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Phonak p90R's were awful in the hospital

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In reply to @drunkun_munky26

@drunkun_munky26 said:

Hearing care professional would have to install the program

This is correct, the “real” Phonak Mask Programm has to be activated by the hearing care professional. It increases the gains in different levels starting at 3.5 kHz.
But you can also make some more or less similar adjustments in the MyPhonak App and save them as a new program. But it’s not doing exactly the same.

@1Bluejay said:

Isn’t that what “Speech in Loud Noise” should be doing for Phonak users?

No, “Speech in Loud Loise” is something different: It reduces sound from the back and focuses to sound from the front of you. Building a set of microphone array. There’s also much more battery power involved since the two need to transmit the signal continuously to each other.

Thanks everyone.
Hospital time here–must wear a mask. That’s everyone.

Thanks for all your hints.

I need to find out more about the Phonak Mask Program. And about boosting the voice frequencies. I’m interested.

DAveL
Toronto

In reply to @Zebras

@Zebras said:

There’s G50, G65 and G80 so adjustments for 50 dB, 65 dB and 80 dB.

Perhaps I can just share this with my audi when I go in this week and she’ll be able to refine those frequencies.

I also wonder if a MASK setting may actually be better than Speech in Loud Noise, cuz the latter just seems to turn the volume down too much across the board. If I concentrate really hard I can generally follow the conversation (cuz the mics are also switched to front directional) but still. I wonder why I can’t just hear men and women talking ENHANCED and being the easiest thing to hear in that setting.

It seems that the MASK setting is what I’m getting at. Perhaps worth a try as I am a very willing guinea pig!

@1Bluejay said:

I also wonder if a MASK setting may actually be better than Speech in Loud Noise, cuz the latter just seems to turn the volume down too much across the board.

I would rather set up 2 manual programs than adjust the gains (G50,G65,G80) in the normal program for quiet environment. The “Mask-Program” and “Speek in Loud Noise”. That way you can also deliberately try it then and compare.

Speek in Loud Noise:
If you have activated it and it is too quiet: make it louder with the volume buttons. The records this in its data logging and on the next visit your Audi can see this and make automatic adjustments based on your average corrections.

In reply to @DaveL

It’s more likely that you were not in a dedicated program like Speech in Loud Noise. So the mics are omni-directional and not pointing forward. If you are in the default mode, you’ll pick up noises from 360 degrees.

Doesn’t mean you can understand what’s being said, LOL, but you’ll hear the talking. I’d be real curious about that MASK setting! I’ll ask my audi about it when I see her this week.

GOOD LUCK to you in your hospital setting. Absolutely insist that they have a workaround for you! They’ll need to buy see-through masks or call you on a cell phone that streams to your aids.

In reply to @sterei

As always: GREAT ADVICE sterei!!!

I like your suggestion of having 2 programs set up to compare them. And you’re right about the volume being too low in Speech in Loud Noise. I did indeed jack up the volume (feeling stooopid) but oddly that WORKED! So maybe I could have that program adjusted to a LOUDER setting.

AH to be a DIYer like so many on the board here. I admire those who have the Phonak app installed and make it work for them. I read somewhere that more audis are exploring tele-settings adjustments, but I don’t see how they’d connect remotely to someone’s aids and then tweak the programs?

Thanks! @1Bluejay :slightly_smiling_face:

@1Bluejay said:

I read somewhere that more audis are exploring tele-settings adjustments, but I don’t see how they’d connect remotely to someone’s aids and then tweak the programs?

The MyPhonak App is to be used for remote-sesseions. Your Audi needs to activate it then in an “in-House-session”.
Depends also on how your Audi thinks about this. Some do not like to do remote-sessions.

In reply to @sterei

OK GOT IT. I actually LOVE getting in to see my audi. We have a great rapport, she is a patient, persistent and energetic advocate on my behalf with Phonak. I’m bringing her a bag of Valentine cookies when I see her on Tues cuz I wuv her, and she is a tweetheart. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

But I am intrigued about yet ONE MORE use for the MyPhonak app. I know I’ve read it can be squirrelly, and frankly, I’m juggling a large equation as it is when it comes to troubleshooting issues: aids + cell phone + phone’s OS + , to which I’d add +MyPhonak app.

Is that the definition of a quadratic equation? If so, even these can have as many as TWO solutions … in theory.

Good to hear that you have such a good relationship with your audi!
So you don’t have to worry about remote sessions. Would only add one more part to your equation :joy:

In reply to @sterei

@sterei said:

I would rather set up 2 manual programs than adjust the gains (G50,G65,G80) in the normal program for quiet environment.

The Lumity and the Paradise already have a speech processing algorithm (Speech Enhancer) that is active in relatively quiet environments (30 to 50 dB, IIRC). It supposedly can selectively amplify speech up to 10 dB and is configurable by the . It is only turned on if the user experience level in Target is set as “Experienced” or “Long-Time User.” It works GREAT. I think it’s supposed to be upgraded in the Lumity compared to its performance in the Paradise.

One would think that a private hospital room ought to be at a relatively quiet sound level; a ward, maybe not. If it were a double room and the other patient was watching TV or having a loud conversation with visitors, I’d hope that they could be politely induced to be relatively quiet while doctors or nurses were talking with an patient, Closing the door to the hallway might help, too.

I was really impressed with Speech Enhancer when I trialed the Lumitys. My very soft-spoken wife came through loud and clear in our quiet home environment. And the amplification possible with Speech Enhancer wasn’t even turned up all the way! I was ready to buy them on that basis if ReSound Omnias couldn’t compare with that feature. Don’t know what it is with the Omnias, whether I’m getting a natural pinna amplification effect using M& receivers with the mics in my ear canals or what. The Lumity Speech Enhancer was still a bit better, but since the Omnias were close in understanding soft speech and there were other factors like battery life and heat durability when using disposable (replaceable!) batteries, I chose the Omnias.

In reply to @Zebras

Or maybe the opposite - being against the pillow might just double the mask effect - soft surface deadening sounds within an inch or two of the microphone.

I work in a hospital, Just tell them you are wearing and ask if they could please pull the mask down just as they speak. We’d usually say yes where I work.

In reply to @1Bluejay

Interesting.
I looked.
Automatic—you’re right. omni directional.

Speech in Loud Noise–mine is omni directional. Phonak Audeo Paradise P90R’s. Not pointed forward at all.

I was in hospital for 1-1/2 days. People were extraordinary. But stressed beyond belief. Trillium, Mississauga.

DaveL
Toronto

In reply to @jim_lewis

@jim_lewis said:

The Lumity and the Paradise already have a speech processing algorithm (Speech Enhancer)

Good point!

@1Bluejay
This might even be the better option for you!
Speech Enhancer is activated automatically, but only in quite environment.
The masking program, on the other hand, can be activated manually, as it can also be useful in noisier environments, e.g. when shopping.
I think you should discuss this with your audi.

In reply to @DaveL

@DaveL said:

they absolutely won’t pull the mask down, and insist that I have a mask in place as well. Ontario, Canada.

AUGH. “Blockhead” comes to mind, but let me not judge too harshly.

Seriously, you need to get your aids paired + connected to a cell phone and absolutely INSIST that someone call you on your cell phone in the exam room. No call. No talk. Can you do that?

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