Has anyone tried the Sonic Ion Open Fit?

[mac]

I just came back from my audiologist who recommended the Sonic Ion and the Phonak Mini Eleva.

Has anyone used either type with any success? She quoted me a price for either of $4,900 for the two.

[brucel]

I have just received my new Sonic Innovations Ion digital hearing aids. I have worn hearing aids for about 15 years now and always couldn't stand the feeling of hearing my own voice like an echo, like my head was always stuck in a barrel!

Now, with the Ions, it is the first time I have every felt comfortable wearing hearing aids. I have always worn them before, because I can't hear too well without them, but couldn't wait to take them off.

I would recommend them to anyone who has a high frequency hearing loss as I do.

[kat]

Open fitting hearing aids generally allow users who can hear low frequency sounds well to feel much more comfortable with their own voice and also lessens the loud sounds you hear when you eat, cough, chew, etc.

Although it may seem as if we are going backwards in technology using behind the ear hearing aids to do this, the instruments used by Sonic, Siemens, Resound, Phonak, etc are very small.

I think the Ion's are about the same in size as the Vivatone products, although I have personally not dispensed the Ions yet.

Yet, if you have a hearing loss that affects both the high and low pitches, open fitting hearing aids are generally not a good choice.

This is where it is best to work with a trusted local professional who can guide you in the right direction.

[mac]

Kat:

Thanks for the info.

[brucel]

I generally thought behind the ear hearing aids would be very visible, but my new Sonic Ions are very hard to notice, in fact they may be even more invisible than my past CIC hearing aids which were also very small.

The best part I like, thought, is that they are so much more comfortable.

[Pete]

I have been wearing the Sonic Ions for about 2 months now. I also tried the Phonak Micro Valeo open fit aids also.

I liked the Phonaks, but I just didn't like that they were so big. Thus, my audiologist switched me to the Ion's and they work OK, but I really like how they look.

I have never worn the type that goes in the ear, so I can't give a comparison. But my audi says that if I wore the type that plugs the ear, I will feel uncomfortable and that the open devices allow me to hear the low tones naturally or something like that.

I too feel they are very inconspicuous and very light. In fact, I almost jumped in the shower with them on, since it is kind of easy to forget you have them on.

The only drawback is that they sometimes catch onto reading glasses when you take them off.

[RLFurman]

I just came back from my audiologist who recommended the Sonic Ion and the Phonak Mini Eleva.

Has anyone used either type with any success? She quoted me a price for either of $4,900 for the two.


I purchased them from my audiologist for $3,800 and like then so far. Especially the small size.

[stevenfrank38]

I have used it for 2 months it helped me a great deal ......

[kelpi]

Wow thats got to be a record, almost 5 yrs and bringing a thread back to life.

[Roe]

I am curious if the open fit also would allow someone to pick up location and sound directions better, etc, versus the more traditional types? Might that help with speech recognition too for someone with only a high frequency loss--like myself?

I am in the process of getting hearing aids soon (and still do not have my AG to post to my sig yet) and this seems like an additional potential benefit of the open fit? I've been reading a lot about hearing sound effects from hearing aids, what to expect, etc., and I still have much to learn.

Thank you,

Roe