Ready to upgrade from Oticon Opn 1. Should I select Oticon More or Phonak Paradise?

Hearing Aids
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As to the Paradise demo, I’m starting to like them a lot. It takes longer to learn to use the app. I found some good videos which helped. And using the app, I was able to to create a program that made for my 2 yr old grandson my not being able to understand most of what he said, to fully understandable!!

I’m also enjoying the fully hands free telephone. It’s great to not need the phone for the speaker and being able to answer or hang up by tapping one’s ear.

I’ll try the More next, but it has a high bar!

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63

I’ve used hearing aids for more than 15 years.

  • first one was a disaster; I used it for about 10 years (I used it infrequently. It was awful and hurt!)
  • My first pair of hearing aids was a delight! I had a source that introduced me to a wonderful audiologist who was remarkable! Her hearing aids really helped. But she sold her business! I jumped ship; the new owner was a parasite.
  • I asked the person that helped who I should go to…but the new audiologist was adequate, not gifted.
  • My second pair are a disaster. The audiologist has made them worse with every adjustment, and every visit.

I’ve found another audiologist who is promising. As my hearing aids are due exposure to excessive noise at work, I have submitted a claim for new hearing aids.

My claim is for a pair of new Phonak Paradise HA’s.My fingers are crossed

Dave

64

Here’s a copy of a hearing test done by my (fired) audiologist who sold me the ha’s and set them up numerous times.

I have a new audiologist who is very helpful.

Oops…I don’t know how to add a photo.

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When you select reply…
Look for the little arrow up icon across the top of the reply box.
That will let you upload things.

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@DaveL: Here’s the link:

Sign In

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I found my profile and added it there; I hope that works.
I registered here about a year ago…I’m only learning my way around.

About hearing aids…

I had one Widex a long while ago; it was so poorly fitted in my ear that I seldom wore it. Listen Up Canada broke it servicing it.

I had 2 Phonak hearing aids–behind the ear. Dispensed by Lydia Kreuk. Amazing audiologist, who retired.
The 2 replacement Phonaks I got next are absolutely awful. Peel Audiology dispensed them. They never corrected their settings, and always made them worse.

I have a new audiologist. He shows real promise.

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The way you tried to post your audiogram didn’t work for you, Dave. It just gave you a funny avatar. Try the link I gave you again. It’s pretty simple, although you do have to plug in some numbers.

Speaking of funny, your profile says you’ve been a member since November 2009 - 12 years …

image
image640×1136 229 KB

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The picture you’ve added of your audiogram is way too small for use to read.

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Across the top of the page find “forum”
Select that and then select hearing test.
You can ad your audiogram to your profile there. It will show under your avatar like many of us have done. The little dome shape thing on our avatar shows we have added the audiogram to share with others.

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@SpudGunner,

That’s when I bought my Mac computer. I likely joined back then…

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@DaveL: LOL I’m still using the MacBook I bought in '07 to run GarageBand!

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I filled my hearing test results in…I hope they are there. I searched but didn’t see them.
Test was done in April 2021…by Peel Audiology.

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Yes, @DaveL, it worked well this time. I’m no audiologist, but I’m pretty sure that your loss is quite “aidable”. Thanks for posting the audiogram - it should help other members as they endeavour to help you.

A good audiologist that you can work with should be able to get you “dialed in” easily.

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I appreciate your comment. I bought them from Peel Audiology. They had almost 3 years of repeat visits to set them up. That was my last visit—my annual.

I really miss hearing music.

Let’s see how my new audiologist does in his requests for m. 1. Early replacement (normal is after 5 years) And 2. replacement with a high tech hearing aid.

DaveL

76

@: Here’s a frank suggestion that may ruffle your feathers, but it’s well meant.

Your current stats say you’ve only put in 2 hours reading on the site. I think that the site and the subject matter will take much more than that if you want to learn to navigate it.

The point I wish to make by citing numbers is that this subject is very complex. The less you know about hearing loss/hearing aids, the more you’re at the mercy of whatever audiologist you choose to inform you, either appropriately or inappropriately. You need to know about these things to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff that is going to get blown at you.

