OK. WOW! So I can ask my audi to actually crank up the Speech Enhancer on these Lumity Life aids? Cuz you nailed it about that extra - but noticeable! - sliver of speech comprehension in QUIET places. The Life aids also struggle in noisy places, but now I have a couple ideas:
1.) Ask audi to crank up Speech Enhancer to see if that works in noisy places, too, OR
2.) Just keep using my Speech in Loud Noise program when needed but turn the volume UP 2-3 steps. I tried that out a couple times and it definitely improves my ability to understand speech in noisy places. Sort of low-tech, but hey, if just turning up my volume works, then I’m good.
Still foot-dragging on MyPhonak app as I am loathe to add endless variables to the already daunting equation of: aids + BT + cell phone + OS + wifi + MyPhonak.
Aieeeeeeyah. Am I asking for trouble? I get trouble in spades with just about anything new added to this equation. It’s just all the MORE things to trouble-shoot and test out when something ALIEN happens.
I am so impressed! I’ve used myPhonak and saved a mask program. Started with Automatic, which was a calm situation. I adjusted settings in myPhonak the way your link described. I’m amazed how much it’s helping me with word recognition. Tomorrow I’ll see if it helps with “masks”. Thanks
Here’s what Microsoft’s Bing ChatGPT-based tool came up with when I asked it for “How does Phonak Pro Speech Enhancer work?”
Phonakpro speech enhancer works by applying up to 10 dB additional gain to the peaks of a speech signal in quiet situations, when the speech input level is between 30-50 dB and the signal-to-noise ratio is at least +10 dB¹⁵. This means that it can boost soft speech sounds without amplifying other unwanted soft sounds¹. Speech enhancer is an adaptive feature that automatically kicks in when soft speech is detected, and adjusts the gain according to the environment¹². It can reduce listening effort and improve client satisfaction with hearing aids, especially when listening to speech over distance²⁴. Speech enhancer is also important because hearing speech in quiet is the biggest predictor of hearing aid benefit¹³.
Based on the above, I’d say Speech Enhancer is not going to improve speech in loud noise. it’s particularly geared towards soft speech in relatively quiet environments, amplifying soft speech but not other soft sounds in a quiet environment.
With ReSound Quattros and Omnias, I’ve found increasing treble and mid-tones a bit and decreasing bass can help a lot with speech in loud noise, and that’s why I like the Smart 3D app on my Apple Watch as it’s easy to manually optimize those setting for a particular listening environment to improve my understanding of speech over noise without degrading the whole listening experience. The MyPhonak app offers a similar ability, but it’s not as convenient to use as the Smart 3D app, IMHO. Perhaps your audi could create a program setting for Speech in Loud Noise that does the same automatically for you based on Autosense 5.0? But probably just manually experimenting with your settings in the MyPhonak app and creating a custom program for yourself if you find something that works is best; it saves trips to the audi, especially if you don’t like something and want to undo it.
Phonak Field Study “Evidence” Article on Speech Enhancer:
The above link should only work for you because access to it depends on your password and the cookie your browser will set on your computer based on your successful log-in to Hearing Tracker, AFAIK.
When I test the link I’ve provided for you, because I’m not authorized, the link only takes me to your public activity page:
Yes, the 2nd link was provided just to assure you that the Discourse forum software “back end” converted my “illicit” request to edit your profile page to just a generally available “about you” activity page. Glad to hear the link to your specific profile page worked for you, especially as I manufactured the link by just replacing my logon ID in the link that I copied from my own profile page with your logon ID. Computer stuff is great when it works, but maddening when it doesn’t!
OK. Got it. I really can detect that extra sliver of comprehension in a QUIET setting. Looks like Speech Enhancer is not the route to go for making things easier to understand in NOISY place. I like your idea about tweaking the trebles and turning bass DOWN. Could be as simple as that…
It’s taken a year and a half to get my hearing aids where they are…I had used them in auto mode for 2 months after my last audi visit. I thought I had won until I spent 1-1/2 days in the hospital. Issue was in the wards. Pre-op, and then recovery.
Pre-op was terrible. Lying flat on my back with feet towards the doc and nurses I had to keep interrupting to get them to repeat. We all wore masks.
