No real idea how to use the hearing aid apps - both Oticon and Phonak

Hearing Aids
41

I haven’t read ALL of the above comments, of which there are MANY, but just to mention–re the app–that, of course, the basic fall-back is using the buttons on the HA to change programs. Off-times my app (on the phone) has disconnected itself ( :frowning_face:) at the very moment I need it, so it’s nice to remember how to use the buttons at your ear!
I’ve said before, but I find “Hear in Noise” great for chatting with the check-out person at the grocery store.

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42

I could not agree more!! I have exactly this issue, I enjoy quiet reading of the news online, then an advert embedded within the article causes a shift into Bluetooth streaming + mic and white noise bursts into my ears. I raised this with my audiologist last year and she flat out denied the issue and said that it was a problem with my iPad. I know that I can reduce the white noise by adjusting ambient balance, but I have to do that every day, or several times a day if the connection drops out. I would like to be in control of my sound experience, not have my aids controlling me. My solution - new audiologist and new aids (not Phonak) even though my current ones are still in warranty. There are other issues with my aids which are prompting the change, but this is a major frustration. Effectively I will be wasting money, but for me it’s necessary.

43

My complaint is that the programmers of the apps don’t give the user useful information. Giving the user a function labeled, “Hearing in Noise”, is useless. Will that function mask background noise or completely eliminate background noise? Or, tell the user what decibel level is the cutoff for the background noise. There are numerous free decibel level apps available. Will the function labeled, “Hearing in Noise”, allow the user to hear speech on the ramp at an airport with jet engine noise? Obviously, not. But, at what decibel level will that function work in a restaurant?

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44

I agree with @Flyboybob. There should be at least PDF manual, which could provide information like:

  1. at default Spheric Speech in Loud Noise activates at 70 dB and more noise + concomitant speech

  2. Speech Focus - in Premium 90 and Advanced 70 model - slide from left extremity to half - narrowing directional mics only. From half to right extremity - increasing Dynamic Noise Cancellation.

  3. What are the differences (technical) between Restaurant and Speech in (Loud) Noise

  4. What mean exactly (technically) words like “Speech”, “Clarity” etc. under myPhonak app equalizer

  5. Why I see often “Comfort in Noise” subprogram in AutoSense instead “Speech in Noise” during conversation or listening podcast or videos?

And many more. Both Phonak and other companies (e.g. Cochlear) issue a lot of inaccurate material that is more advertising than explaining the technicalities. You have to waste a lot of time to find out anything concrete.

45

You are absolutely correct. The hearing aid companies don’t want to publish that information, because, we the end user, might take them to court and hold them to those values. The current legal thinking is, if we don’t tell them, then they can’t hold us accountable. Here’s one example from GN, who makes Jabra, Beltone, and ReSound. Their instructions tell you to turn off the hearing aids prior to placing them in the charger. When they are in the charger, they automatically turn themselves off. Even something that simple is confusing. If I turned them off with the switch on each hearing aid every night, then think how more likely the switch is to fail and require a repair out of warranty. Probably, by that time, it will be easier to sell me new hearing aids. It’s planned obsolescence :crazy_face:

46

When I go to YouTube and type in the words Widex Moment app" I get 3 different videos explaining how to use the Moment app on my smartphone for adjusting using my HAs.
Lots better than reading a PDF.
Has the OP tried this approach to get tutition for their hearing aid app?

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