Hello everyone,
What is Phonak ActiveVent? Does it come with the Lumity L90, or should it be purchased separately? Is it beneficial? Can it be used with other domes also.?
I’ve used activevents since around April 2022 with my audeo p90-r HAs. It has a mechanical valve which is electrically operated that opens or closes a vent in your ear piece. When you aren’t streaming or in a very noisy situation, this prevents unwanted sound from coming in. When you aren’t in one of those situation, it opens to allow the natural low frequencies in, preventing occlusion.
It doesn’t come with audeo hearing aids, but it is available. The end of the receiver is quite different. You can use rubbery silicone “universal slim-tips” (which come in a variety of sizes) or titanium custom slimtips. I don’t think there are other tip choices.
(But what do I know? Not much. Mostly ueless information.) Usually patients start with the universal slim-tips until they know they want to use the activevents permanently, then they have the option to get the titanium tips. I love my titanium tips and the activevents.
They (the receivers) don’t last as long as conventional receivers. I think wax gums up the mechanical part. I don’t think the wax traps are effective at all. They (the receivers) are estimated to last 6 months. I get a bit longer in one ear, and not quite as much in the other.
There is an audible click noise when the valve switches position. Some don’t like that sound. I not only am accustomed to it, but it signals to me that there has been a change (typically a call coming in, before I hear any ring) and I don’t mind it at all.
It is only available in the “M” level of receiver power. There is a chart with fitting ranges your audiologist can show you, or you can search here for where it has been posted multiple times.
I hope this helps!
WH
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@Dranaskhan, you didn’t enter your audiograms in your profile, but if I recall your photo correctly, you are not eligible for ActiveVent due to a large hearing loss in lower frequencies.
I am also not eligible, but note that the cost of this technology is high and it may not be very reliable, especially in hotter climates.
I think it would be more cost-efficient to get a proper earmold with a spare earmold and receiver, and pay for REM.
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@Bimodal_user Many thanks for this. Took a look at the candidacy PDF linked and it doesn’t seem I’d be eligible for an Active Vent (have unilateral hearing loss due to Ménière’s and permanent tinnitus). Would you mind taking a look at my audiogram attached please to confirm if I’m reading it correctly? Much appreciated!
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Thanks @WhiteHat! Considering the Active Vent as well but just saw the candidacy checklist in the post below and now sure anymore if I’m eligible, sadly enough. Thanks for all the insight!
I don’t think so and I don’t think they are recommended when conductive loss is present.
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Why are audio notifications and loud sound sensitivity part of the fitting questionnaire?
There is quite a noticeable click when the receiver changes state from open to close and vice versa.
@OcramSagev is right, you aren’t eligible. Keep in mind that the MAV receiver (ActiveVent) has a limited lifespan. It lasts about six months, depending on how much cerumen you produce and how often you use it daily.
Is it a noticable click or an unpleasantly loud click? Do you hear it on close and open? Do you also feel the mechanism through vibration or otherwise? Is it quieter when embedded in the titanium tips?
Notifications would be annoying because it would have to click closed to stream and then immediately open again?
It’s noticeable but obviously depending on ones loss if it’s annoying but @WhiteHat uses them.
I think that case is more for professionals, like @Neville or @Um_bongo, but if I recall correctly, if you have reverse slope hearing loss, the acoustic coupling should be earmold/cShell with rather small vent.
I have no personal experience with ActiveVent, so I can’t provide a sincere answer about clicking; it’s a very personal perception.
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If you had that conductive loss corrected then you might benefit from the active vent, but as it stands no, it wouldn’t do anything because you shouldn’t ever be using an open fit anyway. The active vent is to give open fit people to option to access a closed fit, which provides benefits. You should just always be in a closed fit.
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It is quite noticeable. I don’t find it annoying when it happens occasionally. The notifications would drive me nuts though if they played audio. It is annoying if they click closed while you’re in a conversation, if it is t because they’re going into spherical mode. You can’t hear if, for example, a web page on your phone has silent video which still establishes a bt setup to play nothing, but you conversation partner becomes suddenly hard to hear.
I would ignore the candidate checklist item about tinnitus. I have tinnitus and I do just fine with them. But the sw disables a tinnitus masker program when you change the receivers to activevent in target. I don’t mind the loss.
WH
This is what I think happens: Audio notifications are streaming events and anytime there is streaming event, the ActiveVent closes. Now imagine getting notifications and the ActiveVent opening and closing, each time with a noticeable click. Unlike Mfi, where you can allow music/voice streaming and disable notifications, with Phonak, its either all or nothing.
Yes, you have to turn your notifications off.
On Samsung devices you can just stream calls without streaming media.
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As Phonak and Samsung user I also highly recommend it.