other brands . I have spoken with another Audiologist that I found on this forum , the down side is his clinic is one and a half hours from my home . Lily is struggling with the idea of wearing a hearing aid , small would be a plus . Would she suit OIO Lens . I am not sure if I have that right .Sorry for my ignorance . Kind Regards Belinda

I am not an expert and mike gave a detailed answer, but wanted to add that the result won’t be much different and her loss is in the high frequencies. think of Phonak and from my reading here the Phonak Micro Nios are the best choise while they don’t cost as much as the other aids.

There are also small Phonak hearing aids, but these are more expensive. I am referring to the great shape of the Phonak Mini aids.

Hearing Aids and Solutions | Phonak

Phonak is committed to improving the lives of the hearing loss community. Our hearing products and community resources emphasize total wellness through social, emotional and physical well-being. We believe that hearing well is being well and is...

As as patient I really wanted those aids to myself, but becayse they are not wireless aids I would go for Phonak Smarts which I am going to take soon.

Phonak Mini are very small and can fit the loss of your daughter. They come on three price range if money is a matter for you. The Micor Nios are also small and come in many colours.

Hearing Aids and Solutions | Phonak

Phonak is committed to improving the lives of the hearing loss community. Our hearing products and community resources emphasize total wellness through social, emotional and physical well-being. We believe that hearing well is being well and is...

One think I would really advice you. While getting your daughter hearing aids very soon is very important, I advice you jsyt to make searh in this great website about these brands and talk and ask people who also have children with hearing loss and see what you have common with them.

You are lucky becasue you came to the best hearing aid website ever.

In reply to @mikejfl

@mikejfl said:

And yes the Phonak SMART line is a nice product for your audiogram. I like this fitting. Some patients notice that “noise” and some don’t. Looks like your the prior.

Is your provider using a power receiver as opposed to a standard receiver? If a power receiver the stronger receivers have a definite tendency to be louder than the standard. I have not put your audiogram into a computer so I can’t say if a standard receiver would do the job for your loss but would be quieter.

I would suggest decreasing (weakening the sound recover) this normally takes care of the “hiss” – I have fitted hundreds of these aids and generally have excellent responses to them - I dont think its “circuit noise” per se (Phonak would not have a noisy aid out there selling in such vast quantities) - just too much high frequency in too small an area –

Mike J,

I appreciate your willingness to help, and I hope you’re not already overwhelmed with requests. If you have a moment I’d be greatful if you could point me in the right direction.

I’ve know for years that my hearing was poor (since childhood), but now I’m ready to do something about it. I’m coming to grips with being older, but the main reason is because I have a 1 year old at home and I want to be able to hear all the subtleties that I know I’m missing (breathing while he sleeps, the crazy noises he makes, whispers as soon as he learns to modulate his voice, etc.)

So I went to an and his audiologist, but I feel like I’m a bit lost despite hours of online research. There are so many brands of hearing aids (of which maybe 5-7 are "reputable?) and they are so expensive. I understand that I can sample one for 30 days in Texas, but realistically I’m either going to pick the first or second one offered. My ENT’s audiologist seems very professional but I can’t help but question profit motives like steering me to her preferred brand. My insurance company offers a relationship with HearPO (small discounts) and I plan on visiting a clinic they support, but I will still question their motives. I respect that they have a busines to run.

If I were to buy a pair of running shoes I’d probably try on 4-5 pairs before I settled on one. But let’s be honest, I can’t do that with $3K-6K/pr hearing aids, even though they are much more important than a pair of shoes that lasts 4 months. So I’m at the mercy of my audiologist unless I can understand my needs a bit more by online research.

Do you know of a small selection of brands/models that might work best for me, or a resource that might be helpful. (I studied digital signal processing in college so I’m not terribly intimidated by the more technical white papers if you think that’s a place to investigate.)

Thanks, and no worries if you’re too swamped to reply. And I also welcome advice from the community as a whole.

L R
250 20 10
500 25 10
750 40 N/A
1K 50 15
1.5K N/A 20
2K 65 40
4K 75 55
8K 65 65

My ’s audiologist seems very professional but I can’t help but question profit motives like steering me to her preferred brand.

