frustrated with transition to digital

[timothy36]

I have been wearing an analog hearing aid for 32 of my 36 years. I have recently been fitted with digital hearing aids and have found little success. I like the power of analog and have a hard time with conversation with digitals. I have even been wearing two without any further success. I still hear better with my one analog versus two digital (binaural) hearing aids. Are analogs going away?

[ZCT]

In the past three years I have seen almost all my analog hearing aids disappear from my price list.

But you talk about power. I have a digital aid with 80dB of gain on it! It's a monster. It's more powerful than those old body aids they used to make.

The problem is that many dispensers program using a soft algorithm designed to fit new patients who have not worn aids before. But if the dispenser is knowledgeable, they will know that there are some fitting formulas designed for power hungry users like yourself. I can assure you that with the right fitting formula a digital aid can pack just the punch you are looking for.

Sadly, many specialists qualified before digital aids were even invented. This means their programming skills are sadly lacking. This is why people like you don't get the help they need.

[analoglover]

Hi:
Can you tell me what model is it for the powerful 80db digital hearing aid because I know my analog hearing aid has already stopped producing and only parts will be supplied for 2 more years.

I appreciate that.

[ZCT]

Hi:
Can you tell me what model is it for the powerful 80db digital hearing aid because I know my analog hearing aid has already stopped producing and only parts will be supplied for 2 more years.

I appreciate that.

There are two, although I think one is being discontinued.

The Audibel Vision IxP or the Audibel Virtue 12 Power Plus. Note the use of the word 'Plus' in the second name. This denotes 10 more dB of gain over the standard 'Power' model, for a total of 80dB.

These aids are also offered by Starkey under the Destiny name. I can't remember what Starkey branded Vision's were called, but they are discontinued anyway.

Weirdly, I couldn't find this aid on the Audibel website. They've been updating the site recently, and have not yet added it.

I am not at work right now or I could give you the specs. Let me know if you want them and I'll try and find them for you.

[Pedro De La Garza]

I am a profound hearing losses and I was wearing analog for 17 year
Now I am wearing a digital one: SUMO DM from Oticon.
SUMO DM power 86 Db (gain)

[analoglover]

Hi:
Sure, I would like to know the model and specification.

Thanks

[ZCT]

Audibel Virtue 12 Power Plus

ANSI Specs

Peak OSPL 90: 140dB SPL
HFA OSPL 90: 134dB SPL

Peak Gain: 80dB

HFA Full On Gain: 72 dB

Frequency Range 200-5000Hz

Harmonic Destortion:

500Hz - <5%
800Hz - <3%
1600Hz - <1%

Attack Time 5ms
Release Time 20ms

Est Battery Life 14 days

Battery Current 2.8mA / 1.3mA (Idle)

[xbulder]

i would try
the Oticon SUMO DM and the Phonak supero should be
good choices
________
Fix Ps3 (http://fixps3.info/)

[analoglover]

Hi all:
Can someone tell me which hearing aids should work for my hearing loss for speech? Not the bird singing or wind noise.
Here is my audiogram
250 40db
500 40
1000 50
2000 55
4000 60
8000 65

I have tried so many digital hearing aids, even the top end model, doesn't work. They are either not enough gain for speech (high tone) or the sound is too sharp (like pierce my eardrum) but not clear. I am wearing Beltone CSP-II programmable analog but Beltone stopped producing it since 2005. I am trying Oticon Ergo BTE. I went to the dispenser a few times for adjustment but ends up returning it because my dispenser said there is some problem with the hearing aid itself. We ordered a ITC model instead because my dispenser said I don't need that much gain. I remembered the first adjustment I had was to boost up all the high frequecies to max, like 60 db but I felt the sound was too sharp to a level that I could not hear speech. The second adjustment my dispenser turned down all the gain but it ended up not enough gain for normal hearing. I am still waiting for ITC to come in 10 days and see whether it helps. Anyone can help me? I am in a stage of despair because my job needs clear speech and English is my second language.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[xbulder]

i dont think analogue would go away
they are still sold for tenders in a lot of parts of the world,
________
Living Earth Dispencary Pico (http://dispensaries.org)

[xbulder]

in fact you can program a digital to work just like analogue. Just a thought
________
THE VOLCANO VAPORIZER (http://www.vaporshop.com)

[analoglover]

Hi:
I think your thought of programming digital HA to analog is not realistic. These are the lies of the manufacturer. In fact, digital has a different processing from analog, no matter how you program, there are still some differences.

