I am considering switching from Phonak Paradise with CROS to Phonak Infineo Sphere. Since there is no CROS option, I’m concerned about head shadow affect. Has anyone tried this? Opinions please?
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The way it was explained by my audiologist was: the Infinio Sphere requires two working ears. That’s the whole entire point of the sphere mode. Although I can’t say whether anyone else has tried it that way or how it worked for them.
Also, two hearing aids don’t work the same as a CROS unit and hearing aid.
The CROS unit passes audio through that unit to the aid on the other ear, and it doesn’t function as a real hearing aid. Hence the name CROS - Contra lateral Routing Of Signal.
The good news is, though, there IS a CROS plus Infinio non-sphere version for exactly single-sided deafness losses.
This is not true. We have a forum member (at least one, anyway) that has sphere with just on ear. The one I’m thinking of has ci on the other side, iirc. Sphere only requires one mic.
WH
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@WhiteHat - Interesting! Thank you for the info. I will have to inform my audiologist.
Yes, it’s me. Thanks for remembering. I’ll respond later. However, @villager, it might be useful to enter your audiogram to facilitate better advice…
Agree with @WhiteHat. Spheric AI program requires only one hearing aid:
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And Dr Cliff video:
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@Bimodal_user - Aahhh. Okay - so you DO have a device on another ear. So yes, Spheric mode does require at least two devices, ergo, two ears.
I don’t have CI and my device is a CROS unit. Clearly, the Infinio Sphere does not have a CROS unit and will not work with a CROS unit for single sided deafness.
Exactly how will the Infinio Sphere work for me if I use CROS for single sided deafness and have zero plans to get any CI surgery in my lifetime?
Anyone? Bueller? Just asking the question that needs to be asked now that the other part of the information has been included.
@nglfriend Also only uses one Infineo Sphere for single sided deafness. Quote “Spherical has been a game changer for me”
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Sphere mode is unilateral, so it’s a good choice for unilateral losses. It’s not dependent on beam forming which does require two ears.
Just take out your cros for a while and see how badly you miss it. In a quiet environment, that’s going to be very similar to using the sphere.
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Thank you, @Neville!! 
No, one device is enough. CI with sound processor is from completely different manufacturer, so it can’t make connection with my Sphere.
As @Neville said - in quiet situations quite similar to the last HA without CROS. I tried CROS, but it wasn’t verified by REM and I didn’t see any benefit in my case.
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Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I have added my audiogram to profile. Neville, I am currently trying life without the use of my CROS unit, as I too thought this would be a good way to evaluate my hearing without it. So far I don’t really miss it, but mostly have been in quieter environments since starting the trial. My audiologist indicates that one Infineo Sphere is working out very well for most patients with similar hearing to mine, so am strongly considering trialing it. I also have a Roger On 3, which should help with head-shadow affect. Additional conversation is welcome!
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(Not a CI candidate, huh?)
I would expect the sphere to do better in noisy situations than the CROS. Although if you use the Roger, you’re not using the sphere AI.
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Yes, I use one Infineo Sphere- but only because my deafness in the other ear is profound and an aid doesn’t work!
I have an Infinio CROS which I only use in certain situations - when I know I will be in an environment with speakers on both sides AND the environment isn’t suitable for my Roger On iN (e.g., at a cocktail party where people are moving around). Otherwise, I prefer to NOT use the CROS, as I don’t feel it adds much. If I’m sitting at a table with speakers on both sides, I prefer using the Roger, because it amplifies speakers from across the table as well as on my deaf side.
BTW, I do not have the Infineo Sphere.
I have been using a Paradise aid with a CROS unit for the last 2 years, after developing SSNHL, and have also found it to be of limited usefulness. I have been considering the Infineo Sphere, which has no compatible CROS. My audiologist tells me that patients with similar hearing loss to mine are having very good results with the Sphere AI technology, eve without using a CROS. I have decided to try not using my CROS unit for awhile and see how it goes. So far I’m not really missing it much at all. Just not sure if I want to make the jump for 1st generation Infineo Sphere, or wait another year or two and see what new features come along. Thanks again everyone for your input.
I have only a unilateral cochlear implant (CI) and Sphere on my second ear. The Sphere is definitely better than my old Paradise (see my profile description), despite having only power domes. I am waiting for the titanium cShell now.
I have never bought a CROS, only trialled one, because I didn’t find any benefits, maybe because it wasn’t verified by REM and adjusted based on it.
@villager, have you had a CI evaluation, as @Neville asked? Your poorer ear could be eligible for one, depending on where you live.
Just my two cents—it could be useful to stimulate your poorer ear (maybe with an old hearing aid or a much cheaper one?), because it greatly improves outcomes and facilitates rehabilitation after a possible CI. You don’t need to have maximum amplification according to your poorer ear audiogram if you have distortion or poorer speech understanding after using that ear.
I switched from a Signa AX cros to a single sphere. Much better in noisy situations and am very satisfied so far. For me the cros was only. Effective in quiet situations when I really didn’t need it anyway
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@villager Thanks for kicking off this discussion with your question. Would love to know the actual real-world experiences of SSHL suffers wearing a Inifinio Sphere in their “good” ear, in noisy background situation (bars, restaurants, parties, busy roads, even coffee shops.) I barely survive keeping up with conversation in such situation; totally relying on my good, natural hearing ear + brain processing + brain draining lip reading + lot’s of accurate & inaccurate guessing! Theoretically I would assume if a fair proportion of the background noise was cancelled out in Spherical mode, then my good ear, my brain, my lip-reading guessing skills will do a much better job! So, in such situations (1) does the set-up work in general? (2) Does it work ok, if you face the person or group talking on your bad or non-hearing side too? (3) Do you replace with a closed dome in such situations, to ensure the natural background noise entering/leaking into your ear does not overcome the volume of the speech signals outputed by the Sphere HA? Hearing & engaging in conversations in heavy background noise is my Holy Grail; yet I am only in such “social” situations occassionally (once a week, if that), and probably for 3 hours max. So, battery time is not an issue. Also, it’s rarely an on-the-spot event, so fiddling about to switch domes or settings is not a concern. And for me it’s the engagement & enjoyment of “social” situations that is priceless (and my core loss & stress), so I think it’s totally worth the expensive cost to get back to being “social” again. Highly appreciate your experiences, insights , and if I am totally “dreaming”, please bring me back to reality! Thanks.
@Andyf, which ear do you wear the Sphere 90 on? On the left, which has only 10% WRS? Which acoustic coupling do you have? Domes or earmold?
I think that better option could be to move the hearing aid from left to right and readjust the HA to at least compensate earplug effect (Real-Ear Occluded Gain in Real-Ear Measurement).
Probably at the end of this year, or next year, a new fitting algorithm (NAL-NL3) will be released with a module for ears with audiometrically normal hearing.
The only way to improve hearing in the poorer ear is with a cochlear implant. However, I don’t know your full circumstances or the possibility of reimbursement.
Of course, stimulating your poorer ear with a spare or cheaper hearing aid is definitely recommended.
@Bimodal_user Thanks for the comment. Apologies. I was not clear. I do not own a Infinio Sphere HA. Want to hear about SSHL real user experiences with them in heavy background noise. FYI, I do wear a HA in my (left) affected ear, but only for noise awareness not comprehension. Unfortunately CI surgery is not an option where I live, and since 15 years have passed since mv hearing loss, possibly brain will no longer ‘connect’ the new signals to everyday sounds and words?