Eperienced with Aventa?

[TurboRay]

I'm considering the online purchase of a pair of Resound Dot² 20's (referenced HERE (http://www.hearingaidforums.com/showthread.php?t=6492)) and would like to know how intuitive (or not) the Aventa programming software is, using a Resound Speedlink programming interface and the proper set of cables/shoes. IOW, can a fairly computer-savvy old fart, like myself, get the hang of it?

THANX - Ray

[ldameron]

HiL
I have had mine fo 6 months doing my own programming, It's been kind of fun. I got them tuned pretty good, now. I have be 9's i got off ebay and the speedlink there also.
I had a little trouble getting the cables but finally got them from a guy in Singapore also off ebay. The software is pretty good. Theses is a lot i don't understand.

[xbulder]

I'm considering the online purchase of a pair of Resound Dot² 20's (referenced HERE (http://www.hearingaidforums.com/showthread.php?t=6492)) and would like to know how intuitive (or not) the Aventa programming software is, using a Resound Speedlink programming interface and the proper set of cables/shoes. IOW, can a fairly computer-savvy old fart, like myself, get the hang of it?

THANX - Ray

Aventa is quite easy to program. The quick fit will make the initial fitting easy.
You need to run, the feedback manager. You have a handle for gain, and in there
is a section for Noise reduct. The number of controls are limited (unlike phonak),
there is little room for error

[whozyodaddy]

I love seeing regular folks doing their own programming. I am trying to get cables now, since I have a HiPro. When I get mine dialed in, I am going to re-post the box on ebay with the cables and re-sell it... OR I might just gather up some online hearing aid acquaintences who want to do their own programming, and lend the box and cables via mail....
Any thoughts anyone?

[MinnesotaHIS]

I understand your desire to program your own hearing instruments, but before you go the eBay route for purchasing them you may want to consider ReSound's policy on Internet Sales:
http://www.gnresound.com/hearing-aids/internetsalespolicy/ProductWarrantyStatement.aspx
Many other manufacturers have similar policies for a variety of reasons. I don't want to turn this into a debate regarding whether or not hearing aids should be sold online, but just want to make sure you're aware of the potential warranty implications.

[susanna]

Audiologists are trained for a reason. I completely understand that it must be frustrating if your hearing aids aren't programmed right, but why do you have such a deep distrust of how we carry out our primary area of expertise? Did you have a bad experience with an audiologist? If it is a cost issue, why not research a clinic that does not bundle hearing aid cost and service?

[Drez]

I perfectly understand people wanting to adjust their own HAs and I admire that your motivated to do so, that said, I do not recommend it. Like many things in life, this is something we might be able to do, but maybe shouldn't.

While the use of an "auto fit" and some of the simple up and down gain adjustments are not "difficult" to do, most people are not equipped with the background to know the implications of changes they might be making. Adjustments are often interrelated and without a sound background in the field you can be changing a number of things without realizing it, or failing to change things you should be adjusting. Many people might be able to do these things without anything bad happening but its not worth the risk of harm for the few unlucky ones. I would also argue that its not worth saving money on hearing aids only to loose benefit they might provide with a poor or even mediocre fitting.

Some individuals might argue that they know what they want or need better than anyone, sadly we are unable to fully rely on our perception to know if a fitting is good or bad. Perception should (and needs) to play into fine tuning a fitting but it should not be the sole factor, otherwise individuals would consistently under fit themselves. Even individuals educated in the field have a tendency to prefer what they are used to (ie. hearing through the filter of their hearing loss) over what they need at times, at least till acclimatized.

Perhaps the most compelling reason for not doing a self fitting would be lack of measurement equipment. Any good clinician after setting up your hearing aids (with Aventa or otherwise) will then verify the settings with either real ear measures or simulated real ear measures and a measurement accounting for any difference between your ear and the coupler (RECD). This is because each individual ear is acoustically different, additionally there are other factors that affect output in your ear vs. what the fitting system (aventa) thinks is in your ear.

If an analogy is helpful, changing the oil in your car is one thing, changing the timing belt is another. Fitting your own HA is something like that.

In short there are places in life were we can cut costs and even do it better on our own. This however, I would strongly argue is not one of them. I hope I was able to convey that in a clear and compelling manner.