Audiologists - Hearing Aid help.

[lqdsnddist]

My current recommendations are Phonak Life rechargeable behind the ear style as they have the best Bluetooth implementation I’ve come across, directly streaming to both iPhone and Android phones, allowing 2 way audio on calls, ability to pair to additional devices like laptop, tablet etc. other brands are catching up but many are still iOS only. About as weather resistant and you’ll find on the market too.

For in the ear custom style, I go with Starkey Evovl AI rechargeable. Not having to deal with the little button batteries, tiny battery door etc makes things a lot more convenient, they charge on a magnet base. Nice system overall, though limited Android pairing.


GN Resound also has an interesting rechargeable custom, looks more like an earbud, different color options and such. Might be an appealing option for some who don’t want to look like they are wearing a hearing aid and instead just an earbud.

Oticon just came out with some newer stuff too, but haven’t even opened their demo stuff they sent me up yet so no real opinion, the past OPN and More line was pretty good in recent years

 

[SJB]

Hi All -
I lost all of the hearing in my right ear and about 25% of the high end in my left due to an autoimmune condition (sensorineural hearing loss). This happened about three years ago, and resulted in complete loss of my stereo image, and an inability to localize sounds. They fitted me with the Phonak behind-ear Crossover hearing aids. They are pretty cool. The right one is really just a microphone with a Bluetooth transmitter. It sends audio from the right side of my body to the left HA, where is melds with the natural noises on my left which are fed to me through the Left hearing aid. The frequency response of each is tuned to my specific circumstance (audio charts) with the goal of providing me with near normal frequency response. Can’t say really if that is accurate, but I am getting along fine. The hearing aids themselves are almost invisible - no one notices them in general - especially if I keep my hair longer. My stereo image and localization is lost, but I can hear my wife, conversation, and band mixes as well as ever… as long as only one at a time is happening. Noisy rooms suck, and it is almost impossible to focus in on a single sound in an ocean of noise. However, I do have a new super-power. I can automatically hear your mixes in Mono, and tell you what will suck about it if they play it on an AM radio. 🤣😂🤪 seriously, that actually is a useful skill, hearing in mono.

I strongly recommend hearing aids if you need them. They do improve quality of life and a very slick these days.
Cheers!

 

[LosD]

Hi All -
I lost all of the hearing in my right ear and about 25% of the high end in my left due to an autoimmune condition (sensorineural hearing loss). This happened about three years ago, and resulted in complete loss of my stereo image, and an inability to localize sounds. They fitted me with the Phonak behind-ear Crossover hearing aids. They are pretty cool. The right one is really just a microphone with a Bluetooth transmitter. It sends audio from the right side of my body to the left HA, where is melds with the natural noises on my left which are fed to me through the Left hearing aid. The frequency response of each is tuned to my specific circumstance (audio charts) with the goal of providing me with near normal frequency response. Can’t say really if that is accurate, but I am getting along fine. The hearing aids themselves are almost invisible - no one notices them in general - especially if I keep my hair longer. My stereo image and localization is lost, but I can hear my wife, conversation, and band mixes as well as ever… as long as only one at a time is happening. Noisy rooms suck, and it is almost impossible to focus in on a single sound in an ocean of noise. However, I do have a new super-power. I can automatically hear your mixes in Mono, and tell you what will suck about it if they play it on an AM radio. 🤣😂🤪 seriously, that actually is a useful skill, hearing in mono.

I strongly recommend hearing aids if you need them. They do improve quality of life and a very slick these days.
Cheers!

Sorry to hear about your hearing loss but thanks for sharing.

 

[lqdsnddist]

Stick with the BiCros system and you’ll be surprised your brain starts picking up subtle differences between when your hearing the Cros transmitter in your better ear verses when the better ear is being amplified .

Not to say your going to have excellent localization but many with a BiCros can get a general idea of where someone is when they walk up on the bad ear vs the better ear side and so forth, which certainly helps.

A Cros is an inherently unnatural way of hearing, but the brain is pretty good at being able to learn to utilize that information and make it a bit more “normal” if you stick with it

 

[SJB]

Stick with the BiCros system and you’ll be surprised your brain starts picking up subtle differences between when your hearing the Cros transmitter in your better ear verses when the better ear is being amplified .

Not to say your going to have excellent localization but many with a BiCros can get a general idea of where someone is when they walk up on the bad ear vs the better ear side and so forth, which certainly helps.

A Cros is an inherently unnatural way of hearing, but the brain is pretty good at being able to learn to utilize that information and make it a bit more “normal” if you stick with it

I have been simply amazed at how the brain fills in the gaps and compensates for lost function. We are over-engineered, and can really absorb damage and still function surprisingly well. I appreciate both the kind words and support as well as the professional opinion.
Love this community.