Hello everyone. I have been using the Phonak Marvel M90 RIC hearing aid since 2019. I’ve been having trouble understanding for the past two months. My audiologist told me that my hearing aids are getting old and I need to replace them. But I’m not sure which brand or model to get. I have trouble making phone calls in crowded places because of the unidirectional microphone on the Phonak. Also, as you can see in the audio test, I have a very severe hearing loss in my right ear, so I have difficulty understanding the people next to me and behind me in the vehicle. (The steering wheel is on the left in the country I live in.) I use an iPhone phone, a Windows computer and an LG television. (I have stated them in terms of compatibility) I would be very happy if you could advise a “RIC” brand and model that complies with all these conditions. Audiologists in my country (including my own) recommend bad products. I felt the need to consult you in order to make a point shot.
There is a huge difference in the two different audiograms you posted. The one in your profile is profound and I’d suggest a cochlear implant evaluation or an UP BTE. The one that’s an attached file isn’t bad and if your current aids are properly adjusted they should do fine.
Thanks for your comment. I’m using UP customshell with M90 for each ears. I know right ear need cochlear but I dont want it. I don’t even know if I need new devices. I decided to look for new devices because my audiologist told me that I need new devices.
Looking at your audiogram, your best choices are either Phonak Paradise UP or Oticon Xceed aids. Xceeds are older technology.l have the P70-UP Paradise aids. Since you’re using iPhone, Oticon aids are a better choice. Talk to your audiologist about Oticon, Signia and Phonak aids. You can try Costco if it’s available in your country.
Weighing in here with my own “snake belly” profound loss audiogram …
I switched from Phonak Marvel aids to Phonak Lumity Life aids. Part of the sales pitch that attracted me was “BETTER SPEECH COMPREHENSION”. Oh yeah, I want that. Having now worn these Lumity Life aids about 10 mos, I can verify: they DO indeed improve speech clarity very noticeably for me.
So, if you’re not up to the CI for now, consider the top-line Lumity Life aids. Then, get them paired + connected to your cell phone so you can stream calls hands-free and easy right into your ears - nothing makes for a better phone call than streaming it.
Finally, get “Acoustic Phone” set up as a program so you can hear really good on ANYONE’s phone. It sends the sound to both ears stereophonically, and is just about as good as streaming a call. I swear by it.
@Terost My audiologist said “Phonak Lumity Life with UP is fit your audiogram and I recommend it.” But I want to try another brands. Because I always used Phonak. As you know I using iPhone, I want to experience MFi technology. MFi aids can not connect Windows or TV without accessory devices, on the other hand. I’ve also gotten used to Phonak’s bluetooth convenience. Another audiologist recommended ReSound brand. My head is a mess. In my country, these devices are very expensive and there is no payment method such as monthly payment. That’s why I have to point shot.
@1Bluejay
Hi, thanks for information. What percentage of positive results did you get when you switched from Marvel to Lumity? Do you think it’s worth it? Any improvement in phone calls? Another thing I was wondering is does Phonak provide lifetime battery replacement service? If you have any information, I would be very happy if you share it.
I think 4 years is long enough to “want” to update, in times past 4 years was considered “near new” with the industry recommending 5 to 7 years a HA should last, but now, times are changing quite quickly, of course you have to consider if it’s worth technology wise (the manufacturer’s like to say every new release is the best thing since sliced bread!) @ierkamacar if you can adjust to the iPhone world then go for it (MFi) it’s way ahead with the features, android is playing catch-up but won’t be left behind with LE Audio coming out in the next generation of phones and HAs. Researching your list of HA you intend to try from hearingtracker is a good way to start.
Also nothing wrong with buying latest models from eBay to save a lot of dollars.
I brought my Phonak aids from a hearing aid seller and got a 6 months warranty. I have taken great care of aids and have a hearing aid dryer. I have rules like do not wear aids during the rain. My local audiologist quoted 3500 for one P70-UP aid when l brought one for 1,175 on eBay.
I’d say I enjoyed a noticeable 15% improvement in positive results right after switching from the Marvels to my current Phonak Lumity Life aids. That was 10 months ago. Yes, I’ve had some issues (requiring the speakers to be changed at the 4-mo mark, learning the hard way these Life aids are NOT waterproof as Phonak claims), but now I’d say the improvement factor is more like 25%.
It takes time to literally live through myriad events where one aid will out-perform the other. In terms of phone or TV streaming, the 2 models are identical and EXCELLENT. In terms of hearing speech in LOUD places, the Life aids win hands-down; ditto for the Life aids’ ability to adjust to ambient noise and enable better speech understanding without having to change programs.
A MAJOR improvement is the Life aids’ ability to comprehend speech in more challenging circumstances. I’m forever having folks talk to my back, or ask things from a different room, or even at home, my hubs will be downstairs in the echo-y kitchen and ask me something as I’m halfway up the stairs. I can HEAR these people and understand enough to answer back - which is a phenomenal improvement over the Marvel aids.
Being able to comprehend speech has given me a LOT more confidence and opened up my desire for social interaction. Instead of shunning conversation with strangers or anyone who speaks with an accent, I step a bit closer, focus on what they’re saying and actually comprehend so I can answer back bingo on the button! It’s liberating and enabling. So much so that I actually doubt most folks even know I wear aids.