You can email me back if I am wrong.

[analoglover]

Hi all:
Has anyone heard of or used Zounds hearing aids before? Please comment. I heard from another hearing aid group that it is a good digital hearing aid (can compare with analog hearing aid) which cost only $ 999 US dollars.

[xbulder]

purely conductive losses
can be fitted quite fine with analoge aids,
________
Lovely Wendie (http://www.lovelywendie99.com/)

[valerama]

Hi:
I think your thought of programming digital HA to analog is not realistic. These are the lies of the manufacturer. In fact, digital has a different processing from analog, no matter how you program, there are still some differences.

You can email me back if I am wrong.

You're right on target! And unfortunately for some of us the digital hearing aids offer a poor solution.

I have a hereditary "cookie bite" loss and have worn ITE analog HA for a little over 20 years. (nothing before that, I was in my 20s by then)

My first pair were Miracle Ear aids, that, compared to not hearing (about a 40% loss in both ears) were wonderful. Good clean sound. After 10 years, when those started to die, I got a pair of programmable, analog ReSound hearing aids that have me hearing at close to 90%.

I was looking at new HA last year (figuring at almost 12 years old these ones won't last much longer) and after 8 trips back to Costco, I gave up and returned them. (Fortunately in Virginia you have 6 months to return hearing aids.) Costco has a great return policy on everything in any case. The sounds were clunky and I couldn't talk on ANY phones with them. (I needed to talk on the phone as part of my job.)

A year later and me and my ReSounds are still plugging away. It's only a matter of time... Scary!

My challenge now is using cell phones. Major buzzing/screeching when I put the GSM phone near my ears. Bluetooth headsets don't fit very well with ITE aids.

Funniest thing that's ever happened regarding my hearing aids -- when my oldest son was in kindergarten he must have caught part of a conversation and promptly informed his teacher and the other adult she was talking to that HIS mommy had AIDS. The teacher just about died laughing when she met me and realized what he meant.

[jay_man2]

... (Fortunately in Virginia you have 6 months to return hearing aids.) Costco has a great return policy on everything in any case. ...[/I][/COLOR]Virginia law requires at least a 30 day return period. http://law.justia.com/virginia/codes/toc5401000/54.1-1505.html

You benefited from Costco's return policy, but you don't normally get 6 months to return hearing aids in Virginia.

[audiogal]

Funniest thing that's ever happened regarding my hearing aids -- when my oldest son was in kindergarten he must have caught part of a conversation and promptly informed his teacher and the other adult she was talking to that HIS mommy had AIDS. The teacher just about died laughing when she met me and realized what he meant.
Okay, now that's funny!;)

[xbulder]

you can still order the 380p
or the 390PL

[xbulder]

that I do not know, they are solder manually which means they are expensive and big... i suspect as expensive as a sumo dm

[xbulder]

I suspect you can get it @ about 800 in south america

[xbulder]

the euro has gone to almost 1.5 right?

[ljjehl]

So your friend can't go to the local State rehabilitation agency to get help? That's the best way if you can't afford it. That's how I'm getting all my equipment.....

[buck]

If the fitter is having trouble fitting your hearing loss and you don't have a condition such as recruitment, or severe tinnitus or a processing problem you probably need to see someone else. I don't know what your discrimination scores are but I would guess they are in the 80's which should be a pretty easy fit. Wish I could fit you.

[BarbieA]

I have been wearing an analog hearing aid for 32 of my 36 years. I have recently been fitted with digital hearing aids and have found little success. I like the power of analog and have a hard time with conversation with digitals. I have even been wearing two without any further success. I still hear better with my one analog versus two digital (binaural) hearing aids. Are analogs going away?
:D Hi, Timothy, I'm new on this site and I will probably be a little clumsey here. But you said a truthful think about digitals versus analogs. I have worn analogs for 45+ years now and I still say they are better than digitals since I am severely-profoundly deaf of late. You are right that digitals do pick up some sounds better, but the discrimination of words are extremely difficult. And it isn't the background noises that make it so....there is distortion within the verbal context of the speaker. You asked if the analogs are going away and it does appear so. Oticon (the maker of the analogs that I wear) has given up on them and have turned to digital types). My problem now is finding someone who can make good earmolds so I can use the analogs that I wear. That is my current grit for the mill.

