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Why do so many hearing aid apps have pitiful reviews?

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Your comments about the app issues are exactly why I asked the question. Not sure why it’s a sensitive topic for some. Thanks for your opinion.

You are welcome @mr.smithster…… I think, as Chuck @cvkemp says, most of these hearing aid apps, are almost an afterthought, perhaps if there was some joint up thinking from the manufacturers, one of them might smell the coffee, and build an app around their aids…. Perhaps that’s too complicated for them :rofl: :upside_down_face: :joy:

I agree. Wondering, do they farm out the app to 3rd party developers or do you think they develope in house?
I got my Jabra’s today and the aids paired up to my phone and the app flawlessly. No issues so far and really appreciate the tweaking available, specially since brand new fitting.
Not sure about long term but so far my concerns are laid to rest. Thanks for all of the replies

Edited

Afterthought or not, with my Oticon More 1s, the app does its job: I can switch programs using the app if I don’t want to fiddle with the small buttons on the aids and I can tweak the streaming with the equalizer even if it is barebones. I do stream a lot and take calls using the app, which is a lot better than trying to use a phone receiver. I also like the database collection element of the app. Very handy.

It would be nice if I could adjust the programming a bit more for high noise environments, and run more than one Bluetooth device at the same time without problems. but for the moment, I am satisfied. I am glad they included it.

In reply to @Neville

I examined the programs controlled by the App. When I found the features that helped, I met with my audiologist. He contacted PHONAK and modified that auto program on the Paradise. That really made a difference to me.

When I see him next time I expect more improvements and a new remote control.

But the little tiny are driving me crazy. I pull the dome off and see I didn’t change it well time before. I can’t tell whether it was fine until I took the dome off…

Meantime I’m told that the hearing aids aren’t working. So I need some more TLC from my audiologist who is patient and helpful.
I think they aren’t working because we’ve tried talking room to room, and floor to floor. And I sit close to the tv trying to hear, while she is 10 feet to my side and behind.

Dave

In reply to @DaveL

I am having that problem. I go to the Phonak app put it on restaurant get it adjusted it connects and a minute later it’s not connected and back on autosense.am I doing something wrong? It does the same thing in tv or anything else I put it in. Please help.

Odd. I use the app it does disconnect when I close it. But when I reconnect it has not returned to auto but is still where I had it set. iOS 15 btw.

I use my app to access a program that I’ve added for certain situations. It is easier for me to access my programs to toggle through them via a button on the actual hearing aid. This applies to volume changes as well. I find the app to be useful but find it’s a bit rude to be using my phone in a social situation to change my settings. Glad I have the app, however.

I find the ones that feel that it is rude for me to make adjustments to my aids, be it from my iPhone, my aids, the watch or connect clip, don’t have an earthly clue about what it is like to have a hearing loss, I use it as a moment of education for them.

I have this automatic program changing on my new Jabra’s. If this can’t be fixed, these aids are not for me. If, when it auto changes, sounded better, I might not be bothered, but the aids auto change to programs or settings that don’t help at all and makes my hearing worse, not better. Very frustrating.

In reply to @cvkemp

If someone asks I’ll say I’m adjusting my aids. If they still have a problem with it then I’ll strongly reconsider spending any time with them… Just sayin…

In reply to @jazzpete

me too. So I have a remote control on order for my Paradise hearing aids.

And Chuck I try and educate them too. But some people aren’t teachable. (Learned that as a ski instructor for 35 years.)

In reply to @jacquef2

I’ve used music mode all day today.

Difference–after setting the mode, I didn’t cancel it on my iPhone. I have a habit of closing modes to save battery life. I’ve had issues with battery life and my phone is a corporate phone. iPhone8.

I hope that helps.

Dave

Edited

With higher-end hearing aids, bad reviews often don’t reflect the quality of the aids, but rather unrealistic expectations of the patient, the skill of the person who fitted the aids, the possibility that the aids are favored by the clinic, but not the best suited for the patient’s type of hearing loss, or some combination of all these factors.

As far as the apps are concerned, they intentionally aren’t meant to give you much programming control. So all that’s really left is the ability to change the volume and preset programs—and maybe turn off background sounds and live listen options. Folks who are looking for more than that will be disappointed and leave bad reviews. I rarely use the Oticon app on my phone except to switch to the Speech In Noise program. I removed it from my iPad because Bluetooth on multiple devices competed for the aids.

I suspect the apps are bad because the hearing aid companies do not hear our complaints

We aren’t their customers.

we buy from fitters and audiologists. Those people are their customers So they listen to the audi.

So Sonova owns Phonak. Sonova now owns Connect Hearing in Canada. She sold here business to Connect Hearing.

The place i dealt with for about 8 years now has “Connect Hearing” over the door. Googled it. Across Canada Connect Hearing employees are very upset; many complaints of being overworked.

I’ve called Phonak and was directed to talk with my audiologist.

So I changed audiologists about 4 months ago. My new audiologist is independent and is incredible.

Sonova/Phonak don’t talk to customers. That’s my experience

@DaveL

I emailed Head Office Phonak UK Tech Support and got a detailed response in less then 10 minutes.

I was quite impressed with how Phonak UK don’t say, we can’t help you.

The “My Phonak” app, updated a few days ago, loads much quicker, in comparison to previous versions, and seems much more responsive, with a few other features…… Well done Phonak, perhaps our legitimate complaints, don’t always fall on deaf ears, thank you for listening…. This app, IMHO, works effectively, and is now very useful…. Cheers Kev :wink:

Thanks! I was unaware. Looked at mine and sure enough it was updated as of November 1st. Version 4.0.5? I think. Updated from 4.0.4

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