Hi, since February I have been having fluctuating hearing loss and episodes of vertigo and ongoing equilibrium issues along with recent neck and ear pain. The doctors are still investigating and are not sure of the cause yet. Within the last 2-3 months my hearing has gone completely in my right ear (profound) and I am looking for solutions. Through the NHS the wait for an audiologist to be considered for a CROS aid is 8-12 months, and I would like to try something before then. I have been to boots and Specsavers who have given me a few CROS options but I’m not sure which I should choose. I also have doubts whether it will be enough to satisfy me and if I should just go straight for a cochlear implant. However,my next appointment with ENT is in March and I think they are waiting to see if my hearing will come back again however this seems extremely unlikely, so am a bit hesitant about going on the waiting list for a cochlear. Any advice on which aid is best? I’m looking for more clarity in environments with background noise as this is my main issues and something that could be used while exercising and not too bulky?
Ask about Phonak Infinio (from 2024, newer than Lumity which was released in 2022).
It it additionally reinforced against moisture apart of having IP68 standard.
Infinio line is in 2 version - Infinio Sphere (90 or 70, different in cost) - with breakthrough AI denoising, but not compatible with CROS.
Second version - Infinio R - doesn’t have AI, but is compatible with CROS.
When you lost your hearing on that ear completely? Did you have steroid therapy?
CI evaluation is recommended. After this, you are not obliged to undergo surgery. You would gain much knowledge of the condition of your hearing at once, which would be very useful for properly setting options other than CI.
However, if there is no hope of restoring hearing in that ear and you have a poor Word Recognition Score in quiet in it, a cochlear implant (CI) is usually the best option, especially when the time between losing hearing and surgery is short. Then, rehabilitation is easier and more effective.
Infinio CROS release info has just hit my email inbox. It would be worth a punt if you don’t mind the size too much and it’s within budget. Hopefully the battery is good on it.
We’ve got a few Oticon CROS on the later tech steps, but the users are a fairly small sample: they seem happy with them.
I’m looking to upgrade my Phonak Paradise CROS setup which I’m not too happy with, despite excellent tuning from my audiologist.
Options I’m considering are Phonak Infinio, Oticon Intent, and Starkey Edge AI. Do you have any feedback to share regarding them?
I know the Infinio doesn’t support Sphere and the Intent requires two different chargers. Not sure the Infinio will be much of an upgrade from my Paradise to be honest and I’m worried about the battery life. I feel like Starkey may be worth a shot to try out.