Hi Pete,
It is the Accrington branch if Specsavers I go to. They appear to be franchised with the Franchisee owning a few branches. When I got my original NHS hearing aids I went to the Burnley branch as the could offer me my earliest appointment. I found out that the Franchisee that owned that branch also owned ones in Nelson and Colne, which are still further east if me. I tried to swop to either the Accrington or Blackburn branch but couldn’t as different Franchises. I had to wait until the NHS ones were due for replacement. I have seen three different Audiologists at the Accrington branch. I think that they all work at different branches depending on the appointments that are booked in each branch. I suspect that is why the director tried to change my appointment as the inexperienced audiologist was probably the only one working in the Accrington branch on the day of my appointment. Out of interest what is a ballpark figure you paid for the Phonaks. I gave read a lot about them and it seems that they might fit my needs. My only concern is that I wear glasses and have quite small ears, which I have read could be an issue.
On a separate note, I do quite a lot of streaming if YouTube videos on my phone, a Pixel 8 pro, if I pause the video, when I start playing again there is a slight delay in the right hearing aid giving a very annoying echo effect.
Thank you to everyone for the helpful comments
I travel 45 km to the nearest CI care center. In city traffic that’s 1:45 hours one way , then the same back home again.
Thanks Kev. Very helpful post from you.
I have a lot to learn and your post is perceptive to say the least. Interesting !!
Hi Brian,
Specsavers charged me £2995 for the Phonak I 90’s.
If you do go to Specsavers, my branch has given me 90 days of trial period. If yours does the same, that should be plenty of time to see if they suit you. (Keep the receipt )
Interesting comment on the slight delay of the right hearing aid streaming. The only comment I can make is that I use a an Android phone to stream and there is no echo. I don’t know if that helps or not.
I don’t know if this is allowed, but I will soon be told if it isn’t. My U-tube channel is @My day visits. I don’t get a delay or echo from my channel and it would be interesting to know if you still have the echo on my channel. At least that will tell you if its your equipment or channels in general. Have you set your Ipad to stereo or mono mode? I have a feeling that mono mode might sort the problem.
Hi Pete,
Thanks, I have just subscribed to your channel and watched the Flaming Chicken video. The problem occurs when I pause a video and then start it again. This didn’t happen on your video. The videos I have noticed on are speech intensive though. I couldn’t find a setting for mono and stereo on my Android phone. I did find a setting for adaptive sound which I turned on. I will let you know how I get on with the new Specsavers Phonak based ones when I get them.
Many thanks
Brian
Hi Brian,
On your Android phone, select SETTINGS
Then ACCESSIBILITY
Then HEARING ENHANCEMENTS
Then MONO AUDIO
Switch that to blue (On)
Then watch my video Henry V on my channel. Some of it is in stereo and most on mono. If you don’t get an echo, then stereo could have been the problem. Incidentally, my wife plays Nell and Princess Catherine. Pretty as a picture but first thing in the morning without makeup …
Good luck with your new HA’s. Then a bit of DIY might be in order. You never know
Thanks for subscribing.
Pete
Hi Brian,
Just a thought here. If I was in your position, initially I would go for a pair of £1000 Phonak Audeo L-RL rather than straight to the Phonak Spheres at £3000.
The reason I say this is because you might find the Audeo might well work for you and you would save £2000
You said :-
My only concern is that I wear glasses and have quite small ears, which I have read could be an issue.
The Audeo’s are smaller than the Spheres and would be less of a problem for you.
Pete
Thanks Pete
So much to think about. I will get there eventually.
When I was on the NHS ones I had a connector from Covenants that worked until just after the guarantee ran out. Bought a second one which did the same again. Upgraded to new NHS ones which were Bluetooth enabled, but wouldn’t work with my older OnePlus phone, upgraded to the OnePlus 11pro which connected well, but then kept dropping the Bluetooth signal. That is when I went for the Pixel 8 pro. Expensive ailment this deafness
Ell that was a bit complicated to find on the Pixel, but I got there. I will try it later. Will have to see how it affects Spotify when I am listening to music