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Soundlens: first impressions

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Thanks for the replies. I will check with the audi about the removal line. Maybe it is too long or maybe I am just not getting the aids in far enough. I am definitely getting the right aid in further than the left one. Maybe I just need some more time to get used to all this. I am scared to mess with the length of the line myself!

In reply to @Ringer

I feel are a bit of a sham. A pure marketing gimmick. It’s true to not get occlusion the hearing aid has to be just a few millimeters from the eardrum and inserted past the bony canal but as someone else said in this thread they felt the impression process was no different from other hearing aids. This is where I feel the sham of the whole product is. An audiologist would need to put an otoblock so far into the ear that if the hearing aid were to only sit a few millimeters from the eardrum, the otoblock would have to be pressed against it during the impression which would be unbearable. If you have always had hearing aids with no venting and blocking your ear the occlusion wouldn’t bother you. If I am not mistaken the soundlens has less abilities to connect via remotes, bluetooth etc. Sorry… maybe a bit of a biased response. Not a fan of so definitely not IICs. Other than aesthetics I don’t see the draw to them when my main goal is speech intelligibility.

In a way, I agree with you Dan. The problem is, it is just so hard to get ’s fitting right, and yes, when done correctly the impression process will be a little uncomfortable- so in my experience the vast majority of folks who are initially attracted to them end up switching to another style. What you say about the SoundLens about connectivity is also true, as is true with all other IIC’s at this time. Everyone’s main goal should be speech intelligibility, and the vast majority of the time, open-fit aids are going to do the job better.

It has been a while since we have heard from those of you who were trying to get your Soundlens ’s to fit comfortably and work well. How are things working out for you?

I am about to go for my first fitting for my first HA’s next week. The is recommending Soundlens 110. It looks good to me. I am lucky enough to have a good HA benefit with my insurance coverage, enough to cover the HA’s after some negotiations on pricing.

The HIS and the Starkey rep who was at his office the day of my hearing test, both acknowledged the fitting problems that have been discussed here. [I told them I had been reading about such issues.] He did not offer numbers, but claimed plenty of experience making deep molds and fitting the Soundlens correctly. Time will tell if that is correct. I’ll try to write a post about my own experience when I have my HA’s.

So far my experience is all on studying paper claims and talking to the folks who will make the profit from my purchase. I would really like to hear about your real world experiences.

Thanks in advance.

Just had molds for Soundlens made yesterday. Yes, it was uncomfortable, but bearable, when he put the cotton ball deep into my ear canals. I hope that means the Hearing Instrument Specialist went deep enough. I did talk with him ahead of time about what I had read on this thread. It should take about two weeks or so to get my ’s. I’ll post how things turn out.

— Updated —

Just had molds for Soundlens made yesterday. Yes, it was uncomfortable, but bearable, when he put the cotton ball deep into my ear canals. I hope that means the Hearing Instrument Specialist went deep enough. I did talk with him ahead of time about what I had read on this thread. It should take about two weeks or so to get my HA’s. I’ll post how things turn out.

First impressions of a newbie.

Got my first ’s, SoundLens 110, on Wednesday afternoon. It is now Saturday afternoon. I’ve been wearing them continuously while awake, except in the shower. I like the results, and boy, is my wife happy to have the TV volume reduced. I am noticing lots of things sound louder and different, even typing on the computer keyboard, but the uncomfortable loud or echoing noises that used to drive me to foam ear plugs are now less bothersome. Church organ music has been very uncomfortable for me unless I plug my left ear. I’ll find out tomorrow how it will be with the HA’s.

Mine seem to fit deeply in my ear canals. I am not noticing any problem with the way my own voice sounds. The most distracting thing is the noise of chewing. If I eat a cracker or a cookie, the noise is so loud I cannot make out anything from outside my head unless I stop chewing. That is easy enough to live with.

I have used the T2 system to change the volume from the factory programmed settings. I feel better with the left ear down one step and the right ear up one step. I have a follow up appointment in another week and a half, so I’ll ask the programming to be adjusted then. I have also changed to different memory settings, but not noticed that making any difference. I have three turned on. The audiologist named them normal, crowd (softer), and TV (louder).

The who tested and fitted me was on vacation when the HA’s were ready. One of his employees, an Au.D, handled the delivery and orientation. She seemed less than enthused about the SoundLens. When I asked her about that she said, “I hate them.” She said that was because they are very prone to breakdown due to being so deep in the ear. She would much prefer to fit me with a model. But when I talked with her boss and the visiting Starkey rep on my first visit, this was what they recommended for me. I have 60 days to try them out.

@Zeke said:

The most distracting thing is the noise of chewing. If I eat a cracker or a cookie, the noise is so loud I cannot make out anything from outside my head unless I stop chewing. That is easy enough to live with.

You don’t have to live with it. A slight gain reduction in the lower frequencies for high-level inputs (80dB) should fix the problem.

Nine days so far. They are making a big difference, but there have been problems also.

