I am new to Oticon HA’s and testing out a pair of Opn2’s. I am not sure whether I should go for 100db receivers on account of my high frequency loss or whether 85db would be sufficient given that Speech Rescue brings the inaudible frequencies down to the audible range.
Can Sppech Rescue accomplish this or do I need the higher power receivers.
Thanks for any pointers.
What kind of hearing aids did you use before? How powerful were those receivers and what kind of domes or molds did you use? Did you have frequency lowering turned on in the old hearing aids?
Will you be using domes or molds with the Oticons?
You have a pretty substantial loss. I’m sure one of the more knowledgeable people here will be able to offer some guidance.
85dB - the 100dB lose some of the sound quality at lower drive levels. Your 50dB lower frequency might put you on the edge of normal output, but that’s less important than what gets put out around 70/80dB at 2kHz.
You’ll always be able to upgrade later. Unless you have large canals they’ll be fine.
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@stevepriceloco I previously had Phonak Marvels with Oticon Grip Tips. I self-program and used the Target software prescribed frequency lowering. I also used the Target prescribed Phonak medium receivers. Unlike the Target software, the Genie software does not make any recommendations as to receiver strength. Hence my original question.
@Um_bongo Thanks for your input. I think I will try the 85db first.
I want to keep using the Oticon Grip Tips and Genie does not offer that choice if I select the 100db receivers.
You can just put in the double power dome as the next nearest level of occlusion.
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Do the Grip Tips fit the 100dB receivers?
I’m testing Grip Tips. I found them bit hard from a day to day perspective as the material is hard to wipe clean. I can remove it and wash it but then I need a second set of tips to rotate. They do yellow so maybe they just need to be changed every week or so like Oticon says to do. It’s also hard to be sure they are positioned correctly both in terms of placement on the receiver and orientation. They need some extra dexterity and visual inspection so some users may have difficulty.
What’s your experience with them as not many use them? Any issues with them fitting the Phonak receivers?
I use the large size of grip tips and I have tried both the ones with vents and those without. I am settled on the large size without vents and I am very pleased with them. I find them much more comfortable than any kind of dome.
They discolour quite quickly but I just ignore that. I wash them regularly in soap and water. Inserting them in the ears can be a bit fiddly but a dab of hand cream allows them to just slide in.
I have had no trouble attaching them to Phonak receivers. They just “pop” into position. There should be no problem using them with Oticon 100db receivers.
For me, they provide the acoustics of a custom mould without the expense.
How long do you find they can last? I wash them with mild dish soap and they seem mostly like new other than the discoloration. My washing process might wear the connection point so probably I should clean them with a barely damp cloth.
I have the INTENT1 aids with acrylic custom ear molds and 105db receivers. I have no issues with feedback, or noise. And I understand speech so much better. I only have and only need the default general program.
@user490 Mine get grungy quite quickly so I am washing them every couple of weeks or so. I use hand soap to wash them inside and out and then dry them with a tissue. Aside from the discolouration they are just like new. I never had any problem with the receivers coming loose even after several washes.
After a few months I renew them just because it seems like the right thing to do.
@cvkemp Some would say that the 105db receiver is overkill for your degree of loss. Is there any downside to using a higher power receiver than you really need?
I am trying to avoid the expense of custom moulds and I found that the Grip Tips worked well with the Phonak Marvels but with the Opn’s that I am testing I get a bit of feedback.
I haven’t noticed anything but the bonus of the extra power. I haven’t had this great of speech understanding in the past. Most audiologist only set aids at 80 or 90% of full prescription my aids are actually set to about 105% in my worst frequency lost range. Without aids i have a word recognition score of 50% with my aids I have just over 90% work understanding. I have no feedback issues and no compression issues. I can actually enjoy music something I have enjoyed in 30 decades.