I just picked up my HA’s last week (my first ones). I now have the Air Streamer and was looking to program the HA’s from my phone. My Audi feels that the “auto” setting is fine and there is no reason to install the other programs like “Music”, “Restaurant” or “Speech in 360”.
So…my question is does that “auto” program do as well as the individual programs or do I need more programs activated?
Opinions?
They are your hearing aids – paid in full. You should have what you wish. If you don’t like one, you should be able to change it however you wish. I can see her wanting you to get use to them in a simple fashion but that should be your final decision.
I’m pretty sure her philosophy is that I get used to them and then we’ll play around with adjustments. She’s very big on the “flexibility of the brain”. 
I can understand this though…
Yes, flexibility is important. We need to be pliable. Doc Jake and I have flexible brains – I think that what people mean when they say we are soft in them. 
If you enjoy music there have been a number of great comments from musicians and music lover here about how poorly the auto programs handle music. Also, if you dine out or have group gatherings, that shouldn’t have to be a loud noise program to wait for.
The music program may not be great, but it turns off much of the compression and improves sounds from speakers, like the TV, car radio, etc. The automatic program in the Phonak line is very good in my opinion, but music and speaker generated sounds are better with the music program. You may want to ask about the speech-in-wind program for windy days. It does help.
Here is my take on auto/manual programs after three weeks with Audeo V90 13 and Audeo V70 13 aids (I realize the programs available to me will differ from yours but there should be some relevance). The majority of the time the automatic programs do great but I see justification for even some of the same programs that are included in Auto available as manual programs. The reason is that there are situations when you may benefit from/desire the same or very similar directionality, noise control, etc. settings from eg. Music or Speech in Loud Noise, but the aids do not recognize the environments as “Music” or “Speech in Loud Noise”.
I suspect a Music program with the microphones in omnidirectional would be fantastic on a hike through the woods but that is a far cry from what triggers the aids to switch to Music automatically. Generally, the woods is recognized as a Calm Situation, but the Calm Situation program is also everyday at the office, around the house, etc. and correctly carries a fair amount of noise control and some mic. directionality to the front. But noise control in the woods means less crickets, fewer birds, less wind in the leaves. Directionality in the woods means I missed some of the wild turkeys, chickadees, squirrels etc behind me and gives me a closed in feeling. I want to hear everything around me in the woods and currently prefer Speech in 360 as the best option I have now (I do not have Music in manual). Speech in 360 is also good in some meetings and might be good for playing volleyball, baseball, etc (anywhere there are sounds and/or voices surrounding you that you want to hear in a relatively quiet environment).
Speech in Loud Noise takes alot of noise to trigger, even when the threshold is minimized. But there have already been times when the Speech in Noise program selected by the aids in Auto was not sufficient for me and I wanted the extra boost Speech in Loud Noise offers. The only way to get it is to have Speech in Loud Noise as a manual program.
I have Speech in 360 (with Auto direction) as a manual program and Speech in 360 (with manual direction-only available on the 13’s) also as a manual program. Neither are offered in Auto (how does the aid know what you want to hear) but can be very beneficial when you recognize the surroundings where the directionality works in your favor.
I do not think the same program offered in both auto and manual performs any differently whether the aid automatically calls for it or whether you manually call for it.
Also, just because a program is named “Speech in Wind”, “Speech in 360”, or “Comfort in Car” does not mean it is only useful with “Speech” in “Wind”, or “Speech” in 360 , or in a Car. I think Speech in Wind might be the answer to driving with my window down.
Cheers. Phonak Audeo’s are great (for me anyway).
One last thought concerning the Music program in Auto. I listen to the radio ~8 hours a day at my relatively quiet desk but this never triggered the Music program. I also doubt Music is ever triggered while driving a car with the radio on (too much noise-at least in my car). For me, Music was only definitely triggered at a performance (chior/band/orchestra) and probably triggered at home with a full room of Klipsch generated sound. This is based on the small amount of time datalogging recorded as Music.
Cheers.
Analytical
That was a really useful explanation. Thanks!
