Frustrated with my audiologist

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punkinbee59

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I'm now wearing my Phonak PPCL4 - SUPER FRONT BTE (programmable analog) which I bought in 2008. I know what I hear, how I hear, what I want to hear. I know that analogs help me hear things better than digital. I don't need to hear the same old wheeze that digital is better! And my poor aids (I bought a backup with my other one) are now on the crapola. It sounds like someone just stuffed a wet cotton ball in my aids! I'm kinda on the fence on getting it repaired or get a new one. If to get a new one, I'd like know which manufacturer still makes analogs. I know that Oticon, Starkey, and I've also heard that Beltone (?) does this. (btw, I used to wear Beltone loooong ago, and they have the BEST sound quality that I've never been able to recapture again *sob*)


I've been with my audiologist for many years...and in the past 4-6 years he's been telling me that most manufacturers have digital hearing aids now, and there are less demand for analogs. I don't believe that, as I have *tried* digital for many years and my BIGGEST issue is the compression to prevent feedback. I've told him that I'm the one who had to live with my loss, and I know what I need to get the most out of sounds around me. I don't need him to tell ME what's best for my loss. I'm not sure this is true in what he said about this: our hearing is NOT linear; but the analog hearing aids are linear. Hmmm. Any truth to this?

He just called Starkey today to get the most powerful BTE (battery size 675) with linear/programming they have available.

Just to get the feeling how the hearing aid industry treats their HOH/deaf clients I found this, and I have to say it's mighty depressing! :shock:
Desperately Seeking...Analog Hearing Aids

profound loss in right ear-don't wear a hearing aid in that ear
severe loss of 85-90% loss in left ear, and is my 'best' ear to wear a hearing aid. The earmold I wear is a soft earmold to provide a tight acoustic seal to prevent feedback.
I don't have my audiograph at hand--sowwy!


Any inputs suggestions would be welcome! :D
 
Go to a different audiologist?

Try the digitals--they have improved quite a bit since 2008
 
I've tried analogs and digitals, personally I prefer the analogs, less fiddling with the sound. I'd rather just get ALL the sound without them blocking some it. I think it does block speech as well to some degree.

Bit that was when my loss was severe. Now that it's profound I don't think the pure amplification would help as much, everything would just be distorted. I could be wrong, bit that what I suspect.

I say stick to your guns. Stick with an analog, if the Audi won't help, find one who will. Supposedly digitals can be programmed to act like analogs, but why pay the extra $$ for digitals if you're going to turn it into an analog, know what I mean. But there is that option.
 
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I like analog HA better , I been having more trouble with my digital HA than I ever had with a HA and I been wearing a HA for about 60 years . I am use to the analog HA . I hate the push button on my HA , it get stuck when I have to change the setting to talk on the phone. It's hard to find a good audi today and now they have more than one office which made is harder to setup an appointment close to your home.
 
He isn't really wrong in any count.

Digitals are far more popular and have much greater availability, and analogs ARE strictly linear in amplification ability while your loss is almost certainly not linear.

I have a Phonak Naida Q90 and I have it programmed to be quite 'analog' in character -- the compression is turned down to the point of almost being off, all the fancy noise cancelling features are off in the default program, et cetera.

My opinion is that it's worth trying a digital aid programmed to emulate an analog aid. You then get many of the benefits of a digital aid like superior feedback control.
 
The year 2008 is caveman time in terms of today's hearing aid technology. Having said that you can try to bring your aid in for a cleaning and new tube(can't hurt).

And, the problem may, in fact, be with your ears. I'd head to the doctors(not an audiologist) to get a test.
 
VacationGuy234 said:
The year 2008 is caveman time in terms of today's hearing aid technology. Having said that you can try to bring your aid in for a cleaning and new tube(can't hurt).

And, the problem may, in fact, be with your ears. I'd head to the doctors(not an audiologist) to get a test.
Click to expand...

Audiologists are doctors...
 
Hmm I thought it was harder to find analog anywhere-- or if they are still out there- quite limited to who can have them anymore. I grew up with analog but now have digital. I don't know which is better- both have their plus and minus facts to them for me.

Seriously though if you are that frustrated with the audiologist- go seek a second opinion.

As for repair- depends on what needs to be repaired. You might wind up in a situation where the cost of repair(s) may outweigh just getting a new set. It's going to cost me 400-500 bucks to just recase the one hearing aid (the battery door is disintegrating)- never mind what else is wrong- probably needs cleaning again (Oil & dirt clogging the screens etc inside- biggest pain in the ass...).

