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Phonak Naida Lumity BTE UP vs Sphere RIC UP

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hi all, new poster. used phonak hearing aids since my early 20s from the NHS due to sudden hearing loss. currently have Naida Lumity with full shell moulds (my preference) from a private clinic. the NHS was still good but inaccessible when I needed them more often than not. I also have been DIYing for a long time. the NHS audiologists were great but they couldn’t come with me to university or work or a cafe to tweak my sound profile and test it live.

when i got my current BTEs the audiologist showed me a with a ultra power mould and they are rechargeable and said they were an option but I wasn’t convinced they would be powerful enough. I have read on this forum that the new Spheres have a UP receiver option. I do struggle a lot in background noise even with my Roger mic. is there anyone here who has transitioned from the BTE UP to Sphere RIC who can tell me if it’s worth it? i understand NHS doesn’t have Spheres so I’d be self funding again. I am mainly worried they wouldn’t be powerful enough for my loss. I know someone who has oticon hearing aids and went from a Power BTE hearing aid to a RIC and struggled to get used to the smaller ear canal mould.

Firstly, welcome here, as my story has been similar, as an NHS user that still needed to hear!

My loss isn’t at your level, but still fits in to Phonak’s SP or UP aids. Since NHS, I’ve self programmed, and I keep costs down via careful ebay purchases. My 2 best pairs are:
Naida Lumity L90 SP
Naida Sky L70 UP

I do also have others that will give a decent job:
Naida Sky Marvel M70 SP
Naida Marvel M30 SP
Audeo Paradase P90 13T (M receiver)
Bolero Sky Marvel M70 M

There are many that can advise you of Infinio Sphere/Ultra (same thing, just a firmware update), on here. I believe your receivers will be put into Phonak C.Shells.

If it’s of any help, I have RogerOn, Select & TableMic II. In my time of self programming, I’ve slowly got better results, and no longer use any of them. I found they can help, but also hinder, in the same room.

Good luck

Most likely you will be disappointed with the Spheres. If you have a really big, easy ear canal and can do a very deeply fitting custom shell you might be okay.

(Consider a eval if you’re looking for you best option for improving hearing.)

@PeterH @Neville

thank you that’s good to know. i did have a assessment a few years ago and decided against. one reason was that my aided speech discrimination was well above the cut off they use and for adults in the uk they only offer unilateral CI. i know you can go bi modal but i think it’s not for me… yet.

@choccybiccy69 said:

my aided speech discrimination was well above the cut off they use and for adults in the uk

Wow really? With that loss? Is there a big conductive gap in there?

Where I am in Canada we still only offer unilateral for adults. But being comes with its own benefits that bilateral CI doesn’t get. I have a lot of bimodal patients.

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