Phonak ActiVent vs Vented Dome

Hearing Aids
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#1

I have since 2017 and up until this year warn Phonak Nathos S+ M BTE hearing aids

I’ve decided to upgrade to device that can improve my hearing further and stop me having to switch out hearing aids when I want to listen to music etc. Now have a pair of Phonak Audeo Lumity L90, after tailing to 50’s.

I’ve seen some improvement over L50, but feel I can get more out of things for noisy environments and would also like improved streaming quality (as this is one of the reason for the upgrades)

My Audiologist (from boots, uk) was not keen at all on ActiveVents when suggested to me and has suggested testing vented domes compared to open domes

I haven’t been in a noisy environment yet, but so far my impression of vented domes is they overall are worse then open as the benefit isn’t greater than the downsides. I’m also finding the fit doesn’t suite my ears, larger ones are too big and the smaller ones creep out constantly.

They also make virtually zero difference to steaming quality

Does anyone know how much an improvement ActiveVent would be compared to a vented dome? I like the sound from open domes much better for normal environments, but feel I need the isolation in noisy and for streaming.

#2

Activevent closes when you stream or in loud noise. It is open otherwise. I like mine a lot. One ear it lasts maybe six months before it starts sticking closed. The other ear about a year. My guess is the difference is because of differences in production of ear wax.

WH

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#3

I’d certainly try to put that steeply sloping hearing loss into a custom tip, activent or regular. But it’s hard to know whether it will be too occlusive until you try it. If they have an activent fit kit, the universal rubber activent tips will give you a good idea of whether it will work prior to going ahead with ordering in custom tips.

I cannot tolerate the click that the activent makes, though my ear canal is on the smaller side so the click is probably louder for me. I know others and have patients who do not have a problem with it.

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#4

I have similar audiogram on my right side. Highly recommend custom earmolds. However, I am not sensitive to occlusion, I don’t know if you would bear your own voice.

Large venting would decrease of occlusion but at the cost of increased risk of feedback if you want to achieve proper gain in high pitches. Consider long (to bony part of ear canal) custom earmold if the occlusion will be a problem.

I also on the way to get better earmold. For now, I use earmold with small vent (~1mm) instead of 2,5mm diameter.