I am trialing the Phonak L90 RTs right now as my Resound Enzos are showing their age.
While I haven’t completely given up on the L90s, I still find the sound overly live and jarring after 4 weeks. I also really do not like the way I have no control over the external mics on the hearing aid while streaming either phone calls or content.
I do like the rechargeability, size, and non-intrusive wiring and capability of the L90s.
Given my fairly significant loss – and trying to maintain what I like about the L90s – would the Resound Omnia and Oticon More be good choices to trial? Other possibilities?
I’m retired now so having best in class speech-in-noise is probably not as important now as Apple integration, control of external mics, small size, slim wire, and being rechargeable.
The Omnias are not going to match the small size of the Lumitys. For me, being able to use a size 13 battery with at least a 10- or 11-day runtime, having a , and being able to control it with my Apple Watch were important considerations. My audiologist allowed me to trial two brands of HA at no charge (the Lumity and the Omnia) and might have allowed even more if I had asked. I was able to trial both simultaneously. TruHearing allowed a 60-day return period on the HA’s I got. So, hopefully, you have an who will allow you to try at least two other HA’s at minimal charge and with a suitable return period if you’re not satisfied with your choice. As others have pointed out, having an HCP experienced in fitting a particular brand and capable of doing a good job are important considerations. With the Omnias, I like the Experienced, Nonlinear user profile used with the fitting algorithm rather than ReSound’s proprietary +. I can wear M& receivers, which I like very much, but it wouldn’t be an option for you because of feedback that would be incurred with your greater loss. I should imagine you’ll have custom molds made. I use them and like them much better than domes or a more . With your loss, I’d imagine you’d wear a very closed fit. So, to really appreciate the fit of any other HA’s you try, you might have to invest in molds for each.
The “free” trial is possible because my audi had trial-lender HA’s from both Phonak and ReSound available. AFAIK, she just carefully cleans the aids between trial users, puts new and domes on the receivers (or in the case of the Omnias, I did have my own custom molds made for my trial of those). The length of the trial might be something to negotiate with your HCP. For instance, I saw in the Target fitting software that the default is a 60-day trial, but she told me she was only going to allow a 10-day trial for the Lumitys!
I have always worn custom ear molds and anticipate continuing with them, although my has sent out impressions for half shell molds since she thought the L90s could probably handle the feedback.
I’ve know my HCP for decades and believe she will allow multiple trials since she knows I will purchase something. I’m on week 4 with my L90s and have been under no pressure to end the trial. In fact, it will continue for awhile since the power L90 didn’t fit into my existing molds (hence the new half shell molds) and will be replaced with the power model RICs when the molds are done.
My HCP has long used a measurement machine and probes to match my (currently Resound Enzos) settings to . I think she uses Phonak software to adjust the L90 settings so they match the audiogram on the REM machine and Resound software to adjust the Enzos. Is a third party or open source software that can replace the HA manufacturer’s proprietary software?
I know the M&RE receivers are for moderate losses but one of the Youtube HCPs said all his clients with more severe losses also benefited from the M&RE. So, who knows?
How has your experience been with the Omnias? While I like the smaller Lumity size, I could live with a size 13 battery if the sound were a bit more comfortable / mellow and there were good MFI integration, control of external mics, and smaller tubing / wires.
You could try with your Lumitys. Most OEMs offer several different fitting formulas in the fitting software. Your could advise you, especially from being familiar with your likes and dislikes. Here’s a list of the fitting algorithms available for the Lumity P90 in the Target fitting software.
If you’re into “comfort,” you might like the proprietary Phonak algorithm better. NAL-NL2 is open source. DSL5-Adult is another popular alternative fitting algorithm. I think it’s licensed from the University of Western Ontario, where it was developed. But both NAL-NL2 and DSL5-Adult amplify the highs a lot more than ReSound’s “comfort” +, and I would imagine the same is true vs. the proprietary Phonak fits. DSL5 was a little too much amplification for me. I think high-frequency amplification helps me with speech recognition. There are sounds like our security alarm keypad alert that are so high frequency that I don’t hear them well without my high frequencies cranked up, too.
I thought the Lumitys were excellent hearing aids, and if they were available with disposable batteries or rechargeables with a longer runtime, I might have gotten them instead. I found the MyPhonak app very powerful, but a little slow and clunky compared to the ReSound app, and I especially wanted to be able to control my HA’s through my Apple Watch Ultra (one of the reasons I switched from Android to iPhone was for the ability to do that!).
