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Trying to decide between Phonak and ReSound

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I am tired of all the things my current Starkey Edge AI16 cannot do. Why I was put in an entry level pair I am not sure, but I know a whole lot more now. So I am trialing ReSound Vivia 7, power domes, no Bluetooth because I do not need more frustration, and I use disposable batteries with . My new audi started trialing me with Phonak L30, just another entry level which had some nice qualities but did not work with my hearing loss. I am not ready to keep the ReSound as I am hearing a lot of distortion that sounds like Morse code when I try to watch TV, and in person conversation seems muted. The audi did do and attempted extra programming. I am wondering if I should go back and do a trial of Phonak L70 or even L90 to see if my problems could be eased. Also should I consider asking for a different type dome.

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If you are near a Costco, try the Sennheiser which is essentially a Phonak Infinio 90 (not the Sphere) rebranded for Costco for $1,699.

In reply to @philbob57

The first audi who sold me the Starkeys only deals with that brand and We were having feedback problems within our household with two sets of Starkeys. He had done all adjustments his 30 years experience trained him to do. I even tried acrylic custom molds but I could not tolerate them and the just amplified the feedback. So that is not an issue now since I have had no feedback with either the Phonak or ReSound trials. No I am not conveniently near Costco.

In reply to @MizPrint

@MizPrint said:

I even tried acrylic custom molds but I could not tolerate them and the just amplified the feedback

Why not? But obviously they were not fit correctly if you were still getting feedback! Sorry but domes are totally unsuitable for your loss, no point in chasing shadows.

@MizPrint said:

I did tell her that it seems with my loss I am not a good candidate for entry level

It’s not the level of loss that determines whether they are suitable, it’s your lifestyle/environment and affordability.

Ditto on visiting Costco if you can, especially if you are trialing the Resound Vivia 7s.

The Jabra 30s are the equivalent of Vivia 9s at < 1/3 the cost. And you need custom domes for the strongest (UP3) receivers - according to my Costco fitter. My 30s (with rechargeable batteries) and also my Jabra 20s (with disposable #13 batteries) are both fitted with molds and the UP3 receivers. Molds, whether Costco or Audi, work better for me, including comfort.

IMO, streaming TV is probably the best part of wearing hearing aids. With your profound hearing loss I can understand why television quality sound is so poor. Streaming is much (much!) better.

Of course your smartphone is a huge part of the overall process. I have only dealt with Android phones and Resound (now Jabra) HAs, and Resound TV streamers through the years, and have been pretty much satisfied with the results. My phone is the S25.

BTW, Jabra 30s are available with disposable batteries if the rechargeables are a no-go. Just with the Jabra 20 equivalent Hear-In-Noise program. Otherwise, the Jabra 20s and 30s sound exactly the same to me - including streaming. (My opinion - after comparing mine daily for over a week, recently.)

But the lesser version of the Hear-in-Noise program is no better than just using the All-Around setting.

@raylock1 said:

If you are near a Costco, try the Sennheiser which is essentially a Phonak Infinio 90 (not the Sphere) rebranded for Costco for $1,699.

Raylock1 gave you the best advice here: “If you are near a Costco, try the Sennheiser which is essentially a Phonak Infinio 90 (not the Sphere) rebranded for Costco for $1,699.”

I’m actually shocked that with your you weren’t fitted with at least a Phonak Lumity Life R90. Our audiograms are kind of similar, but mine is even LOWER. Nevertheless, you need MORE power for more volume. Hope you get this sorted out.

It’s discouraging, but YOUR own instinct is like WAY MORE on point than your audi’s! Ditch ‘em and find someone who knows the business they’re in. :woman_facepalming:t4:

Not to sound too much like a hearing aid rep, but in general there are no audiological reasons to go down in technology level. If a patient were to come in concerned about price naturally we could/would look at lower technology levels, but to treat a lower technology level as an audiological recommendation OVER a higher level is shaky.

On the flip side, are there audiological reasons to go UP in technology level? Short answer yes. Long answer, depending on the feature (and your hearing loss severity, , etc.) an improvement may not be noticeable or significant enough to a user. For instance if you are in a super loud bar is the extra 2dB of MoreSound noise reduction you get with an Intent 1 over an Intent 2 going to be THE thing that makes you understand speech better? I would not necessarily expect it, but I almost certainly know that the Intent 2 would NOT be better than Intent 1 in that situation.

Agreeing with @tenkan on earmolds. You could have the highest end boutique-y hearing aids, but I can’t program my way out of a poor physical fit/acoustic coupling. As far as your issue with the Starkey earmolds, it is pretty common to need to have earmolds remade due to poor fit/feedback/etc. Even if the physical fit is good, adding a canal lock or skeleton lock can help with feedback as well.

