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High frequency hearing loss & Phonak Spheres

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I’ve had tinnitus for over 40 years. Upto 2kHz my hearing is good but above 2kHz it drops off a cliff into the severe/profound hearing loss bands.and the signal to noise ratio () loss test is 9.5… Higher pitch female voices in background noise (eg in cafes) is a major problem and my main concern.

I’ve just started a 30 day trial of Phonak Infinio 90 Sphere hearing aids. I’m not experiencing the signifcant improvement that others have found with these aids. The difference between programs with and without the spheric function engaged seems minimal. Background noise isn’t amplified to the same extent that occured with my previous hearing aids but voices aren’t noticeably easier to hear above the background noise and there isn’t much noticeable directionality.

I realise I need to persevere with the trial but I was expecting a more noticeable improvement from these highly rated aids. Am I expecting too much too soon or do you think adjustments at the four appointments I’ve scheduled during the 30 day trial will effect a dramatic improvement? Has anyone had a similar experience please?

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Well everyone is different, just because it works for one doesn’t mean for everyone unfortunately, but it’s early days, give your verdict after the additional adjustments, that way you’ll know for sure if these are as good as the marketing blurb and a keeper.

Many thanks for your comment @pcm71. The thread started by your Sept 24 post on open, vented or is particularly interesting: Newbie, help choosing the right domes - background noise

Your is somewhat similar to mine and like you I find TV isn’t too much of a problem without hearing aids. As domes are cheap and easy to change I’m keen to try closed domes. Over the past few years that I’ve been wearing hearing aids, I’ve tried three audiologists with varying degrees of success. I learnt that skill of the audiologist is very important. For the Phonak Spheres I found another audiologist who seems better and who I hope will persevere with me to find the best settings, domes, etc. If so, it will be well worth their premium prices!

PS With the Phonak spheres there is also their MAV active vent as an alternative to open and . But I think I need to try closed domes first which would be the easier and more common option.

In reply to @RogerBill

Yes, our hearing loss are quite similar.
I think you will improve your gain levels and your hearing in noise with , but perhaps you have occlusion issues and background noise due to low frequency retention with closed domes.
I’m wearing Philips 9050 with open domes and I’m happy with this setting. I’ve tried closed domes and vented domes and I can’t manage the occlusion.
The problem with open domes is the feedback, I have to reduce the high frequencies gain to reduce the feedback. For this reason, I would like to test custom mold in order to improve the gain level.

Thanks again @pcm71 I’ll discuss dome options at my audiologist appointment next week. I downloaded the ActiveVent candidacy check list and it seems tinnitus is a reason to rule them out as an option. I’ll add update this thread after the appointment.

I have pretty bad tinnitus and the activevents work great for me. Unless it is dead silent, just having the makes the tinnitus bearable. The audiologist’s booth is still a bit of a dungeon to me.

The only implication for me was that the tinnitus program I had was disabled by using activevents, so it turned into a calm situation program.

Talk it over with the .

WH

I have older Phonak hearing aids.

I had to change audi’s and my new care giver has made real changes and improvements for me.

I learned something recently about domes.

I have . two tiny vents. I have a stash of new domes.

My hearing instrument specialist did and in later appointments changed the programming at my request.

When I put in Phonak closed domes with 2 vents, I couldn’t hear as well. I looked at the packaging on the closed domes he provided, and it’s marked “Resound”. He sells mainly Resound hearing aids.

I hear better with his Resound large closed domes. The vents are smaller than the Phonak large closed domes I have.

So these tiny changes make a difference in how I hear.

Hope this helps.

Audiologists tend to set amplification too low for new users (as was the case for me, until I programmed my Phonaks myself). Make sure your are configured for adequate amplification of your high frequencies.

Many thanks @DaveL and @RobHooft. I think you both make good points and which are relevant to my situation. It’s interesting that domes for other makes of hearing aids might fit my Phonak Spheres as that would potentially open up a much wider range of options. Something else for me to ask the audiologist. Also I guess it’s understandable that the audiologist would want to gradually ramp up the amplification from an initial level set for comfort rather than peak performance to avoid frightening off a new user. I’ll ask if this was the case at my next appointment.

You mean “channels” right, so not to be confused with “handles” for adjustments within the software.

Thanks for your proposal. I tried it, but I don’t know if I placed the domes as depth as you say. I’m going to try again as soon as I can.

Push it carefully and gently. You may need time and breaks to get used to the new placement, as described by owner of deep-reaching earmold:

My Phonak Sphere vs Virto, Paradise and Marvel
They were painful at first but then the skin further then the second bend toughen up and it stopped being painful.
@pcm71 said:

but I don’t know if I placed the domes as depth as you say

I use silicone custom plug in my better ear when doing ear rehabilitation and found that, for example, chewing sounds are less prominent when I gently push the plug toward the bony part of my ear canal (which is about one-third of its medial length).

Hi.
I think I’m similar to you hearing wise. Only been wearing hearing aids for about 3 years. I have a previous model of phonak to yourself. When I first started wearing them I couldn’t get a dome big enough to be able to stay in the ear. My ear holes must be like buckets. I ended up getting a custom made plastic mould that fits just inside the ear hole and doesn’t fall out and also doesn’t allow much background noise through either. Maybe you could speak to your audiologist about those and if they would suit your hearing style. They are about £50 each. I only have one in my worst ear and a normal dome in my better ear.
Gary

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