Roger Select & MyLink

Dorothy: I tested the Roger Select several months ago at three different meetings/venues and was not very beneficial in those environments so I did not purchase it. Background noise was an issue....rustling papers, sliding chairs,etc. Hearing loops work best for situations like these. One thing I did try was the Compilot II for music listening and phone calls. I had issues trying to connect to my TV but have CC. I bought it for $350 from my audiologist...if you go to some online hearing stores you can probably get one in the $100 range. Hope this helps.

Thank you for your input because it is very costly I most definitely appreciate your response. I don't test well with crowd noise. I was an implant candidate but Medicare won't pay for it. Without my Phonaks I hear at 24% and it is a real struggle.

All of our 'new' digital hearing aids can do marvelous things for us including drown out outside noises and help us work to hear well. To best learn how to work with your hearing aids and CI's is to read about your specific hearing aid - the owners manual. After you have read it, then start writing down all of the different situations that the hearing aids help you and all of the situations that they don't help you. Having this as a guide (on paper) - you need to then take this to your audiologist and show them what needs to be altered on your hearing aids. (on the computer). They can add new programs for environments you are in to help you hear. They can suggest adding devices to augment your hearing aids. They can alter some of your programs to increase your ranges and tones so you are hearing around yourself instead of farther out. If something is not too your pleasing... then tell them - They can't know what is bothering you if you don't tell them that the aids aren't helping you hear well. They are a tool for you to hear just like any other tool will help your adjust to life. These are computers that need fine tuning. They have a motherboard that needs to be tweaked to your specifications based on your input which doesn't just happen once time. IT's a use and refine until such time as its what will help you in most every situation. My $6000 hearing aids (2 of them) are very specific to both of my ears and provide just what each ear needs. My audiologist helped me to get the right settings for at home, in the restaurants, in church, for my tinnitus and allowed me to adjust my aids if I need to on a spur of the moment. I am in command with her as a backup. No complaints here unless I forget to put in new batteries but then the beeps go off and then I have fresh ones ready to go!
I have been abiding by these rules for the last 6 years with my Resound HA/iPhone and have been doing well. Eloise

Thank you for this valuable information. I would like to take your reply to my audiologist. I just cannot hear in crowd noise. Now I need to do the homework you suggested!

@dorothynoz45

Hi,

I also have Noise suppression programs on my Phonak Nadia’s. Phonaks are very powerful but a problem with them is you hear too much extraneous noise. I’ve had an adjustment recently to bring down some of this noise and it has helped. My programs are Directional (where voices are concentrated in front of me) and Omnidirectional which enables me to pick up all voices around me better. Both of these are for crowds and noisy situations. There’s a regular everyday program, a TCoil, and a mute everything program. Crowds and noisy places will always be a problem for me but these programs help immensely. I’ve tried many assisted devices and they don’t benefit me nearly as well as the hearing aids on their own. Also tried other programs like speech in wind but had my Audi take them out because they were of no benefit. At this point I only use a neckloop from time to time with my Tcoils . Also wear both aids everyday even though I could by with one. That’s important.

Regards from FL Mary

It's such a relief to get all of these words of advice. I've only had these for less than a year and they should be doing more for me if Medicare says they are the next best thing to a CI. I guess I need a road map to tell me what to do next. I had an audio app't a week ago and was not offered adjustments and I truly trust this group. I will go back and suggest the adjustments you have suggested. I guess I do need a little encouragement right now. Thank you for giving me hope.

@dorothynoz45
Hello again,
The next time you go to your Audi, have with you a list of the problems you are having now. The Audi won’t make adjustments unless they know what it is you are experiencing and you tell them that. This is not always easy to describe to a person who has their full hearing, even to a professional.
Be as specific as you can...do voices sound tinny or robotic like to you? Are you missing certain sounds? Trouble in large crowds...which is better for you male or female voices.....Goggle some adjectives that you can use to describe what you are hearing or not hearing and in what circumstances this happens. You’ll get a better understanding of your own loss and be able to describe it more accurately. When you make the next appointment, tell the Audi you will need a decent chunk of their time to fiddle around with adjustments. Then you go out in the real world for a couple of weeks until your brain gets used to the adjustments. Then make another appointment if necessary. The more info you give the Audi, the better they can help you. And remember, You are the one who knows what you need...not always what the Audi thinks you need. Two similiar audiograms of 2 different people does not equal similiar adjustments or programs. Be firm.....some Audi’s get impatient These appointments are included in the price you pay for the aids.

Perfect your lip reading skills and focus on one person at a time if necessary. You will get there. Don’t get stressed out and give yourself a break...you’re tired at the end of the day struggling to understand. Hearing aids programmed to their optimum can be a lifesaver for you but it takes work.

Regards from FL Mary

Ps....keep those ear canals as dry as possible...moisture is a killer on hearing aids...and plays havoc with your hearing....hope you are storing them in a drying box at night. I use Dry and Store. Also get your ears checked out by an ENT for wax buildup or dry ears periodically

Just like Mary says....and me - Both of us are from FL. We agree on how you want to present yourself. You are the customer. You are the one with the hearing loss. You paid for the hearing aids and they need to provide you with the best possible hearing experience. The Audiologist/hearing specialist can only grasp what you are talking about unless they put their ears on and listen to what you are hearing but it's not totally the same. Their services are included in the total cost of your hearing aids. (bundled costs) So, don't hold back. You need to get it right.

Thank you. I have misconceived my relationship with my audio. My understanding is that the next best thing I can do is purchase Roger but no, wait a minute I just purchased these at great cost. I need to advocate for myself with a determined spirit and your responses here are empowering me to do so.

Of course - THEY love you for purchasing these items because these items put money in their pocketbook. They always hope that you won't ask them any questions or 'bother' them about how they work or if you have any problems with them when you use them. This way the onus is you and not on them. But that's backwards. These tools are available to augment your hearing aids and not take the place of your hearing aids. They help/assist and work with your hearing aids. The healthcare team is suppose to help you learn what all is out there that can actually do that for you. Especially if you are going to spend ALOT of MONEY. None of these devices are inexpensive. So everyone needs to be on the team including YOU!