Phonak Audeo Spheres I90 -- Not loving them

I am going to a new audiologist at a different company so yes they are fitted from scratch and REM performed.

Its also not wax covering my eardrums as I had them cleaned last month .

I never had any issues with Autosense with the Marvels. I think the Autosense on the Spheres is good also - but for some reason it is better on the loaners.

I have set up an account in Health to track usage - thank you for the tip.

I am hopeful we can get it sorted.

@Lorjoh said:

I have set up an account in Health to track usage - thank you for the tip.

Synchronizing the data from your HAs to the MyPhonak app requires Location permission for the MyPhonak app to be turned on. I felt giving the MyPhonak app ALWAYS permission might have increased battery drain on my iPhone. I also found Location permission only needs to be on when you want to open wearing time. Then the data is synchronized from HAs to iPhone. I haven’t tested how many days you can go without synchronizing, but I’ve been checking wearing time every day or two. I’ve also disconnected the R-Phonak Hearing Aid connection in my iPhone BT settings when I’m not expecting any phone calls or planning on streaming. But since you also need that setting to interact with Siri (or Google Assistant if you’re an Android phone user), I may go back to having it on all the time. My goal is to minimize the amount of lifetime HA recharging to keep my HA batteries “young” as long as possible, Given my age and the possibility of something better that may come along in a few years, maybe I shouldn’t try too hard to maximize my rechargeable battery lifespan. My HA batteries may outlive me!

@Lorjoh said:

Autosense also seemed very slow when it was going through programmes - so much so that I wondered if it was actually working.

Your HCP can change transition speed in Target software. I have set it quick (10 sec). Slowest is 35 sec.

@Lorjoh said:

After my first appointment everything sounded muffled and my ears felt blocked.

It seems either your mid frequencies are under-fitted or NoiseBlock is set too high. I felt the sound muffled when I tried cShell with a 1 mm vent diameter. After 3 years (during them with AOV vent), I found out that I was simply under-fitted in the 1.5-4 kHz range…

@Lorjoh said:

In the car I couldn’t hear my husband but when I went into the app and selected surround setting I could hear him.

This may suggest NoiseBlock issue. Next time try to adjust noise reduction in myPhonak app.

No, way less formal.

Client sits on a swivel chair. Restaurant noise via stereo speakers vs live voice. REAR/LSM display on the screen plus manufacturer SW side by side. Use the v/u meter on the inserts to give you presentation levels at the ear.

You can check for speech only, ‘noise’ only, speech in noise. If you get closer to the client, you increase the SNR, moving further away reduces it. Rotating the client in the chair and moving your position allows for practically any orientation of signal and noise: keeping an eye on the v/u meter tells you if your voice/spouse’s voice presentation SNR is positive or negative.

Client and relevant other both get a good understanding of the performance and limits of the aid, while you get to fart around with the relevant settings in Moresound/Autosense and see the effect of the changes live.

Have any of you done a side-by-side comparison trial for HAs that require custom molds? Do you pay out of pocket for the second molds?

I met with my Audi and the Phonak rep on Thursday. Learned a lot, and the rep suggested all sorts of tweaks (sorry not to have the tech chops to tell you exactly what).

So. Maybe things are a little better. But I still have lousy word recognition. I have to tell my husband to repeat pretty much everything he says. And it’s not just him.

I find myself longing for my old Oticon OPNs. I wonder if I should try comparing the Phonak Spheres with Oticon Intents. The Oticons also have a new underlying technology, so I know that would be a different experience from my OPNs.

I also wonder about jumping between the two paradigms—how my brain would adapt.

You have a features of cookie bite and reverse slope hering loss which are diificult to fit and requires much patience. See the Dr Cliffs videos:

1. reverse slope hearing loss
2. cookie bite hearing loss
3. upward spread of masking

I don’t know what is your Word Recognition Score in quiet, it also gives a bit explanation about potential of your hearing.

Getting used to a new HA lasts a long time - 6-8 weeks, maybe longer.

@seaduck said:

I find myself longing for my old Oticon OPNs. I wonder if I should try comparing the Phonak Spheres with Oticon Intents. The Oticons also have a new underlying technology, so I know that would be a different experience from my OPNs.

I also wonder about jumping between the two paradigms—how my brain would adapt.

Take it from one who has tried Phonaks (earlier model, but Phonak paradigm), after wearing Oticon OPNs.
I had the Phonaks 2 months before I switched back to the OPNs, and realized the difference in the OPN sound vs Phonak’s beam forming autosense.
I upgraded to the OPN S, and am now wearing the Intent 1.
I really am of the opinion Oticon has a completely unique paradigm with the OPN concept sound, and it has been brought forward with each new iteration, but with all the added tech in the Intent equivilent to the Spheres.
Other positives for the Intent is a much smaller shell, and the inclusion of the new bluetooth standard BT LE Audio.
I’m not a Oticon shill per se, but do really find if a person enjoys hearing everything around them the Oticon concept is worth a try.
Join the ranks of Oticonians for better hearing, today!!!

Great comments. Thanks.

Phonak user inch worming along looking for satisfactory setup

@hearingMac said:

Why did you switch?I wore oticon for 6 yrs (so older technology)

I think I explained the Why of it above.
Remember, these are subjective opinions, and what works for me may not work for you.
The main denomination is the experience of the fitter, and your ability to express what you want to hear.
This is the reason so many of us go the DIY route.

Keep on trucking, Dave! You’ve gained a wealth of information from this forum, and hopefully your next appointment will result in a more productive outcome.