Hi
Which hearing aid is right for me? Things have been getting worse lately. I often get staphylococcus aureus in my ear, and I’m getting the vaccine. I’d like to have a supply for the future.
Phonak sphere I90 vs naida limity bte 90 ?
Best regards
Most would say Audeo Infinio Sphere i90, as it’s their newest model, but that doesn’t mean the Naida Lumity L90 (SP or UP) are suddenly bad hearing aids. I’m personally having great results with both Sky L70 UP and L90 SP. For music and streaming, the sound is extremely rich. I also prefer BTE over RIC, and disposable over rechargeable.
2 Likes
Is the staph infection typically otitis externa? If so, there may be times that having any hearing aid in the ear is not prudent. I’d think it’s best to consult an ENT and audiologist (simultaneously if possible) about whether a BTE, RIE, Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) or Cochlear Implant (CI) would be best for you. If you use a BTE or RIE, cleanliness of the components that go into the ear will be crucial, as will controlling moisture by using an electronic hearing aid dryer/dehumidifier with ultraviolet disinfection after scrupulous cleaning of the wires/tubes, speakers, and domes. Fastidious cleaning and manual disinfection before using the electronic dryer/dehumidifier will be essential to avoid having your hearing aids become a culture medium of staph that re-infects your ears. Scrupulous hand hygiene is also essential.
As for features, both are available with UP speakers, Infinio are rechargeable and Naida Lumity use 675 disposable batteries. Both models have people who are enthusiastic about their features and performance. If I were frequently dealing with infected ears, I’d probably use the Naida Lumity - because tubing is easily detached and can be soaked in disinfectant, or thrown away if need be, and the same goes for domes.
3 Likes
I’ve been wearing CIC hearing aids for 20 years. That’s why I need to change them. I’d like Sphere, but I don’t know if my audiogram allows it or if there’s a spare. The CIC is bothering me, and my ear can’t breathe. My ears are under doctor’s supervision, and I regularly take antibiotics. The hearing aids are disinfected and kept clean. There’s no leakage. I like the Sphere because I tested it. Thank you very much for your help.
2 Likes
Sorry for my English. I’ve tried almost all the high-end hearing aids, except for the Widex Ric (I have a test scheduled). I’m really interested in the Phonak Sphere. But will it have power reserves for the future? I don’t want BTEs; they’re very bulky. If I have to, I’ll buy them.
Yes, it’s an external infection. Since the antibiotic is in ear drops, it only helps for a few months at most. It’s possible that the vaccine I’m using will help.
2 Likes
If you want to get the most out of Phonak Sphere I90 hearing aids, .it is said you should have a fairly occlusive fit. This won’t let your ears breathe much. As for power reserves for the future, do you mean the ability to do stronger work if your hearing gets worse? I believe that the Sphere I90 can use an UP receiver, so I think it will be pretty strong. Some people want an open fit and are disappointed with the Spheres because an open fit lets a lot of background noise in, which keeps the noise suppression from working the best.
No need to apologize for your English, it seems fine!
5 Likes
Your fitting range is perfect for UP receiver with Sphere.
For Professionals - Phonak Audéo Sphere™ Infinio hearing aids | Phonak
However you’ll be in need of rather occlusive fit to achieve proper target gains especially in high frequencies and for boosting the efficiency of directionality and denoising features.
I do not buy the idea you need open fit because of ear infection. For what I know, no evidence suggest that with more occlusive fit and regular daily hygiene the risk is increased, especially when we talk about otitis media.
You didn’t specify, which infection you have - otitis media (zapalenie ucha środkowego) or externa (ucha zewnętrznego)?
Another option is just released ITE Virto Infinio R - the SP has huge reserve and can give MUCH gain even in highest frequencies
3 Likes
Thank you very much for your help. It’s definitely an external ear infection, because the doctor saw skin irritation and swelling. Antibiotic drops helped, and an antibiogram was performed. This hearing aid, the ITE version, is very interesting, but I need a soft dome.
My current hearing aid, the Widex Moment 220 CIC version, is hard, very irritating, and stretches the skin. I’ve had new castings made several times over the past three years.
Now I need to have a casting again; my ear canal is getting bigger. Time for a RIC or BTE (which I don’t want). Best regards.
this is a red pen eraser.
It’s very tiring. My left ear changes a lot.
the left ear has a problem with staphylococcus aureus.
I’m very careful about cleanliness, but without this rubber, I don’t have a seal and the hearing aid squeaks. My journey with CIC hearing aids is coming to an end.
1 Like
So, try Audeo Infinio Sphere with UP receiver in silicone earmold with small vent, like 0.6-0.8mm. Ideally with long canal stalk reaching bony part of ear canal especially if you have big ear canals
The earmold impression is a key. It should be done deeply with the end at least 5mm past 2nd bend of ear canal. Ask for impression with open-jaw technique. In that you have to put 2.5cm bite block between upper and lower incisors and then hearing aid specialist perform silicone injection. No talking during silicone curation and still with bite block until removing the silicone impression.
