Starkey Edge AI 24 hearing aids - opinions welcome

Hearing Aids
1

Hello,

I have just arrived on the forum and am looking around the various comments and suggestions which are very interesting.

My audiologist has fitted me with Starkey Edge A1 24 hearing aids for evaluation and I’ve been testing them since the 16th May. I’m keeping a diary about my perceptions over time. The Starkey HA’s have been set by my audiologist - only three programmes at the moment - personal, music and restaurant.

I would like to know if anyone on the forum has had experience with these HAs because I’m having quite a time of it trying to tune up to them.

What I know so far:

My hearing loss is severe/profound in the upper mid-range and high frequency range. It has been almost impossible for me to filter voices in situations where there is background noise. This seems to be shared by many people on the forum.

From a physical point of view I’m much happier with over-ear HAs than those that plug directly into the ear.

I realise that my brain has been compensating for the hearing loss for some time - it appears that the ear/brain interface is quite elastic and that it takes time to get used to the sound of a HA. Apparently, the brain can tune up to the HA so that one does not “hear” the HA over time.

I’m an audiophile, having worked in a radio station studio in the past. I’m used to listening to high quality sound and even with hearing loss I know largely what a piece of music should sound like.

What I’m finding:

The HA’s are comfortable although they have a piece of plastic extended out from the body - presumably to make it easier to remove them. The plastic extension is very irritating.

Good battery duration - the HAs battery charge gets low very late in the evening - say an 18-hour day. (not just working!)

Voices are now much clearer and I’m able to understand speech far better when watching TV or at the cinema.

Not quite used to restaurant mode but I think I’ll have to turn my head more toward a speaker when in conversation at a table. More to experiment with here.

In personal (standard) mode, I’m picking up room echo. The upper mid-range to high frequency range is far too bright. The sound is like listening to a cheap crystal microphone.

In music mode, the sound is a bit “flatter” in response (by that I mean less accentuation on the highs and slightly better lows). But the sound, when listening my stereo system (NAD M10 with Falcon LS3-5a mini monitors) is terrible. I can’t listen to music like this so something will have to give. There is no warmth on the mid-range to lower frequencies and highs sound brittle.

It is possible for me to set my own programme with an “equaliser” using the Starkey app in my iPhone, but it’s pretty limited - only three areas I can work with: low, mid and high.

Perhaps, this is going to be my lot but before I fall into despair I would be grateful for any comments/reassurances about my experiences.

danzl

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2

I wear the Starkey Edge AI 24.
My loss is different than yours.
Your audiologist should have set up edge mode for use in noise.
On the app you tap edge mode.
You then have a choice between three programs.
Reduce nose is the bottom one.
I’ve used this program many times in noise.
It has worked for me every time.
Do you wear domes are do you wear moulds.
Domes the plastic may be a lock to help keep the domes in.
Moulds and is probably too help pull them out.
I had that cut off mine.
As far as music.
I can’t help. I have distortion in my left ear.
I also have a tin ear.
The aids can be adjusted to better fit your needs
The problem is does your audiologist know what they are doing.
You should have a 30 day trial.
If you can’t get satisfaction return them and try a different brand. Maybe even a different audiologist.

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3

Hi freezerman404,

Thank you for your reply and your experiences!

The Starkey Edge AI 24s are over-ear with the in-ear extension.

I think you are right, the plastic moulds are to help remove the earpieces but I can’t stand them so if I go with these HAs I’ll remove that plastic piece.

I’m making a diary of all of my observations and what I can say is that the HAs are very good indeed in reducing background noise and allowing me to focus on listening to the speaker I want to hear. I haven’t yet tested the Edge Mode + which allows the HAs to sample the sound of the surrounding environment and then configure the HAs for optimised listening. So I’ll be very keen to check that out.

My problem is less with voice and noise filtering and more with listening to music. That’s why I’m interested in feedback from anyone on this forum who is a musician or sound engineer about how they adapted to their HAs for their work.

I’m satisfied that the audiologist is doing his job well. The Starkey’s are on evaluation so I do have the option of refusing the and trying something else. The problem is more with my requirement for listening to music. But there must be ways to optimise the sound.

danzl

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4

If you search the forum
you’ll find a lot of musicians prefer Widex for music.
Even then it still boils down to the the audiologist.
I’m a proponent of all hearing aids can be programmed the way you want. But once again it all depends on the audiologist and how good they are.
A lot of people on the forum self program.
To them that was the only way they could get the aids like they wanted.

5

Hi freezerman404,

Apologies for the late response. I’ve been away for a day or two.

Well, after a few days under test, I certainly have some questions for the audiologist music-wise.

On the other hand, as far as noise reduction in restaurants, cafés etc the HAs are certainly very effective. I can now pick up and understand speech easily. The Edge mode on the Starkeys is highly effective. It samples the environment I’m in and then provides filtering.

I agree with your observation that self-programming is best. At the moment, all I get on the Starkeys is a basic three-frequency band equaliser and I can’t see that being much good. I’ll stick around a bit to see what other people have done, particularly sound engineers and musicians.

Thanks for your thoughts!

danzl

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6

Hi,
I have profound hearing loss in high pitch sounds. My audiologist, got the Starkey technician to come due to the complexity o my hearing loss.
I can now hear the blinker in my car. I also use a remote control microphone, for meetings .
Edge is definitely an amazing setting. You can add New programs had you “play “ with equaliser to find what works for you.
First time I went to a show and did t have to ask for an hearing aid connection, auditorium program was enough

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