I am visiting Specsavers in Weston-Super-Mare (UK) tomorrow to purchase hearing aids for the first time. I currently wear NHS aids. I would appreciate any suggestions of what I should ask the audi in order to ensure an optimal fitting.
Also, it’s very windy here in Weston-Super-Mare and I play golf on the seaside links so wind reduction is quite important to me. Any suggestions about that would be helpful. Would it be good to have the strongest setting for wind block?
I will report back here on the fitting experience and on how I get on with the Infinio Sphere (not sure if another such thread is needed though!)
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You can ask for separate manual programs which you can select for special circumstances. I would suggest at least a separate program for loud noise with the spheric program so you can select that manually if it does not activate automatically when you want it to.
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Ask if they carry out REM (Real ear measurement) on fitting. It’s crucial for best fitting practice. Only certain Specsavers branches do. If they don’t try another branch, which is not part of the same franchise.
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So got fitted today. So far so good. For the fitting, the audi used target to play all sorts of beep sounds in my ears. She said that’s how REM is done now. Not sure if that’s right. I go back in two weeks for fine tuning.
Programs are:
1 speech in noise which enables me to manually activate sphere and it’s set to max wind block which I requested for when I’m golfing by the sea.
2 music set for pop
My audi is very responsive to my requests but will wait and see how competent she is with fine tuning.
Not much chance to test speech in noise yet but I noticed I could understand people around me in the mall. Will see how it goes in the pub tonight.
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Fitting is not one and done! It normally takes several sessions with your Audi to get it just right. REM is just a good starting place in the fitting process.
Yes. I have next session in 2 weeks time and regular ones thereafter.
It’s not.
…
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Normally with REM, the audi. or fitter should place probes in your ears with the hearing aids. The probes sense or measure the output from the aids. Sounds are then played through an external speaker, (which sounded to me like a person speaking multiple languages). The aids can then be adjusted to verify the output is close enough to the input. Sorry it’s a laymans explanation.
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Thanks Barry. I had sounds playing in my ears through the aids using Target Match. It reminded me of how our Sonos speakers tested the acoustics of the room. So far I am very happy with the aids and with the service from Specsavers.
Yes, the “Feedback and Real Ear test”, in Target implies REM, when it really isn’t. However, I find it a useful test, especially with slimtips/c.shells/molds, as Target allows gain to exceed estimated feedback threshold in these circumstances. Audiogram Direct allows me to self test pretty accurately too.
I’ve heard many a lie from NHS Audiologists, which were just to fob me off, rather than spend time accurately programming my aids. Once you know they’re lying, respect goes. My private Audiologist is brilliant, in comparison.
Peter
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Just back from the pub and quite shocked to have understood conversations from nearby tables. The sphere obviously makes a difference. Enjoyed a pint of Butcombe too.
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So I have tried to make a comparison between the spheres and my NHS supplied novas for listening to music. I chose tracks that I know well. Regarding volume I used the same source volume and had both aids set to the same volume in the Phonak app. I used the music program on both aids. Volume was louder with the spheres and with better tone and separation (bass \ vocals \ instrumental). By comparison the novas sounded flatter and more squashed although still pleasant to listen to. So is that worth £3k? Maybe.
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What you probably had was an ‘in- situ’ hearing test through the aids which is not a REM prescription verification procedure. Specsavers in the U.K. do not have REM equipment.
No, it wasn’t audiogram direct, target’s in situ test. It’s what they call target match. You are entirely passive in the process. How this compares to REM I don’t know.
I spent yesterday evening listening to my favourite playlist of mainly 70s 80s rock. I found the sound quite harsh and screechy at the top end although very good for the bass. Quieter tracks were fine. Positioning the receiver in the ear canal made quite a difference. A much harsher tone resulted from pushing the receiver in deeper. I’m really not sure about positioning the receiver.
Currently, I’m thinking of returning the spheres and trying oticon or widex as listening to music is more important to me than speech in noise. But will see if my audi can adjust the music program. Using the app to adjust didn’t help. It may be just my hearing loss that makes music sound harsh as I have a steep drop off from low to high frequencies. I’ll post my audiogram later.
Interesting! I am a keen music listener and although separating speech from background noise is my primary objective i dont want my music listening to suffer. I suppose i can always simply remove the HAs if they affect the music too much!
I have read somewhere that with the infinio spheres they only really work effectively if you are facing the person. Did you not find that?
I suppose it depends on your hearing loss. For me, as my hearing loss is worse in the higher frequencies the aids boost these which makes music sound harsh and screechy. Without the aids, I just here a dull sound with little definition.
No not at all. I can hear people from 180 in front of me but haven’t much tested as yet.
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I’ve boosted the bottom 3 frequencies’ MPOs and G50, G65 on my music programmes, as they were very low (G50, G65 were zero). This has vastly improved my music listening.
I basically matched the “Media Music + mic” settings. It’s great for music in the pub, but not so good for general listening. I’ve now put “Calm situation” as default, with all noise reduction turned off.
Your hearing loss, and music tastes are the same as mine, along with beer 
Peter