Resound or Oticon?

REMEMBER... Hearing aid Manufacturers generally do not talk or work with the end users like you and I. They only talk with the 'professionals' such as the physicians and audiologists who understand and work with their products. These professionals are the ones who interact with their Company Reps and are given demonstrations, information and knowledge about these expensive instruments/computers that we have in and around our ears. We can't really "talk" with them because the language they speak is not the language we understand. Our programming of the aids/CI are all done on computers and the manufacturers have that information. The audiologist have their Masters or Doctor degrees because they need to know how to take care of these expensive instruments for us. Remember, these individual computers are made for each of our specific ears per our audiogram - that is if you had them programmed according to what you audiologist set them up for. If someone ordered them off the internet, they would not have luxury of having custom made hearing aids. Face-to-face care with the expensive hearing aids grants the user the best aids/CIs the best results in the long run. IF YOU want to have your questions answered, you audiologist needs to work with the manufacturer to get them answered. They are the middleman and are paid through the cost of your hearing aids (bundled cost) to do this for you. They can explain that for you. Eloise

No matter how well the audiologist programs an aid or aids for those with Meniere's, the fact that our hearing loss fluctuates from day to day, hour to hour, so the "facts" obtained during a hearing test only reflect how we were hearing at that time, not two hours earlier or a day later. Sometimes, it's like someone has moved a switch to greatly increase or decrease our hearing. Last week, I was driving on the freeway, in a newly-paved lane, with (as always) no road noise and no sound to let me know that the engine was running, just some slight background noise. In an instant, the sound was turned up and I could hear increased sound, I think both engine and road noise, although I'm not certain whether it was one or both. Even worse, we also have recruitment, which can make it completely impossible to wear an aid. For over 30 years, I haven't been able to wear an aid in the ear affected with Meniere's. I finally got an aid for my so-called "good" ear, which increasingly had age-related deafness. At 6:45 on May 24 (exactly!) I went bilateral, meaning that my good ear is now affected by Meniere's. Sometimes I cannot stand to wear my aid, due to the new recruitment in my good ear. To add to the "fun," Meniere's also cause severe sound distortion, so a hearing test can prove that I can hear isolated beeps...but not understand conversation, let alone phones, radio, or TV.

I have Resound Linx 3D's. I don't think the brand is as important as the quality of care you get from the audiologist or hearing instrument specialist (HIS). Note, in this response, I refer to an audi as an audiologist but it applies to a HIS also. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. If you have an audi that you like, stick with them, otherwise ask around. Unfortunately, I don't think this message board is the best place for that since you would need to research in your area. Knowing what you want before choosing a brand is also more important than the brand itself. For me, connectivity with the phone was the most important feature since I have a severe-profound loss (I use custom molds as opposed to a "dome"). Resound streamed into both of my hearing aids from my iPhone. You want to make sure the brand you choose will stream to BOTH ears with your phone since Android and iPhone are handled differently. Another factor for me was having a telecoil. When manufacturers release new models, they may not have a telecoil option. You may be able to upgrade to the telecoil option, if it becomes available, but you will be without your aids for the upgrade. Make sure you know if there will be a cost for this upgrade. Another feature I looked for was remote programming. With the Resound smartphone app, I can submit a request that goes to the audiologists office via the "cloud". They can make programming changes based on what I've mentioned in the request. Once the audi makes the changes, my phone will update my aids with these changes without me having to visit the audi's office. Inquire if there is a cost for any remote programming. Finally, you may want to download the app from both manufacturers to see what kind of changes you will be able to make. When we're in a difficult listening environment, we need to try things to improve the performance of the aids. The bottom line is that you have to accept the fact that you still have hearing loss with your aids in. I hear "This is the best for background noise". I've yet to try an aid that handles background noise like I'd expect it to. Do go into those difficult environments while in the aid's trial period. Ask if you can get 45 or 60 days trial since most only give 30 days.
Tony in Michigan

Resound is a good hearing aid I know people who love it but it doesn't work for me I can't even hear my husband's voice unless he is looking at me. I've had 3 very good audiologist and a Resound representative program the ha and it's still has a very tinny sound . I only kept it because it partners with my Cochlear America CI but I so wish that I could easily use an Oticon hearing aid with my CA because the Oticon has the clearest sound for my severe hearing loss. My doctor programed a Phonak and an Oticon in the office and I tested both there and the Oticon was the clear (pun intended) winner.

I am trying to adjust to my first pair of Resound...I am still struggling to adjust them the way I want them to hear the best in all situations. The audiologist I am working with has been wonderful...I have several hearing problems but seems..
They are very expensive..but have a great warranty..

Tell us more about the Nano??

You are so fortunate as I just purchased ReSound and they are not working for me at all. I have all the accessories and they are useless for me. Very sad.

I am stumped...as to why the hearing aid doesn't work for you. Did you have the audiogram done and did your audiologist match/map your hearing loss for both you ears to each of the hearing aids to be sure that you care able to hear correctly through them? Generally, you get the aids first to learn to hear through them first. The accessories are NOT purchased until you are comfortable with you aids first. They come after you have had adequate time using your aids and know when you need to have other devices to augment your aids. All of the devices put together in a pot will of course be useless if you don't give your brain enough time to use the aids and get use to hearing through them. Is this what happened?

I have had the hearing aids for a few months and have seen my hearing person every week. He cannot get me to be able to 'understand' a person speaking. Because of this I cannot travel any longer and that disappoints me. Unfortunately I have reached the isolation point in my hearing and I am heartbroken as I spent so much money and time - even bought the IPhone to go with them but to no avail. I don't know if I could go to another audiologist as I have already purchased the aids but I would love to just to see if someone else can make them work for me.

@chsfd11, I know there is a time limit that we're given to try out the hearing aids, (for me it is 45-90 days) and after that time limit expires, we are supposed to own them, but it sounds extremely unfair to me that your audiologist has taken all this time, and not advised you to give up on those particular aids. What does everyone else think?