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Expert Answers from Hearing Healthcare Providers
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Paula L. Schwartz, AuD Many people find that amplification alone addresses the tinnitus. One of the many theories of tinnitus is that it is neurological activity resulting from cochlear damage or hearing loss. Therefore, address the hearing loss and potentially address the tinnitus. Secondly, amplification of the ambient environment presents contrast sound making the tinnitus... Read more
Kathryn Trolenberg, AuD The Veteran’s Administration has contracts in place with six major hearing aid manufacturers - GN ReSound, Oticon, Phonak, Siemens (Signia), Starkey, and Widex. The VA uses the manufacturer’s premium levels of technology-the same hearing aids that sell for the highest prices in the private sector. There are several styles of hearing aids available, from... Read more
Alexandra Tarvin, AuD This is a common question with a very complex answer. Depends if you're paying just for hearing aids or if you're also paying for your care. Imagine the dentist giving you wire and glue and telling you to put your braces on youself- doesn't seem to make much sense does it? Hearing aids and technology require different, but equal expertise.There are two... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS Currently, the only company offering technology that can be upgraded is Unitron, a sister company to Phonak (both are owned by Sonova) which has technology that parallels them for the most part (about 95% of Phonak technology is available in Unitron products, and vice versa). Other companies may offer upgradeable technology in the future, particularly... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD Great question. I think it largely depends on where you are and whether there are any audiologists that provide "home visits" or "home care" in your area. You have a couple of options. 1) Go to Google and search for "{your city} audiology home visits" or something similar. 2) You can also check out the Hearing Tracker listings in your area to see if... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS The primary differences between an audiologist and a hearing instrument specialist (or "dispensers") is their level of training and scope of practice. Audiologists have either a masters degree or doctorate in the field of audiology ( total of 6 - 8 years of higher education), and as such have an extensive amount of training in just about everything... Read more
Christopher Hamilton, AuD The hearing aid manufacturer is not nearly as important as the professional you choose. Of the many brands of hearing devices available, many can and will work well, assuming they are programmed properly using standard verification methods. I would recommend focusing on finding an excellent Doctor of Audiology and the everything else should fall into place.
Sara Carnevale Fearon, AuD The Phoank Brio is the line available at Costco. The new Audeo models (Vs) run on a newer/faster computer chip and therefore give better sound quality. They have some other new features including a wind noise reducer (one of the biggest hearing aid complaints is wind noise). Basically, the Brio is an older version of Phonak's technology - depending on... Read more
Alicia D.D. Spoor, AuD To date, there is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs to treat tinnitus. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are ways to help treat tinnitus. [This analogy is similar to cancer- there is no cure, but there are treatments.] First and foremost, you need to see the proper professionals. Audiologists are the licensed... Read more
Sara Nagel, AuD I am located in Houston, home of the world's largest medical center, and have a fair number of patients who are medical professionals. The best solution that has worked to date has been the Think Labs Amplified Stethoscope, coupled to Bose over-the-ear headphones that are large enough to wear over hearing aids. This eliminates the need for the medical... Read more
Ram Nileshwar, AuD This is a very good question and one that my patients frequently ask. The quick answer is no, meaning they may malfunction on a low battery. However, the period of time the battery is low is extremely small - probably a couple of hours at the very most, depending on the type of battery used. The battery current demands from todays advanced hearing aids... Read more
Alicia D.D. Spoor, AuD Purchasing hearing aids for a person of any age or lifestyle requires a significant amount of consideration. The "best" or "easist" or "most durable" hearing aid depends on the person's hearing acuity, communication needs, lifestyle, dexterity, vision, cognition, and preferences. Many patients, of all ages, like the option of rechargeable batteries for... Read more
Noreen Gibbens, AuD I had a recent fitting of Roger Pen that I want to share. The patient is well into her 90s, with a moderate to severe flat loss and poor word understanding abilities. She came in to see us because she was continuing to struggle, despite having what many would describe as "premium level" hearing aids. I was a bit concerned that the Roger Pen... Read more
Rebecca Gomer, AuD In ideal situations, the ear canal should not need to be cleaned as cerumen (earwax) acts as a self cleaning and lubricating agent in the healthy ear. However, at times the canal will develop an abundance of cerumen that will need to be removed. Especially if you are experiencing pain, loss of hearing in that ear, itching or odor from the ear canal, or... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD Oticon just announced two new upcoming (June 2017) form factors with telecoil support: miniRITE-T and BTE13 PP. Here's a breakdown of what to expect. The new miniRITE-T model will be similar to the existing Oticon Opn miniRITE, with a slim body that sits behind the ear and a speaker (on the end of a thin wire) that sits inside your ear canal. The hearing... Read more
Kurt Mooney, BC-HIS It depends on the manufacturer. Starkey, for example, is an American-based company that manufactures their devices in the United States. Oticon, ReSound, Wydex, and a few others originate from Denmark. There are hearing instruments produced in many other countries as well. However, almost every one of them has a state-side office where... Read more
Alexandra Tarvin, AuD Sensorineural hearing loss is a reduced sensitivity to sound from damage, malfunction, or malformation in the sensory and/or neural auditory pathways. This can occur within the cochlea (organ of hearing) from damaged stereocilia, hair cell bodies, nerve connections, or the 8th cranial nerve itself. It is not necessarily nerve damage itself but this could... Read more
Thomas Goyne, AuD Several factors come into consideration when considering what hearing aids to choose from. It is important to find a knowledgeable and experienced hearing health professional -- an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser -- to help you arrive at the best devices for you. The case can be made that finding this professional is the most important part of the... Read more
