I have had similar feedback/buzzing with my closed dome M&RIE receivers on my Jabra 20’s and also greater hearing loss on one ear. My “solution” has been to adjust the volume setting a little on the HA that is getting the buzzing sound and that has reduced the issue to rarely occurring now.
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Makes sense! And is an easy way to handle it.
Jim G
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YMMV, but I’d support @Neville’s suggestion to get molds. Domes can only approximately conform to the shape of your ear canal. Molds are made to fit (and they’re relatively inexpensive at Costco). I’ve worn both domes (~tried all sizes and shapes) and molds. I much prefer molds, and I think most users who’ve tried molds prefer them, too (that seemed to be the overall consensus when I searched through past HT threads before deciding to get mine).
Don’t know how current the following ReSound mold guide is: mk602434-gu-gs-productmanual_earmolds.ashx (resound.com).
I presume I have the micromolds made out of a clear semi-hard silicone material. My receivers are field-removable, unlike the fully-encased mold style at the start of the list for RIC receivers. Costco may only offer a limited choice of mold types.
A great advantage of molds (for me) is that wax is much less likely to get in the receiver openings, and, IMHO, molds are far easier to clean. My audi recommends wiping down the outside of the mold with an alcohol wipe after gross cleaning. Don’t know how kosher that is (ReSound recommends avoiding all non-aqueous solvents).
Molds made by Costco are relatively inexpensive to try. Compared to all the time you could waste with a less than adequate solution, it might be worth giving molds a whirl to see if they make things “more better” for you.
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I just don’t know if you can get a M&RIE with a mold. You couldn’t when it came out, but maybe there has been a change.
If it’s just minor feedback that can be easily managed, I wouldn’t give up the M&RIE in favour of the mold. The REM hasn’t lost that much to feedback.
I THINK I figured out what is going on: the dome is ROTATING out of position, and then slowly backing out as I physically move about . I found I can quickly eliminate the buzzing by pushing the TOP side of the dome further back into the ear canal after it has rotated out of position, but after a while it wants to rotate out of position again if i am moving around versus sitting still.
So, there must be something about the shape of my left ear canal that is keeping the dome from staying in place, even though the same size dome in the right ear DOES stay in place.
I will discuss this with the HCG at the Friday appointment!
I agree with you.Neville. I would not want to give up the M&RIE feature. I really, really like these HAs so far, and if I can the left dome a little more secure, that would resolve the issue.
Jim G
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Not sure where the idea that molds could not be worn with ReSound’s M&RIE receivers got started. It’s an urban legend or perhaps otherwise a regional availability issue from LONG AGO.
Below is a quote from my summary of an Audiology Online course by Laura Christensen from back in August 2020 when the ReSound One first came out with M&RIE receivers. Christensen, in the Q&A, specifically said custom molds would work with M&RIE receivers and if you look at ReSound fitting documentation for accommodation to hearing loss from around 2020, either power domes or custom molds are specifically called for to use M&RIE receivers for patients having moderately severe hearing loss to avoid feedback issues.
The main impediment to wearing custom molds is the extra length of the M&RIE receiver vs. the depth and bore size of a user’s ear canal. If one has a very small diameter ear canal that only runs a relatively short distance before it takes a sharp turn, it can be hard to fit a M&RIE receiver into a sufficiently thick mold that can be inserted deep enough into the ear canal. My left ear canal is problematic, and I can’t quite insert the M&RIE receiver far enough that the M&RIE mic is in the ear canal itself, where it’s supposed to be as for an ITC device. My left and right ears seem balanced in sound perception, I still get decent sound localization (better if receivers could be further inserted?) and very good wind noise reduction in moderate breezes as advertised for M&RIE receivers on my Omnias.
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Thank-you, JimLewis for that very informative posting! I THINK my HCP at Costco can probably solve the issue once he understands what is occurring. When I said the dome is "rotating, here is more specifically what I meant:
Assume the plane of the “rim” of the dome is supposed to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ear canal. That way it can “seal” against the canal wall all the way around the rim. The TOP of my left dome is sliding outward for some reason, when I move my jaw or walk or reach for something (i.e. with any MOVEMENT of my head) opening up a “crack” between the dome rim and the ear canal wall. That’s enabling the feedback. Furthermore, once it STARTS to slide, it tends to move more every time I make another movement, making the gap larger and increasing the feedback.
The cause MIGHT be:
- the dome is slightly too small in diameter, or
- the shape of my left ear canal is slightly different than my right ear canal
- The inside surface of the left ear canal is too “slippery” due to wax or skin condition
Once I merely push the TOP of the left dome back into proper position, the feedback entirely disappears. It seems to always be the TOP of the dome that has moved out of position, never the bottom (at least so far).
What the HCP apparently needs to do is STABILIZE the left dome via size or shape or ?.
Jim G
Your advanced preparation for your hearing tests is impressive, as is the partnership you’ve created with an outstanding audiologist. Your experience also showcases how much it takes to provide good hearing care.
Have you extended your tests in noise to include competing voices?
If you travel or go to public venues, will you be able to use these current aids with the emerging Bluetooth LE Audio? Do they have a telecoil that could interface with a BT receiver or perhaps your phone or a remote mic will work as an intermediary?
I do very little traveling these days. with the latest inflationary price increases, it is way too costly in my retirement!
I have not yet done any “competing voices” testing. But, tommorow, on my adult son’s birthday, me, my wife, and my son will be having a brunch at our favorite restaurant. That restaurant is VERY popular and fills up on weekends. It will be a good test.
