My audiologist was offering a deal in September and October on Oticon Intents. I decided to purchase since it was a deal I could not pass and I wanted a pair of back up aides. I am a 20 + year user of Oticon hearing aides. My current pair is Oticon Real 1. I wear receiver in the ear with a skeleton mold. I picked up the Intents on October 14, 2025. Initially, the audiologist copied my Oticon Real program, to the Intents. She then performed Real Ear Measurements and made a few adjustments to the Intents.
Even after the real ear measurements- something still felt off with the right aide. More adjustments were made after stating that something was still off but I could not pinpoint the issue– except to say that the right aide just did feel right. I left the initial fitting and would be back in two weeks for a follow up visit.
In the car driving home, I knew something was wrong. But with traffic, road noise, background noises, I thought things might settle down once I got home. I began taking notes on what I felt was not right with the right hearing aid. I adjust the aides to one or two clicks up from my baseline. I was struggling to hear in normal quiet environments in my home. My listening effort increased 100 fold. I had an overall feeling of a cotton ball in my right ear. I changed volume separately and together.
The fun began when I was outside in my yard, grocery store or just running errands. The right aide made a low level intermittent hissing sound with what appears to be the microphones cutting in an out. A crackling, popping sound occurred when water was running. Sound quality apeared muffled and dull. Feedback when driving. The final straw was when driving on a very slightly bumpy road, the right hearing aid began a knocking/rattling type sound. I even took off my glasses to make sure the aid was not hitting my glasses arm.
Needless to say, I called the audiologist and stated that I needed an appointment ASAP.
Yesterday, October 21, I returned to the audiologist. They replaced the right aid and made some further adjustments. Although, the adjustments helped tremendously and the new right aide was no longer hissing, popping or crackling– I still felt like I had a cotton ball stuffed in my ear and stated so. We discussed that the speaker/receiver could be defective also but they would order and remake my skeleton mold which would take two weeks to get back to the clinic.
Today, at 1:30 the left aid goes completely dead— no warning—no beeps. At first I thought perhaps I didn’t seat it properly on the charger last night. I placed the left aid on the charger–no lights, no nothing, nada. I tested the charger, switch aides from left to right slots. Right aide lit up like it was charging, left aid nada –no joy—it is DEAD!.
I will be returning the aides. I will get a refund for the aides but I will not get a refund for my custom molds $450. Expensive lesson and still without a back up pair of aides. 
Will be looking at the Phonak Virto R Infinios after the first of the year.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.