In reply to @Rafi

My new audi does not deal in Starkey. My old audi only deals in Starkey and thinks I am wearing Edge 16 now. For several reasons I prefer not to go into I would rather stay with my new audi.

In reply to @PaulC

I did not choose to go down in technology. I was so uneducated I did not realize that was happening. Now I know better and am learning more every day. That is why I am here. I blame myself as much as the audis for this lack of education. I guess what I am trying to determine is whether a tier 9 would be worth the extra cost over a tier 7 when I have no plans to use Bluetooth. I rarely talk on the phone, I do not watch much TV and when I do I use headphones for the phone and soundbars for TV without problem. Where I strain is in public. A cashier could tell me what I owe and unless I have a screen to compare that to I do not understand it because of background noise in the store. My husband is hearing impaired also so he mumbles. Sometimes we would communicate better with pen and paper. As for the molds, the Starkey dealer only fits hard acrylic molds, saying the silicone are too fragile and subject to causing infection. After the weeks I spent with the acrylic, one slid up and down with my every movement and the other too tight, I realized I just hated having anything in my ears but simple domes. I am even questioning future use of power domes. I have a lot of scar tissue from childhood ear infections and a couple of lancings which probably should be considered when determining which aids would be best.

@MizPrint said:

I guess what I am trying to determine is whether a tier 9 would be worth the extra cost over a tier 7 when I have no plans to use Bluetooth.

Do you get out in public places? Or loud places and have a difficult time understanding speech?

The higher level aids have better technology for hearing in noise than the lower level aids. We do have members that swear by the lower level and doing just as good as the higher level aids but we don’t know their lifestyles. Bluetooth has nothing to do with hearing aid their level.

As far as name brand of hearing aids we really can’t tell you which is best for you. That’s a personal thing. I recommend trying Costco if you have one anywhere near you.

I used to hate having anything in my ears. I tolerated because I needed some help. Since I got properly fit molds, though, I won’t go back to domes, and my hearing loss isn’t as severe as yours.

I don’t know what I’d do if I weren’t near a Costco, but I think I’d go for the top level noise suppression through a vendor like Zip Hearing. But I’m on a condo board and I go to restaurants a couple of times a month, which make the top level tech worth the cost to me.

I can’t hear cashiers, either, unless I tell them I’m and move closer and make them repeat themselves until I can make out what they’re saying. Usually it’s just pleasantries, so I don’t need to go that far.

if you don’t have one yet get a dryer for you hearing aid/ implant. it made a world of difference in my hearing> when it get wet from sweat or just being in a humid climate it distorts the sound. use it regularly and you may see a difference. There are many option from $20 to $100. I started with the $20 version which is a jar of descant> just drop them in for a few hour. It worked so well form me I spent the money and got a fat dryer which only takes a hour to fry them.

Good Luck T.

In reply to @philbob57

You just reminded me of one of the reasons along with stores that I need to get higher tier, we live in a condo community too and had quit going to some of the functions at the clubhouse. It is one large open room with terrible acoustics, we have hired a company to try to dampen. Might be time to participate again if they have succeeded and if I can be fitted with and have properly programmed aids.

In reply to @tmingle

Thanks for the idea and I will keep it in mind if I should choose an aid with rechargeable batteries. Right now I use disposables and their doors are supposed to be opened when not in use. This helps dry out the aid and saves battery life.

In reply to @Raudrive

Yes I am out in public places all the time, stores, church, charity events. I had not realized how noisy grocery stores can be till I started on the current quest to find new aids. As far as brand I am aware no one else can tell me what to purchase. Been there, done that, do not want to revisit. I also realize each manufacturer has strengths and weaknesses. I’m just trying to sort thru which is which. I do wish I knew all the terms so I can guide my audi in programming, but I guess that is part of the learning process.

The Jabra 30s/Vivia 9s are a big step forward. In some venues, I’ve heard only about 50% of a conversation, and that seems to be counted as a success by the field of audiology, even though it’s not much of a success for me.:slightly_smiling_face:

The Phonak Spheres get so much press that I think they may be better than Resounds. The Starkey Edges and Omegas have real possibilities (I had a brief, inconclusive walk-around-the-store try out of the Soundgear AMPs at a local Costco (which I mention even though I realize they are not options for you). Some people love the Oticon/Demant lineup. Some love Widex, which seems to be unique. Some love Signia/Rexton/others.

Whatever you try out, my reco is to take them to a loud restaurant, and turn on the best noise reduction each manufacturer provides. Then you can judge for yourself if the extra benefit is worth the extra cost.

Is there something you said to the audis that made them give you entry-level ? If you stressed cost too much, maybe they figured you wouldn’t buy the premium offerings. The audi I dealt with (20+ years ago, when my hearing was better than it is now) started at the top and told me nothing else would work.

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