Hi, I had the wire changed by my audiologist on my left HA a couple of days ago. I have now noticed some damage where the wire attaches to the HA. Is this normal? The hearing aid are only 2 months old and are the Spheres model. Should I be going back to the audiologist to get the aid replaced?
@howbow. I would say it’s not normal, if it was damaged during receiver change, take it back.
3 Likes
Yes definitely bring it up with them, that’s definitely been done changing the receiver over, they are super hard to remove so they probably have used something to pull the old one out and damaged it in the process, but very easy for them to order a new housing and change it over for you.
3 Likes
Thanks for your reply. That’s what I was thinking. Hopefully my audiologist will agree.
I understand there’s been an issue with the interference fit of the new Sphere cases and receivers. I assume this will apply to the earliest units, but should lessen as they re-tool the moulds in the future.
2 Likes
Not sure if Spheres are like the Phonak Lumity Life aid, but it turns out that you need to insert a PIN into the side of the “bean” close to where that wire plugs into the BTE part. The pin pushes out a small bar (like the one in watchbands when you change them out). That’s how the speaker/receiver + ear wire are safely unplugged from the hearing aid “bean”.
I can see an open hole RIGHT THERE. As if your audi didn’t use a pin or perhaps didn’t know to use one? So the dang wire was YANKED OUT WITH BRUTE FORCE.
In fact, I’d given a TUG on my own ear wire after the RIGHT aid failed. When it simply wouldn’t come out, I took it in to my audi, and she showed me the pin.
Take it back. Get a new body for sure, cuz that hole will just let moisture and dust into the compartment and your aid will fail even FASTER.
3 Likes
The spheres use a friction fit. No pin to push, but there are a fair number of reports of receiver damage in removing old ones to put new/different in. This is the first I’ve seen on damage to the body of the aid.
WH
5 Likes
The sad thing about this is your fitter/audiologist knew they broke it and didn’t tell you.
Yes, I would have the aid replaced. The damage could get worse the next time a receiver needs to be replaced.
3 Likes
The waterproof case has been compromised. Definitely take it back. That was very sloppy work. They damaged it by with a pair of needle nose pliers , from the look of it.
3 Likes
That would drive me NUTS! Folks spend a LOT of money on these hearing aids, and the Spheres are top-of-the-line. I’m not sure if “friction fit” is like a magnet, but whatever design they employed here it ain’t workin’. I don’t see why the ear wire + receiver can’t just plug in like a tiny two-prong plug thing? So it’d take a PUSH to insert it, and a light PULL to disconnect it from the “bean”.
Well now I done got me a PIN so I can remove the ear wire + receiver from my 312 Lumity Life aids, and hey, I think I can use the same device for swapping licenses on my two pairs of Roger On iN mics. 
1 Like
They should be under warranty. Phonak will replace it. My right one was damaged changing receivers and they replaced the receiver, electronics, and shell.
1 Like
I can’t tell from the picture how deep that mark is. There is an inner seal which should continue to keep the receiver connection protected. Do to the tightness of the connection the receiver wire frequently can not be pulled out (in the manner the Phonack instructional video shows) without damaging the wire going into the hearing aid. Frequently the wire must be removed by prying it out with some instrument. I use a pair of needle nose tweezers (thanks to a suggestion from someone on the Faceboook forum) which may leave a scar. In any event it will do no harm to discuss this with your audiologist.
2 Likes