I’ve just been fitted with a phonak marvel RIC aid with c shell. I’ve had a hearing aid for over twenty years but previous ones have been BTE with an ear mold. When the audiologist fitted the c shell bit in my ear she commented how narrow my ear canal is. I know from experience that a new mold sometimes takes a while to feel ‘right’ and that you should persevere with it, but this c shell is really uncomfortable and quite painful. Can anyone comment as to whether this pain goes away in time or should I be getting back to the audiologist? I have the aid on 60 days free trial and I’m actually disappointed that (apart from the problems with the c shell bit) it doesn’t seem to be much of an improvement on my NHS aid which was an option synergy. I thought having Bluetooth and being able to change settings via the myphonak app would be great but I’m just confused by all the options. Any advice anyone ( I’m in UK by the way)
it should not be painful, a little uncomfortable possible, but not painful
Thanks, that’s what I thought. It’s beyond uncomfortable…will be contacting the audiologist again!
I went from molds to double “power” domes. One was fine the other was painful. I was traveling and couldn’t get back to my Audi so I kept taking the bad one out for a while. By the time I got home the ear pain had stopped. Now I don’t feel them at all.
If you’re not comfortable, do not wear them no matter what your Audi says. Keep trying different sized domes or silicone molds. I too have small ear canals. I had silicone molds made and then went for the titanium molds. The titanium molds were not comfortable and did cause a little pain. I informed my Audi and he said do not wear them. Now I’m using open domes that fit and all is well. You may have to get another Audi. Good Luck.
Go back.
Sometimes if your ear canals are very narrow, it will be difficult to get a good fit with a RIC hearing aid. The marvel is available in a rechargeable BTE, if that’s your preference. A true earmold can often fit more comfortably into a narrow canal.
Welcome.
Go back and complain. Phonak likes to say “love at first fit”. That’s not true, but it should not “hurt”. Especially since you have worn earmolds before. (I have not and would expect some time to get used it it-- still “hurt” would send me back for a re-fitting.)
I’m comfortable in myPhonak but I am a geek.
The main screen lets you set Volume, and a choice of Programs. AutoSense is the default and makes reasonable choices to fine-tune the sound for the situation. Restaurant brings out voice and reduces non-voice sounds (noise). Voice is mostly midrange and music has bass so the Music setting gives a fuller sound.
Top right bars open some options. Unless your provider has offered you Remote Support, most are of little interest. (Under My Hearing Aids you can get a report how many hours a day the aids have been on. The “Bluetooth” option is too geeky even for me, don’t go there.)
Down at the very bottom of Remote Control is another options menu. Top sliders (shown above) adjust Bass Mids Treble. I am annoyed by kinky sizzles and have turned Highs down a bit (not a complete answer). Volume is just another volume control. Noise Reduction reduces low non-speech sounds (but may nick soft speech). At home I prefer to hear those, so I set it to zero. Speech Focus is directionality. Zero is all-around, full right is like a flashlight pointed in front of you. Seated across from and facing my lover I set SF very high, wandering the supermarket I set SF to zero so I hear ‘excuse me’ to the side or behind me. Dynamic seems to trim the lowest sound levels to drop-out soft meaningless background sounds. (More info welcome!)
If you change settings, you can save them as a new program, but this is very awkward. Hit Save, and it asks for a new program name, but on my screen the text spills off the screen. Ah, hit the “x” and the suggested too-long name vanishes. Touch the box and type a name for your custom program. I like “1” “2” “3” until I know a specific use.
But you may not want to bother with custom programs. AutoSense does the right kinds of things. Calm seems to cover most easy situations very comfortably. If you are in a place with bad rumbles, the lower-right options box lets you temporarily take some bass out of the sound.
Paulreid that is so helpful, thank you!
I have also just been fitted with the same cShell and Phonak Marvel devises as yours having worn NHS BTE aids for about ten years. I have two, and whilst the left is perfect the right one is so painful I can only wear it for a very short time. The audiologist has to-date made three new shells but the problem persists. I have an appointment in two days for a fourth attempt. In the mean time I have returned to using my right hand BHE NHS mould and it is perfection!
@tony.h692 how are the molds being made, are they having you with closed mouth, with full open mouth, or moving your mouth after a few minutes while they’re setting?
Hello, There was never any advise regarding open or closed mouth whilst the moulds were setting, so it was always closed mouth.
On my next visit on Friday he is suggesting a full cShell? Not a 1/2 Shell. I thought there was only one type.
Tony
I’m reasonably certain they can make any kind of earmold you want, they’re just jamming the receiver electronics into it. It can be a full shell like you’d have with a BTE, a canal mold, etc. I think some folks around here have skeleton molds. My cShells prior before going BTE/CI were canal molds.
The type molds you need are based on your hearing loss. The worse your hearing loss the bigger and better seal the molds need to be.
Attached is an example from Resound.
https://www.resoundpro.com/~/media/REFRESH/US/00-DOWNLOADS/Guides/MK604628_GU_SureFit2_EarmoldGuide.ashx?la=en-US
The weird thing reading that is the strongest, UP receiver, is only available in the canal mold (right there in the middle of the second page).
Thank you for this information.
I am now on my seventh c shell remould and it is as painful as ever, and so have now given up and I am rapidly getting used to having one hearing devise.
@tony.h692 Frankly it seems to me like the problem might be your ear canal, not the molds. I’m impressed that any doctor would make seven attempts.
Have you been to an ear specialist to make sure there’s not a physical problem, like for example a growth or something? Such a thing likely wouldn’t be an issue during a fitting but with the actual molds it might be.
The molds can be made specifically to your ear, if its not fitting right, you have to have the mold remade
The impression could be the issue, it should be gotten right after being remade, retake the impression if needed, or make sure its the appropriate mold for your ear