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Proper position of RIC hearing aids behind ear

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Edited

Most of the pictures I see of like mine (BiCores) show them behind the ear and not on top of the ear. I think in back can lead to the wire from the HA to the receiver more likely to hug the side of the head, not sure. Mine seem to sit on top of my ear so they not only pick up more hair sounds (have accepted this but still annoying) but the wire just wants to dig into my ear. I plan to see my provider soon and want to understand this more. She recently extended my size from a 1 to a 2 and that has helped somewhat. But I constantly have to pull the wire off the top edge of my ear and then of course the dome comes out a bit and have to re-position that. Seems like it’s a constant struggle to get some comfort without getting deep cuts into my ear at the end of the day. I know having the HA sitting on the top and very visible from the front of my head might help with the mics but mine seem to be very far forward unless I just let them dig into my ear and push them back.
Picture is one I found online.

ear

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I think when you see your audiologist, have them put in a size 3 receiver/cable and try it out in the office. Probably will help, looks too short from the pic. My totally un-expert opinion.

Sorry I should have posted my own picture. That was one from online I found. Seems like ears vary so much is shape and rigidity and of course cartilage of an older person (like me, 73) can be weaker/softer allowing the wire or tube to sort of roll off into the ear edge rather that stay flush against the head which I think might be some of my issue.

Edited

I had the same complaint way back with my first aids and my current Resound’s fit the same, more on top. They said that when they sit far back, like in the picture you posted, the microphones on the aid body don’t pick up voices that come from in front of you as well. And often much of what we want to hear comes from in front of us. If all microphones are behind the ear, then that’s were the majority of sounds will be picked, and not as much from forward sounds. It can cause directional issues and comprehension issues with forward sounds.

@fbacher1 said:

Mine seem to sit on top of my ear so they not only pick up more hair sounds (have accepted this but still annoying) but the wire just wants to dig into my ear.

WELCOME to my world! For YEARS I had the longest wire (is that a 3?). My old audi seemed to think it was the best for me. But the dang wire NEVER fit the curve of my ear, and as it attached to the speaker, it stuck out so far from my ear canal that I could’ve hug a skirt on it.

My new audi swapped this for a shorter wire that does indeed force the up to the top of my ear, so I also get LOTS of hair rustling - so much so that I even resort to LIFTING the hair straight UP in the hopes of putting some space between that and the mic (usually to no avail).

The shorter wires altered the sound quality of my aids by a noticeable - but slight amount! I am very nuanced in how I hear things with the aids in, so I noticed right away the sound quality was a bit thinner. Even so!!! That goofy-looking loop of wire no longer stands out from my ears! The wire fits so close to the side of my head, that I don’t even see it … well, until the speaker works its way backward out of my ear canal. And that goes on 100s of times all day long. :woozy_face:

In a perfect world, our audis would be able to CUT and shape the wire to our individual needs. But no! The hearing aid WIRE WORLD has just 3 standard lengths, and we all know that wire can not be bent, shaped or tamed in any way, shape or form. I guess I’m just grateful shoes are not sold in S, M, or L only.

So funny and I feel your pain too. My left just quit today out of the blue (I was outside and had some mild sweating going on) and had to put it in the charger to get it to come back to life. The lower button would not work. Now it’s crackling like the wicked witch from the west and I am only typing and not moving my ear at all. It’s a radom loud crackle from time to time. What next, lol?

@fbacher1 said:

My left HA just quit today out of the blue (I was outside and had some mild sweating going on) and had to put it in the charger to get it to come back to life.

I had that EXACT issue going on (instant death, crackling sound) with first the LEFT aid (back in January) and then the RIGHT aid around June. Both times it meant the speaker unit was DYING. So I think if these aids are under warranty, you’d best get in to your audi and have that speaker unit replaced now for FREE!

I did and two of them set the the noise reduction to max that didn’t do a thing. Same with wind noise really and I no longer try to mtn bike with them on. And as they try to increase the gain (set below targets initially) the noise also gets very much louder. At times it just happens and I think a hair or two might be right on the microphone in that case because I’m not moving that I can tell.

In reply to @1Bluejay

I had more crackling from the left from day one. So my tech/fitter did replace the receiver already. And then bluetooth dropped out once with some weird chime, almost like I get when I shut them off, but sort of broken up and different. I’m ready to try a different brand and will ask about the KS10 and Philips. I think the KS10 is very large compared to my BiCore and that might be a show stopper for me.

Edited

I have Widex Moment 440’s. I guess I’m lucky…although my hair does cover the , I never get any hair noise. The wires seem to conform perfectly. Basically, I never feel my ’s at all. The tulip tips do slightly work their way out every day, but I’d say just a few millimeters. The front edge of my RIC sits right at the top of my ear. Is that right? Also, the RIC always rotate or tilt and are not flat against my skull, but it never bothers me.

PXL_20220904_211723646.MP
PXL_20220904_211932862

Yes those look to be sitting more vertical compared to mine looking more horizontal so the mic on yours might be better protected from hair noise. I get that sporadically all day. My left BiCore quit working for the 3rd time in 4 days so sending it back to get a new one. It is the one that is causing me so much distortion too so glad it quit working. Maybe now I experience a better overall sound from these

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