Getting new hearing aid - maybe Oticon Opn S BTE PP - thoughts?

@mmyatt01757
Hi,

I’ve worn older models of the Oticon brand but switched to Phonaks about 10 years ago. Having worn hearing aids for 40 plus years I just wanted to let you know not to worry about BTE styles where the speaker is not in the ear canal. I have worn all types and BTEs are very powerful aids. All the electronics are behind your ear but close to your head. My battery size is 675 having gone from size 10 to 13 to 675. The bigger the battery, the stronger the aid. You don’t get any less hearing ability with BTEs.

BTEs , because iof their size range can accommodate a lot of different programs in addition to Tcoils. Tcoil programs can be Tcoil only or Tcoil +mic where you get the Tcoil benefit but can also hear sound around you. For instance, if you were using Tcoil during a phone call and someone next to you said something, you could hear them too. BTEs go in for less repairs...That has happened to me only once when program adjustments couldn’t be saved.
I’m assuming you will have tubing connecting the ear mold and the aid so that has to be kept clean. I retube my own. Let us know how the Oticon works out or if you decide to try other options. It’s always good to have at least 2 different brands to try. If you do use tubing then write back as I have tips on what to do and what not to do.

I have heard good thing about the Oticon OPN. Make sure to ask what different programs it can accommodate and if they can add a Mute program where you can “tune out” for a bit without removing the aids.

Regards from FL Mary

My experience with the Opn is they are very very expensive and extremely disappointing. The connectivity with my iPhone is great, but I actually hear less in noisy places than before I had them. They definitely do not live up to their claims. For me, they are $7500 pieces of junk.

I'm not sure what my Oticon BTW model is. Does MiniRITE sound familiar? They look like the OPN picture on the Oticon site.

Anyway, the aid is BTE but the speaker is inside the ear canal. There are wax filters that can be replaced by end users, as well as the domes used to seal the ear. Replacing the wax filters and domes is a minor expense but it seems like there should be a better way. Hopefully the inventors are working on a better way.

The ones I have eat batteries for lunch (4 days max) and if using the rechargeable, they won't last 16 hours.

Other than that I have not much to compare with. After spending $6k for a pair, it's not easy to buy another brand just for comparison.

Bob

You must have Opn's if they eat batteries that quickly. Mine do as well. Most disappointing $7500 I ever spent.

Thanks for replying - I am looking forward to getting COMPLETE behind-the-ear because my left 'receiver-in-canal' clogged every two or three months. My audiologist worked miracles for me. I didn't want rechargeables that promise 16 hours a day. I am guessing that before you know it - they would only last 12. And yes, for the cost - who can compare? $250 for re-stock and to try others plus keeping the now worthless ear mold. $500 to try another brand/model? I am going to keep that in mind. I hope the industry changes soon!

@bobbyboomer
Hi,
Wow....that’s really awful about paying that much and getting so little in return. You have the really small BTE with the dome...and it’s called the mini rite...you were right. How long was your trial period? Last time I bought aids (around 5 months ago) my Audi let me trial 3 different brands at home....She brought in 5 different aids and I settled on 3 to trial...at around 2 weeks each and then a month for the ones I picked...again Phonak.

I don’t think electronics in the ear canal are any good and I don’t care if they give you wax guards for free. My 675 batteries last 3 weeks...my size 13 use to last 2 weeks. What an awful first time experience and Oticon seems to be more expensive than all of my Phonaks. Hope you win a lottery somehow and get to purchase new ones. I am assuming you have gone back and asked for adjustments...keep asking and getting them to your satisfaction. Their job isn’t over for the life of the aids...included in price.

Regards from FL Mary

Hello...reading through all of your difficulties with hearing aids, batteries and selection of what type of aids to get for you particular hearing loss, I am surprised that you all didn't shop around for what you needed before purchasing. Like your car/truck which are very expensive these days...they need to be maintained in order to drive you around safely. You hearing aids work the same way. Your audiologist/hearing aid specialist is the "car dealership" that you choose and they are the ones who are supposed to help you decide based on your 1) hearing tests results and 2) life styles resulting in what type of tools - aid/CI you will need to benefit your life with. These computers in your ears are specifically manufactured for each of your ears. NOT for anyone else. Just for you. The high cost is reflective of that and also includes the warranty life of these aids...often up to three years (manufacturers). This also includes the audiologist's time to see you whenever you need help with the aids - at no cost to you. In the beginning weeks - you are allowed to wear and use them for the trial period to make sure they work for you. Asking questions, understanding how to use them and what is included in the 'hardware' is just like what we ask when looking at any type of expensive device/car/electronics etc. We can't expect anything to work on it's own unless we learn how to use it for our advantage.
One of best ways to learn is joining a group like this, as well as joining support groups where you can talk face-to-face with others who share the same questions and can learn about these devices, shortcuts and tidbits of the day. I am part of HLAA and share my knowledge with other members/guests at the monthly meetings. Our show/tell times have been helpful over the years because it has puts a reality to the test. I learned that if I want my batteries to work longer for me, all I have to do is, take them out of the dispenser, take the little tab off and count off two to three minutes for the battery to prep itself for working. The tab seals the battery and by taking the seal off - I am allowing the battery to prime itself for use. Once those minutes are over, then I can pop them into my hearing aids and they are good for the week. My Resound Hearing aids program are found on my iPhone 7+ and I get plenty of wear out of the batteries. Each night the hearings aids go into my cleaner so that everything is ready for me in the morning.

Consult with your hearing aid specialist/audiologist always. Use them to learn about your devices so that you are the expect. Tell them about your complaints so that they can tell the manufacturers what YOU don't like about their product. They are the middle man to these companies. These manufacturers make these devices based on what we like and don't like about their products. If enough of us squeal about a device or say that we want something - especially when their representatives come to conferences, expos or conventions - we all have the chance to tell them what our thoughts are about their products. If not - then it needs to go to whom we are dealing with on a every 6 month basis. Be proactive with your hearing...You need to speak up and help make this a world that listens to us now.

Good common sense advice. Often, bigger IS better. Larger instruments handle wear and tear better and a #13 battery can give twice as long wearing hours as a #312 battery for the SAME cost. Be sure to check out the http://www.hearingtracker.com website where consumers can find out about user experiences with certain brands and particular model hearing aids. Ask providers about reliability and ask them what brand family members are using. Read the attached "Buying Hearing Aids Guide in Wisconsin" - most of it applies to buying hearing aids in every states. As I provider I would much rather deal with a consumer who has done his or her homework. For a link to the buying guide: http://www.hlaawi.org/uploads/6/6/8/0/66803257/buy_hearing_aids_brochure_in_wisconsin_final.pdf

It’s very hard. Oticon and Phonax are top brands. Also a lot of late deafened do not really know what to look for- what settings to give up on.. I am hearing Audiologists are felling folks forget tcoil. Hard to navigate and I am born with loss.

Hello Nurse Headaches - Good for you. You scold us. Actually - we are all shopping around. We are all asking questions, and we are all reaching out in this blog and to our audis and to our hard-of-hearing friends. We are researching, reading, and if we are lucky, we have good audiologists. As bookysue wrote, "It's very hard."
There are lousy audis out there just like there are lousy car dealers. You trust car dealers? We all should be enthusiastically encouraging each other and cheerfully supporting each other. Please be nicer to us.