Thomas Goyne, AuD As of March, 2016, Medicare does not cover hearing aids, nor does Medicare cover hearing tests done solely for the purposes of hearing aid selection and programming. However, Medicare does reimburse for hearing evaluations performed for medical purposes.While Medicare does not cover hearing aids, there are some secondary coverage plans for individuals... Read more
Thomas Goyne, AuD Similar to a public address system, a hearing aid can hum, whistle, or ring when amplified sound comes out of the hearing aid’s loudspeaker and is picked up by the microphone and re-amplified, over and over again. This creates what’s called an acoustic feedback loop.Possible causes of feedback include:Improper insertion into the user’s ear.Improper... Read more
Cynthia Compton-Conley, PhD Best practices are a set of professional procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective for the diagnosis and treatment of hearing aid balance disorders. They are determined following years of clnical and laboratory research. For example, the American Academy of Audiology lists standards and guidlines here. Best... Read more
Julie Norin, AuD Currently, Siemens (Signia) and Phonak have rechargeable products in their portfolios. Phonak has products at 3 different price points that are rechargeable (models BR-50, BR-70 and BR-90) and Signia has products at the top 2 price points (Cellion 5 and Cellion 7). Differences are not all that significant, with the exception of this - the Phonak products... Read more
Julie Norin, AuD Hearing loss is often progressive, so the symptoms may be difficult to notice until the hearing loss starts to have a true impact on ability to communicate. The most common reported symptoms is difficulty hearing or understanding womens or children's voices, or the perception that people are mumbling. This is because a typical age-related hearing loss... Read more
Lee Weissman, AuD No one manufacturer has it all and they are leapfrogging each other with new technology all the time. Particularly with regard to water resistance, rechargeability, size, ergonomics (e.g., how easy to feel and press the buttons and open & close the battery compartment), battery life, SmartPhone compatibility, SmartPhone apps, Streaming of audio from... Read more
Lisa Goulart, BA Two different solutions. To give you a direct and quick answer: my preferred choice for unilateral profound losses would be Phonak Bi-CROS. Most clinics would offer you a trial period allowing you the opportunity to trial both then you choose what suits your loss, life style and personal preference better.
Paul Dietsch The president has no direct power over the price of hearing aids. There was a bill to give a tax credit when you buy hearing aids but it did not pass. H.R.1882 and S.315 are the bills. Write to your congressmen and women to tell them you want it to pass. Trump says he will make them listen now so maybe it is a good time to try again.
Charles Darby PhD, MA, BC-HIS Based on your question, I'm assuming you are using some type of audio streamer with your aids or using one of the newer Bluetooth direct aids. More info is needed to properly answer but I'll attempt to give a general idea of battery life and what impacts the battery's duration. The power draw required by the aid determines the life of the battery.... Read more
Jennifer Arndt, BC-HIS All labs that produce IICs have technology levels that adjust for noisy environments to the best degree that today's technology allows. No IIC, or any other size hearing instrument will sound natural if a person has never worn hearing aids, until their mind has gone long enough hearing through them all day, everyday so that listening through the hearing... Read more
Elise Gregoire, AuD I would say it's relatively unusual for clinics to offer deals and the manufacturer of the devices cannot directly offer any deals as the devices cannot be legally sold online. However, some clinics do have Cyber Monday deals, including the clinic I work for in Berkeley, CA. Here's an example (our offer), but each clinic would be unique, if they have an... Read more
Lee Oreskovich The fraud case is brought by Starkey against former employees of the company who are charged with stealing $20 Million from the company. After recent trips to Starkey as well as other manufacturers it does not appear that Starkey is in any trouble financially. Their products have been consistently on par with other major manufacturers investing heavily... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS Our clinic is actually conducting a longitudinal study on this to verify the improvement of SoundRecover2 over SoundRecover, and so far it is very promising, so the short answer is "yes." But here's the long answer...We currently have approximately 12 participants in the study. SoundRecover2 was introduced in April of 2016, but strictly using... Read more
Julie Norin, AuD The Phonak Brio and Brio 2 are products that are specially made for and only sold at Costco warehouses. I only work with the main Phonak products that are available to audiologists market-wide, so I am not all that familiar with the specifics of the Brio/Brio 2 products; However, I do know that they are not the exact same product as the current Phonak... Read more
Steven Chargo, MA Nearly all hearing aids currently on the market from every manufacturer can stream music from an Android, or any other smart phone that has bluetooth capability. You will need to have a bluetooth accessory item which will be paired with the phone as well as the hearing aids. There are several manufacturers (Resound, Starkey, and Oticon) that have... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD If you look at Apple's official made-for-iPhone (MFi) compatible device list you will see that the ReSound Cala is not listed. The only Kirkland Signature device listed as MFi is the KS 6.0. Having said that, I'm not entirely sure whether Apple's guide is updated. If you take a look at ReSound's Cala guide, you will find the following: "You can... Read more
Daniel Caleb Dowell Based on a visual comparison, the ReSound Cala is the same as ReSound LiNX2. Unfortunately, ReSound doesn't allow independent providers access to the technical specifications of their Costco line of hearing aids. In fact, Costco purchased hearing aids are software "locked" and can only be adjusted at Costco hearing aid locations. Typically, Costco... Read more
Alicia D.D. Spoor, AuD Hearing loss is categorized into three types: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed. A conductive hearing loss means there is an issue in the middle ear space (ear drum and middle ear bones) causing the hearing loss; a sensorineural hearing loss means there is an issue in the inner ear and/or beyond, and a mixed hearing loss is a combination of a... Read more
Chelsea Walters, BS, BC-HIS It absolutely does, but requires the Phone Clip+. The Linx2 allows audio through the iPhone wirelessly, but still requires you to use the microphone of the iPhone. The Phone Clip+ becomes the microphone. It additionally allows you to make program changes, volume changes, mute functionality, and answering/rejecting an incoming phone call.
