My experience going from Widex to Oticon to Starkey trial

My ears are much better today. I’m going to try the moments again, yesterday with the vibrations, opns were better for speech.

Still have the same domes and vents as first fitting.

@tim4 I am in my first week trying Moment 440s, upgrading from Widex Unique 440s using Android (will eventually change to iPhone). This is really helpful. A few questions:

1. Do you like the Universal or Pure setting? I found Universal sounds like I’m in a wind tunnel with loud, booming speech and Pure cleans all of that up but speech seems quiet. I do like to hear background noises and worry Pure is filtering too much out.

2. What is your bluetooth experience like? I have a COM-DEX that sometimes take 3-4 seconds (the HA sounds like it’s not on) to go back to my saved setting after I get a text message that causes the streaming function to turn on. I then lose that time and can’t hear what I’m listening to.

Thanks so much!

Universal can be tuned by the audi. I believe pure is Widex programming that suppose to adapt an tune on the fly and also uses ZeroDelay but for me universal sounded better so audi removed pure program. For you it sounds like universal needs a bit more tuning by your audi.

Connections are good with an iphone, no problems streaming or using the phone. Some disconnections with the app not seeing the aids.

Mine still need more adjustments. I put them in this morning after using the opns all day yesterday. My plan was to keep moments in all weekend but I just can’t understand people as well. Everyone sounds like their growling. There’s just enough vibration or something going on that is causing speech not to be clear. Some of this is my hearing but it’s better with the opns.

I really prefer moments sound and the way they handle background noise over opns. While setting on the back deck this morning the birds sounded normal, not overly loud or distracting at all.

I had the audi tune Universal today. I must say that remote programming is a game changer. The ability to go around my house, turn on bathroom fans and TVs, is a million times better than going to an office and using REM. My universal is now pretty close but I have two more adjustments to even get it to full strength.

After this trial, I may go to Oticons to hear the difference. It’s probably worth it to try them out.

You need custom tips for the best sound experience ie with my son he had standard domes-93% speech recognition with F2 Evokes, moved to slim custom tip (see through and fits right in ear canal still) and then got 100%. Custom gives maximum clarity and therefore speech recognition. The sensogram will need redoing to match this. Anything that goes further into your ear will improve the sound experience. I tried the f2s with off the shelf domes and lost clarity so realised how important the custom fit is. Dispenser can say otherwise perhaps as means more work for them, but for me it’s a non negotiable. It’s a lot of work for your brain trying two different types at the same time. When I upgrade mine I wear them all the time and once everything is how it should be my hearing will then improve up to a period of a year as my brain adjusts to different programming. With the Evokes I spent a few months quite tired as I could eavesdrop so much conversation around me and it took a while to train my brain to stop listening.

@tinkyp said:

You need custom tips for the best sound experience

Audi said both SW recommended closed dome for my hearing loss. I would guess custom molds would be even better but she and I are concerned about occlusion even with vented cm.

I have my OPNS1 MiniRite aids with the custom ear molds, the vents are only about the size of small straight pen size hole. I am having less issues with occlusion with these aids than I did with the OPN ITE aids that have larger vents. To me custom ear molds are a 1000% more comfortable than the domes I have used in the past.

I think custom should be used as standard. A dispenser may choose not to do this option as easier and if trialling more than one pair at a time may be keeping costs down. Custom takes more time, but an extra bit of money & time for years of hearing better means I would always insist on it now.

As mentioned, receiver size (length) can affect the domes staying in place, good point.

When I swapped from vented domes to power domes they would stay put. Might be worth trying.

@tim4 said:

select a vent

@Raudrive is getting Select A Vents. He knows what they are.

I have the IP custom Evokes with a 1mm vent so don’t get any occlusion. If it’s not right Widex would re-make it until it’s perfect. These are the Widex custom tips. My son has slim see through tips, he doesn’t get any occlusion. If you decide to do it (and I highly recommend it for best sound, comfort and big increase in clarity) you could ask dispenser to ask Widex technical for vent size recommendation for your set up. I should also say I have the 440 specification. Again it’s more expensive initially but I don’t need any other technology to hear in all set ups so that is what works for me. They also give the amazing performance for speech in noise.

I may be wrong, but I’m thinking the Vent size is determined by the mfr based on your audiogram.

A internet search for SAV or select a vent will explain this better than I can.
In simple terms it’s a device that comes with different inserts that have different openings so you can make vent size adjustments as needed for correct acoustics.