So I’ve used myPhonak and the mask procedure and I find that my hearing aids are set up better than the audi did! Downside is that the program I’ve saved is not in auto-mode. So if I select the program, it is what it is. I’ve saved two mask programs. One is a “Calm” situation base; the second one is based upon “talking in a noisy environment”
I had about-made-up-my-mind to go the dyi route.
I find the whole hearing aid purchase process blows my mind. It’s about a year and a half and my hearing aids still need setup? I’m frustrated.
It seems you have set hearing aids quite good for no-mask meetings, but mask filters a lot of midrange and treble tones. In addition, medical personnel stay quite further from patient than in normal conversation.
You can have mask program in Autosense, when your audi adjust your automatic program according to Phonak guidance in PDF above. The downside of this solution is the fact the Autosense program will be adjusted to mask also in no-mask situation… But… Maybe it won’t be a problem.
Don’t worry, I only found out 4 years ago about custom mold, it’s venting, AOV and Real Ear Measurement. Until then, I had my hearing aid fitted “quite good” - maybe 6-7 out of 10 on the scale. But these small improvements gathered together led me to ~9/10 (I never used the mask program). OK, it’s quite burdensome, I spent much time for getting to know about it and find the proper solution, but it is absolutely worth the effort.
My advice - do small steps, (if you want, of course):
get a most recent audiogram - it is necessary for making AOV (Acoustically Optimized Ventilation) cShell
make a new custom mold - your audi will make a new impression and fill the form to Phonak, in which he/she write your hearing thresholds, which receiver you must have (M or P), or length the plastic line which you pinch to take out the cShell from the ear (I recommend longer, maybe 5-10 mm).
when you receive your AOV cShell - arrange the Real Ear Measurement (REM) appointment - it is possible you audi have not the necessary equipment - on Hearingup.com you can get the proper address, but you can also Google the aud with REM equipment.
Try use the aid with new fitting after REM - maybe it won’t be necessary to make “mask adjustment” on automatic mode.
Finally, if you wouldn’t be glad of effect with masked people - make a request to make midrange and trebles adjustment.
But… If you don’t want to do all above, simply try now make mask-adjusted changes in midrange and trebles without getting new AOV cShell or doing REM. Maybe it will be enough :))
I was on the threshold of getting involved with self programming. However, experimenting and buying the hardware knowing I have an old Mac computer doesn’t make sense to me. The
“Director of Finance” at home isn’t going to be happy if i spend that money. When I worked with PC’s my computer hated me, and language wasn’t good! The Mac suites me much better! Bought it in 2010. !!
Meantime I’m left with one resource. That’s my audiologist. He has spent an incredible amount of time making things as good as they are now. An advantage…I was awarded hearing aids by the guvmint due to hearing loss due to exposure to noise. Taking new steps–it’s hard and a lengthy process to get approval to spend money. I’m extremely grateful that I qualified about 20 years ago. I’m about a year and a half into this cycle. And I got these hearing aids early. About 2 years earlier than normal. I had real safety concerns. The new hearing aids have resolved those concerns. (I couldn’t hear noisy fast loaders behind me at work on construction sites. I can hear them with the Paradise P90R’s and that’s life saving for me.)
My background is that I qualified for hearing aids due to exposure to loud noise at work. That’s truly appreciated.
I have an audiologist who has moved heaven and earth to solve problems created by another audiolgist who served me for 8 years…My new audiologist qualified me for new hearing aids before the system allowed. He has been extraordinarily patient setting me up. It’s taken a long time. He has regularly provided service and equipment out of his pocket. I am so impressed.
For now I have 2 programs saved using myPhonak on my iPhone.
Mask–Calm situation
Mask–Conversation in Extreme Noise
I like the first one best. I’m using it in the office. What I don’t like is that I’m caught in the saved program, and my Paradise P90R’s are not in the automatic mode. An aside…outside in the wind I wish I was in the automatic mode.
I think that setup is the key for all of us. I’m grateful that Phonak has released a better hearing aid. In 3 years under compensation I’ll be able to upgrade for whatever it available then. I wish my audiologist was fairly compensated for all the time he’s spent with me. Workman’s Comp isn’t easy to work with.
Sort of low-tech, but hey, if just turning up my volume works, then I’m good.
Computer stuff is great when it works, but maddening when it doesn’t!