Matthew Pearson Yes and no! If you are exposed to excessive levels of noise ie a concert you may get a temporary threshold shift ie your hearing ability will reduce temporarily however continued exposure can lead to a permanent reduction in hearing ability. Custom hearing protection if exposed to noise regularly is a must. You have been warned!
Kristen Armstrong, AuD You should visit an audiologist to have your hearing evaluated. If your hearing decreased suddenly, it is a medical emergency and you should contact an ENT right away.
Julie Norin, AuD I am not familiar with the Cala - or any other Costco-brand hearing aids, but it's my understanding that many of the products being sold through Costco are "made-for-Costco" products, so they are not really the same exact products as those being manufactured and sold under the manufacturer label (in this case, Resound Linx 2 9). Also, the products being... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD The Oticon Alta2 Pro was offered in the following behind-the-ear form factors (or styles):Alta2 Pro miniRITE (reviews)Alta2 Pro designRITEAlta2 Pro RITEAlta2 Pro miniBTEAlta2 Pro BTE13 and BTE13 105 (Power aid)Each of the styles is slightly different. Some are smaller, some are larger, some offer more manual control (push button and/or volume control),... Read more
Timothy Charles Steele, PhD Technically, I believe all manufacturers use the same microphones but the algorithms that each digital hearing aid uses for processing vary greatly. I think it would be difficult to answer exactly what "directional microphones are best in which hearing aids" because each manufacturer has their own proprietary hardware and software that is responsible... Read more
SUSAN FENRICH, BC-HIS I would also recommend EarGear. The other recommendation would be to have custom earmolds made to put over the end of the reciever. These will help keep the receivers (speakers) in you r ear better. Your hearing care provider should be able to get them for you.
Abram Bailey, AuD The Resound Cala is currently on sale at Costco, and looks to be the newest product offering from Resound (superseding the previous Costco-only Sola models). Many compared the Resound Sola to the first generation of Resound's LiNX hearing aids, which were one of the first Made-for-iPhone hearing aids to hit the market (and a hugely successful product for... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD There is a little bit of information about this over on our forum. "The Voyage E is the same as Rexton Emerald, and the Voyage M is the same as Rexton Mosaic. 24 channels indicates Rexton’s 40-level technology, with 80 being the highest."
Alina Phoenix I am single sided deaf, wear an Audibel A4 Platinum BiCros, and fit Audibel hearing aids. I previously wore a Widex Dream 440 BiCros system. Both are top of line systems I tried, and I vastly prefer my Audibel A4 Platinum to the Widex for hearing in noise especially, as well as functionality of the controls. You mention that you are wearing the A4i... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD I cannot personally vouch for Blamey Saunders products, but here's what I was able to dig up on the internet:"Australia Hears is now known as Blamey & Saunders. Their aids are made by America Hears, who happen to use ADRO which was developed by a company started by Blamey. The CEO of America Hears is listed as a team member on the Blamey &... Read more
Rachel Magann Faivre, AuD Currently there is no accessory/TV streamer option for the Halo 2. Starkey's accessories run off a 900MHz wireless technology, which work with all but their Halo 2 devices. The Halo 2 devices run off of 2.4GHz wireless technology.
Kristen Armstrong, AuD Yes, Oticon Opn works with iPhone. You can stream phone calls and audio directly to the hearing aids from iPhone 5 and 6 devices. There is also an app that can be downloaded to iPhone, as well as several android devices, that will allow the user to adjust their Opn hearing aids for various environments. The app includes a way to track your hearing aids... Read more
Duane Smelser, HIS Yes. At Costco, the brand that is has proprietary software is Kirkland, which is made by Resound. Other proprietary brands available elsewhere are Miracle Ear (made by Siemens), Audibel (made by Starkey), Oticon aids purchased from Avada (corporate owned stores). There are probably more but these are the ones I'm most familiar with. It's important to... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS My experience with the battery life for Halo2 hearing aids is that they last about 7-10 days, based on full-time use (12+hours per day). This can be affected by the amount of streaming use (i.e. cell phone, other app). If you are a heavy cell phone user or watch movies on your iPad, the drain could be even higher.
