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Urgent suggestion need for my Phonak Lumity hearing aid fitting.
Could someone with Phonak or fitting experience help me out?
I got a new pair Phonak Lumity 90 a month ago. but after 4 times fitting, I still have problem with it.
I wear HA for around 5 years as I suffer moderate hearing loss in low frequency and severe drop in high frequency. To get better hearing I upgraded to Phonak Lumity 90.
I would like to get some suggestions here before I visit my audiologist, again.
My issues are :
hard to get information in noisy environment or in group conversation. I have to remove HA or reduce to volume in order. ( I tried noisy environment mode, but not really help). to be honest, in noisy environment, HA not help at all. it is better if I remove it.
sudden sound increase : I always come across sudden sound increase. I guess, HA is trying to adjust according to environment change, however, it caused some unpleasant sound, as well as sudden increase.
when talk to ppl with relatively lound voice, HA occasionally get unpleasant sharp sound. reduce volume can help to reduce sharp sound, however, I may have difficulty to understand content then. It is just too hard to get a balance.
Sound Played from computer or Mobile is not comfortable. sound from paper or some plastic bag is also too sharp. I can reduce volume to get more comfortable, but similarly, it will reduce the conversation clarification.
I have visited my Audiologist 4 times, but I have got a really good result so far. test in the clinic, quiet room seems ok, but when I go to real environment, I found so many issue.
so I would like to get some suggestion here before I visit her next time.
Thanks heaps in advance.
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@luoxihappy
I wear Phonak Nadias UP 90 having a profound hearing loss. Phonaks are one of the most powerful aids around. Do you wear one or two?
Your present programming still needs to be adjusted. I remember hearing those exact same sharp, cringing sounds. My Audi was an excellent programmer. I would describe , in detail, what situations and where you are having the discomfort….write them down. Have her do some simple tests like crinkling paper or something similar and even walk outside with her or in a corridor so she has first hand experience of what you are hearing. My Audi did that.
The noise reduction programs are really no good as far as I am concerned and I rarely use mine. I often turn the sound down a tad and understand what you mean when you say the clarity of voice perception goes down too. That’s when you really have to concentrate on the speaker. This is where a good programmer is needed. There is a fine balance between the power of the aid and the clarity you are looking for. I suspect these aids in their current programming are too strong for you and may have been appropriate for someone like me with a profound loss. Your frequency level sounds too high and made need to be taken down a notch.
Also…I wear full custom ear molds that prevent any sound from leaking out. Ask your Audi if changing the ear dome or mold would make a difference. You can trial new ones also.
None of us with hearing aids will ever function in noisy environments the way we wish we could. Focus first on getting that programming the exact way you want regardless of how many time you have to go back. And have that piece of paper with all the situations where it is just too loud or you are uncomfortable. She should be able to balance things out but you may have to give and take a little on volume vs clarity.
When you have to lower the sound…give it a little time to get use to it…would be wonderful if it was just a volume issue. Also turning the sound down on your part manually is different than having her do it in the program…it’s best to have her do.
I was thinking of the Lumity for myself also. I’m a long time Phonak user precisely because of their power and I have tried all the best brands.
The Audi can also consult with the manufacturer at Phonak….another thing my Audi did…..and they may be able to suggest something if she is getting frustrated. Have her call while you are there. When you make the next appointment…mention to whoever that you will be needing her time for at least an hour.
Hope I didn’t ramble on too much .
FL Mary
Hope I didn’t ramble on.
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7 ReactionsThanks so much for your detailed suggestion, it is really helpful. I will go back to the Audi and update.
1. Give your audiologist all the help you can. write down all the issues you are having and take them with to the appointment. The more information you can give the audi the better she can help you. Proper adjustment is critical.
2. If you continue to have issues consider returning the Phonaks for a different brand. You have to be happy with your hearing aids. A few years ago I returned Phonak Paradise 90s in favor of Oticon More, but for different reasons than you are having. (my hearing loss is not the same as yours)
Good luck and let us know how you come out.
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3 Reactions@ imallears. & @arrowshooter I just got Phonak Lumity L90s. Previously had Phonak Paradise. I upgraded as reviews stated improved speech clarity, which is what gear aid wearers are most looking for.
One things not mentioned in the OP or either one of you was Real Ear Measurement (REM). I think it is very important and unfortunately my Audi did not perform it. Said he would do it the next appointment. Well I cannot hear what is being said (actually understand what is being said) standing across the counter from the gal.
I am not wearing them- have gone back to my Paradise until my next appointment. I will insist on REM or I’ll return them. REM is important. Your hearing aids are only as good as your audiologist’s programming. Good luck!