3 Likes
Thank you for your reply. I had a Widex CIC mold in my left ear using the open-jaw method, and I’ve tried several methods. It didn’t help because there’s feedback, so I have to seal it with a pen holder. The canal is very mobile and the mold is hard. I’m slowly starting to understand why RITE hearing aids with a dome don’t meet my expectations. It’s possible it’s due to the comb effect and, of course, my unusual left ear canal. I was most satisfied with the Phonak Sphere with the Signia Click Sleeve Closed dome. It’s the only closed earmold with which I had an anti-occlusive effect. If I decide on the Phonak Sphere, going for a silicone mold is the right choice; it’s not as hard as a titanium mold. I’ll mention this to my hearing care specialist.
Excuse me for asking, do you live in Poland? I’m wondering where they implanted the Nucleus 8? Does it have Bluetooth and does it work with the Phonak Sphere?
If my hearing gets worse, I hope the mi2000 will be available soon
Best regards
2 Likes
Yes, in Poland. Yes, They have been replacing older sound processors with N8 for a long time. I received Nucleus 8 in Autumn 2024. Old was N6.
This may seem attractive, but it should be borne in mind that changing to a newer sound processor is likely to be impossible or uneconomic.
2 Likes
Hi.
I spoke with my hearing care specialist about the silicone mold and showed him your post. I learned that the molds are being shipped to Spain. He stated that the quality and cooperation in producing the finished product have significantly deteriorated. Previously, the molds for Phonak were manufactured in Poland, and things were much better.
He can do the ventilation in his office because he knows about the problems in Spain. This is a disadvantage for Phonak in Europe.
2 Likes
Interesting. That’s my observation also, because they didn’t even make the cShell according to my order form, for example, AOV vent instead of 0.6mm, or 1 mm instead of 0.6mm, smooth titanium surface instead of rough, etc…
3 Likes
Is this perhaps a QA problem just for Europe? I wonder if @Michael_Phonak could pass the feedback along to someone who could effect a change?
WH
3 Likes
Good morning. Another relapse. Significant hearing loss.
Acute otitis media with effusion. Dual antibiotic therapy completed. With my current audiogram, is the Infinio Sphere still worth considering?
I’m currently testing it and it works well with the Power receiver and the Click Sleeve closed dome. Or should I consider a different BTE?
2 Likes
You’re well in Sound Delivery System 6.0 (SDS 6.0) UP receiver range. It is definitely worth to try with Audeo Infinio Sphere.
However, UP receiver is only with cShell (something like canal earmold). I recommend get that with minimal {pressure) vent, like 0.6 or 0.8mm.
What’s your percentage result in Word Recognition Score in quiet (WRS). In Poland: “audiometria mowy”?
2 Likes
Hi. I just bought this hearing aid (Sphere I90). I have the power receiver with a slick sleeve closed dome. I will continue working on improving my hearing and continue treatment with a doctor. I had my speech audiometry tested by two audiologists, and the results were disastrous. I can hear and understand well with the aid, but there’s still a long way to go.
Of course, it’s not perfect in a hearing aid. But in other hearing aid, it was much worse.
later we will change the handset to Ultra Power
4 Likes
your Audiogram says Mo(u)lds all the way. The battle is gain versus feedback. Feedback will stop you getting the sounds you need. The 3rd factor is occlusion (hearing your own voice). If you can find a balance with all three, you’re sorted. Good luck.
6 Likes
@Christoph I totally agree. Unless you’ve tried molds and reject them for some reason, this could give you a big leg up in performance.
WH
4 Likes
Agree with @WhiteHat and @PeterH. You can temporarily use the Unitron power domes, which silicone is more stiff than Phonak ones and allows for more gain before feedback (exactly my case). You can buy them in the Geers chain.
However - you would get more benefits from UP (Ultra Power) receiver (not P) with cShell and small vent like 0.6 mm. Perhaps you need no vent, it’s like trial and error to get the perfect one. The silicone earmold would be probably the best (@Zebras experience), but Phonak doesn’t offer them, only acrylic or titanium ones. Ask your HIS about the silicone ones.
Counterintuitively, in case of Infinio line receivers (SDS UP has broader frequency response, which is very important to speech understanding.
You should get very deep ear impressions, reaching at least 5mm past second bend of ear canals.
The “disastrous” part is that you need much amplification (and UP, not P receiver), but maximum percentage of speech understanding is quite decent, definitely for hearing aids.
I’ll repeat myself, but I have to emphasize this: you just need power type of hearing aids like Naida (PR or SP) or RIC with UP receiver.
3 Likes