Raji Parangad, MAud Audeo B has faster processing time and teh main difference would be the introduction of rechargable hearing aids in certain models.
Dan Schwartz ReSound LiNX, Enzo, LiNX², & Enzo², and Beltone First, Legend, Boost, & Boost+ hearing aids work well with compatible Android phones. However, with Android there is no A2DP stereo streaming. From the ReSound Smart Hearing Aid Compatibility page:ReSound Smart is compatible with the following Android devices**:Please note: Direct stereo streaming,... Read more
Christine Pickup, AuD The biggest factor I have found in battery life with zinc-air batteries is time exposed to air before use. After the sticker is removed, let the battery sit about 5 minutes to fully activate before inserting into the hearing device. Since batteries were reformulated without mercury, it takes a little time for the paste inside to become fully... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD We recently added the Phonak Audéo B-R to our hearing aid review database. We're excited to see what customers will report, especially with regard to real world battery life. The B-R does not have a telecoil, and to my knowledge it is not directly compatible with smarphones like the iPhone. The B-R is compatible with the Phonak ComPilot II, ComPilot Air... Read more
Goutham Gosu, AuD I would suggest trying a BICROS hearing device; a couple of different manufacturers carry these kind of hearing aids which are smartphone compatiable. I would reccomend researching Signia (Siemens), Phonak, & Starkey. At this given time those 3 have the most updated technology when it comes to BICROS devices.
Abram Bailey, AuD When you chew, you hearing canal actually changes shape. You can test this yourself by placing your pinky finger into your earcanal, then opening and closing your mouth (make sure you take your hearing aid out first). When your earcanal changes shape, this can often lead to amplified sound leaking out of your earcanal around the sides of a custom-molded... Read more
Juliëtte Sterkens, AuD Absolutely! I highly recommend you obtain hearing aids that offer Bluetooth and telecoil technology. I have personally fit thousands of hearing aids with telecoils and worked with consumers around the country that have benefited from this feature. While hearing aids have come a long way in the last decade, they do not give you normal hearing and most... Read more
Matthew Pearson Currently, the answer is yes and no!Using the On app the Opn's can be turned up and down and any additional programs which have been set up for the hearing aids will be accessible.If the programs have been renamed in the programming software that is how they will appear in the app.The Opn's are a Made For iPhone (MFI) aid.iPhone's can use the special low... Read more
Kara Norcross, AuD I spoke with Oticon. They stated it is likely the Start-up "jingle" meaning it is the tones that come one when the hearing aid is first turned on. If you are having the tones happen after you've worn them a while, it indicates the power is going off and coming back on. You can change the battery. If it is a new battery you probably want to try a new... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS As Kristi indicated, a full audiological evaluation is warranted. Your primary care physician should be notified and you should request a referral to see an audiologist who specializes in vestibular (balance) testing. Just a disclaimer that I am not specialized in this area of audiology but I frequently refer patients experiencing extreme symptoms like... Read more
Clifford Olson, AuD There are not a lot of differences between hearing aids when it comes to understanding speech better in a one-on-one situation. Particularly in a quiet situation. In-order-to answer this question properly, 3 pieces of information need to be identified.1. What is your Word Recognition Score? Your Word Recognition Score is a percentage of... Read more
C. Scott Mills, AuD I am familiar with Eargo and the idea behind it is to allow some ventilation around and through those little tendrils that cover the end of the hearing aid. It's a good theory and certainly may create less surface contact on the skin in the ear canal. As others have noted, your underlying problem may be a skin issue that needs to be treated. The... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS Most new hearing aid technology now features automatic analysis of your listening environment to react to background noise and take measures when this occurs in order to optimize speech intelligibility for you. As an example, when you go from a quiet room to a restaurant, the hearing aids may react by initiating its directional microphones to limit the... Read more
Julie Norin, AuD Depending on her household income, she may qualify for Starkey's Hear Now program. She can contact the program directly to obtain an application at 1-800-648-4327, or she can call them and ask for a referral to a local provider who would help facilitate the application and provide testing, dispensing, and follow up care. Another option would be to seek... Read more
Alexandra Tarvin, AuD In addition to quicker processing and bandwidth which leads to brighter sound quality and understanding in a non-distored inner ear, the Venture line of Phonak devices has better understanding in noise. This includes car noise and background noise. All of the features available in the device does depend on the tier/level of device that an individual... Read more
Chelsea Walters, BS, BC-HIS There are 2 reasons why a pressing Push Button may not alter the sound quality: (1) The button has not been programmed to control anything or (2) If it has been programmed to control volume or a specific environment, it may need an adjustment to work better for you. Let me elaborate. During a hearing aid fitting with a new user, I typically don't... Read more
Alexandra Tarvin, AuD There could be several reasons that device is beeping and this may be dependent on the type of device that you have. Reasons could include: losing connection to it's partner, a button being stuck and changing the settings, poor battery contact, intermittency, damaged module, etc. I would recommend calling your provider's office to solve the problem.
