Anyone using any Phonak wireless accessories?

In late December I finally got the Roger ON in from my audiologist in time for Christmas with my family in LA. It is a more well rounded device than the partner mic which is so helpful for one on one. This Roger has three settings: 360 degrees for a table type use, a pointer mode for aiming at a particular person in a noisy venue, and a mode for a speaker to wear it so speech is directed to hearing aids. It is very helpful in its directional mode for small groups like dinners at home and restaurants. Its handy to keep track of just one device!

I have two Phonak Marvel hearing aids...I don't recall the model number but they are top of that model line. This version of Roger ON iN works for both Marvels and Paradise model aids. Its quite expensive because a license is required for each hearing aid that is connected to the device. I have two hearing aids so it was $!,680!

It is imperfect as all devices are but has been very helpful especially with masks, and group get togethers. Recently I have had a couple of feedback issues when using the pointer mode and I am asking my audiologist about that.

There is an included cable for TV use with the Roger in its charger. I have not used that yet and the instructions aren't included. I am going to LA again and hope to clarify how this works with my son. This TV mode supposedly does not interfere with the regular sound of the TV for everyone else. This can be tricky for lots of devices that connect to TVs, so I am hoping to get that figured out. In the meantime I have had good luck just having the Roger next to a TV speaker.

I am happy to have this device and find it very helpful in medical situations where doctors and staff all have masks. Its on a lanyard I made so I can have it around my neck in easy reach if needed but usually take it off to use it.

The cost really is a big concern...and I wonder about future upgrades in technology by Phonak and whether this will work with future generations.

Happy to answer any questions.

@sunnyone I have the original Phonak Roger Pen device. While it works well, it is somewhat awkward to use. Phonak R & D listened to users, (many from HLAA at a national convention, where they gave out over a hundred of the original 'Rogers' to attendees for that purpose), and have made excellent upgrades to the product since then that make it easier to use.

Few who use hearing aids, know that these types of hearing assistive technology are available. Some resist it because it shows when they are using it. Providers don't tell us about it because of the cost, and also because it shows and so many resist getting hearing help from hearing aids in the first place. Providers don't want to push, but in the process they leave out what can be extremely valuable information to people with hearing loss who struggle in noisy settings.

The original Phonak device I used bravely over 20 years ago was attached to my Phonak hearing aids by a wire that plugged in. The other end of the cord contained a microphone, a hand held device that looked like a black cigarette. It worked as well as the Roger Pen for me, but was a bit clumsy due to that cord. 🙂 I loved it though because it brought me back into the social mainstream. In fact I wore out 3 of them because the cords shorted out!

One of my favorite hearing loss stories involved that device. It was in a social setting with some 'prominent' locals. I was contributing fluidly to a conversation among a group of ladies. One of them pulled me aside and asked me what I was using. It gave me the opportunity to explain, which is always a good thing....teach others....always. The corker was her comment. "That is wonderful because I never thought you were smart!"

How many hard of hearing people feel 'not smart' in noisy social settings?

WOW! What a remark! Lots of education needed! Excellent points about how much information we don't get that could be helpful. And the technology is not easy and can be tricky to figure out. Even more extra effort required for the hearing impaired person and technology is advancing thank goodness!

Feeling out of the loop and isolated in social situations is a horrible feeling!! Its easy to understand why people avoid those situations, especially without the assistance of helpful devices.

I am trying to do everything I can to help myself in tough noisy situations so I can converse with my grandboys at dinner wherever we are...at home or our favorite sushi restaurant. I feel fortunate to have the Roger ON iN. I am hoping that they and my son can help me get the TV aspect of the Roger device clarified.

I don't care who knows about my hearing loss!! The more people are aware and can perhaps understand why I don't respond to a question, or move out of the way in the store aisle, or need things to be repeated, the better. I am constantly telling people daily that I have a major hearing problem on the phone, in stores, offices, restaurants etc. Thank goodness for Blue Tooth! Having a visible device is another way of demonstrating disability and building awareness for everyone.
Thank goodness for forums like this where we can help each other!!

Unfortunately those remarks and stigmas that lead to them are still very real today. Are you familiar with HLAA? (The Hearing Loss Assn. of America, Inc.) This organization is doing a remarkable job to effect positive change. Most of the assistive technology that is available today is there because members of HLAA have educated about it and advocated for it. There are chapters all over the country.

