I was just fitted with the Oticon Intent 1. It is far and away the most capable hearing aid I’ve ever owned. Voices and sounds I can hear well, I continue to hear well even in noisy and difficult environments, which is a first for me.
However, I’m still struggling just a little bit with certain voices. My understanding is that the first step to get the best configuration would be REM (real-ear measurements), but my audiologist says she “doesn’t do them”.
Is that weird? What should I tell her?
As I recall only about 30% of audiologists use REM. It is only one of the tools available to audiologists and hearing aid specialists. For most it is just a starting point for fitting hearing aids. If you like your audiologist and have confidence in them, I would stick with them.
I’m not sure what to tell her, though, in order to get them configured right? Without REM, we’re just changing things in the dark a bit? I’m a little disappointed. If I go to another audiologist, I’ll have to pay them, whereas the price I’ve already paid is supposed to include adjustments and servicing. I could return them and buy elsewhere, but it’s a case of finding somewhere. Most local audiologists don’t offer Oticon.
It is important to describe the issues which are important to you to the HAS. Here is an article which may (or may not) help in deciphering what you want to tell him/her. There are some issues when using REM, namely whether the HAS knows how to use it and takes the time to do so. I have had hearing aids fitted with REM and without and in my case the fittings without had better results. I assume that was a function of the skill or lack thereof of the HAS.
https://lexiehearing.com/us/library/what-does-it-mean-to-fine-tune-a-hearing-aidas
I wondered what third world country you might be from, where Oticon is not available.
Then I saw you are across the river… in New Jersey…
Oticon is a major brand.
Maybe go to Costco and get the Philips.
Save thousands.
AND get REM!
Return the units. Explain that REM is a core requirement.
Do NOT let her talk you into having her do REM, since she would need a year of experience.
Just practice returning stuff. It is good therapy.
IF after getting it at Costco, you want more professional service, you can pay ala carte perhaps 150-200 per session. Or you could us the six months trial period from Costco to scope out a REM expert who does sell Oticon.
Remember - we are still a great country. You don’t have to settle for second! **
Oh, and get the Philips Molds. They are great! $89 for two. Returnable as well.
Most of the costco software for the current line up is not available to non-costco clinicians.
But I agree with IGZO, check around to see if there’s someone who does REM and sells Oticon–the intent is a nice device. If so, return and tell your clinician why.
If not, then you have a choice to make. But at least your intents came with free adjustments, so you can shoot in the dark until you hit something.
You in custom tips? A custom tip will often start out a bit closer to targets than domes. Information to share with your clinician to help without REM–is there a shared quality amongst the people whose voices you still struggle with? What happens to your sound experience when you turn the volume up? If you connect to the app and adjust the equalizer, do certain things help?
On average, to match targets when running REM hearing aids have to be turned up, and things from 2000 Hz and up need to be turned up.
I have 3 year old hearing aids. My dispensing audi and I parted after 1-1/2 years. He couldn’t set them up.
He always used REM, and I had 6? hearing tests. Last appt he did a quick fit, erasing my programs, we shook hands and I thought we left friendly.
My new hearing instrument specialist is amazing. However, he didn’t do REM for a year and a half or so.
He started improving my hearing aids setup from the first appointment. They were supplied by workman’s compensation. I always left hearing better than when I came in.
When he did REM I noticed a real improvement.
Later, I had him change the set up program from Phonaks own and that made a big improvement too.
I’ve considered going the DIY route. Except that would start a real issue at home. If i had done that, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to afford the REM equipment.
I hope this helps. My hearing is worse than yours.
In my case my hearing is Better/Worse and affected by my wax guards, my domes and setup
I think the person we choose to buy from is more important than the hearing aid we get.
REM cuts to the chase and eliminates a while lot of… “I usually set it up this way because I find most people seem like it better…” plus a lot of “okay… how’s this…?” from your audiologist.
Even Costco does REM now…
Costco Philips 9050 are virtually the same as Oticon Intents.
I trialed them. Beautiful machines. Loved their Molds. Nice TV Adapter.
All available at Costco
The fitting software - Philips HearSuite is sweet! and available for DIY
And Costco does REM.
Not sure where you got New Jersey from? I’m in the UK, although I spend a lot of time in New York, and I’m not opposed to buying, or having them adjusted, there.
Costco doesn’t do hearing aids in the UK. Or, if they do, certainly my local warehouse does not.
My audiologist definitely has REM experience, as she said she used to do it when she worked for the NHS.
For the record, the NHS uses 5+ year old, mid-range hearing aids, and you have to wait months between appointments, which is why I go private.
No, I have closed domes. I’ll ask about custom tips.
My bad. Read wrong profile.
Costco do do hearing aids in the UK. They don’t do them at all locations, but there are at least 6 locations, including Watford where they do them. You can see the locations here:
https://www.costco.co.uk/hearing-aid
On the subject of the NHS, it is not true that they are all over 5 years old and mid range. I think in general you are correct, but take the Oticon Xceed, which I have a pair, it’s over 5 years old, but it’s actually the latest super power that Oticon do, even if it is the Xceed 2 and not 1. Also, the NHS do REM. When I was fitted with the Xceeds, the combination of REM and their fitting expertise was an improvement on what I had with Costco (KS10s - Phonak white label), so the NHS is well worth a visit in my view, but it can be a post code lottery. Also, the NHS are fitting, I believe, Oticon More hearing aids (the NHS version has a different name) now. They are only 3 to 4 years old.
On the issue of REM for your Intents, I can thoroughly recommend this outfit, who would be able to program your aids (perform REM):
He’s a small independent who fits mainly Oticon Intents and he’s based in the midlands. His name is Syed. He is a really reasonable price. I was fitted with Oticon Intents last November.
Thanks. Kidderminster is a couple hours from me, but might be worth a try. For the record, I bought these from M&S Opticians.
I’m in Mallorca next week, so I’ll get in touch with them when I’m back.
Hm.
Put your fingers in your ears. (With the hearing aids in.) Do you hear better?
I think so, a little bit.
Closed domes can’t provide enough gain to support your low frequency hearing loss (which your clinician would know if she did REM). Power domes sometimes can if the fit in the ear canal is right, otherwise custom tips.
It’s available but probably not installed and ready to go.
Seems to be the same with Boots and Specsavers. Surely they can afford the equipment. Or is it too time consuming?