Recommendation on Hearing Aid

[UKG]

Hi all,

I'm after some advice.

I have a mild - moderate conductive hearing loss and tinitus. The nerve works perfectly so I have an air bone gap of about 20 db. (this is following surgery and damage to the eardrum_

I'm looking for a hearing aid that:

- Is clear and can reproduce sound naturally. My hearing is 'ok' so the aid just has to tweak the high frequencies slightly and lift it all by the air - bone gap.

- Preferrably can recognise and transmit high frequencies - up to 10 khz - I produce music so would really like to be able to get access to these high frequencies. Again, the nerve is working well so is capable of understanding these frequencies if I can get the eardrum to move enough!

- Can be used with bluetooth. I want to hook it up to my phone to be able to listen to music when neccessary. I find this really helps at work etc when I need to talk and concerntrate. It would be great if the aid can reporduce music to a half decent level.

- Is affordable for me. I am looking to spend approx. £1100 all in. I have seen the following aids on line. I'm in the UK.

- Lastly I'd likeit to be as small as possible. I'm in my early 30s and still vain.

I've been told that for clarity and a natural sound there are two manufacturers: Widex and Oticon.

So my budget goes to a:

WIDEX clear/passion 220.

and for Oticon:

Intiga 6

These seem to be the smallest RIC aids on offer.

So my questions are:

1) Can anyone advise on if both aids meet the requirements?

2) does anyone know how many frequency bands these aids have?

3) has anyone seen tried these with bluetooth? Can you comment on the quality?

4) Lastly, has anyone seen both aids? Is one smaller than the other? Or is there not much in it?

Any info on these two would be greatly appreciated. This is a lot of money for me and I want to get it rght.

Many thanks all,
Gavin

[Um bongo]

Originally Posted by UKG

Hi all,

I'm after some advice.

I have a mild - moderate conductive hearing loss and tinitus. The nerve works perfectly so I have an air bone gap of about 20 db. (this is following surgery and damage to the eardrum_

I'm looking for a hearing aid that:

- Is clear and can reproduce sound naturally. My hearing is 'ok' so the aid just has to tweak the high frequencies slightly and lift it all by the air - bone gap.

- Preferrably can recognise and transmit high frequencies - up to 10 khz - I produce music so would really like to be able to get access to these high frequencies. Again, the nerve is working well so is capable of understanding these frequencies if I can get the eardrum to move enough!

- Can be used with bluetooth. I want to hook it up to my phone to be able to listen to music when neccessary. I find this really helps at work etc when I need to talk and concerntrate. It would be great if the aid can reporduce music to a half decent level.

- Is affordable for me. I am looking to spend approx. £1100 all in. I have seen the following aids on line. I'm in the UK.

- Lastly I'd likeit to be as small as possible. I'm in my early 30s and still vain.

I've been told that for clarity and a natural sound there are two manufacturers: Widex and Oticon.

So my budget goes to a:

WIDEX clear/passion 220.

and for Oticon:

Intiga 6

These seem to be the smallest RIC aids on offer.

So my questions are:

1) Can anyone advise on if both aids meet the requirements?

2) does anyone know how many frequency bands these aids have?

3) has anyone seen tried these with bluetooth? Can you comment on the quality?

4) Lastly, has anyone seen both aids? Is one smaller than the other? Or is there not much in it?

Any info on these two would be greatly appreciated. This is a lot of money for me and I want to get it rght.

Many thanks all,
Gavin

A single sided RIC is probably not the best bet for a conductive loss. It will be well vented and therefore will have no bass response when used with a bluetooth signal.

Both aids are good quality offerings from decent manufacturers though. I'm bit puzzled as to how you are going to get an MDex in that price as well.

Go to a proper hearing aid audiologist and at least get an opinion on what they would fit: there are some excellent micro IIC aids out now, which would suit your hearing better, and may suit your cosmetic preferences too. The Unitron Micro Quantum 6 is probably in your budget if you have suitable ears.

[UKG]

Thanks for the response.

Just to clarify... Are the above 2 aids both single sided RIC's?

I'll probably have to spend a bit more on the MDex. Unfortunately.

What is a micro IIC? I have a loss in one ear only. If its like a CIC aid wont this cause an occlusion efect?

Thanks for the recommendation of a Unitron Micro - I'll check it out.

[UKG]

Hi , these Micro IIC's look great! Pretty much invisible?

I guess the question is - is there any occlusion effect? They are saying its a naural sound. Do you or anyone have any experience of this?

Also, are unitron any good for music? Do they process sound naturally?? When compared to Widex and Oticon?

It would be fantastic to have a hidden aid that works for m and I'd pay a bit more to achieve that result.

This hearing aid business seems hard to get right. I guess if I could have one of these aids there would be a charge for the mould etc which would be non refundable??

Also, I've been told in the past that I have narrow ear canals - might this make me non eligible for them?

I need to see an audiologist... Thanks for any info though. Its good to get clued up before hand.

[UKG]

Last question.. Is the Micro Quantum 6 compatable with BLuetooth? Thanks

[Lau2046]

I'm getting Widex myself - I have worse hearing than you but the Widex have had excellent reviews and my audiologist has the best results with them for her clients, so I'm upgrading to that brand. They do have Bluetooth option.

[Um bongo]

Originally Posted by UKG

Hi , these Micro IIC's look great! Pretty much invisible?

I guess the question is - is there any occlusion effect? They are saying its a naural sound. Do you or anyone have any experience of this?

Also, are unitron any good for music? Do they process sound naturally?? When compared to Widex and Oticon?

It would be fantastic to have a hidden aid that works for m and I'd pay a bit more to achieve that result.

This hearing aid business seems hard to get right. I guess if I could have one of these aids there would be a charge for the mould etc which would be non refundable??

Also, I've been told in the past that I have narrow ear canals - might this make me non eligible for them?

I need to see an audiologist... Thanks for any info though. Its good to get clued up before hand.

Get a trial, you may be asked for a deposit, but if you really aren't satisfied you'll get that back. The 'cost' of the custom shelling is borne by the manufacturer.

Like I mentioned above, candidacy is an issue, but IIC may be what you need. If you want music perception to be good, look for an aid that automatically selects a music program as a 'destination'.

Different manufacturers operate different measurement criteria and margins for the IIC too, so don't be too put off if Unitron say they can't make it.

[UKG]

Thanks again. And the occlusion efect with these aids? Any thoughts? Thanks

I'm seeing another audiologist next week.

[Um bongo]

Originally Posted by UKG

Thanks again. And the occlusion efect with these aids? Any thoughts? Thanks

I'm seeing another audiologist next week.

You will get some effect, but as they sit (when fitted properly) beyond the portion of the canal that tends to resonate with your own voice, its limited. Don't get me wrong, your voice will sound amplified, but that will drop into the background as your tensor tympani muscle remembers what it used to do.