That said, I do have situations that no aids can fix right now: how about hearing while hiking single file all strung out on a trail? Not sure how good I’d be. Or someone with a soft voice + accent talking to me behind a face mask? I’ve had to ask for a “repeat” in those instances. But nothing I can’t live with.
As for lifetime battery replacement? I kind of doubt it, but we’ll find out! So far, my aids continue to charge up nightly in their charging base. But as these rechargeables wind down, there will come a time when the BTE unit WILL HAVE to be replaced. My audiologist recommends that I turn them in just before the 3-yr warranty wears out. That way, Phonak would be likely to replace them - but I honestly don’t know! If they are tested at the factory and appear to be working why would they replace the BTE unit?
Bottom line: YES. The Phonak Lumity Life aids are WORTH IT. I’m glad I have the Marvels if ever needed, but for now, that would be a last resort over my Lumity Life aids.
No that’s incorrect, if the hearing aid is still within warranty it’ll be honoured, I’ve brought all of mine from eBay over many years without issue, for those of us are experienced using eBay you also get buyer protection from both eBay and PayPal incase something goes wrong.
Sorry - but please don’t mislead posters on HT. Buying aids on eBay is “extreme risk”.
Hearing aids on eBay are wild cards and it can be more trouble than it’s worth. You don’t know their history, the aids still need to be adjusted to fit your ear and hearing loss, and there won’t be any warranty or services with the devices.
And with OTC aids now available - why go the eBay route if you have a mild hearing loss? If you have a serious hearing loss - the last thing you want to do is buy aids through Ebay.
Who do you submit it to for warranty? Also how do you ensure that it’s truly under warranty. I ask this because I once bought a PartnerMic online (not through EBay) According to Target software it had a 3 year warranty. However when I had an audiologist check with Phonak, it was grey market and had no warranty. All worked out well as I had an extended warranty that was eventually honored. I think buying through EBay with due diligence is a reasonable thing to do, but one should use care. My suspicion is that most people have no trouble dealing with issues that pop up early, but that issues that pop up outside the return period are problematic. Hopefully one gets a good enough deal that one just buys another one.
The only extreme risk is listening to anything you’ve said.
As I’ve and many others has brought from eBay over many years without issue, shows that it’s not “extreme risk”.
I’ve dealt with both Phonak/unitron and ReSound directly, you can also check directly with the manufacturer with the serial numbers for HAs, I don’t know if accessories are the same, I’ve also brought boxed and was able to check before buying, I believe the savings you got from buying off eBay outweigh the no warranty surprise.
Exactly, I think 90% of us are willing to take the risks to save up to 2/3rd the prices been offered.
Going through ebay to get aids for profound or serious loss would, for me, be a non-starter. I have profound loss in the mid to higher registers of my right ear. As a result, I have a power receiver in that aid, but not the other. I doubt that configuration would be found on ebay. Moreover, the two aids are programmed entirely differently. I realize that tenkan and others program their own aids. I’m not willing or ready to go down that road–despite all the assurances, I’ve seen how things turn out to be more complex and frustrating than I wish to tolerate.
at my audi/provider I can trial aids for a month or more; and then trial various levels/cost of one brand. Then I can trial another brand the same way; and another, if I wish. When I’m certain that I have what I like, I make the purchase. My audi has a plan that allows me to pay off the aids interest free over a year. If there are issues, the audi is a 10 minute drive away. If an aid has to be sent in for repair under warranty, they take care of it all and give loaner aid(s) until mine come back fixed. I also need custom molds with my aids. These can make a world of difference in terms of the quality and effectiveness of HAs. When I had mild feedback issues with the right aid because of the mold, my audi reshaped it in office. Now it fits perfectly; no more feedback.
None of that happens on Ebay. Impossible to get custom molds on Ebay, and they can make a world of difference. I don’t want to hassle with phone calls to a company concerning warranty issues over ebay aids–something tells me this will end up with more frustration and anger than I want.
So yes I pay more for convenience and help with dialing in my program and other things. It’s worth it. To me!
But most people know it’s pretty easy to change a receiver to meet ones loss, those of us who DIY get the most benefits from going on eBay as you say, plus it’s very easy to get custom molds impression from any audiology clinic, you can then have them send away to the manufacturer or you can take the impression away and have it sent to any other place to have your molds made, as I’ve done, plus the majority of people fit the moderate/severe hearing losses so domes are perfectly fine for them.
Yes this is my point, it’s completely up to the individual, after spending the cost of up to 10k some of us just don’t want to be “joined at the hip” to any one clinic, so I’m happy that your happy with your choice.
Do they? I don’t. And how/where do I do that? For me, it’s where I purchased the aids. Lots of audis don’t want to deal with aids bought elsewhere; they’re too busy!
Or do you DIY your own power receiver in a custom mold? I’m jsut not handy enough to do all this myself.
I figure that people who come to this forum with a virtual deer-in-the-headlights look, asking about buying aids, don’t know enough to deal with aids bought on eBay. I’m not even thinking about possible seller dishonesty or device defects. I mean knowing how to go from new, perfectly good aids in the box to properly fitted aids in their ears that’ll actually help with their hearing problem.
