I have have been using the Sony cre C10s since Nov, 2023. I have moderate hearing loss and this was the first time I tried hearing aids. I bought them through Amazon, and Sony was the seller. After a break-in period of me getting used to them I have really liked them, particularly for the restoration of high frequency. However, I really don’t have anything to compare them to. The issue was that after 7 months of wearing them nearly every day, the left one stopped working. It would play the “chime” when I closed the battery door indicating it was turning on, but there was no amplification of sound. These aids also respond to the phone app by delivering a beep or sound when checking the battery or setting up the hearing profile. The left aid would not respond to the phone app. The phone app communicates to the aid by sending out a high frequency tone. Thus, it was apparent that the problem was with the microphone part of the aid, not the speaker (because I could hear the chime when closing the battery door). It was within the 1 year warranty period and after a bit of frustrating back and forth with Sony, they finally sent me a new pair (they are matched, so they can’t just send one. I then sent my old aids back to them. The new aids arrived in August 2024 and have worked well until last week. This time the right aid stopped working with the exact same symptoms: I hear the chime, but it will not respond to the phone app and does not amplify.
So, I have not abused these aids and follow all the recommended guidelines, but one aid lasted 7 months and the second aid lasted only 5 months. The first one was under warranty, but the 2nd one will not be covered (according to the wording on the warranty, but I haven’t called them yet). Thus, my cre C10s have effectively lasted a little over a year and I am out the purchase price. I am now in the market for new hearing aids and am understandably reluctant to buy Sony again.
This is a general and known issue with CICs, because the whole device is constantly exposed to humid environment.
With RICs only the receivers are exposed and even if they fail they’re much cheaper (and easier) to replace.
I’ve worn CICs most of my life, then I switched to modern, tiny RICs, that was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.
I never wore CIC but I wore ITE aids for about 12 hours of my 20 years wearing aids. I never had issues with my ITE aids dying from moisture. I liked ITE aids because at the time i did phone support and use headphones and with ITE aids I didn’t have and issues hearing. I now have MiniRite aids with Bluetooth connectivity to a few devices, but i still prefer over the ear headphones. It is possible with my aids but it becomes uncomfortable after a while with the pressure on the ear lobe against the aids.
Did you try replacing the wax guards?
Yes, new wax guards. As I said, its not the “speaker” but the “microphone” that doesn’t seem to work. As far as a known issue, I’m aware that the CIC are considered “not as robust” as others, but two failures in less than a year seems excessive. I may go the path of Reginald and try the Costco route with the Jabra Pro 20s. Which ones do you use Reginald?
I use Signias, Costco carries Rextons which are equivalent.