I thought AutoSense 5.0 worked great for the most part, but sometimes it was too aggressive (turning on running aerated tap water while my soft-spoken wife was speaking to me from the side instantly cranked up aggressive noise suppression making her voice hard to understand). But Speech Enhancer was a killer feature for me. The Omnias with M& receivers weren’t quite as good as picking up her soft voice, but they were much better than my ReSound Quattros and quite good enough (like you, noisy situations are a very infrequent occurrence for me. I’m 85% or 90% in quiet environments). Perhaps the natural pinna effect that one is supposed to get with the Omnia M&RIE receivers really works for me and functions a bit like a natural speech enhancer. I imagine my sound localization is much improved, but that may be the placebo effect (the power of suggestion).
I thought the Lumitys focused on making speech very clear and sometimes cut out environmental sounds to do that. The Omnias in All-Around mode seem closer to Oticon Mores and Opns in attempting to let you hear everything around you, even more noise than the Lumitys, IMHO. I’ve never tried the Oticons, and if I were you, you might want to try those next as something very different from Phonak. They get rave reviews from users on the forum. I’d say the Omnias are somewhere in between in terms of focusing on speech vs. hearing everything around you.
Unfortunately, Zebras is correct. When making a phone call, as best I can determine, I only have access to the rocker button which acts as a “mixer” between call strength and strength of external mics. That is, + increase call volume and decreases mic strength, while - does the opposite. There is no way to just turn down the external mics without also affecting the call streaming volume.
To be honest, I was not aware that different fitting algorithms could be used within the Phonak target software and that each algorithm made different kinds of sound processing choices. I’ve only ever seen my use her machine to match up my settings to match my and assumed it was always using a HA manufacturer specific algorithm. I have no idea what algorithm she uses but will ask tomorrow.
I did look up the Oticon More family and I believe I’d fit within their user range. The Oticon approach seems a bit different from Phonak so I’ll definitely ask to do an Oticon trial with my custom molds. Also, as best I can tell, I should be able to control the external mics on the Oticons independently from call and content streaming. There tends to be a fair amount of noise in our house and not being able to mute or decrease external mic volume on the L90s while on a phone call is proving very troublesome. I also like that the Oticons will let me (I think) choose between using the iPhone or hearing aid mics while on a call. I’ve already noticed that people on the other end of the call have more trouble hearing me than when I used the iPhone mic with my Resound Enzos.
I am getting switched to the most powerful L90 tomorrow which should give me much better mid frequencies and perhaps allow the L90s to provide a less jarring sound. So, I’ll continue with the L90s for a few more weeks before trying out the Oticon Mores.
To be honest, I was not aware that different fitting algorithms could be used within the Phonak target software and that each algorithm made different kinds of sound processing choices.
I use NAL 1. It gives me more streaming volume and less issues with Speech in Noise when socialising.
No one has ever been able to use the App when connected to a Phone Call.
Yes, agree. My apologies. I tried it and it didn’t work. For me, the MyPhonak doesn’t connect while on a call. I did ask my audio for this function, but (as you note) the MyPhonak streaming control only seems to work for audio, not calls.
My called Phonak while I was in the room and I asked about connecting to MyPhonak while on a call. The Phonak person said that wasn’t possible since the hearing aid microphone was “using the ” during the phone call. I’m not sure I believe that response since MyPhonak uses the BT LE services and the uses Classic BT, but that’s what the Phonak representative said.
I’ve made my own peace with the limitation by dropping my default microphone level by the maximum (6db) and then using the HA rocker button – which magically turns into an “ambient control” mixer during phone calls – to simultaneously increase caller volume and reduce external sounds by pressing on +. This approach works as long as the HA user isn’t overwhelmed by the increased volume of the caller
Thank you!
Your post helps me a lot.
I’ve searched for information that will help me determine if there is a fundamental flaw in how my Paradise P90R’s are set up.
My goal is improved word recognition even in quiet environments.
I use the P90R. I am also twice retired. This matters in my case. In the last two decades my priorities have shifted. From hearing acuity using the hearing aids to ancillary features. What does that mean? I will gladly suffer a bit (intentionally vague) with hearing if the bluetooth connectivity to my workstations, theater, and phones is seamless and dead easy. With a bit of planning and Roger On iN I can manage the social and club interactions. The smooth streaming connections using Phonak (maybe there are others in Android-land that I am unaware of) have become more important. I walk to another room and it is automatic and error free. The main point in this post is that priorities change and in my case it made sense to chase a different holy grail.
@VinceJ
Great explanation!
I’m working. I had plans for early retirement. Except I’m still working many years later.
So I drive a lot for work, and work at construction sites.
My previous almost-new Phonaks I couldn’t hear behind at all. I had some close calls with fast moving diesel equipment. Setup? Hearing aids? Audiologist? Fired the audiologist and got new hearing aids. I can hear behind me! No close calls.
As long as I’m still working or walking my dog I’m grateful for the hearing aids I’ve got.
But I still hear that my hearing aids dont work at home.
Australia
Canada (Toronto) YYZ