problems with latest new hearing aids & what to do about them.

I do not notice any lag. If there is one it is milli seconds. My audiologist and me actually talked about this - that someday there may be a way (perhaps a longer lag time or difference in "tone") that will allow for better sound locating.

anyone know what the difference is between phonak audio m90, & new paradise 90 hearing aids? My understanding is that the computer chip & memory of the paradise is twice that of audio m90?
also, any difference between compression, attack/release functions? do paradise HAs have any better compression handling features?
I currently have phonak audio M90, which are so badly fitted for me, that I gave up on wearing them & wear a pair of 5 year old resounds which sound better.
not sure if M90s can work for me or to ask for paradise?
get to see VA audiologist jan 25.

Many people who get quality hearing aids will have completely different experiences with the reception of speech. The true indicator of your benefit will be your speech discrimination score. Someone with a high frequency loss could have a 90% understanding of speech score and someone else with the same loss could have a 80% understanding of speech score. It depends on the damage to specific nerves which carry different sounds to the brain. It also depends on the expertise of the person doing the programming. Often, it is not that the brand is better but that the professional doing the programming needs to have the "art" besides the science. Never hurts to pay a little and go get a second opinion.

HAHA, you like the old linear aids, clear, powerful. The newer aids have so much compression that it is hard to hear the consonants!

Proper hearing aid fitting is tricky. The fitter's skills are important. Yes, people with similar audiograms are likely to have different experiences with hearing instruments. It's important to work hard to adjust to new hearing instruments. Ask for help from the audiologist as much as necessary. If you are not getting enough help from new hearing instruments return them and ask to try a different brand/model.

It's important to understand that the nerves related to hearing are generally not the issue, and are usually functional. The problem is with damaged hair cells within the cochlea. Think of those tiny hair cells as the keys on a large piano keyboard that starts to deteriorate one sound at a time. Many are led to believe that 'nerve damage' has caused their hearing loss when that is not the case. The reason cochlear implants work is because they bypass those damaged hair cells in the cochlea and are able to stimulate the auditory nerve that has been sitting there dormant.

Thank you for clarifying, Julie. My hearing loss started when I was in my 40's and I have had two sudden losses since then ( I am 62 now) -- the first was a pronounced loss in my right year (which is almost gone now) and more recently all the high frequency sounds are simply gone. My job required constant interaction with people and not being able to perform the way I used to led to early retirement. I am of course afraid of what is reserved for me in the future. I wear Oticom HAs with blue tooth technology (only 3 years old and with the best technology available according to my audiologist) but he is still unable to give me those sounds back. I may qualify for a CI on my right side but will need to go to a different doctor and audiologist, which is not feasible during the pandemic. I live in Virginia so anyone in Maryland or DC would do. Any recommendations, you or anyone? It is great to be part of this blog, BTW.

Pleased that I can be helpful. You live right in the heart of HLAA country. The home office moved from Bethesda to Rockville MD a few months ago, but had been in Bethesda since 1979. Your best bet is to contact HLAA. The website lists chapters of HLAA and their contact information. http://www.hearingloss.org People in those chapters will be happy to share their experiences with you. There are several options for you in the D.C., MD, and Virginia area. I hope this helps. I was on the national board of HLAA during the 80s and 90s. I watched the development of cochlear implants in awe. I finally decided to go for it in 2005. No regrets. It allowed me to return to work after a 24 year hiatus. I could share more about my personal experience, but think that's probably enough. 🙂 Good luck to you! NOTE: As a college student I was told I had 'nerve deafness'; that nothing could ever be done to correct that. That was in the 60s. Feeling fortunate.

Thank you so much. I have recently found them and will definitely pay them a visit soon.

I love my hearing aids. I can hear one hundred per cent better with them in my ears. They are called ReSound hearing aids. They are great. Getting them was the best thing I ever did for myself.