That was definitely helpful, Analytical. Thanks! As time goes on I have to believe my Audi will add the programs in. If not, I will request them.
i got my phonak audeo V90s on friday. i had tried the V70 and thought they are definitely worth the extra. i don’t have manual programs. my dispenser is willing to add them but she also said that most of her clients don’t use them. the one client she has that has multiple manual programs continually forgot which program was which based on tones assigned to each. i said i would write them down.
Well, you intros to your new aids certainly sound like a glowing success. Looks like all you were hoping for at this early stage. Should only get better.
I am kind of amused by the comments about programs. The smartphone apps do away with all the audi objections in my mind. I looked at the Android Remote App and the various programs are named for those of us with flagging memory. The 360 programs lets you additionally pick a quadrant which would be an eavesdroppers delight. 
If the program slots are filled and there isn’t a general need for them, it is still a nice look at the features and a benefit when they might be useful. If they seldom get used, that great but sure handy when the do provide a better experience.
I have a V90 – installed programs are: Speech in 360, Speech in Noise, Speech in Loud Noise, and Music.
For best result with the car radio, I switch to Speech in Loud Noise. I think that program is very similar to the old Quest
Stereo Zoom program
I can’t stress how happy I am with my new HA’s. They’re better than I hoped for. Yes there are adjustments to be made but I expected that. For example, I’ve noticed that unwrapping cellophane wrap or snack bags is almost but not quite to the point of being grating. Regarding the programs, though, the problem is that to change the programs on my phone I have to get the streamer. The streamer package (including TV streamer which I haven’t tried yet) is $350. Is it worth $350 to be able to control the programs from my Android phone? Not sure about this one since nothing is set up yet.
ken, i agree if you get the smart phone apps. when using the phonak, you need two devices to use the apps, a phone and the bluetooth communication app. or you can use a remote but the remote has only buttons to change settings without a display.
I have to Oticon Alta Pros and the streamer and the IPhone app and I love my setup. I have 4 programs and I do make use of them. But I have to say that most of the time I am in the default program but I do spend time in the other programs. My in noise program also works when I am at church and I want to here the pastor. And my music program gets a workout when I listen to music and podcast while using my Bose headphones. I have what they call a street corner program while in the care and also when I am out walking, it cuts down on the car and road noise while driving and also the noise of cars going by when I am walking. But I will say this I have been wear aids for about 10 years and my first set of aids only had automatic setting which was OK while I was getting use to aids but now I really cannot get a long with only the automatic settings.
I spend at least 80% of my time in the automatic program of my Alta2’s. The rest is about evenly split between the Conversation in Noise program which allows me to force the aids into a directional program with more aggressive noise reduction when I need it and the Music program.
chuck, who does the web hosting for your thoughts site? just wondering what the monthly cost might be?
thanks
Well, your citing the need for a second device to communicate with any phone points out the one weakness that makes me avoid Phonak. Their transmission are in the 10.7 Mzh area. I good solution back-in-the-day that has grown obsolete with the strides made by 802.11 LowPower and 802.11 Hi-Ban. This is making possible the MFI upgrade to the scene. It is still an infant but will progress. (10.7Mhz is just a bit away from CB which is around 11Mhz.)
You really are forced to carry 2 devices around whether you opt for the remote or phone device with app because you are going to be carrying around the phone anyway. And, the clip will stream a computer or any Bluetooth audio device. I think one of the phone/BT/HA allows up to 6 different attachments. You also get better distance/positioning with BT over the 10.7.
All I have is the Blogger and it is a free site. I believe it is run by google
The main drawback of the in aid Bluetooth or other communications seems to be battery life. As for as I am concerned having the streamer around my neck is no big deal. It seems to bother others a lot more than it bothers me. If I do not wish for it to be seen I just place it under my shirt. I can still use the phone over Bluetooth and no one seems to notice any difference in my voice.
I think it would be great to have stereo streaming, but I can live with it not being stereo. And if I want to listen to my music in stereo I just plug in my Bose headset and put them on my ears over my aids. And of course set my program on my aids to music.
Also I know most may disagree but for me I find that having ITC aids are much better for me. I have had the BTE Rite aids and while they were small and not seen, I always had issues with them and the wind trying to blow them off, and the feedback from wearing a hat would run anyone crazy.