I think I am replacing my Phonak Audio Paradise 90-R HA with the newer Spheres. I have been trying the spheres for the last week and they seem wonderful. Far better that the 90-R’s. Voices in crowds are far more understandable, as well in a noisy background. With the 90-R’s with a noisy background all I heard was noise, and the gain was high enough for me to hear at times. These are easy enough to wear that I forget I have them in.
I guess the only ‘issue’ is cost. I have been looking at Zip-hearing which makes the cost hurt a bit less.
I have purchased from ZipHearing and it was a good experience. The key is if you like one of their network audiologists. In my case she was great but did not have REM equipment. Once I returned a set of aids (Subsequent purchase was not returned) and the refund was in my account the next morning.
There are cheaper alternatives but those usually involve remote fittings i.e. setting your hearing aids solely based on your audiogram and subsequent remote sessions. That may be an OK option if you plan to adjust the hearing aids yourself. That practice is increasing in popularity and there are several DIY folks here on the forum.
Good luck
Ray (also)
I had been wearing KS10s (Paradise) and Jabra Enhance Pro 10s and purchased my Spheres two weeks ago via Ziphearing, who had a choice of two highly rated hearing aid specialists here in southern Oregon. The Zip contact was great, the whole process was expedited so I could leave with the Spheres for Thanksgiving travels, and their performance so far is fantastic. The local HAS did perform REM, and he provides free adjustments for the duration of the warranty (3 years). Given that inability to understand conversation in noise has had a huge impact in my life over the past several years, I had no problem paying an extra $2500 for something that makes as much difference as these seem to, so far.
Zip hearing sounds like it might be a solution for me when I get my next hearing aids. How do you find out who and where the hearing aid specialists are? (I would like to know that before buying aids from them).
Just follow the directions on their website - “Get Started”. I was quite anxious about entering a telephone number, but everything in my experience subsequently has been low key and completely straightforward. It’s as described in the “How Ziphearing Works” link, at least so far. I am coming off of over a decade of getting hearing aids from Costco (and that after working with a couple of private providers). So far, this experience has been really easy.