I appreciate this forum and all of the helpful advice provided by its contributors. I have a few questions, please.
Just over a year ago I was diagnosed with CONDUCTIVE (although the Doctor advised some MIXED) hearing loss. My audiologist strongly recommended hearing aids. So, my questions are:
Would a single hearing aid be better than two?
Is there a preferred brand, model, technology, etc. for my type of hearing loss? Recommendations?
The tinnitus ringing/buzzing in my right ear is quite loud. In your experiences, will the aids assist?
During my research, I’ve zeroed in on a few models that sound promising:
Philips HearLink 9050
Jabara Enhance Pro 30
Widex Allure 220
Phonak Infinio Sphere
I believe I’d prefer receiver in canal.
Would a custom mold be recommended for my hearing loss? Or simply start with the packaged domes?
I can’t see your audiogram. Perhaps the web page system needs time before it will show it. Because of that can’t really comment, but a couple of questions come to mind. 1) Have you seen an ENT? Many conductive losses respond to surgery. 2) Not a question, but when you see an audiologist you might ask if a bone conduction hearing aid would be appropriate. Good luck and keep us posted.
One vs Two: Two IMO can provide a more optimal solution but I recommend you follow the advice of the specialist as there can be more variables involved that may not be present in the audiogram.
Of this list, the Widex Allure 220 is a lower tech device compared to the other ones but some (including myself) love the Widex sound.
Jabra 30/Sphere 90: These devices have the latest and greatest tech for speech in loud environments. They are all good brands and appropiate for your loss.
Many people here will say: Go for molds. I’m more of a “try the simplest that your audiologist recommends first” - It is going to depend on HAs feedback, quality of sound, speech understanding and physical fit.
Yes, HAs can help but they are not a guaranteed solution for tinnitus
My wife has had hearing loss and significantly intrusive tinnitus for years, and only got hearing aids within the past few months. The AuD we went to told her not to expect miracles, but that sometimes tinnitus is the effort of the auditory system to fill in the blanks the hearing loss creates. She (the audiologist) said that the tinnitus may lessen over time as the ears, nerves, and brain start having more actual hearing stimulus and stop creating random sound. Oddly enough, my wife had immediate reduction of tinnitus while wearing her hearing aids for the first time. Of course, the tinnitus intensifies when she takes her HAs out to sleep - but it beats the 24/7 annoyance.
Thanks for the response, @OcramSagev. I’ve never worn hearing aids and the promise of a more natural sound via Widex is appealing. I wonder if the Widex Allure 220 differs all that much from the Allure 330 or 440?
I have otosclerosis. My left ear has mainly conductive loss, and in 2000 I had a stapedectomy in my right ear, which now has mixed loss. I currently wear Oticon Intent 1 hearing aids, and they’ve given me the best hearing experience I’ve had in decades.
ReSound Vivia 60 RIC for both ears. She really likes them. Still using the type of domes that were put on initially, and it seems the AuD who set them up for her did a great job. Funny thing, though - at a busy restaurant with the expected amount of noise at lunch on a Sunday, she could hear the individual conversations 20-plus feet away. She couldn’t hear me, straight across from her, though. Apparently, my voice is at a frequency she couldn’t hear well among all the racket.
I have no experience with the Allures but, based on my experience, the higher tech levels have an advantage in complex listening situations vs the lower tech work well in quiet environments. The sound processing speeds are the same, which means you get the Widex signature sound regardless of the tech level.
Hello. I have about the same issue you. But I had a accident and then a infection in my right ear. The right is is basically toast. See my audiogram. I have had three pairs of HAs since 2013 . Due to damage in my right ear. I only hear noise in the right ear Not the same sounds as my left ear. Making it impossible to stream music in stereo. Ok in mono.
2013 Starkey Xion $6000. Mold on right side only. They were great. Good in noise reduction . Lasted six years. Could not repair. wanted $7000 to replace .
2019. Philips 9030 (Costco) $1700. Dome only. Ok but not great. Could not afford 7000 at the time . They worked good at reducing tinnitus and keeping sound balance in my head. Not great in noise or speech based on my high frequency loss. But they work ok and I get by. Batteries need replacing. Having trouble hearing the great grandchildren children speaking.
2025 Phonak I90 sphere. $7000 (Insurance paying $3500 towards the cost) only had for one week. Speech seems good. to soon to tell. They need some adjusting. Music sound great. Steaming music is a lot better then the other two. Straming phone calls is good. I had extra money and the help from insurance was the one reason for the purchase. but also I want to better hear children
For me the cosco HAs got me buy. But I was missing out on some conversations.
My advice would be. Just get one mold on your bad ear. Don’t block out the natural sounds on your good ear. Two hearings help balance sound better than one.
Get the best hearing aid you can afford. Life is short. I wish you the best.
You absolutely need a custom tip in the right ear, but if this is largely a conductive loss most brands will be fine. You may really like that widex allure–widex gives a clear sound and the processing is lower than other hearing aids, but your inner ear is still functioning normally if this is just conductive. If you are an android phone user you may want to stick with the phillips or the phonak. If there is no price difference between these options then the phonak is the leader of that group, but if you’re youngish and the loss really is mostly conductive and you don’t have a lot of post-concussion symptoms then any of these will be okay and I wouldn’t pay a premium for the sphere unless it came with a good clinician.
I would expect tinnitus and aural fullness to improve with a well-fit hearing aid.
Correcting the conductive loss surgically has been ruled out?
With a band or DJ. Pile it all on. Sounds like a redneck wedding reception. Most of those I’ve attended were at a fire hall, though. They were all taking a break from the other things for the wedding…
