Ok - it has been almost a week now since I switched to the direct version of the Roger On - the Roger On iN.
I can confirm that this device has none of the clunkiness experienced when using the Roger On with the Neck Loop, as it automatically switches to the Roger Mic program when it is switched on. I did experience some initial problems where I thought it did not switch automatically but I realised the reason for this was that it was silent and the device did not switch because there was no noise. In every subsequent situation where I used the device it came on automatically.
In the last week there have been 2 situations where I have been able to road test them. The first was a family gathering of great nieces who came to visit. I placed the Roger on the table as we were playing monopoly and I was not only able to pick up voices from the edge of the table but whispers as well - as there was a tremendous amount of cheating going on.
The 2nd situation was a fish and chip supper at the tennis club. This took place in the clubhouse and this is a real bete noire. A rectangular club house with nightmare acoustics - no furnishings other than metal chairs where voices sat around the table usually disappear into the void or people standing and talking to each other at distance outside of the usual range that we would understand.
Well - what I can report is that wearing the Roger On iN sometimes discreetly pointing it - or placing it on the table - gave me the biggest single jump in comprehension than any switched program, or new hearing aid, that I have experienced. I am not saying that it gave me anywhere near total comprehension - but what it did was deliver some elements of the conversation - in spite of the babble - there were approximately 15 in the room, with a clarity as if one was in a quiet room. My previous experience of some noise programs is that you can sometimes comprehend sentences but not with any clarity.
My feeling also is that I could have been more pro active with the device and used the pointing mode more to isolate talkers of interest diagonally across from me. In retrospect I also maybe had the volume too loud. One slight fly in the ointment as far as I am concerned is that to control the volume one has to use the Easy Line App associated with the KS10, as the hearing aid buttons only control the surrounding noise balance of the mic.
This experience won’t change my life, but I think that in a dinner party situation - it may be able to turn an evening from a nightmare - which has been experienced - not least because of the presence of noise and music, into something more bearable. As Xmas is coming up there should be a couple of dinner outings planned, so I hope to report back.