You understand the value of peer support. HLAA's mission is to share information, educate, provide peer support and advocate. The organization focuses on people with hearing loss who choose to remain in the hearing mainstream by using technology. The majority of HLAA folks are people with adult onset hearing loss. The annual national convention of HLAA is exceptional. Lots of information at: http://www.hearingloss.org

There may be a chapter in your area. What part of the country do you live in?

I am a member of my local chapter of HLAA which is in West Chester, PA. Its been a great learning and social experience! Great advocacy efforts on all levels. One of our chapter leaders is working with several other libraries in the area and is gathering information on a potential new assistive system for public buildings that is an alternative to the loop system, using wifi . We have just met with the director and some board members of the local library in my town to discuss this system called Listen Everywhere. This library is in the groundbreaking stage of constructing a much larger, upgraded building with many new ways of welcoming a diverse community. Good timing! This new system is less expensive and has many additional advantages but of itself is not ADA compliant at this point, requiring a few extra steps. We are hoping to find a local installation to test it out. HLAA is an incredible organization! This chapter leader is so well informed and so energetic in his outreach advocacy! Truly a model of how effective HLAA can be. The library director and board members are extremely knowledgeable, receptive to new solutions, and dedicated to accommodating citizens with hearing loss. So fortunate that they are already convinced of this essential assistance.
Does anyone out there have experience with this system in their library or other public building??

@sunnyone I have not used the Listen Everywhere system, but I've used the product from Sennheiser called Mobile Connect. It works well. It basically broadcasts the audio on a Wi-Fi channel so you basically just have to connect your phone to that network like you would with any other Wi-Fi network. You need to also download the associated app. For the Sennheiser system, the app is called MobileConnect. You then hear the audio directly from your phone. Since I have direct streaming from my phone to my hearing aids, I don't need any other accessories. If you don't have streaming, you would use earbuds, headphones or a neckloop (if you have telecoils in your aids/implant). If you don't have a smartphone, the venue will supply that to you with the app already installed. You're typically given cheap earbuds that you keep since they don't want them back for obvious reasons. You should work with your library to discuss the different ways that a person with hearing loss connects to their phone and the accessories that they may want to provide and also how to maintain them.
Tony in Michigan

Thank you for that information Tony. The technology keeps changing all the time, but we still go back to the need for telecoils in our personal devices. I've missed attending the national HLAA conventions, which is the best place on the planet to learn about all the new tech stuff. Not going to get there this year, but am planning to attend in 2023. Meanwhile, stay tuned for a lot more talk about technology that can bypass background noise in a variety of venues.

@sunnyone So glad to know you are involved in HLAA! Yes, it is a wonderful organization that tends to be one of the best kept secrets on the planet! We all need to share HLAA information more.

I'm not familiar with 'Listen Everywhere', but found the post by Tony interesting. There are a lot of new technologies coming. Still I stand by the good old fashioned telecoils that can connect with most of it and cost mere pennies in our personal products. It's interesting that loop installations have increased so much in cost as we used to go out, buy a long piece of telephone wire, a receiver, an amplifier, a microphone and build a loop to use for our chapter meetings. Those parts and pieces were all readily available at Radio Shack, which is no longer in biz.

New standards and regulations upped the cost, as along came professional installers did. (That's a good thing!) So much more can be done today then back then. And, for large venues, such as the Performing Arts Center in our city, it takes a good fund raising campaign. We did it!

I joined HLAA, which was SHHH then, in 1983. I served on the national board of SHHH for 14 years, including 2 terms as chair. That was in the formative years when the organization was developing under founder, Rocky Stone. I feel fortunate to have had that incredible experience. Just watching the evolution of the HLAA mission was amazing.

Glad to hear your chapter in PA is involved in your library renovation. We are about to become involved in something similar here in Appleton WI.

Maybe I'll meet you some time at one of the national conventions. Not going this year, but hope to make it in 2023. I've only missed a few of them over the years. They present such a great opportunity for learning...and for keeping up with technology, and for making wonderful friends.

Julie Olson (julieo4)

@julieo4 We all look forward to technology that can help in background noise. I certainly hope someone can solve the problem. Let us know when you hear of something. I’d love to help beta test

@tonyinmi Thanks for the info on MobileConnect. I learned of Listen Everywhere from a North Bay chapter meeting but will also research MobileConnect. It sounds like the same or very similar technology. We've hit roadblocks on loops unless the venue is doing a new construction project. So the Wi-Fi option could be a way to get an assistive system in place as long as it sounds as good as a loop. Still trying to find a venue nearby that has one to test.