Abram Bailey, AuD I don't typically answer these questions, but my personal opinion is to seek medical attention immediately. Your symptoms may be caused by something as simple as an earwax blockage, which can be easily remedied by your local doctor. However, the worst case scenario is that you're suffering from a case of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which is... Read more
Lisa Goldstein, MA Siemens and Oticon are both excellent manufacturers, researching and developing the best in hearing aid technology. I have worked with both the Primax 7 and the new Oticon Opn with success. It's always nice to work with an audiologist that will let you try both instruments however, it also depends on your needs. If you want the latest in direct... Read more
Rebecca Jahed, AuD At this point, there is not an option for a rechargeable CROS/BICROS with the Phonak Belong series. I check every so often when I call Phonak because it would be an amazing option to offer those with an un-aidable ear. This information that I have been given is that the battery voltage is not compatible with the requirements necessary when streaming... Read more
Gene Woodard, PhD A great app i stumbled onto is called TUNITY and it is FREE - the best kind of app! It is strictly for television listening and streams the audio signal from the tv to a smartphone. IF the smartphone is also bluetooth connected to hearing aids, the user can stream real time tv audio to the hearing aids via the phone. It is a simple app to use. There... Read more
Sheri Gostomelsky, AuD We have only fit a handful of patients so far. But, so far the feedback (no pun intended) has been great for hearing in noise! We all have different abilities to hear in noise and from my standpoint, this is a key factor in personalizing any solution.
Rachel Magann Faivre, AuD Custom hearing device products do not have IP (Ingress Protection) ratings, only behind-the-ear devices do. For moisture, the highest score a product can receive is an 8, which means it is waterproof. Custom devices between ReSound or Phonak are likely to be similar, with a rating of 7, which means it can be submersed in water for up to 30 min and still... Read more
Thomas Goyne, AuD For first-time users, hearing aids will often sound “tinny” or “amplified” or even seemingly too loud for the first few days of use. This is because for most first-time users, their brains have forgotten what it is like to hear normally, which is part of a process that is often referred to as auditory deprivation. However, after regular use of the... Read more
Teresa Burns, AuD "Nerve Deafness" is a term which people sometimes use to refer to sensorineural hearing loss, or hearing loss due to damage to the cochlea (inner ear) or the nerve connecting the cochlea to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent and can be caused by aging, exposure to loud noise, genetic conditions, ototoxic medication, illnesses and other... Read more
Natalie Phillips, AuD You may experience some brief hearing loss and pressure in the ear with the change in atmospheric pressure, however, hearing may be affected permanently if there was damage to the ear due to barometric pressure changes. Cilck here is some further information.
Kathryn Trolenberg, AuD Hearing aids are fit by licensed professionals, usually audiologists or hearing instrument specialists. An audiologist has typically completed 6-8 years of higher education and holds a Masters or Doctoral degree in Audiology. A hearing instrument specialist has typically completed licensure requirements as defined by the state in which they practice.... Read more
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD The little elbow of the RIC wire should be neatly tucked into the notch above the triangular cartilage in front of your ear canal (the tragus), and the wire should be flush against the side of your head. The little rubber umbrella (often called a dome) will not be pushed in too deep because the wire is manufactured to a specific length that is shorter... Read more
Adam Wentling, HIS To clarify, "in the ear" (ITE) typically describes any "custom" hearing aid in which an ear-mold impression is taken and the entire hearing aid is encapsulated inside of it. Basically, anything that is not a "Behind the Ear" (BTE) hearing aid. That being said, there are many ITE hearing aids that can reach a profound high frequency loss, but I'm... Read more
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD The ComPilot is the previous generation of the ComPilot II. The ComPilots have a better battery life than the ComPilot Airs, but are a little bulkier and require you to wear a neckloop (whereas the ComPilot Airs are smaller clip onto your shirt). Follow this link for more information.
Chelsea Walters, BS, BC-HIS No the Streamer Pro only allows mono audio streaming to both devices. The new Oticon Opn productline does stream in stereo directly from the iPhone.
Christine Pickup, AuD The latest Made for iPhone hearing instruments do not need an a relay device to interface with other technology such as an iPhone or iPad. There are several manufacturers which make hearing aids that are Bluetooth enabled, but all are based on Apple's BLE due to size restrictions. If you wish to connect beyond an iPhone or certain Android devices (with... Read more
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD It is possible that this is the Oticon Opn equivalent to a car's check engine light. If it continues to happen, take it to your audiologist or hearing aid specialist so they can troubleshoot. Good luck!
Matthew Pearson This, unfortunately, is a common complaint I hear from a lot of patients. Part of the issue is that there are normally a lot of people talking in this kind of environment & although we talk about noise, noise is often other speech. Also, the environment can be echoey & reverberant so the aid effectively amplifies the sound twice. Finally, as... Read more
Matthew Pearson If we are to define the Premium as each manufacturer's top of the range device then in England the answer would be as little as £2500 a pair to as much as £5995.Often the difference between success & failure is linked to the time spent with a patient & the expertise of the practitioner they deal with.If you deal with a "Big Box" retailer often... Read more
Clifford Olson, AuD Great question! I wish this had a straight forward answer, but ultimately, it depends. There are however, a few things that you need to take into consideration before trying better technology.1. How often do you find yourself in challenging environments? If you answer all the time, then you would likely get better benefit from a premium level name... Read more
Sheri Gostomelsky, AuD The answer lies in how deep the device can be built to fit in your ear. Most of the ear canal has cartilage under the skin, however the last third of the ear canal is bone. If the device reaches the bony portion of your ear, the echo or occlusion can be eliminated.
