OK, time to fess up. I"ve been lurking and learning on this thread for a month, and I want to thank everyone for educating me. A special thanks to JordanK who got me addicted to this thread with his detailed reports. Other great ones followed that example and have been most helpful.
I had a one-ear CIC from about 10 years ago that simply didn’t work for me. Occlusion, feedback–finally gave up and didn’t wear it. Hearing got worse, so I decided to try again. Being retired military, I am eligible for the RACHAP (Retiree At Cost Hearing Aid Program) through Walter Reed. A huge help!
On Nov. 5th, I had my first appointment, and the AuD ordered Phonak Audeo S Smart IX’s for me, but I didn’t know what they were. I came home, searched, and found this thread. I got educated and was prepared for yesterday’s delivery and initial fitting (appointments are hard to come by–in fact, my next follow-up is late in January).
The AuD says I was the best informed of any of her patients (I’m not sure she views all of that as positive. . . the appointment took two hours). Thanks to all of you guys.
She wanted to program only two slots (AutoZoom and Speech in Noise). I talked her into filling all five slots since I knew it would be awhile before seeing her again (she had not ordered any accessories but MyPilot is now on order, and I’ll call her in a few days to tell her if I want iCom).
She programmed (1) Zoom Control (left/right); (2) AutoZoom; (3) Speech in Noise; (4) StereoZoom; and (5) Acoustic Telephone. These will change when I get the remote, of course. If I could change it right now, I’d put StereoZoom in the second slot (quicker to get to).
I might note that she says Speech in Noise is essentially a +/- 45-degree (my estimate) beam in front. Much wider than StereoZoom. That means that it will pick up a lot of background noise that is in front of you within that beam, but cuts out noise to the side and behind. That may be why most are dissatisfied with it. I think it’s mis-named and raises expectations. If they called it WideBeamZoom, we might learn to like it.
When I pulled out of the parking lot, I noticed a new feature on my car: when I select a turn signal, it clicks! I didn’t know that. A mile down the road, I noted that the radio sounded absolutely terrible. I realized that I’ve always (for 40 years) turned the treble all the way up and the bass all the way down. I put them both in neutral, and it sounded great! Got home and started watching a football game on TV. I got up and found my wife at her computer and said, “Honey, did you know that those referees on the field have whistles?”
I went to a noisy restaurant with a group of a dozen this morning, and I could hear every conversation (in Auto mode… not AutoZoom), regardless of where they were seated. I’ve got two words for that: In Credible.
I’ve played with the modes but have left it mostly in Auto, as she suggested. I have not noticed it switching programs at all so far. I notice it processing road noise (reducing it), but nothing annoying at all! (I asked her how aggressive she had set the switching, based on you guys’ comments, and she said, “Not aggressive at all.” I don’t know any settings, though.)
She said that her patients use ZoomControl (to the side where they have a phone receiver) for phone calls and did not want to put Acoustic Phone in there. That mode seems to turn the right side on full blast, but the left side is really cut down, regardless of which side I place the phone receiver. Either it’s programmed wrong or I’m not doing it right. I prefer to use my left ear for the phone (being right-handed), so it’s not working for me. I’m seriously considering getting the iCom (which she was not fond of).
Notes on the fitting: she wanted to use SlimTips for me because I had complained bitterly about occlusion from my CIC. The fitting software (REM) could not reach the “targets” for my right ear. So she had to go to the power receiver for that ear. That receiver will not fit into the SlimTip and that is not an option in the Target software (she’s sending the right one back to have it re-made in some form to accept the power receiver). So, she went to the power dome and put a dome on the other side, also. I’m not sure the standard dome is the right size, but I’m only 22 hours into this, so I reserve judgement for now.
Bottom line: you guys helped tremendously in my understanding of what we’re dealing with, what to expect, and what great instruments these are. The aids themselves are nothing short of phenomenal. I thought it would take me weeks to get used to hearing again, but I’m sold already. I’m sure we’ll fine-tune, and I may even find something I don’t like downstream, but I already know that this technology is fantastic, and I’ve already convinced several friends from breakfast this morning to look into them.
Perhaps I should ask for a commission. . . .
Thanks again to everyone!