Specsavers Advance Hearing Aids Broken Again

Hi Pete,
It is the Accrington branch if Specsavers I go to. They appear to be franchised with the Franchisee owning a few branches. When I got my original NHS hearing aids I went to the Burnley branch as the could offer me my earliest appointment. I found out that the Franchisee that owned that branch also owned ones in Nelson and Colne, which are still further east if me. I tried to swop to either the Accrington or Blackburn branch but couldn’t as different Franchises. I had to wait until the NHS ones were due for replacement. I have seen three different Audiologists at the Accrington branch. I think that they all work at different branches depending on the appointments that are booked in each branch. I suspect that is why the director tried to change my appointment as the inexperienced audiologist was probably the only one working in the Accrington branch on the day of my appointment. Out of interest what is a ballpark figure you paid for the Phonaks. I gave read a lot about them and it seems that they might fit my needs. My only concern is that I wear glasses and have quite small ears, which I have read could be an issue.
On a separate note, I do quite a lot of streaming if YouTube videos on my phone, a Pixel 8 pro, if I pause the video, when I start playing again there is a slight delay in the right hearing aid giving a very annoying echo effect.
Thank you to everyone for the helpful comments

@Brian58 said:

The only fault is the nearest one is about 30 miles away.

I travel 45 km to the nearest CI care center. In city traffic that’s 1:45 hours one way , then the same back home again.

@Brian58 said:

I purchased the Specsavers Advance Hearing aids in the UK at the end of November 2024. I don’t know the model but they are White label Signia. Since the purchase, the left hearing aid stopped working and the receiver was replaced. The the right hearing aid stopped working completely and had to be sent back. The right hearing aid has again stopped working. The hearing aid connects to the app and is fully charged. I have tried changing the wax guard. The hearing aids are receiver in the ear. I think that this is unacceptable and I am thinking of returning them. I don’t know whether to go for a fully branded model from Specsavers or to go to an independent audiologist. I live in the Blackburn Lancashire district of the UK. Can anybody recommend any independent audiologists or particular hearing aid brand/model. Bluetooth connectivity is important to me, as is increased understanding in situations such as eating out and socializing. I do suffer a lot with ear wax and itching with the silicone domes.

@kevels55 said:

Suffice to say, it all comes down to experience, and as we all know, there isn’t any substitute for experience! Cheers Kev.

Thanks Kev. Very helpful post from you.

I have a lot to learn and your post is perceptive to say the least. Interesting !!

@Brian58 said:

Out of interest what is a ballpark figure you paid for the Phonaks.

Hi Brian,

Specsavers charged me £2995 for the Phonak I 90’s.

If you do go to Specsavers, my branch has given me 90 days of trial period. If yours does the same, that should be plenty of time to see if they suit you. (Keep the receipt )

Interesting comment on the slight delay of the right hearing aid streaming. The only comment I can make is that I use a an Android phone to stream and there is no echo. I don’t know if that helps or not.

I don’t know if this is allowed, but I will soon be told if it isn’t. My U-tube channel is @My day visits. I don’t get a delay or echo from my channel and it would be interesting to know if you still have the echo on my channel. At least that will tell you if its your equipment or channels in general. Have you set your Ipad to stereo or mono mode? I have a feeling that mono mode might sort the problem.

Hi Brian,

Just a thought here. If I was in your position, initially I would go for a pair of £1000 Phonak Audeo L-RL rather than straight to the Phonak Spheres at £3000.

The reason I say this is because you might find the Audeo might well work for you and you would save £2000

You said :-
My only concern is that I wear glasses and have quite small ears, which I have read could be an issue.

The Audeo’s are smaller than the Spheres and would be less of a problem for you.

Pete

Thanks Pete
So much to think about. I will get there eventually.
When I was on the NHS ones I had a connector from Covenants that worked until just after the guarantee ran out. Bought a second one which did the same again. Upgraded to new NHS ones which were Bluetooth enabled, but wouldn’t work with my older OnePlus phone, upgraded to the OnePlus 11pro which connected well, but then kept dropping the Bluetooth signal. That is when I went for the Pixel 8 pro. Expensive ailment this deafness

Ell that was a bit complicated to find on the Pixel, but I got there. I will try it later. Will have to see how it affects Spotify when I am listening to music

@Brian58 said:

I am still thinking about the Phonak Audeo Sphere.

Hi Brian,

Re: - The streaming problem. I would hesitate to say that is a problem with the HA’s. It might be the Bluetooth capabilities of your streaming device and / or U tube itself. However, in the great scheme of things, it’s a minor inconvenience and might improve over time as I have found happens, especially with Android devices.

I was in the same situation as you, but I had Phonak Audeo L90- RL HA’s, and I too wondered whether to upgrade to Spheres. In the end, I decided to keep the L90’s as a spare set of HA’s, and to trial the Spheres.

What I find with the Spheres is that the Spheric mode is very good in crowded noisy locations in hearing a speaker in front of me, but that is the only difference between the L90’s and the Sphere’s. So, if you have a busy social life in noisy environments go for the Spheres. Anyway, you will have a 90 day trial from Specsavers to try them to see if they suit you more than the Lumity set so you are not really out of pocket.

What did make a VAST difference were my DIY efforts with my Noah link and the Target software. It was a long job to get things right and by only changing one parameter at each session is the key.

I soon became to realize that my hearing will NEVER be the same as in my younger days, and that aids are just that, and with that in mind, my hearing life style is the best I can expect for an 80 year old. I hope you realize that too whatever age you are.

I hope the above helps. Keep us updated.

Pete

Hi Pete, not sure what the L90s are or how they compare to the Specsavers version of the Lumity. I also don’t know what a Noah link, or Target software is. I did try to use the MyPhonak app but it wouldn’t recognise the Specsavers aids, so I am stuck with their app. I don’t do much socialising, but find it hard work to communicate when I do. We actually went out to a restaurant today for my son’s birthday and I tried the restraunt setting. I played around with the settings and found that I could dim the background noise a lot. Unfortunately I could not get them to focus on my wife’s and son’s speech who were sat in front of me and to my right. They did however tune in very clearly to the table behind me where I could hear their entire conversation very clearly. I was due at Specsavers last Friday for a follow up, but they cancelled on me. I now have an appointment for Thursday this week.

@Brian58 said:

Hi Pete, not sure what the L90s are or how they compare to the Specsavers version of the Lumity

Same but with a different name.

@Brian58 said:

I also don’t know what a Noah link, or Target software is.

Software and hardware requirements for DIY of your HAs, not in Specsavers I don’t think as most are locked.

A second app @Brian58 could try is Easy Line. It’s Costco’s Sonova app. It may work.

What are Noah Link and Target software?

Hi Dave,

Basically, Target is software that an audiologist uses to program hearing aids.

The Noah equipment is hardware (UK £120 approx.) that interfaces HA’s to the Target software on a PC.

You can read more in the DIY section on this forum.

Thanks Pete,
I will have a read. I have the Phonak Audeo Infinio i90s in order. I will see how I get on with them