Phonak 'Spheric' mode not effective

Have any of the brands attempted a microphone test for checking on ear fit? It would be hard as audiologists don't have the circular speaker arrays, but it might be possible in some other manner.

I am not sure if I understand what you mean. "Microphone test" - you mean REM with oblong silicone microphone probe with tip around 3mm from eardrum?

And I don't know what does a round speaker have to do with it.

Using the hearing aid mics to check they are sitting roughly in the optimal position on the ear. Doesn't exist but perhaps it's possible. One way might involve using an array of speakers with the hearing aid wearer in the middle.

Prior to purchasing my Infinio 90-Sphere, I consulted with two audiologists to get their opinion regarding my hearing loss and the Spheres. Both said even with Sphere, there was going to be situations where I would still need my Roger On microphone. That has turned out to be true. I've worn the Spheres since June 2025 and for me (and other users on various social platforms) the WOW factor isn't there. This has nothing to do with R.E.M. so don't let anyone try to tell you different. I had an audi who performs R.E.M. tell me even with that verification, it would not allow me to understand conversation in a loud environment.

This past weekend, I had to attend a funeral wake. As the parlor got more crowded, I couldn't understand the person seated next to me. I turned on my Roger On and stuck it in the breast coat pocket of my suit jacket. That was the only way I could understand conversation with anyone sitting next to me.

Perhaps the Audeo Eon will be improved over the Audeo Infinio but it's too soon to determine.

@orgullodemexico said:

I've worn the Spheres since June 2025 and for me (and other users on various social platforms) the WOW factor isn't there.

I'm wondering what your gain and output (with MPO line) chart looks like in Phonak Target. And what the Spheric Speech in Noise program setting looks like. I guess that you have cShell with no vent/pressure vent. And what the Spheric Speech in Noise program setting looks like. I highly recommend maxxing Speech Enhancer for Calm Situations program.

BUT:

One ear meets the 60/60 criteria to consider CI evaluation. The other ear is on the borderline.

Unfortunately, with that WRS, even the best HA with the best performed REM-based fitting will provide benefits, but limited - hence usefulness of RogerOn, which can provide even +20 dB SNR.

@orgullodemexico said:

Perhaps the Audeo Eon will be improved over the Audeo Infinio

I doubt it. I think that denoising effectiveness is roughly the same as in Infinio Sphere Ultra.

I am wearing acrylic cshells, with perhaps 1mm vent. The molds were made by Phonak, when received I didn't receive any details about the vent size.

I've had the C.I. conversation with Otolaryngology of Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We both concluded it's not for me at this time. If my hearing worsens in both ears then I'll reconsider.

Regarding the original post about 'spheric mode'. My concerns are moot for now. My audiologist today told me that she is ordering the 'Eon' model for me. Since I have only had the 'Audeo' HAs for 3 weeks she is upgrading me for no extra cost and the trial period will start fresh.

I appreciate the feedback. Twice I ordered cshells from Phonak; once for my Lumity 90s and for my current Infinio Sphere. My audi supplied Phonak with my audiogram and I'm going to assume Phonak determined the correct size of vent that is required. I tried researching the numbers that are on my cshell to see if there is a Phonak database that would help determine the size of my vent. As I said there was no documentation that came with the cshells. Without having immediate access to a micrometer, I laid the monofilament line that came with the cshells on a flat rule and it appears to be just under 1 mm. I'll discuss with my audiologist.

As for the C.I. the surgeon and I both agree that it is a huge commitment and I'm not ready for that. The need to wear an external device on my scalp bothers me. I've also had discussion with people who wear C.I. They say they still have trouble hearing background noise; even going as far as saying they wish they never had the procedure. I understand everyone has different results, I'm not ready to roll the dice.

Yeah, maybe the state of your unaided hearing makes a big difference in how well Spheric noise reduction works for you. I have moderately severe ski-slope loss and can hear speech well without my hearing aids except for faint, soft feminine voices and voices in very noisy situations. Spheres with totally occlusive cShells have worked great for me. I haven't felt the need to use a remote mic since getting them, but am mainly in situations where the speakers I want to hear are close to me. My experience with noise reduction is the opposite. I usually find it surreal how the annoying din of a room can just vaporize and how clearly I can sometimes hear relatively distant voices. For me, with Spheric noise reduction in play, a voice can sometimes sound a little warbly, but I don't care because I can clearly hear and understand the words spoken in all the noise.

On venting, if you don't get your audi to rigidly specify, Phonak may include a pressure vent in the cShells. I had my audi specify "no vent," but the first try came back with less than a mm pressure vent in each cShell. My audi had asked them to omit even that, and the pressure-vented cShells were sent back for free replacement. Since then, a time or two flying and driving, I've sensed a lack of pressure equalization and thought about the wisdom of absolutely no vent, but I just wiggle the molds a bit in each ear, and then I'm OK.

On the best positioning of the receiver speakers in each ear, that's Phonak's argument for getting cShells in the first place. They're supposed to lock your receiver openings into the best position given each ear canal's shape with the mold in place, and they come with an acoustic code that's input into Target that's supposed to optimize your fit for the 3D geometry of each ear canal as judged by the impression or scan that was made. So perhaps some of the experience of "Spheres didn't work for me" may come from people who didn't wear an occlusive enough fit, or because of their dome positioning, didn't have the best receiver placement.

My biggest anxiety is running my batteries down when I'm in Autosense mode and Spheric noise reduction keeps kicking in a noisy location when I don't need it as I'm not chatting with anyone. So I usually switch to Speech in Noise (just stereo zoom mode). Would be great if Phonak could eventually come up with an HA in which Spheric speech could run all day without killing the batteries. The other long-term concern I have is that a very small amount of wax seems to leak into the cShells around the Cerustop filters. I've wondered how well EasyGuard filters hold up in ears that are as waxy as mine.

I've not had an audiologist use REM to check how the aids sit on my ear. Do any providers do that?

I buy 99% proof Isopropyl alcohol buy the 1L to use when cleaning clocks it’s not very expensive.

Trialed the Phonak I-70 Spheres. The "automatic" program level needs to be adjusted by the Audi. The Spheres work great in a quiet setting. When the Furnace AC starts up, it sounds like a jet engine. Same with the refrigerator.

Having to mess around with your phone, when the AC turns on, while laying in bed with the wife is not good.

Solution: Pull out phone, open the Phonak app/Bluetooth, and choose "Spheric in noise" program. Adjust the sliders to to your preference.

I turned the I-70 Spheres in, considered the I-90 Spheres, decided on the Eon's.

Profound hearing loss HA user. CI Candidate left ear.

Spheric Speech in Noise is not energy efficient in that situation. It worth to at least try Speech in Car program (it's for steady-stade noise) or

even in Calm Situation program you can adjust "Noise reduction" slider.

Another option is "Speech in Noise" program, but that may require changing directionality (focus) of microphones of slider.

If A/C is quiet noise, you can ask your HCP about changing slider of "Soft noise reduction" in Target fitting software. IIRC, this is for noises below 40-45 dB, so that they aren't amplified.

How expensive are cShells? Is it easy to switch back to my existing domes if I don't like cShells? Thanks.