Audeo Yes IX New User

[mingsaque]

Hello everyone
I am new to the forum and a new wearer of BTE hearing aids. I have been wearing the Audeo Yes IXs for about a week and I must say I like the way they sound, but with my severe hearing loss I needed the power receivers and those awful rubbery power domes. My goodness, it feels like my ears are plugged with cement and it is driving me crazy, I keep fiddling with the aids all day long. It seems that my right ear is worse than the left because that canal is much narrower. I hate to have to return them just because of this one problem but I don't think this is something I can get used to by just wearing them over time. Anyway other than that plugged feeling I really like them, too bad there isn't an open dome for my level of hearing loss. I don't have my audiogram but I will get a copy to post when I go back to the audi next week. I really like this forum there is so much good info here for a HA novice like myself.

[Confused]

Welcome to the forum and to the hearing world Mingsaque!

Being new to hearing aids, it might be uncomfortable to begin with but it sounds like you are really struggling, so have a read of this and talk to your audi about trying something different:

http://www.westone.com/content/48.html

[EnglishDispenser]

What does your audiogram look like?

It must be pretty poor to require power receivers with power domes.

Sometimes dispensers feel that they have to fit high power solutions just because a few points over 4k are 85dB down. In reality going for a lighter weight fit, which covers say up to 4k or 5k well can be a better solution overall.

Newly qualified dispensers seem especially prone to trying to 'fix' major HF loss with megawatts of power .. when in fact they should write off the highs and focus on making the speech frequency area effective.

If you REALLY do have a major across-the board loss I would be tempted to fit a more conventional BTE aid - but with a small-format case and with a tidy earmould.

Power in-the-ear receivers with power domes can be a clunky combination in some cases.

Note: Custom tips exist for speaker-in-the-ear aids ... but I'm not convinced they work well.

[ccvickers]

Originally Posted by EnglishDispenser

Sometimes dispensers feel that they have to fit high power solutions just because a few points over 4k are 85dB down. In reality going for a lighter weight fit, which covers say up to 4k or 5k well can be a better solution overall.

ED

I've seen your posts in a few areas on this subject. How do you constructively approach your audi with a request for the "light weight" fit if they feel that you need a power dome and custom molds? They are the professional.

Here are my numbers: Freq-R/L 500- 50/60, 1k- 60/70, 2k- 50/70, 3k- 50/55, 4k- 45/60, 6k- 40/40

I don't like it, but understand that I'll need a occluded mold. I'd really love to avoid a power receiver for the Audeo YES. Could a STD receiver be possible?

[mingsaque]

It's strange but both my ears are about exactly the same, I don't have my audiogram but from what I remember my readings in both ears in those levels you mention are around 75dB. The audi felt that with the power receiver if there was additional hearing loss in the future the power receiver would take care of it. When she called Phonak and spoke to their audi they also said I needed the power receiver. I was wondering if there is another kind of dome that would help with that plugged feeling. I will also ask her about the Westone custom molds and if maybe one of them would help me. I really like the aids but that plugged feeling is horrible.

[EnglishDispenser]

Originally Posted by ccvickers

ED

I've seen your posts in a few areas on this subject. How do you constructively approach your audi with a request for the "light weight" fit if they feel that you need a power dome and custom molds? They are the professional.

Here are my numbers: Freq-R/L 500- 50/60, 1k- 60/70, 2k- 50/70, 3k- 50/55, 4k- 45/60, 6k- 40/40

I don't like it, but understand that I'll need a occluded mold. I'd really love to avoid a power receiver for the Audeo YES. Could a STD receiver be possible?

Err ... ummm ... I FIT hearing aids to others. In the UK we don't use the term 'audi'.

[EnglishDispenser]

Here are my numbers: Freq-R/L 500- 50/60, 1k- 60/70, 2k- 50/70, 3k- 50/55, 4k- 45/60, 6k- 40/40

I don't like it, but understand that I'll need a occluded mold. I'd really love to avoid a power receiver for the Audeo YES. Could a STD receiver be possible?

According to my iPFG graph you are inside the fitting range for a standard receiver.

You will still however need a power dome .. although being an insane sort of fitter I would try tulip domes with you too ... you never know, they MIGHT be fine! Only YOUR ears and brain can say what is acceptable!

You can always switch to power receivers in the future, should your hearing worsen.