Moreover, the less conversant you are about the subject, the greater are the chances that your audiologist will misunderstand you and that you will miss it when it happens.

Misunderstandings are the foundation of missed expectations, interpersonal friction, and disappointment. It does matter what audiologist you choose - they’re not all created equal - however, you can maximize your audi’s chances of giving you great service by becoming a better-informed client. Perhaps it’s neither realistic nor fair to expect them to do all the work, even though their prices are dear!

So, instead of thinking about your upcoming exchanges with your audiologist as ultimata to be met, you might get better results by thinking in terms of: let’s see

  1. How well I can explain to them why I urgently need to upgrade my hearing instruments, and
  2. How good an understanding can I impart to them of what performance features I value in a hearing aid, and what’s “fluff”, even though I admit that my knowledge of what’s available today is incomplete.

That approach will empower them to use their professional knowledge in the way that is of greatest benefit to you. It’s fine to throw down the gauntlet: I do it regularly. But it’s not usually a great tactic to use as a first pass.

Maybe, for your first pass at it, you can try to get the audiologist wanting to help you by clearly outlining your needs and expectations, and try to develop a healthy working relationship aimed at getting results: performance for you, and business for him.

Please don’t brand me as inconsiderately blunt. I’m just sharing with you some things I have gotten wrong in the past, and ways that I’ve learned to obtain better results.

I really am on your side, and rooting for you. I wish you nothing but the best results .

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77

I couldn’t agree more with @SpudGunner, never give an ultimatum to your Audiologist unless you are ready to be shown the door and told never come back. I have been wearing aids for over 16 years, I at first didn’t know what I was in for. The best thing that ever happened was finding this forum. This forum help educate me on what to tell my Audiologist and how to explain what I was hearing and not hearing. I have learned that the key is the audiologist, and if I have a new one the first question is always what hearing aids is the audiologist most comfortable with fitting. Also and very important for my history with my hearing and hearing aid experience is to keep a journal of what works what doesn’t work, and my likes dislikes and hopes. Be willing to learn as much as possible. Be humble at times and strong but polite always. The more you know without being arrogant the better. Your best results will be when you and your audiologist become partners in your hearing loss and hearing aid experience.

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78

I could have quoted Chuck’s (@cvkemp 's ) post in its entirety, but the short excerpt that I have chosen really says it all.

My $0.02/FWIW/YMMV

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Explanation…I’m a long time client.

I went to Peel Audiology on a referral after my first great audiologist sold her business.
I was a customer of Peel A. for about 5 years.
They spent the first two providing care; however, there were issues with the way they set up my hearing aids from my previous audiologist… One adjustment required 5 visits to them to set the HA’s up. Yet I still had problems comprehending what was said.

At that point they advocated new hearing aids. The ones they supplied are
Phonak Audeo B70-312’s. Left and right.

I’ve had those for over two years. Warranty was over Jan 2021…so I’ve had them for 2-1/2 years.
They’ve sold the business and are running it for Sonova (parent company of Phonak and others.)

My problem is that I can’t understand what’s being said. I constantly have to ask for an interpretation or explanation. Same applies to sound from the tv.

I was referred to my new audiologist. He gave me a hearing test too. He said the hearing aids were of low quality. He said they were set up wrong–showed me…gain was set up way way higher than they should be. And high frequencies have not been adjusted at all. He is wonderful. He has applied for early replacement of my hearing aids. And with a better model of Phonaks, with blue tooth connectivity for the iPhone and rechargeable batteries.

I’ve come here to learn. I want to know more about hearing aids–specifically Phonak. And I’m looking forward to improvements in my care. I hope he’s able to convince workman’s comp quickly.

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80

@Dave: I’m curious - on what basis do you hold these statements to be true?

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The Phonak site is also a good place to visit, more than likely the professional pages and search the white papers for the aids you are interested in. I was thinking about switching to Phonak when the Marvels came out, there was a lot of good information. I said with Oticon because I am so use to the Oticon sound. But you are the only one that can decide what is your best choice. But always remember that your Audiologist is the key to success, and the first question always is what aids are your Audiologist most comfortable adjusting.

1 Like