[georgeryder9]

The world is moving on from analog to digital, everything analog will be replaced in coming years. Because most of the devices have already been converted to digital, and because devices have to be made compactible to each other, analog devices will surely be converted into digital. However there will be surely improvements to all analog devices including the analog hearing aid devices. Surely engineers will find solution to the stated problem above. This is what I believe.
computer memory (http://www.esd-inc.com)

[kretsh]

:D Hi, Timothy, I'm new on this site and I will probably be a little clumsey here. But you said a truthful think about digitals versus analogs. I have worn analogs for 45+ years now and I still say they are better than digitals since I am severely-profoundly deaf of late. You are right that digitals do pick up some sounds better, but the discrimination of words are extremely difficult. And it isn't the background noises that make it so....there is distortion within the verbal context of the speaker. You asked if the analogs are going away and it does appear so. Oticon (the maker of the analogs that I wear) has given up on them and have turned to digital types). My problem now is finding someone who can make good earmolds so I can use the analogs that I wear. That is my current grit for the mill.

I too can related to analog vs. digital and thought I'd give my input. I'm wearing hearing aids since I was 6 years old and at 63 I've just switch to digital HA. I wore Oticon 380P for the last 10+ years and was extremely reluctanct to give them up. The feedback became the real issue for me as I'm profoundly deaf, excel at lipreading BUT can use the telephone IF I know who I am speaking to. (I need to use both ears to do so). They amplification that I required really required perfect seals at the ear to prevent feedback, which is nearly impossible to do / have. I honor Oticon for continuing to service them.

I must have tried 6 different digital aids over the past 5 years, and never agreed with what I heard using them vs. my faithful Oticon 380P's .

I've only had my digital Phonak Naida IX for a short time and have they are performing as I have hoped they would with controlling feedback - there is none, period! I am not able to make use of all the auto programs as my hearing is so profound and my discrimination is so poor (<8%).

I like the 'sound' of the analogs vs. the digital. I do hear more with digital but that doesn't help me understand speech significantly better than analog. The additional sounds are extra noise to me.

I hope I've added to your knowledge and not confused you.

[ljjehl]

[QUOTE=kretsh;25160]I too can related to analog vs. digital and thought I'd give my input. I'm wearing hearing aids since I was 6 years old and at 63 I've just switch to digital HA. I wore Oticon 380P for the last 10+ years and was extremely reluctanct to give them up. The feedback became the real issue for me as I'm profoundly deaf, excel at lipreading BUT can use the telephone IF I know who I am speaking to. (I need to use both ears to do so). They amplification that I required really required perfect seals at the ear to prevent feedback, which is nearly impossible to do / have. I honor Oticon for continuing to service them.


So you use the DuoPhone on the IXs to get the binuaral hearing on the phone?

I must have tried 6 different digital aids over the past 5 years, and never agreed with what I heard using them vs. my faithful Oticon 380P's .

I've only had my digital Phonak Naida IX for a short time and have they are performing as I have hoped they would with controlling feedback - there is none, period! I am not able to make use of all the auto programs as my hearing is so profound and my discrimination is so poor (<8%).

When you said no feedback whatsoever, does that include putting the hand over your ear(s)?? I can hear feedback, but nobody else hears this....

I like the 'sound' of the analogs vs. the digital. I do hear more with digital but that doesn't help me understand speech significantly better than analog. The additional sounds are extra noise to me.

That is true to me also, but this can be adjusted to your preferences.....

[kretsh]

[QUOTE]

So you use the DuoPhone feature on the IXs to get the binuaral hearing on the phone? I also use the synchronized tactile button that switches both aids to a given program as well.

When you said no feedback whatsoever, does that include putting the hand over your ear(s)?? I can hear feedback, but nobody else hears this....

That is true to me also, but this can be adjusted to your preferences.....Yes - I use the DuoPhone now instead of the binaural operators headset I used to use with my aids set to T-Coil and a landline telephone.

I can use BT, but it does not eliminate the ambient noises enough for me to have good discrimination.

Yes - NO FEEDBACK! I can sense some sound distortion (very mild motorboating) when I purposely distort my ear to test for feedback. The Naida's have really good feedback control.