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD Most modern hearing aid brands have tinnitus features that come standard in their technology. Some have a white or pink type noise, some have soft chimes, and some have environmental sounds (ocean waves, etc.). Check out Widex, ReSound, Starkey, Phonak, Oticon, and Signia (Siemens). The tinnitus features often come in different styles of hearing aids... Read more
Mark Butler, AAS Earlens uses a device behind the ear that closely resembles a normal hearing aid. The only difference is that the device converts sound into a light wave and then transmits it to the second part of the system which is a unit implanted on the eardrum that receives the light wave and converts it into sound waves again directly against the eardrum. ... Read more
Melissa Wikoff, AuD I am so sorry to hear that. Please call your audiologist. Your audiologist can look inside your ear canal to confirm that something is stuck inside and we have tools for comfortably removing foreign objects from the ear. Good luck!
Matthew Pearson The honest answer is if there were 10 options to cover your hearing loss, this would be choice 10 on the list!If you have normal/near normal low frequency hearing then you are likely to feel very occluded (plugged up) ie your own voice is likely to sound boomy & resonant if you were to be fitted with an IIC device.Being a single mic device you will... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD Eargo has been called a hearing aid in the press, but I cannot find any instance of Eargo being called a hearing aid on the Eargo website itself. Also, all FDA-registered hearing aids should be listed in the Global Unique Device Identification Database (GUDID), and I cannot find "Eargo" in the listings. See for... Read more
Timothy Charles Steele, PhD Without consulting in person by examining your test results, discussing your preferences or seeing your ear canal, the most likely answer to your question is yes. Behind-the-ear hearing aids have more power because of the amplifier size but because the microphones are separated farther from the receiver/output, you can likely achieve higher gain without... Read more
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD Starkey is an American-owned and operated company. Please see this link for more information about this topic, as well as their other brands.
Matthew Pearson To answer simply, no. It is made for any Bluetooth equipped phone be it an Android, Apple Windows or a simple clamshell phone like a Doro so you are not forced to have a Smart Phone just a mobile phone equipped with Bluetooth. This does introduce some pros & cons. You can take a call through the aid without having to pick up the phone but you cannot... Read more
Michael Schmit, BC-HIS Accuquest is owned by William Demant and they will steer you to their products, more specifically Bernafon. Be careful as they have also used proprietary software on the aids that can only be unlocked by Accuquest offices, highly limiting who can service them for you.
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD Have you noticed if there is a pattern to the situations in which you have trouble understanding what people are saying?Hearing aids are an excellent solution to help with hearing loss, but they are not a cure. There are many factors that can contribute to speech understanding, including but not limited to the following:Type, configuration, and severity... Read more
Matthew Pearson I would suggest if it was audiologicaly appropriate then the Hypersound Audio 500P system would be a great option as it can transmit a super directed beam of sound based on the hearing impaired individual's hearing loss to them meaning they & the other family members can set the volume of the TV to a level where everyone is happy but also able to... Read more
Mark Butler, AAS Hearing aids come in a number of price ranges based on the technology level of the aids you are purchasing. Those prices typically range from a low of about $2000 per pair to as much as $7500 per pair for a top level set of hearing aids. Assuming five levels of technology then a price of $5800 would be a fair amount for a second level pair. Top level... Read more
Raji Parangad, MAud Tinnitus is a symptom not a desease. I am assuming all medical tests have been conducted are any underlying medical pathology ruled out. Ypu need to see an Audiogogist , get a dignostic audiogram done. There is no one specific treatment approach for tinnitus. Is is very individualistic. Treatment plan is made based on teh degree and severity of... Read more
Raji Parangad, MAud Hearing aids would be highly benificial ti improve their quality of life. Modern aids are very simple to use and manage. The newer rechargable aids will take the hassle of changing batteries..which is a great plus. Your hearing aid provider will have some demonstration models or some places will even offer a trial aids as loan. That will be a good... Read more
Megan Carter, AuD It is extremely important to have hearing aids fit in person versus buying over the internet! Hearing aids are custom fit for your ear and for your hearing. When a hearing aid is purchased from the manufacturer, it comes as a blank computer chip. The person fitting the hearing aid takes into account the size and shape of your ear canal as well as the... Read more
Christine Pickup, AuD Hello! Yes, you are able to extend your warranty. Talk to your hearing care provider for specific costs. Most manufacturers will gladly extend your warranty for another year for a relatively low fee. If you are worried about loss replacement, it is also a good idea to visit with your insurance carrier. They can often create a small policy for your... Read more
Steve Eagon, MA While there are numerous options for re-chargeable behind-the-ear hearing aids today, there is one option to consider if you are looking for a discreet in-the-canal solution. Eargo Plus is a hearing aid sold through its website. It is designed for people who have mild-to-moderate high frequency hearing loss and includes full support from a team of... Read more
Todd Gibson, AuD You might be able to get away with power dome tip. However, the most appropriate coupling would be a custom power shell that is encased in the receiver wire. I use them all the time with very good success. They are comfortable and can come in acrylic or soft materials as well.
