What are your favorite apps for hearing loss or tools you use?

Hi..I am new to this forum as of today. Like everyone I am having issues hearing with masks everywhere. I have two Phonak rechargeable hearing aids with Blue Tooth. This is my second set of aids and they are a huge help, but of course there are still issues. I haven't really found the included Phonak software for various noise situations particularly helpful. My right ear has quite profound deafness. Could anyone offer suggestions for apps or devices like separate mics that improve sound in social situations. Also helpful for watching TV with a friend? Without connecting to TV while away from home? Very much appreciate any thoughts from solution finders out there. Also wonder how people feel about Phonak hearing aids if you have experienced them and find them satisfactory. I know there are so many variations in hearing loss so its not an easy answer. Thank you for your thoughts.

Sunnyone, Welcome to Connect. You've found a place where questions can be asked and answers can be found. Phonak makes a quality hearing aid. DId you provider share information about the Phonak accessories? The Roger Pen, a hand held microphone is made by Phonak. It's a rather expensive product, but many people find it worth buying. There are less expensive devices too.

Hearing aid quality and value depends a great deal on the person fitting them. Sometimes they do not explain the options you deserve to know about. For instance, do your aids have activated telecoils? That's a must for anyone who wants to get the most out of hearing aids. BlueTooth is nice, but telecoils can connect you to the technology in public places that provides the 'communication access' that is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. There's a lot to learn about accessories and features. We are all different because our hearing losses vary. Many in this group have extensive experience with technology, so keep asking questions.

@sunnyone I don't have Phonak, but a Starkey.. rechargeable ..I certainly like the recharge case as it is the only place I put my hearing aids when not wearing them... its my left ear that is profoundly deaf.. so when riding in a car with someone having the hearing aid in my left ear that simply rebroadcasts to my good ear those sounds that come from my left that otherwise I would have a tough time hearing.. I find the remote mic particularly helpful when talking on the phone .. the Bluetooth rechargeable has several settings .. one where you can give to your friend who is wandering around the house... I keep the mic on a lanyard around the neck.. Starkey uses "Thrive" as the smart phone App that controls many things... if you have an Apple or Samsung or such phone it is very helpful.. Since I received my phones from the Veterans Administration they provide walk-in help with issues and can replace some things very quickly.. Ken

@sunnyone Understanding speech in noise is the most challenging task for people with hearing loss. The manufacturers know this so there is a lot of sales pitches when marketing their new products. We should be able to exchange our old hearing aids for updated ones, similar to how we buy cars. The best technology to understand someone in a noisy environment is to be as close as possible to the person speaking. Most hearing aid manufacturers can sell you a remote mic that will stream the microphone directly into the hearing aids. That same device can be used to listen to TV at your friends house. You would just set the microphone as close to the TV speaker as possible. The nice thing about this solution is that the hearing aid app allows you change how much input comes from the streaming device and how much comes into the hearing aid microphones. During commercials, you could adjust the balance so that you can hear your friend without having to talk above the TV. Another option is to use a personal FM system. This solution does not lock you into the hearing aid manufacturer.
Tony in Michigan

Hi Tony, Thank you so much for your thoughts. I am beginning to research remote mics again after an unfortunate experience with my first hearing aids. I do have an iPhone and love the Blue Tooth streaming ability. Is there a remote mic you particularly have found useful? Phonak's remote products are very expensive...so looking around first before going that route. Appreciate any brand names and other helpful tips you have discoverd!

@sunnyone My Starkey remote mic came with the Hearing Aid given to me from the VA.. it works well with phone calls in particular.. The clip that would allow you to wear it on a thin fabric shirt broke the first week.. so I hang it on a lanyard around my neck.. Ken

Hello Ken! Thank you for your thoughts! Is your remote mic from Starkey? I do have an iPhone and am grateful for its abilities,and am looking for more apps and devices to help with social situations and TV with friends as you suggest! That would be so helpful. I just had a difficult time in just such a social setting where I could hear but not understand the dialog...all of us suffer from this exhausting and isolating occurrence. It left me feeling terrible so I am now avidly researching solutions, and I am so grateful to everyone who has responded. You are so fortunate to have those Veteran benefits...I am so happy they can provide swift and useful assistance to you!!

@sunnyone The Starkey Remote Mic has 4 settings ... one you can put it at the other end of the table to catch what is going on there.. Our brain takes a little while to decipher the garbled conversation ... so the added volume really helps as the mic bluetooth broadcasts to the HA... The Military was not being very scientific even in the early 60s when after all the problems with WWII vets hearing... the cotton for our ears was just not enough to prevent damage.. We Marines thought we were indestructible at 20 year old ...

Hi Julie, Many thanks for your reply to my questions and concerns. I really like my audiologist but it seems as though such a huge practice could be a bit more helpful in providing actual resources and training for assistive devices.Thank goodness for forums like this where we can help each other. My hearing aids do have active telecoils but I have never really experienced that in public. I also have not tried the assistive devices for text/captions in theaters yet. That is on my list. Right not the remote mic is number one. I just learned how expensive the two Phonak remote mic products are. There is also a TV connector that can stream BlueTooth directly to my aids, but the audiologist says there are much less expensive versions out there that require a few more steps to pair. I am wondering if the remote mic could serve both the TV , as Ken suggests, and social situations. I so appreciate recommendations by others who are struggling with these issues...especially brand name recommendations and other workaround tips. I love the creativity and the generous spirit here!

HI again! If you want to use those telecoils, I suggest you buy a Williams Sound Pocket Talker with a Neckloop. Much less expensive than the Phonak or other hearing aid brand microphone devices. A neckloop can be plugged into your computer or any other audio device with a standard input jack. It's great for listening to audio events on the computer. YouTube, Zoom presentations, etc. Plug in and turn on your telecoils and you should hear very clearly. That neckloop also plugs into the Pocket Talker, which acts like an hand held microphone. A neckloop works like the set of headsets that you probably used once upon a time with other audio devices like a Walkman radio. I still use my old Walkman radio with a neckloop when I want to listen to radio broadcasts, etc. I hope it lasts as long as I do!

It's a shame that audiologists don't explain and demonstrate this add on technology, so their 'customers' know what is available and how it works. They are so busy promoting BlueTooth that they forget the standard tech that has worked so well for so long. There is no doubt that BT is wonderful, mostly because it is wireless. But it adds well over $1000 to a hearing aid. A telecoil adds less than $10. The equipment mentioned above will cost around $200. You may be able to find it online. I bought a Brand Name neckloop on ebay for $25. The one I bought from my audiologist cost $65. I'm comfortable buying online because I know, from experience, what I'm buying and how it works. The basic Pocket Talker is made by Williams Sound Corp., and is a good device. Your audiologist should be able to order this for you and show you how it works....unless you have to show him/her how it works. (just kidding....they should certainly know.) I did see it on Amazon. See photo.