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3 ReactionsAsk your audiologist to extend the trial period (most MFRs allow up to three (!) months but best to ask and get an approval. Ask your audiologist to verify the performance of the instruments with a real-ear test. For information read this handout https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dhhcouncil/buy-hearing-aids-wisconsin-final.pdf and consider watching the Dr. Cliff Video on Real-Ear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHR0Oa6I-wY there is also more hearing aid advice in this article (ignore the "older" reference - it is good info for everyone) http://www.ncoa.org/article/what-older-adults-need-to-know-about-hearing-loss
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1 ReactionThis information is very helpful. Fitting a hearing aid properly is exact science! It doesn't just happen. Skill is necessary by the fitter. Too often people think they should just walk out of the audiologist's office and hear like they did years ago. It doesn't work that way.
When it gets to difficult, and try after try doesn't work, it may be time to consider a cochlear implant. Ask your audiologist about that. If s/he doesn't think that makes sense for you, ask why.
CIs are amazing. The surgery is relatively minor, and the results are incredible for most people. Ask questions. If you have severe hearing loss the CI route may be your best option.
Has your audi discussed CIs with you?
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1 ReactionI had my CI this past March of 2022. I have no regrets. Sure it has been a learning curve with speech therapy involved. My hearing in both ears was less that 30%. I had my right ear done and just got my new hearing aid for the left ear. I think for less than a year that I am doing great. As others have said I still have problems in a large room with many people talking. I don't see anything that is going to solve that. I use my Otter app on my cell phone sometimes so I can read across the screen what others are saying. It's really helpful. You have good advice, Julie.
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3 Reactions@arieswoman Thank you for the compliment. Those large room situations with many people talking will probably always be a challenge for us. Background noise is a 'monster' of sorts! I find the accessories that are available with my cochlear processor are very helpful although they are not perfect.
Otter and a few other apps on cell phones can help. My problem with those is that it's hard to look at the person I want to hear while looking down at my cell phone. I do far better with the mini mic that connects to my personal technology.
Do you have those add on accessories with your CI and HA?
I do have the Rogers mic but find it just doesn’t work for me. I have tried different settings, etc. I love the new tv mic they sent to me. It really helps.
Hello @luoxihappy
Your posting is over a year old and I'm not sure if you found resolution.
For comparison, my hearing loss begins at 40db at 250 Hz and goes to 80 db at Khz. My Speech in Noise score is 12.
I wear Phonak Lumity 90s after upgrading from Phonak Marvel 70s. While the Lumity HAs do perform better than the Marvel 70s, I still struggle in very noisy environments. To have a better understanding and to share with my audiologist exactly where I was having problems, I downloaded an app to my phone called DecibelX. It's a pretty accurate sound meter for measuring sound level of your environment. I then kept a log of every venue I visited (theater, restaurant, retail store, grocery store kwik mart etc) and the sound levels I experienced in each venue. This gives the audiologist some scientific data of areas where you struggle, rather than blindly walking into his office and saying "I can't hear".
My research revealed that HAs in general will help you hear up to 20 ft in a quiet setting, but that goes down to 5ft - 6ft in a noisy environment. The #1 complaint of HA users is, can't hear in noisy environments.
As powerful as Phonak Lumitys are I still struggle in the following area:
Health club fitness floor where the background is 80db and I can't converse with someone who is on the next achine only 6 ft away.
Retail store - Difficulty hearing the checkout clerk or the register promps from the self checkout kiosk.
Restaurant - Conversations to the side and back confuse my HAs and make it difficult to converse with someone at my table. Recently I had lunch with my mother in a restaurant. It was mid-afternoon so the restaurant was not crowded but background was 74db and I had a hard time pick up her voice. I asked her if she thought the restaurant was loud and she said no. As a member of the hearing loss community, everything sounds loud to me - making it difficult to pick up speech.
Grocery store - 75db background - Hard to hear the butcher at the meat counter or the clerk at the deli counter.
Recently I had to attend a visitation for a relative that passed. The parlor was 80 db background and i had a difficult time conversing with family members. I had to stand next to them to hear.
Yes the Phonak Lumity 90s boasts having Dynamic Noise Cancellation (DNC), which activates automatically in Speech in Noise program (SPiN) and Speech in Loud Noise program (SPiLN). The user is supposed to be able to adjust the strength of DNC while in SPiN or SPiLN by adjusting the SPEECH FOCUS slider in My Phonak App. I've adjusted this as well as NOISE REDUCTION without great results. I am a user of Phonak Target, the fitting software used by audiologists so I'm able to further adjust my HAs than the normal user can with My Phonak app. This is a work in progress, still trying to create the perfect recipe.
Please keep in mind, everyone reacts differently to HAs. Even if two patients have IDENTICAL audiogram prescription, they will receive hearing differently to identically programmed HAs.
What has helped in extreme conditions is using a Roger On microphone. This device has more powerful noise suppresion that is not in the hearing aid. The microphne can be operated in 360 degree listening mode or narrow focus. I tried it in narrow focus in a Walmart and was able to hear a mother and children talking 10 ft away. These devices are not cheap however you can find pre-owned ones on eBay.
I hope you will find some of this useful.
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