Abram Bailey, AuD One of the biggest differences between LiNX 2 and LiNX 3D is the ability to receive help remotely from an audiologist via the ReSound Smart 3D app. Resound and Signia (with their Pure 13 BT) are the only two hearing aid manufacturers that have released products capable of being adjusted remotely. If you aren't interested in this functionality, you might... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS It depends on perspective. Hearing aids do not truly block background noise, but can limit what the hearing aids amplify. The primary complaint of hearing aid users about their performance is how they function in background noise. What they are really complaining about is not hearing background noise, however, but not hearing what they want to hear... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS As previously indicated hyperacusis is a very delicate situation. Even the standard test procedures need to be modified to accommodate possible discomfort felt by the patient. As an example, one procedures is the "Acoustic Reflex Test", which is literally designed to play loud beeps until we detect an acoustic reflex in the muscles of the middle ear.... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD According to the Cellion primax data sheet (page 10), the Signia Cellion primax is compatible with EasyTek™. Audio streaming via EasyTek is available in the 5px and 7px technology levels.
Paige Peterson, PhD In general I would be wary. It is first and foremost not currently legal to be selling hearing aids online. These are typically being run without manufacturer knowledge and are hit with a cease and desist order fairly quickly. At that point any warranty outside of a manufacturer warranty tends to be voided. Now that aside, programming hearing aids is... Read more
Lee Weissman, AuD Excessive noise exposure is the main factor we have control over. Maintaining good cardiovascular health and controlling chronic diseases as well, such as diabetes, can preserve microcirculation in the inner ear. A book I recommend is Save Your Hearing Now by Michael D. Seidman.
Timothy Charles Steele, PhD I believe these are important questions addressed between you and your audiologist. There are many variables that make decisions like this such as your type/degree/configuration of your hearing loss, your sensitivity to loudness, your previous amplification use, etc....I would recommend you discuss this with an experienced, trusted audiology... Read more
Matthew Pearson If you look at the inside of the aid (if the shell is clear) you can see all the wiring & components. If the faceplate were also to be transparent it would probably look quite unsightly.I often have patients choose a different shell colour ie white for the right for easy identification but if a mini canal device with twin mics is fitted it can cover... Read more
Matthew Pearson To answer the question, at the moment: no. With regard to The Connect Clip which should be coming later in the year (will connect the Opn's to Android phones) Oticon's tech department are currently unsure if will have built in mic but it may do. You can currently use the mic on the iPhone as a remote mic. You start "live listen" it works like & phone... Read more
Clifford Olson, AuD There are not a lot of differences between these three companies other than personal preference. However, Widex and Phonak have disconnect signals that are given when the aid and transmitter are separated from each other. Signia just got into the CROS game, but their devices seem to perform well. I have had the most luck with Phonak. Every time I try... Read more
Clifford Olson, AuD While the MED-EL cochlear implant is a good product, it does not currently have a partner hearing aid company that is compatible. If having compatibility between technology is something that is important to you, you may want to consider the other implant companies that are out there. Both Cochlear Americas and Advanced Bionics have partner companies,... Read more
Raji Parangad, MAud It is a good device. A hearing aid will not only improve your hearing acquity but will also have the added benefit of masking the tinnitus noise giving yu some relief from the symptom of tinnius. Raji Parangad'My Audiologist"
Matthew Pearson The Z-Power battery used in Unitron & Starkey devices among others should be changed once a year.If you have forgotten to charge them one advantage is that you can change them for regular zinc-air batteries.The lithium-ion battery used by Phonak should last according to Phonak 4 years before your notice any reduction in performance. If you have... Read more
Lee Oreskovich The Signia Pure 13 BT Primax does not work with the Apple Watch Series 2 currently. There are other products that do however this one is not compatible.
Matthew Pearson The LiNX 3D range features Tinnitus Sound Generator with nature sounds.The tinnitus feature is activated in the Resound Smart 3D app which is the latest version.You click the sound enhancer feature then hit the tinnitus manager button. You can then shape the response of the white noise to help mask your tinnitus & save this particular setting.If you... Read more
Keith Lam, BSc Noise is inherently low frequency. If you have reverse slope loss and your hearing aid is programmed with too much low frequencies, that would interfere with your clarity for speech understanding, especially in noisy situation. I would try to increase the mid frequencies and lower the low frequencies, as you probably would have enough high frequencies... Read more
Megan Carter, AuD Many local Audiology and Hearing Aid offices will accept donated hearing aids as well. However, in order to receive a tax deductible letter for the donation, you must donate to a non-profit entity.