As for that plugged feeling, that sounds like occlusion ... which should only happen for low frequency hearing losses of around 40dB or BETTER.

In other words you shouldn't really be experiencing much occlusion. So why are you??? Perhaps your low frequency hearing is a fraction better than your results indicate?

Think back: was there a lot of background noise during your hearing test? Clunking feet, road noise etc? Or do you have tinnitus which may have disturbed the testing?

Edit: And/or perhaps your aids are set to maximum Bass Boost thus acting a bit like occlusion?

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by EnglishDispenser

Err ... ummm ... I FIT hearing aids to others. In the UK we don't use the term 'audi'.

Here in the good old USA we call an "audiologist" an "audi" for short ... they are schooled and licensed and normally have from what I understand a Master's degree in the science field involving hearing loss. Here in California we also have licensed by the state Hearing Aid Dispensers ... basically salesmen selling and fitting hearing aids. I prefer going to an audiologist as they have more education and more understanding of and about hearing loss. My particular audi, who I have used for the first time getting my IX's, seems to be quite accomplished as far as I am concerned. She got my fitting correct on the first try. The only change that I went back to her for since was to return the Siemens I first tried and to send in one side for repair due to a static problem.

And I totally disagree on ignoring the high frequencies. With the Phonak YES IX and its frequency or sound recovery, I have enjoyed more sound than ever before, and also have a much higher comprehension rate which I attribute to hearing MORE, like the higher frequencies perhaps that I was missing before. I understand that those frequencies are not in the "normal" voice range ... but they sure must fall into the voice range of a manager at my job who has a very high pitched little girls voice that I can finally hear and understand for the first time in Don't be writing off those high frequencies so easily ... they may just come in useful after all.

I also have the power receivers and custom molds from Westone and find them much more comfortable than any of the multiple dome types my audi tried with me. They eliminated the stuffed feeling as well as constant feedback that the various domes introduced me to. You can see my audiogram in my profile if desired. But don't try to 2nd guess my audi ... she got it right on.

[EnglishDispenser]

Here in the good old USA we call an "audiologist" an "audi" for short ... they are schooled and licensed and normally have from what I understand a Master's degree in the science field involving hearing loss. Here in California we also have licensed by the state Hearing Aid Dispensers ... basically salesmen selling and fitting hearing aids.

Here in the UK our 'dispensers' lie halfway between the US 'audi' and 'fitter'. We need to be trained and registered - but the training is not to degree level.

A few of us have additional qualifications. I for example have a professional software status whilst another of the UK posters here has a medical background.

Don't be writing off those high frequencies so easily ... they may just come in useful after all.

True ... but I would rather use something like Sound Recover to do it rather than inject megawatts of high intensity high frequencies into the ear.

I also have the power receivers and custom molds from Westone and find them much more comfortable than any of the multiple dome types my audi tried with me.

Sounds like it worked out well for you. I have had less luck: ears which seem to 'push out' power domes also often seem to do the same with custom tips. You then need to add a concha lock ... which I don't think looks too great.

But don't try to 2nd guess my audi ... she got it right on.

OK

[ccvickers]

Originally Posted by EnglishDispenser

You will still however need a power dome .. although being an insane sort of fitter I would try tulip domes with you too ... you never know, they MIGHT be fine! Only YOUR ears and brain can say what is acceptable!

An "insane sort of fitter", that's what I want!!!! I'd be thrilled with a fitter that's game for experimentation and "thinking outside the box."

Originally Posted by EnglishDispenser

In other words you shouldn't really be experiencing much occlusion. So why are you??? Perhaps your low frequency hearing is a fraction better than your results indicate?

I have tinnitus and really struggle with the hearing test... even the 2 tone test that I just had for the first time. I can't hear the tones switch on, but I can sometimes hear them go off. If I concentrate, I end up focusing on the tinnitus. I usually end up totally drained at the end of the test.

Originally Posted by EnglishDispenser

And/or perhaps your aids are set to maximum Bass Boost thus acting a bit like occlusion?

Not sure about "bass boost" per se, but I ended up with HA volume that was excruciatingly loud and the audiologist said I needed to get used to it.

Thank you ED. I'll let the audiologist know that I don't mind buying the power receivers at a later time if she's willing to try the STD receiver initially. Maybe she'll be willing to "experiment" a little if she see's I'm all for it.