When I got digital HAs, I was freaked out for about a week. The sound of water dripping from the faucet, the warning beep of a bus on the street, when the window was open. ZOMGWHAT?WHAT? WHATDAT?
For me, it was getting in my car and driving: the key fob banging and clanging against the steering column, bumps, thumps and bangs, etc. I’m pretty sure it’s not that loud in real life, LOL! After a month of that, I went back to my audiologist, who did a bit of tweaking to diminish the impact sounds. Much nicer now!
Just a few questions. I am totally new to this. I have a a light to moderate hearing problem on both ears. I am 68 and this is a typical case of an early stage .
I am especially considering buying 2 Widex Clear 330 (FUSION) .
First my most important question. I made searches on this forum but I don’t find so much information on this model and globally on Widex. Any professional or user can specifically comment on Widex?
Widex is a little more expensive than Oticon, Starkey etc… by let’s say 150-200 CDN$. Is this justified or simply related to the pricing policy of the company? That is not critical in my decision making.
Are there notable “sound” differences between companies? My hearing care specialist says that some brands have a more “metallic” sound, some softer sound like for neon tube that can be cool or warm white. Widex would be on the soft sound side… which I would prefer…
I never trialed the Widex… but, the ‘sound’ differences between a Nadia, Wi and Pure are totally different. Nadia just seemed ‘boring’, the Wi sound ‘sterile’ and the Pure sound ‘smooth’ much more like I would tune a nice radio. AS ALWAYS EVERYONE’S OPINION WILL VARY
I found Phonak to be more mechanical sounding and Oticon to be very natural as if you weren’t wearing ’s. Just my two cents. A friend of mine had Widex for years and loved them, now he has Starkey and is sorry he didn’t stick with Widex.
Just a few questions. I am totally new to this. I have a a light to moderate hearing problem on both ears. I am 68 and this is a typical case of an early stage presbycusis.
I am especially considering buying 2 Widex Clear 330 (FUSION) RIC.
First my most important question. I made searches on this forum but I don’t find so much information on this model and globally on Widex. Any professional or user can specifically comment on Widex?
Widex is a little more expensive than Oticon, Starkey etc… by let’s say 150-200 CDN$. Is this justified or simply related to the pricing policy of the company? That is not critical in my decision making.
Are there notable “sound” differences between companies? My hearing care specialist says that some brands have a more “metallic” sound, some softer sound like for neon tube that can be cool or warm white. Widex would be on the soft sound side… which I would prefer…
Thanks for your advices.
Try the hearing aids recommended by the professional you trust and who is an expert in adjusting them. With your loss, any of the major brands would probably work (subject to a trial period).
You will be offered a trial period and you can sometimes negotiate for a longer trial (ask for 90 instead of 30, settle on 60 or 75 days). Remember, it is not just about buying a product and going on your way. There could be several adjustment sessions needed to get everything dialed in just right. If the adjustments are not progressing toward getting everything right and you are not getting more and more confidence that everything can be handled by adjustments, you can return those at the end of the trial and try another brand.
When I first got my Resounds I thought they sounded a little tinny and artificial compared to the Rexton (Siemens) aids I tried. But after a couple of weeks I could not really identify that tinniness, and after a couple of months they could not have sounded any more natural.
In other words, your brain makes some major adjustments over the first few months.
Here is an article about getting used to new hearing aids. The only thing I disagree with, in the article, is that hearing aids do let me hear much better in noise than before, and a is not absolutely required. Most new, small, style hearing aids do not have a telecoil. http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/articles/hearingaidfriends.htm1
I totally agree on the option of trialling them with at least 2 visits back to your audiologist included in the price. It is in his/her vested interest to ensure they adjust the , before the trial runs out, until you are satisfied.
Just a moment to thank all the Audi’s, especially ZCT, for the helpful and well thought-out replies we receive on this forum. And the Admins as well!
Back to manufacturers… as per my sig, some years ago I was underwhelmed by Unitron and I wonder if they have upped their game at all. And also if their sonic quality has improved? The algorithms were flawed and annoying (disappearing dial tone!).
I have Sonic’s and the audio quality is good, but I need new aids. It appears to me that Sonic has been in a dry spell for some years, at least up to maybe 2010, have they also caught up?
My new aids will need to be more powerful so I will probably move from to . Are the streaming features available today considered ready for prime time?
Just a moment to thank all the Audi’s, especially ZCT, for the helpful and well thought-out replies we receive on this forum. And the Admins as well!
Back to manufacturers… as per my sig, some years ago I was underwhelmed by Unitron and I wonder if they have upped their game at all. And also if their sonic quality has improved? The algorithms were flawed and annoying (disappearing dial tone!).
I have Sonic’s and the audio quality is good, but I need new aids. It appears to me that Sonic has been in a dry spell for some years, at least up to maybe 2010, have they also caught up?
My new aids will need to be more powerful so I will probably move from ITE to RIC. Are the streaming features available today considered ready for prime time?
Just so you know, ZCT left us some months back due to harassment from some people on this form.
I agree that he was one of the most helpful people here. When I first asked for help here last year, he was the only one to take an active interest in helping me.
BTW, dr.amy, another helpful professional appears to have left too. It is difficult to tell whether she will be back. In one of her later posts, she mentioned she had just started her own business. Perhaps her time is occupied with that.
Just a moment to thank all the Audi’s, especially ZCT, for the helpful and well thought-out replies we receive on this forum. And the Admins as well!
Back to manufacturers… as per my sig, some years ago I was underwhelmed by Unitron and I wonder if they have upped their game at all. And also if their sonic quality has improved? The algorithms were flawed and annoying (disappearing dial tone!).
I have Sonic’s and the audio quality is good, but I need new aids. It appears to me that Sonic has been in a dry spell for some years, at least up to maybe 2010, have they also caught up?
My new aids will need to be more powerful so I will probably move from ITE to RIC. Are the streaming features available today considered ready for prime time?
I think, Unitron has improved BUT it seems Phonak is not willing to give away their
technology to unitron. An example is the Auto pro, Phonak uses a much better
way to improve the automatics call Soundflow, while it did used a long time ago
auto pro (same as unitron now). I am still surprise, Unitron has NOT upgraded
their automatics yet!
Sonic is part of the WDH, and I think it will get a big upgrade in the near future.
I think, Unitron has improved BUT it seems Phonak is not willing to give away their
technology to unitron. An example is the Auto pro, Phonak uses a much better
way to improve the automatics call Soundflow, while it did used a long time ago
auto pro (same as unitron now). I am still surprise, Unitron has NOT upgraded
their automatics yet!
Sonic is part of the WDH, and I think it will get a big upgrade in the near future.
Like the automatic zoom on the new Pro series that does Autozoom and environment switching?
Wales, UK