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Phonak Infinio Sphere option for single sided hearing loss sufferers

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I am a sufferer of single sided or unilateral hearing loss, seeking advice and opinions on the best-fit solution for my loss.

Personally, technology has not worked for me for hearing in noisy situations since the background noise (level) entering into my normal hearing ear negates any noise coming in from the CROS transmitter on my poor hearing side.
My main “suffering” and core need is hearing conversation in noisy background noise situations (e.g. bars, restaurants, social gatherings, busy traffic road, rumbling elevator etc.)
Otherwise, I can get by with the head-shadow effect and function OK in most (reasonably quiet) situations

Given all the rave reviews about the Phonak Sphere in dealing with background noise, trialled & reviewed in noisy situations by some audiologists with normal, unaffected hearing (on YouTube), I was thinking ,

  • What if I just put a Phonak Infinio Sphere in my good ear with , just when in noisy situations; which I can normally anticipate well in advance?
  • Theoretically (believing the hype), with the background noise reduction capabilities of the chip, I will be able to hear the conversation even better than I would with my normal hearing ear?
  • Even with the head-shadow effect of no CROS transmission from poor hearing side, probably can still pick-up the conversation on my “bad” side better than my normal ear would?
  • Or alternatively, maybe could have full Infinio hearing aids in BOTH ears, since the HAs can digitally communicate with each other? (although extremely expensive option!)
  • Maybe (if budget is no problem) add/use an auto open/closing Phonak Active-Vent dome; although seems need constant replacing, and clicking noises can be distracting.

Overall, implementing this technology would be a major dent to my bank-account and a “slight” tick to Phonak’s bank-account. However, still cheaper and easier for me than option; which I am not eligible for in my area anyhow + had this hearing loss for over 10 years so CI may not work anyhow : (

Highly appreciate your thoughts and comments on this idea. Thanks.

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I am following you post, as I am deciding 1 or 2 Phonak Sphere - there is absolutely nothing from them or most brands about which features you lose when you only use one .
I am young-ish, work in comms in a school, right side normal, left side moderate - speech bad and working out if someone talking to me!
Audiologist started by thinking two Spheres - but now wondering if overkill and expense and if one lesser quality hearing aid (without all the fancy things that need 2) would suffice.
Interested to hear you thoughts and feedback from others. A

@Amy_C Hi Amy, I am a user rather than experienced expert, so cannot really answer. (Hopefully some expert can chip in).

  • Quick question. On assumption that you have OK Word Recognition Score () when HAs amplify sound for your moderate-hearing loss left ear, why is your Audiologist proposing a HA for your normal right side?
  • Previously did trial the top-tier Phonak Lumity HAs in both ears (one poor functioning ear, one normal hearing ear). The Phonak HA CAN communicate with each other using “duo-phone mode” or something like that, whilst allowing sound amplification in poor ear (unlike set-up). However, even with using tips in good ear for max impact, still did not help, since the background noise overcame the speech I wanted to hear.
  • Having said this, the new Phonak Sphere HAs have this new chip designed specifically to take out the background noise. If the reviews are true, might be worth trying again.
  • However, returning back to my original question; for your specific hearing loss, why are you being recommended for a very expensive HA in your normal hearing ear? Maybe the Audiologist is thinking providing a nice-to-have “balanced” ear experience (i.e. get slightly unusual digitally processed sounds-signal to the brain from BOTH ear nerves, to provide “easier” sound-signal processing experience for your brain)? I would think this is a bit “overkill”; however, recommend (if option available) trialing first with both, then with only one, to see the difference. Personally, I can forsake the money saved for getting a new car etc. to get not-perfect but workable hearing skills back in social situations.
  • Would highly appreciate if you could share your experience on this Forum. Thanks.

Matthew Allsop from Hearing Tracker YouTube channel has suggested there will be tested “ordinary” Infinio R 90 with setting in HearAdvisor assesments.

I am currently trying the Audeo Sphere 90. I have had single sided hearing since my sudden sensory neural hearing loss 8 years ago in my right ear. I have used a couple different aids with their and, other than a relatively quiet situation, CROS aids in my opinion are pretty much useless. When I picked up the Sphere yesterday they gave me a Roger go v3 device to help replace the CROS since the Sphere has none. They did a demo of the Roger Go in the office but, to be honest, it’s still in the bag. So far I feel I hear much better with the Sphere than I did with my Signia with the CROS. I have a week to try this out. So far it is impressive especially in the restaurant and Home Depot. My guy convinced me to try the Sphere when I went in for a new and to get my Signias tuned up. So I am really liking the Sphere. If I decide to purchase one I will shop around to get the best price while making sure I am dealing with someone who is familiar with Phonak. The Roger GO v3 is a plus but at over $1000!!! Crazy! Plus I will worry about losing it or putting it through the washing machine. I’ve done both with the Phonak ComPilot air some years ago when I had some older Phonaks. The Sphere is working for me as good if not better than my Signia with the CROS. Even with the CROS my wife always has to walk on my left side when we’re out and about since, even with the CROS, I just can’t makeout everything she is saying when on my right side. BOTTOM LINE - Go try it. If you get it and it doesn’t WOW you, stick with what you have. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Hey John,
I am also wrestling whether there is value in upgrading my current / Combo. Did you end up getting one Sphere in the end? If so, how is it going?

Hi

Just uncovered this old thread.

I have no hearing in my left ear as a result of an acoustic neuroma so have been using a Phonak Paradise P90 in R ear with a cros aid linked to it in L ear but that hasn’t worked very well for me either and I’ve been using Roger devices to help in noisy situations and meetings etc.

I’ve recently got hold of a pair of I90 Sphere aids in the hope that one of these in my working ear might be better than the cros. Still need to get the Roger activated for the Sphere but first impressions are pretty positive and for what it’s worth I’ll keep this thread updated on experiences.

Meantime, any comments etc most welcome

David

Cumbria UK

Hi David

I sometimes check back in on this post.

I found one Sphere to be much more effective than my P90/ combo. I now often wear my P90 without the CROS as it is better in noise.

Since my last post I am now on the wait list for a for my left ear. Currently trialing a Starkey Omega AI24 for my right to help with decision about which implant to select.

Will report back on the Starkey as I haven’t had a chance to give it a work out yet.

I have mostly hearing loss around 45 to 50 in the lows to the mid and 90 to 100 in the highs 6 to 8k left is pretty much normal apart from 8k which is around 60db loss i tried one hearing aid for just my bad ear but found using 2 for both ears much more comfortable but definitely invest in custom moulds and use sound shaper or equivalent for those high frequencies

Following as well. I made a post the other day inquiring about any new or BI-CROS advances with using ai and to help in noisy situations.

While I've never owned a true cros system, I've heard anecdotally that they're terrible in noisy situations. So much so that people just stop using them.

I think the latest Oticon and Starkey platforms use advanced ai and DNN in their CROS systems to help in noisy environments. I'll be comparing one or both of those to the new Eon Sphere in the new year to see which I prefer.

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