Rachel Magann Faivre, AuD The double beeps you hear indicate you've put your devices in airplane mode. This typically happens when you open and shut your battery doors two times in a short time period (ie. less than 2 minutes). When they're in airplane mode, you won't be able to connect them wirelessly to your cell phone or accessories. To get them out of airplane mode, wait five... Read more
Abram Bailey, AuD According to documentation provided by Signia, the Silk hearing aid is appropriate people with normal to moderately-severe hearing loss in the lower pitches and up to severe hearing loss in the higher pitches.Please refer to our page for the Signia Silk hearing aid. We have the Silk technical data PDF, which contains the fitting range of the product, and... Read more
Mark Conradt, AuD How old is your son? Does he have a headband connected to his glasses? Generally glasses do not present a problem. Thin bows are better than wide thick bows. On some occasions you can have your optometrist take a look and maybe make adjustments to his bows. Also, I have seen some parents use a small amount of Velcro. Oto Clips are available through... Read more
Todd Gibson, AuD Hidden Hearing Loss is the term used to desribe a condition where someone exhibits difficulty hearing where the typical hearing test, the audiogram, does not indicate an actual hearing deficit. More commonly, a person with Hidden Hearing Loss may have difficulty hearing in noise and may perform perfectly well in quiet listening situations. The proposed... Read more
Julie Norin, AuD The Linx 2 61 products do not have FM capability, but they are capable to connecting to a multi-mic accessory, which can be used in a similar manner (via Bluetooth). For example, in a classroom setting, the student would wear the hearing aids and hand the multi-mic to the teacher. The hearing aids must be placed in "streaming mode" for the mic, with a... Read more
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD The t typically stands for "telecoil" or "t-coil" for short. To learn more about the telecoil, please read Dr. Sterkens's response to this question. The question is about a different product, but the function of a telecoil is the same across brands. Telecoils can be useful for public hearing loops as Dr. Sterkens describes, as well as landline phones.
Lynda Clark, AuD Ideally, you should follow the advice of your hearing healthcare provider concerning a wearing schedule. Infrequent use of your hearing aids in unlikely to result in successful long-term use. The goal should be to wear your hearing aids for most, if not, all of your waking hours. How quickly you achieve this goal will vary. Some individuals are able to... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS Unfortunately, there aren't really any analog hearing aids available from major, reliable manufacturers. I've had a few patients with similar situations to that presented here, where they are used to analog technology and can't get used to the sound quality of digital. Because of this, I've polled the major manufacturers, and none of them make analog... Read more
Julie Norin, AuD There are a few different options available by the following manufacturers: Signia (formerly Siemens) Cellion (come at top two levels of technology), Phonak Audeo BR (available at all levels of technology), Starkey Muse (all price points), and Unitron (have not yet worked with those last two particular products due to our preference for the first two I... Read more
Julie Norin, AuD Starkey instructions are as follows: Pairing should be done after the hearing aids have been programmed in the Inspire Software.Pairing Halo to an Apple Device1. Navigate to the Settings icon on the Apple device2. Select General > Accessibility > Hearing Aids3. If Bluetooth is turned Off on this screen, turn it On4. Open and close the battery door... Read more
Christopher S. Frink, MS As others have indicated here, having instruments with the widest dynamic range is important, particularly in the input limit of the microphones. Hearing aid microphones have a general input range of 115dB, but they can't always utilize the entire range depending on how they are otherwise utilizing other features in the instruments (i.e. noise... Read more
Matthew Pearson I have just spoken with Phonak about this very issue. A patient's Android connection to her ComPilot is rock solid but her iPhone tends to disconnect regularly.Apparently there isn't a great answer iPhones do disconnect from time to time.A ComPilot (a neck worn remote/streaming device) with an Android Phone may be a better solution (with an MC1 lapel mic... Read more
Cole Campbell, AuD It's possible she may still have fluid in her middle ear even if it is not infected which would explain her "trouble hearing" and possibly the ringing as well. I would have her hearing checked by an audiologist who could easily determine if there is still middle ear fluid and how much, if any, hearing loss she has as a result of the fluid.
Mark Butler, AAS Short answer is that there are no "best" personal sound amplification devices. These units are designed to simply amplify all the incoming sound at a consistent level across the entire frequency range. If you have a very flat mild hearing loss then a PSAD might be of some benefit. However, very few people have that type of hearing loss. I have talked... Read more
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD As far as style goes, this truly depends on many factors, including but not limited to the following:The type, severity, and configuration of the person's hearing lossThe person's dexterityThe shape, size, and texture of the person's ear and ear canalOther factors, such as whether the person wears an oxygen cannulaAs far as brand goes, all of the major... Read more
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD There are a few options to consider for this scenario:1) CROS (if the better ear is normal) or BiCROS (if the better ear has a hearing loss as well)2) Osseointegrated hearing aid, such as the Cochlear Baha or Oticon Ponto (this may not be possible if the better ear has a significant loss, or if the patient is not a surgical candidate)3) Unilateral... Read more
Margaret ("Peggy") Tomko, AuD VA hearing aids are not locked, and many other audiologists and hearing aid specialists will be able to tweak the programming. Some hearing healthcare professionals may charge a fee to do programming adjustments or repairs. These services would be free at the VA or through the Veterans Choice Program.