Am about to go test out new hearing aids on Friday (and this time I'm demanding colors other than BEIGE! hmph).
 
im trying out a unitron digital (supposedly can be emulated to be analog but didnt like analog sound it produces) and ths HA sucks....indeed some speech clarity feature do surprisingly works but i hate the 'deadness' of the world around me....its dreadful, on other hand its good for the tinnitus not to be tickled into too much excitement but im not so sure.. i want to get another Sumo DM....like the 'awake rich sounds'....it has flaws but the flaw im willing to put up, not the flaws of feeling left out of the environment sounds, (to which makes me feel safer)......
Phonak, Widex Oh i loved the early Widex sounds..grunty! and the Audi seems to act like a sleazy salesman prick, i dont trust me, and also 4 other deafies i know locally , most of whom are my friends says they disappointed with him, as he thinks know all the answers on what sound WE want......grrr
 
VacationGuy234 said:
The year 2008 is caveman time in terms of today's hearing aid technology. Having said that you can try to bring your aid in for a cleaning and new tube(can't hurt).

And, the problem may, in fact, be with your ears. I'd head to the doctors(not an audiologist) to get a test.
Click to expand...


What kind of test?


Sent from my iPhone using AllDeaf
 
Since it's your money, I'd opt for analogs. I'm still convinced that I heard better with analogs but unfortunately for me, mine are now crap as they no longer work. Starkey did still make (huge) hearing aids as of 11/2011 when I was debating this purchase. Parts for cleaning and repairs will be difficult to find and perhaps costly but if you're willing to take a chance, look around for audi that sells Starkey. I don't think Beltone is as strong as Starkey...but you might try Costco just to see what they off. You could be surprised. Whatever you do, don't by Starkey digital. I made that mistake thinking it'd be as good as the analog models and it was an awful and costly waste of money. Widex digital comes the closest, for me, to matching analog.

Laura
 
Audiologists can have either an M.S. or an AuD. degree. AuD is the more recent trend and you will probably find most new audiologists have this degree, but you can practice with an M.S. In any case, audiologists that are doctors are most likely not doctors of medicine.
 
Grummer said:
im trying out a unitron digital (supposedly can be emulated to be analog but didnt like analog sound it produces) and ths HA sucks....indeed some speech clarity feature do surprisingly works but i hate the 'deadness' of the world around me....its dreadful, on other hand its good for the tinnitus not to be tickled into too much excitement but im not so sure.. i want to get another Sumo DM....like the 'awake rich sounds'....it has flaws but the flaw im willing to put up, not the flaws of feeling left out of the environment sounds, (to which makes me feel safer)......
Phonak, Widex Oh i loved the early Widex sounds..grunty! and the Audi seems to act like a sleazy salesman prick, i dont trust me, and also 4 other deafies i know locally , most of whom are my friends says they disappointed with him, as he thinks know all the answers on what sound WE want......grrr
Click to expand...

so you confidental level your made of so what so somebody how do know made of you. so doctor you not think so not worry yourself, I think so problem on audiologist is very issues about to whether quality.
. I am experience to oral,experience, retired to audiogist knew trust to me I believe audigoist is very doesnt work not doing help for me. audigiosit doesnt work fit to problem me It stranger. I dont need to audiogist for what for need for information discosulse i do what nothing. however to strong information level specialist made sense to deaf community. unfortunate . it sense to me wellness I elimation. . I think so problem AG bell is serious odd. I don't need to support to asssessment to some SPARC odd twice to again I think so problem audiogist serious. so what nothing, you will failure audiolgist.
 
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Ok, so far I've tried out 6 digitals, the best one (even with compression) is the Siemens Nitro
Nitro Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids - Siemens Hearing Instruments

My audi says that most strong digitals have, is at the highest level of 140dB. That's about as much he could give me without feedback. But I'm not getting this big deal about compression.

hazridi: I have a Phonak Naida Q90 and I have it programmed to be quite 'analog' in character -- the compression is turned down to the point of almost being off, all the fancy noise cancelling features are off in the default program, et cetera.
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hah~ I tried Phonak Naida last week and retried again to compare with Siemens, Siemens won. The compression was pretty much out of Phonak, but it still sucks. But I might try getting the fancy stuff off the program in the Siemens.

ok, I've tried 2 Unitrons, 1 Starkey, 1 Phonak, and now Siemens. I don't think I've tried the Oticon Sumo DM or the Widex (which is the strongest Widex) *sigh*

other than that, any hearing aids that I haven't tried so far..?? Are there hearing aids that have over 140 dB?

My audi can't promise me anything, but he'll try to find a programmable analog (hah..good luck to him.) but I'm seeing the same kind of hearing aid I'm wearing now on Ebay, but I don't trust the fact it may NOT be 'new' but refurbished and sold at ridiculous prices. :roll:

*headdesk* trying on hearing aid is a PITA! :mad2:
 
It is, no doubt.

I was actually not a big fan of the Naida for quite some time, but it's Phonak and therefore compatible with my AB implant so I am sticking with it.

Try the Widex, I always really loved their sound quality. But you aren't going to get more than 144 dB SPL to be honest, that is pretty much the most you can do without massive feedback no matter the HA.
 
Wirelessly posted

Are there any HAs with blue tooth capability? I'm hoping they come out with one.
 
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