I’m 3 days into a trial of Oticon Intent 1. Severe/profound cookie-bite loss. Custom molds. Excellent audi who uses REM. Some of you might have read about my miserable experiences with Phonak Sphere (the “Not Loving Them” thread).
So far, so good! Have spent a hunk of today going through past Intent threads and have a few questions and follow-ups about programming and the app. Many comments were made last spring when Intents were new to everyone. My programs are set up for General, Speech in Noise, Lecture, and Music. Like CVKemp, I’m finding that General covers most situations so far, but I haven’t been in extreme conditions yet.
Speech in Noise situations: Several people in one thread said they had success with SIN by turning down the volume. Some said they used “Comfort” instead of SIN. Is that still the consensus? I don’t currently have a Comfort program and would have to drop one to try it. No one has commented much on “SpeechBooster.” I’ve read somewhere that it boosts soft voices and helps in quiet conversations. But the Oticon literature says it suppresses background sound from the side and rear. Anybody a fan of SpeechBooster?
There have been very few comments about the Lecture program. Any fans? Guessing it might also be useful in some meetings or in some situations (e.g. church) where a telecoil is not available.
Are you supposed to be able to have an automatic connection to the app if you use 2 devices? I was connected to the app on an iPad mini. Turned off the iPad, went to another room, and tried to connect to the app on my iPhone. Nope. Turned off app, turned off HAs, rebooted and all OK. Went back to iPad – that connected. Returned to phone – same problem.
Does Find My HA eat battery life on an iPhone?
Hands-free ear taps: I’ve found that it doesn’t seem to work if I place a call and then need to hang up before it’s answered. Is that normal?
Balancing streaming and ambient noise: I regularly walk while listening to an audiobook. With my old Oticon OPN HAs, I could boost the volume of the book with the sidebutton on my phone, and separately adjust ambient sound with the buttons on my HAs. Simple, quick. That doesn’t seem to work. ,Both the phone sidebutton and the HA buttons control the book volume. To adjust the ambient, I have to go to the app or (easier) do a triple-click to get to the iPhone Hearing Devices screen, where I can quickly adjust the volume. Does this sound right? Would love a work-around that doesn’t require opening a screen.
On phone with a friend, I had the phone in my pocket and she couldn’t understand me. Had to pull it out – spoke into phone mic, tho’ maybe the mics on the HAs worked at that point. Wasn’t an issue with the Phonaks. Does this seem typical?
And finally, a couple comments: Several people have beat up on the Oticon app, compared to Phonak. I like it much better in terms of user interface and graphics. Discovered that the Sound Equalizer can be adjusted separately for each program – and it will remember the setting without having to create a new program; very easy to return to default. I also discovered that you can change programs while streaming! (Streaming is a separate program on Phonak.) So, for example, I was streaming music and was able to compare programs and also fiddle with the equalizer. (General was better than Music on one album.)
I wear the INTENT1aids and have since June. I have them paired to my Samsung S23 phone. I only have and use the default program. This is my preference. My goal is and has been for 20 years to put my aids in my ears first thing in the morning and forget about them until bedtime. This is as close to normal hearing as a person with hearing loss and hearing aid can ever hope for. I gave up on iPhone in 2023 because of issues with the iPhone and other devices always fighting of connections to the aids. The INTENT aids have le audio which my Samsung S23 phone has and the connectivity is almost flawless. Apple has to yet to recognize le audio. The app has the always connected option that keeps the aids connected to the app even when the app is closed.
In the past I have had lecture, and music programs and I found myself not noticing any difference in the sound with them than what the general program sounds like. Now you must understand that my audiologist and I have worked together for 6 years to prefect my general program for Oticon aids. Also you must understand that I have worn Oticon aids for 15 years. I am a veteran and my aids are part of my benefits and my hearing loss is a combination of genetic and military service.
The INTENT aids have the full capacity to give you everything you need in the general program but it can be a long an patient filled experience to get that perfect fitting. Unfortunately most audiologist and hearing aid users don’t have the patience and determination to make that happen.
Hi Chuck–Actually, I want to thank you for your earlier posts about your experience, which gave me hope that the Intents might be my answer. I have been trialing Phonak Spheres with the thought that they are touted as the next tech step. There were specific problems, but maybe the worst aspect has been the underlying stress they brought to my day-to-day life. So far, my experience with the Intents has been like yours-- put 'em in and forget about 'em. When I do think about them it’s first to realize the calm they’ve brought back to my life.
I am curious about this whole LE Bluetooth thing, not being into the techy side of it (or really wanting to be). As you know, the Intents are made for iOS – and my experience so far has been pretty seamless, with none of the connectivity issues I had with the Phonaks. But I wonder if that may be because I have an ancient iPhone 8. Is it possible that I would have problems when I get around to updating my phone?
Actually the INTENT aids work great with my Samsung S23 android phone. And I find my aids are working better with my Samsung phone then my Real1 aids ever worked with tje iPhone 13 I previously had. But be warned not all android phones will work with your aids. Unlike IOS android is open to any number of phone manufacturers and that means most don’t bother to add the needed hardware for hearing aid compatibility. Google Pixel and the higher end Samsung phone are usually a good choice.
Actually the INTENT aids work great with my Samsung S23 android phone. And I find my aids are working better with my Samsung phone then my Real1 aids ever worked with tje iPhone 13 I previously had. But be warned not all android phones will work with your aids. Unlike IOS android is open to any number of phone manufacturers and that means most don’t bother to add the needed hardware for hearing aid compatibility. Google Pixel and the higher end Samsung phone are usually a good choice.
It seems that the forum is being picky and wanting to prevent my comment
Actually the INTENT aids work great with my Samsung S23 android phone. And I find my aids are working better with my Samsung phone then my Real1 aids ever worked with tje iPhone 13 I previously had. But be warned not all android phones will work with your aids. Unlike IOS android is open to any number of phone manufacturers and that means most don’t bother to add the needed hardware for hearing aid compatibility.
No it doesn’t but I never used it anyway. But the companion app works great on android. But you need to be careful not all Oticon aids work with Android. Only the More, Real, and INTENT based aids work with Android.
No it doesn’t but I never used it anyway. But the companion app works great on android. But you need to be careful not all Oticon aids work with Android.
@Zebras
No it doesn’t but I never used it anyway. But the companion app works great on android. But you need to be careful not all Oticon aids work with Android. Only More, Real, and INTENT based aids work with Android.
Chuck apparently never used this feature, but I sure do. One of the best things about being back in Oticon world. I find it much faster and more discreet than messing around with the app.
Here is my key! My aids are adjusted to my needs to the point I don’t need to worry about or even think about needing the options or features. I read about people that must spend a lot of their time changing programs and making other changes. When the aids are fitted correctly the aids do their jobs and not the user.