The original batteries lasted five days. The published specs said 3 to 5 days, so I was very pleased. I was at an out of town professional meeting when they died. The Hearing Center included a starter package of 4 “new” batteries, labeled as good until next summer [2015], so I thought I was prepared. Changed the batteries and ten minutes later the ’s were beeping the low battery signal. [10 minutes!] Changed them again. One “new” battery was dead when installed, the other lasted one day. Fortunately the meeting was over by then. Stopped at Walmart for a package of new batteries and installed them on Tuesday. As of Friday evening, they are still working. I don’t think I’ll be buying batteries from the Hearing Center.

BUT - I inserted my Soundlenses when I got up this morning [Friday]. The right ear sounded funny, like it was not working. I thought maybe there was wax in the wrong place, so I removed it to clean. I found the half dome that should be covering the receiver was missing. Maybe it is still in my ear? Called the Hearing Center. They squeezed me in. Looked into ear, no dome. They are sending the right HA back for repair. It has only been nine days! I wonder, is this how it is going to be? If so, I am returning these and going for a different model, maybe a .

In reply to @dave10

As seen in picture the color of the face plate used in your hearing aid is skin color rather if they would have used a black color it would have been more invisible. It is more of a shallow than being sound lens. As per your you can even try Oticon because they may be able to provide you with a smaller options compare to starkey Otolens.

Neha Y
HNR speech and hearing clinic, India

In reply to @Zeke

Well I got my right soundlens back at my follow-up visit just before Thanksgiving. Got the programming adjusted at the same time. I wear the ’s almost all the time because they really do seem to help.

I am basically happy with the Starkey 110’s I have had for about a month now. Mine have five programs available. Right now they have three programs active: normal, crowd (softer), and TV (louder). That is how the audi described them on delivery. I have had one follow-up where the volume settings were tweaked slightly at my request. I’ll go back in January (I am away from home until then) and ask for some further fine tuning because I still have to turn one side up a step to feel they are balanced.

@Zeke said:

It has been a while since we have heard from those of you who were trying to get your Soundlens HA’s to fit comfortably and work well. How are things working out for you?

I am about to go for my first fitting for my first HA’s next week. The HIS is recommending Soundlens 110. It looks good to me. I am lucky enough to have a good HA benefit with my insurance coverage, enough to cover the HA’s after some negotiations on pricing.

The HIS and the Starkey rep who was at his office the day of my hearing test, both acknowledged the fitting problems that have been discussed here. [I told them I had been reading about such issues.] He did not offer numbers, but claimed plenty of experience making deep molds and fitting the Soundlens correctly. Time will tell if that is correct. I’ll try to write a post about my own experience when I have my HA’s.

So far my experience is all on studying paper claims and talking to the folks who will make the profit from my purchase. I would really like to hear about your real world experiences.

Thanks in advance.

I still have the Soundlens but they have been basically living in a drawer. I feel so bad about having spent money on something that I don’t use when at first I was excited about being able to hear better. I tried the Starkey Halos first and liked how they helped my hearing but didn’t like how my glasses and sunglasses rubbed against them and caused the backs of my ears to be sore, and I admit I felt a little self conscious about their appearance. But now that I’ve also tried the Soundlens, if I could go back and do it again I think I’d do the Halo despite the frustrations I had with them. They helped my hearing better and stayed in place better; even though I was afraid they’d fall off, they didn’t. Whereas I find myself pushing the Soundlens back into my ears several times a day, and I don’t think my hearing is as good with these because of the occlusion.

@Zeke said:

Given the poor battery performance of the ones from the hearing center, I am curious where do people get their supplies of #10 batteries?

Funny you mention battery life because OMG the batteries with the Soundlens have been awful! Another complaint that I have. Now I knew going in that the battery life would not be as good as with the Halo but this is ridiculous. So far I have just been using the batteries I get from the audiologist and haven’t been using the aids enough to even ask him for more batteries. It’s weird because with the Halos I could leave the batteries sitting in with the “door” open for a week and the battery would still be good. Not so with the Soundlens.

I still, no matter what aids I use, have the overall problem that my job really precludes the use of hearing aids so then I get used to just not ever wearing them at all, plus I know that the batteries are going to be worn down whenever I do try them AND I’m not going to hear that much better with them AND they are going to keep sliding out so I feel rather discouraged overall!

@Ringer said:

I still have the Soundlens but they have been basically living in a drawer. I feel so bad about having spent money on something that I don’t use when at first I was excited about being able to hear better. I tried the Starkey Halos first and liked how they helped my hearing but didn’t like how my glasses and sunglasses rubbed against them and caused the backs of my ears to be sore, and I admit I felt a little self conscious about their appearance. But now that I’ve also tried the Soundlens, if I could go back and do it again I think I’d do the Halo despite the frustrations I had with them. They helped my hearing better and stayed in place better; even though I was afraid they’d fall off, they didn’t. Whereas I find myself pushing the Soundlens back into my ears several times a day, and I don’t think my hearing is as good with these because of the occlusion.