Though I’m sure some would steer you to a more expensive brand for the $$, I believe the reputable one’s will recommend the brand they think is best AND that they have the most skill/experience in programming. I recently switched audi’s because my audi’s preferred brand was not “up to date” for my kind of loss (though they are coming out with a new one later this year) and she was not “up to date” on the brand I wanted to trial, though she does “sell” it. My new audi actually recommended I try the less expensive (of the 3 levels for this aid) to save me money as she didn’t think I needed the extra features. I will be trialing the more expensive one later this month just to see if the extras are worth the extra $$.

My insurance company offers a relationship with HearPO (small discounts) and I plan on visiting a clinic they support, but I will still question their motives. I respect that they have a busines to run.

My insurance also offer HearPO, but there’s no one close by to make it worth checking out.:frowning:

You will find on here many people saying how important it is for you to be comfortable with the HA dispenser/audi and his/her desire to help you hear. HAs are only as good as the “fit”. You want someone who will work with you to get it right. (my “old” audi was willing to upgrade her software, etc for the brand I wanted to try, but I was impatient and also, if she didn’t have the latest software, how good was she going to be in fitting them for me…though I’m sure she would have done everything possible to make them work for me).

You have an assymetrical hearing loss.

Most of the time I’ve fitted this type of loss I do it monaurally. I don’t think you’d perceive much benefit with an aid in the better ear. Some day maybe, but right now I’d advise you to get just one aid.

There are 6 major mfgs worlwide. That’s it.

Phonak, Oticon, Widex, Resound, Siemens and Starkey.

Phonak, Oticon, Widex are the technology leaders, while Starkey is improving quickly in the tech area.

Each of them offer a top of the line, a middle and an entry level product.

A top of the line aid would run you $2500-3500.

Middle is $1500-2500

Entry level about $1000-2000.

They all are built in various styles, , , etc etc. , you could wear any of them.

Some of the high end features, like connectivity, don’t apply to monaural fits,so you don’t need it.

Talk to various audiologists, put your trust in him/her and go with their rec.

You better hope they have a profit motive.

If they go out of business you’re up sh_t’s creek with no paddle.

Allen

PS I’m an audiologist in SoCal

Allen and BlueSumos,

Thanks for the great responses! I needed to hear that basic intro information and I’ll feel a lot more informed when I meet with the audiologist. I had to chuckle at the paddle comment . . . it’s not that I don’t respect their need to make money. I just don’t want them steering me to “Brand X” only because they’ll win a cruise this month if they sell 25 pairs.

Hi Mike,

I have on trial an Interton A560-D for my left ear and are very happy with the results. I have been offered a A560-D HPG for my right ear and wonder if this is the best way to go?

My
0250Hz R-70 L-30
0500Hz R-70 L-20
1000Hz R-75 L-20
1500Hz R-55 L-20
2000Hz R-70 L-20
3000Hz R-60 L-30
4000Hz R-80 L-50
6000Hz R-70 L-65
8000Hz R-75 L-75

In reply to @Wallen

@Wallen said:

You have an assymetrical hearing loss.

Most of the time I’ve fitted this type of loss I do it monaurally. I don’t think you’d perceive much benefit with an aid in the better ear. Some day maybe, but right now I’d advise you to get just one aid.

There are 6 major mfgs worlwide. That’s it.

Phonak, Oticon, Widex, Resound, Siemens and Starkey.

Phonak, Oticon, Widex are the technology leaders, while Starkey is improving quickly in the tech area.

Each of them offer a top of the line, a middle and an entry level product.

A top of the line aid would run you $2500-3500.

Middle is $1500-2500

Entry level about $1000-2000.

They all are built in various styles, CIC, BTE, ITE etc etc. , you could wear any of them.

Some of the high end features, like connectivity, don’t apply to monaural fits,so you don’t need it.

Talk to various audiologists, put your trust in him/her and go with their rec.

You better hope they have a profit motive.

If they go out of business you’re up sh_t’s creek with no paddle.

