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Hyperacusis and HA adjustments on my Philips 9030

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I have Philips 9030’s from Costco (about 9 months now). I’ve made a few minor adjustments that have helped with some issues and even the hifi music program works better now with my guitar playing. In addition to my hearing loss I have hyperacusis and the loud noise of a 100 db concert can be unbearable even without the in and a noise reducing ear plug in it’s place. I’ve recently used my airpod pros and their noise reduction to get me thru some live music. Attending a concert at Lawrence Welk’s theater recently the sound level was around 85-90 …very approximate as measured by an uncalibrated app on my iphone. But for comparison most of these concerts in the past were around 100 dB on this app. So this wasn’t terribly loud and although I tried with and without the airpods, I had to use the airpods and maximum noise reduction to survive. I just bought some hifi ear buds that claim to block 24 dB while preserving the overall sound and experience and will try those next time.

I’m wondering if this hyperacusis might be the source of some of my normal everyday hearing issues and that I should concentration on reducing the really loudest sounds instead of the middle and lower volume sounds? I’m at 90% now with some additional reductions, mostly high frequency and often find my own voice really annoying at times still. But at least going from 80 to 90% was a positive step for me. I wonder how much more my brain can adjust to this given it’s now 9 months but I keep trying. this hyperacusis really complicates things and I have to really watch out for any loud sounds. Even sharp loud sounds from our kitchen can be painful and then I have to resort to the maximum noise reduction program…a life saver really.

I think managing the random sharp kitchen sounds is not the same as the effect to you of the overall loud concert sounds. I don’t have your same problem with the overall loud sounds, but the kitchen sounds make me want to scream at times. I have a different hearing aid, but I am able to quieten the kitchen sounds via something called Impulse Noise Reduction (in Resound). This is a separate feature from the general noise reduction settings that kind of dampen everything in the background. However, similar to what I think you stated, I have experimented with my loud dB gains to lessen them while leaving quiet and mid gain targets alone. As to your own voice, you might experiment with a little more venting in your domes or molds. Along the way in my journey, I purchased packs of every possible dome available and in multiple sizes. I still change dome types even after months of tinkering.

I do the same with the transient noise filter set to max and it helps but sometimes I have to resort to the noise program with all the noise reduction values and settings to max. I do have the most vented domes, open bass, that Philips has and they are mostly OK. I did notice that once I went from 80% to 90% I did have some issues as times with my own voice sounding distorted, etc if I talk too loudly. Maybe my brain will get used to that over time but how much time does it take, lol?

You are hearing your own voice unaided and also hearing your voice processed through the aids. There’s going to be a latency issue there, however negligible. You might try to reduce the quieter low frequency gains?

After months of tweaking to lessen how latency and other things effect my overall acceptance level, I have found a “best” combination of adjustments that gives me a positive overall experience. I doubt anyone can ever get their hearing aids “perfect” in all areas. I also don’t think it’s a matter of brain adjustment at this point.

Yes and that latency affects music as well which why so many musicians swear by the Widex . If I reduce any part of the quieter sounds I’m worried it make hearing my quiet wife even worse, lol. I did try the Rexton bicores first since they had some special own voice processing and they had way more distortion and didn’t experience any own voice advantages even though they were trained to recognize my voice. Not very effective though. And they were also the most open domes.

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