Did you ask your audiologist to take an open-jaw impression and submit for a remake? If you’re still not happy with the fit, your audi should be able to negotiate a return with Starkey and get you something else. It would be such a waste if you leave them sitting in a drawer.

No, I haven’t addressed this with my audi. I had gotten the feeling that “this was it” once my trial period was over. But I really am sad to have wasted the money on these basically. I have worn them all day today (my day off) after weeks of not having worn them at all, but it is just a hassle. I guess they are better than my unaided hearing but I know that during the work week I won’t wear them and the battery will wear down. Then if I wear them again on the weekend the battery will be dead, I’ll have to put in new ones, I’ll be pushing them in all day, yada yada. I don’t relish the idea of having another remake, either. The first impression session hurt. I was sitting there trying to keep it together and not let my eyes water too much, and I couldn’t hear a thing, which was kind of claustrophobic.

I appreciate the suggestion. I guess I will have to make an appointment to talk with him again and see if there is anything he can do or suggest. This is not working. He did say that my ear canals are very straight, so maybe that lends to the Soundlens falling out easily, I don’t know.

@Ringer said:

No, I haven’t addressed this with my audi. I had gotten the feeling that “this was it” once my trial period was over. But I really am sad to have wasted the money on these basically. I have worn them all day today (my day off) after weeks of not having worn them at all, but it is just a hassle. I guess they are better than my unaided hearing but I know that during the work week I won’t wear them and the battery will wear down. Then if I wear them again on the weekend the battery will be dead, I’ll have to put in new ones, I’ll be pushing them in all day, yada yada. I don’t relish the idea of having another remake, either. The first impression session hurt. I was sitting there trying to keep it together and not let my eyes water too much, and I couldn’t hear a thing, which was kind of claustrophobic.

I appreciate the suggestion. I guess I will have to make an appointment to talk with him again and see if there is anything he can do or suggest. This is not working. He did say that my ear canals are very straight, so maybe that lends to the Soundlens falling out easily, I don’t know.

The batteries should last about 4 days or so; if you set up your expectations that you’re going to have to replace them every weekend maybe you won’t get as frustrated. What you’re describing is totally within normal battery range.

As far as occlusion, they may be able to increase the vents so that you don’t feel as plugged. You should definitely get the aids remade; they shouldn’t be sliding out of your ears. Your audiologist should take an open jaw impression (they usually have a bite block for you to put in your mouth while the impression is curing), and tell him that the first one was painful so that he can try to be more gentle this time. Remakes are included for at least a year, so there shouldn’t be a charge.

Basically, let your audiologist know what’s going on so he has a chance to help make things better.

In reply to @dave10

HI there, I am a “newbie” to hearing aids and would really appreciate your advice. I have very small ears/canals (not a candidate for Lyric) & just got the Starkey series 3 iic soundless iic. However, a different audiologist tried to sell me on the Oticon (Agil, I think)- says it is a better more superior product. In your opinion, is one better than the other? WHich do you prefer?

It has been about a month since I got my ’s adjusted. I have been out of state the whole time, but used them almost all the time. A couple of very quiet days I forgot to put them in and only missed them if/when something changed, like I went outside. I am basically very satisfied. They do help. I no longer need the TV volume at levels my finds uncomfortable and I am doing a lot less asking people to repeat what they said.

I feel fortunate that my fitting apparently was done right the first time. Inserting them deep in my ears is momentarily uncomfortable, but only mildly so. Once in place, I soon forget them, with two exceptions: 1.) In my right ear I hear a lot of noise from my own body when I move my head or jaw, especially chewing and swallowing; the HA specialist says I just need to get used to it. 2.) some days one side seems to loose hearing compared to the other; I am learning to check the microphone for wax, find usually it has become blocked; a little cleaning and it is all good again.

There has been some discussion of battery life. I’ll tell about my experience in a separate post.

My two month trial period is about to expire. I am keeping them. I am glad to have my Soundlens 110’s.

I got about 4 days per size 10 battery from the first of two packs of four batteries each that I received with the ’s from the HAS. The second pack had one battery that worked for about 24 hours, the other three were dead.

I hit a Walmart and bought a package of Ray-O-Vac’s [8 batteries I think] for about $8 that got me back in business. Those all lasted 4 to 5 days. Just what Starkey said to expect. I marked the dates on the package to keep track.

HearPO was sending me a year’s supply as part of my purchase, but they would be coming while I was out of state for a month, so I ordered a batch of 60 “Power One” German batteries from Amazon, sent to my temporary address. That cost about $16 to $18, I don’t recall exactly,a much better value than Walmart’s price, if they would work. They are great! I am getting 6 days per battery from a batch marked as good to 04-2017.

I got home and found the batteries from HearPO that were sent as part of my purchase. They are Ray-O-Vacs dated for 2018, but I have not used any of them yet. So now I have close to two years worth on hand, if they all work.

My conclusions:
1.) Buying fresh batteries from reputable brands in moderate quantities will not be a major expense and should give me good to excellent results.
2.) I like my HAS, but I am not taking any more of his batteries.

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