Yes, the Jabra Enhance Pro 20 HAs do support the new LE Bluetooth. No, there is no need for a telecoil because T-loops are pretty much non-existent in our city. I will be able to test the HAs ability to pick up and emphasize a distant speaker at our church on Sunday. By the way, our pastor got his first ever HAs at Costco about 2 weeks ago, but he got the Rexton HAs, not because he preferred them, but because his HCP apparently recommended them to him.
I have been watching a fair amount of TV with my family the last couple of days, and “hear” no need for a TV streamer. So, I will not be looking for a remote mic either unless a need surfaces later.
Jim G
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I used domes with my M&RIE receivers. Didn’t help. I wanted them for listening to music, and they fuzzed up the sound.
I had trouble keeping my aids inserted deeply enough with molds and power domes; that was a continuous problem beginning with my first HAs in 2010. Costco audi installed some Rexton domes that have sort of an oval cross section. I can hear some bass notes when I stream (but I’ve never been a head-banger), and these domes stay in comfortably.
I did not know that domes came in oval as well as round shapes! Good to know.
Jim G
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I had my appointment at Costco today at 5pm. I explained the left side dome issure to my HCP, and he changed the domes in both ears (to keep them matched) to “double domes”. It took maybe 10 minutes, and totally resolved the issue. No more buzzing. he warned me that the larger double domes would feel more enclosed and to let him know if that becomes an issue. But, so far so good after 4 hours of wearing them, and no repetition of the buzzing. In addition, inserting the HA receivers into the ear canals is now easier because both are “stable” in the ear canals. No discomfort so far, but of course I will continue to monitor.
Battery life got a good testing today. I woke early this morning and had the hAs inserted for the day by 5am. It’s now a bit past 9pm, so 16 hours of use so far, and both batteries are showing 40% remaining charge. I have done no streaming (I have no streaming devices at this time). I have made several phone calls, using the iPhone with bluetooth. The longest call was about 20 minutes and maybe 10 minutes more total on the other shorter calls, so around 30 minutes total. Earlier today, the left battery briefly showed 1 less dot in the 5-dot battery charge scale than the right battery, but they are both equal now at 40%. The feedback buzzing in the left HA before I got to Costco today might explain the extra left side battery usage, or maybe just the Bluebooth usage.
The bluetooth connectivity and reliability has been 100% ever since I got the HAs 3-1/2 days ago.
I am amazed at the number and quality of sounds that have reappeared into my daily life with these HAs. Most sounds now have treble frequency content that had disappeared over the years so slowly that I had not noticed their departure. This includes paper crunching, loud waterflow from faucets, dishes and glasses clanking when placed normally onto a kitchen ccounter, and new higher frequency content to our cat’s frequent demands to open the door to the garage so she can do her security rounds. I can now also clearly hear conversations between other shoppers at Costco and the other grocery store that are occurring several feet away. And I don’t have to ask my wife to repeat things. 
Jim G
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Jim you mentioned that you have an iPhone. The iPhone is a great streaming device. It can stream phone calls, music, podcasts and many other sources of audio directly from your iPhone to your hearing aids corrected to your loss. I was just just watching a football game and listening to commentary streamed to my aids while my wife was sitting across from me watching TV. Streaming is one of things I like about my hearing aids.
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I will be getting HAs at Costco soon, so I have taken the liberty of printing your “to do” check list.
Thanks!
Yes, I have a lot of potential experimentation to do yet!
Jim G
My pleasure! I posted it in the final revised form specifically to help other on the forum. I have benefited SO much from experienced and wise advice here, and it was the least I could do for others here.
Jim G
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Thanks for the detailed report. I have been bi-lateral CI for since 2012 and had my first hearing aid around 50 years ago. There were no digital hearing aids then–the only user control was volume anda bit later a telecoil manual switch. I don’t think I ever had a manual switch that lasted more than 30 days… You held the aids up to the light and you could see through the cracks. Thank goodness they were so much better than what my Dad had. He went from a battary pack a little larger than a cigaret pack to ones that were in the bows of his glasses—could hear well enough to confabulate an answer. WOW how furtunate we are. I still have trouble with speeh outside of 6-8 feet. I started with N-5 now on N8. Telephone used to be the worst–now it is the very best. Blue tooth connection is amazing. How fortunate we are with the great advances with hearing aid/implant technology.
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Nice review. I go in this Tuesday for fitting as I had my hearing test already and ordered the HA’s 10 days ago. Same HA’s as you. The in-store demo was not very helpful but I did make a couple phone calls and the call quality was OK. I also steramed some music which was about the quality I expected… not great but useable. I’ll share more once I get my HA’s and wear them Love a week or two
Thanks so much for posting this detailed and ongoing account of your experience with these HA’s. The rest of the discussion here is also really helpful.
Timely for me as I have a COSTCO appt this weekend for a hearing test and then I’ll order these up, I think. Had also been considering the Philips ones but read too much about the lousy app and connection issues. Will be replacing a K10.
I have a Menieres fried right ear where conversation/sounds are really distorted and so I’m down to one “good” ear that also has intermittent hearing issues from what I think may be Eustachian tube dysfunction. The good ear is the one I use a HA in but I’m thinking of getting the pair and trying it out on the Menieres side also. Anyway, thanks again and GL with your Jack Palance impersonation.
Jim G