Allen

PS I’m an audiologist in SoCal

“Starkey is improving in the tech Area” - Doubt it- its been already over 3yrs and
-NO wireless Streaming
-NO wireless coordination
-NO wirless sincronization
-NO Multiband directionality
-NO Large bandwith
-NO Frequency transposition/compression

@xbulder said:

“Starkey is improving in the tech Area” - Doubt it- its been already over 3yrs and
-NO wireless Streaming
-NO wireless coordination
-NO wirless sincronization
-NO Multiband directionality
-NO Large bandwith
-NO Frequency transposition/compression

Their feedback suppresion is impressive.

Again, I don’t put them on the same plane as the top flight companies,but they are improving.

In reply to @Wallen

@Wallen said:

You have an assymetrical hearing loss.

Most of the time I’ve fitted this type of loss I do it monaurally. I don’t think you’d perceive much benefit with an aid in the better ear. Some day maybe, but right now I’d advise you to get just one aid.

Why would you only fit that loss monaurally?

Is the following the correct loss?

L R
250 20 10
500 25 10
750 40 N/A
1K 50 15
1.5K N/A 20
2K 65 40
4K 75 55
8K 65 65

In reply to @mikejfl

Hi Mike…I am waiting for Costco’s be resound for my right ear…I can’t afford 2 right now…I would love to know of some aids that are better for this loss…I have learned that with custom molds are better…I had Cielo 2’s and couldn’t get used to them…then I lost them…I was okay with the BTE’s just heard too much other stuff…I teach kindergarten and I had them in and out all day long…any input from you would be appreciated…
RightHL/LeftHL
500-60/60
1000-55/60
2000-45/40
3000-40/20
4000-25/15
8000-20/20
I have 90 days to try costco’s and I do like the audi there and it would be convenient to go for adjustments…thanks for your help.Rosie

Edited

Hi Rosie,

While you’re waiting for Mike’s reply, I thought that I could offer some advice, if I may. I am a dispenser as well.

I have a couple of questions for you about your previous experience. You mentioned that you had Cielo 2s. Were those the “life” version with open, closed, or custom tips? Or, were they the standard with controls that you could adjust yourself?

Also, a Be by Resound may not be the best thing for you. You have a low tone hearing loss and an open canal hearing aid may not be the best thing for you. By closing your ear canal, you can get more of that low tone hearing that you need. There are also no manual controls on that aid. Manual controls like a push button can help.

Jason

In reply to @xbulder

@xbulder said:

“Starkey is improving in the tech Area” - Doubt it- its been already over 3yrs and
-NO wireless Streaming
-NO wireless coordination
-NO wirless sincronization
-NO Multiband directionality
-NO Large bandwith
-NO Frequency transposition/compression

So when the IRIS wireless streaming is released this fall, you guys will have to pick on Starkey for something else :wink:

I’ve listened and played with both the Alera from Resound and IRIS from Starkey - Starkey wins hands down. And less time delay than Phonak and Oticon products…

dr. amy

Hey Mike…My cielo 2’s were where I could control the volume and button for program myself, which I felt I needed (and used a lot along with taking them in and out if things got too noisy)…the BE resound are custom in the canal and have more venting…the remote mic hopefully reduces some noise…I have 90 days and since I have been on here have learned a great deal…I like the audi at Costco…he is patient and laid back and with this type of loss a patient audi is crucial as I know I will be back and forth for adjustments (hopefully not)…I have a list of other aids that have been mentioned on here to try if this doesn’t work…big question: with all this digital wonderful technology, why can’t some smart engineer devise an aid to fit our loss and not just loss for the high tones? :confused: Thanks for any input Mike! Rosie

In reply to @mikejfl

Mike , I got a problem with my Naida, maybe You can help me.
I’m not going to my Audiologist, he’s bad …can’t fitting good but always don’t like if I complaint.I’m working at bar restaurant, so noisy place and if peoples talking with me I really can’t understand what they talking about, and I wear this Naida already 3 years, I just keep going because my frustated with my Audist. I’m living at Atlanta , if somebody knows Phonak rep ,please give me information…thank’s.

Related discussions