I need help choosing a hearing aid for son

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tahila

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Hi everyone! I need help in choosing new hearing aids for my son. I am having trouble finding reliabilty reports on hearing aids, which of course is very important to me. My son is 14 and has been hearing impaired since birth. His first set of aids were phonak analog aids.....which he hated. His current hearing aids are widex senso BTE #C8 and they are close to 8 years old. He loves them and they have been very reliable. They are working fine but do to age I would like to replace them. I was looking at the Widex Diva or the phonak naida. I like the phonak naida but I am unsure about reliablity. Does anyone know how reliable Phonak is? I know that the Widex Diva is a little old now and they are more money then the Phonak Naida. I will be financing the whole amount. Please any suggestions here. I asked the audi. but he could not say one was more reliable then the other....ya right. Thanks everyone!!! :wave:
 
I wish I would know. But I am sure everyone will answer your questions. Hope it will help! :)

tahila said:
Hi everyone! I need help in choosing new hearing aids for my son. I am having trouble finding reliabilty reports on hearing aids, which of course is very important to me. My son is 14 and has been hearing impaired since birth. His first set of aids were phonak analog aids.....which he hated. His current hearing aids are widex senso BTE #C8 and they are close to 8 years old. He loves them and they have been very reliable. They are working fine but do to age I would like to replace them. I was looking at the Widex Diva or the phonak naida. I like the phonak naida but I am unsure about reliablity. Does anyone know how reliable Phonak is? I know that the Widex Diva is a little old now and they are more money then the Phonak Naida. I will be financing the whole amount. Please any suggestions here. I asked the audi. but he could not say one was more reliable then the other....ya right. Thanks everyone!!! :wave:
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There is a whole thread here devoted to Phonak Naida. These are not what I have, so not personal experience, but if you look up this thread it seems they are not perfect yet.
 
Hi Tahila, I am wearing phonak analog like your son. They are not perfect for me. I guess you can get different audiologist for your son. I heard phonak naida is the best at power. It's digital. They have a color BTE for your son's favorite color he want. I never hear of Widex Diva. You will figure it out some people do have phonak naida. I am sure they will help you. Hope it's help! :)
 
Mod's Note;

The thread is moved to it's proper location.

Please continue. :)
 
Couldn't you ask them for trying out several hearing aids(loaners)? I think they required you to buy a new earmold. I have tried several hearing aids back in college to decide on which one I like. I think the audiologist goes by the tests to decide on what hearing aid one should have.
 
From many others' opinion Oticon makes durable HA's. I do not endorse any particular brand. I do wear Oticon HA's, never a problems yet. I feel it is tough question to ask because: 1- most people don't go through a lot of brands enough to be able to give personal educated opinion, because the cost is just too high to experience the technology with every brand. 2- Audiologists will likely endorse one over another d/t contractual agreements or allowance from company. 3- EVERYBODY is different and I feel (my own uneducated guess) that some technology differences in brands may assist a person precisely better than another. (I'd love to meet the person THAT knowledgeable)

First get an updated audiogram, speech discrimination % aided and unaided, etc then see what Audi says what "technology" or better word power in each band. Then if you are determined enough you could investigate this recommendation and compare across the spectrum of brands and prices. A lot of people here to give wonderful opinions, likely much different than my own. Saying that- there is more than one reliable brand. Don't be afraid to make sure you take in consideration what your son wants and with all those investments of time and research you could feel good about your decision. OK, nuff hot air from me
 
Couldn't you ask them for trying out several hearing aids(loaners)?
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That's prolly the best course of action. Everyone's different and responds to hearing aids differently. However, a VERY important word of advice...........Stick with BTEs. Generally ITEs and other dinky aids don't have enough power for more then mild losses.
 
tahila said:
Hi everyone! I need help in choosing new hearing aids for my son. I am having trouble finding reliabilty reports on hearing aids, which of course is very important to me. My son is 14 and has been hearing impaired since birth. His first set of aids were phonak analog aids.....which he hated. His current hearing aids are widex senso BTE #C8 and they are close to 8 years old. He loves them and they have been very reliable. They are working fine but do to age I would like to replace them. I was looking at the Widex Diva or the phonak naida. I like the phonak naida but I am unsure about reliablity. Does anyone know how reliable Phonak is? I know that the Widex Diva is a little old now and they are more money then the Phonak Naida. I will be financing the whole amount. Please any suggestions here. I asked the audi. but he could not say one was more reliable then the other....ya right. Thanks everyone!!! :wave:
Click to expand...
Take your son to audiology testing then ask the audiologist to provide you the option of hearing aids available. I have the whole in the ear canal on my left ear which is suitable for my age over 21.
 
tahila said:
Hi everyone! I need help in choosing new hearing aids for my son. I am having trouble finding reliabilty reports on hearing aids, which of course is very important to me. My son is 14 and has been hearing impaired since birth. His first set of aids were phonak analog aids.....which he hated. His current hearing aids are widex senso BTE #C8 and they are close to 8 years old. He loves them and they have been very reliable. They are working fine but do to age I would like to replace them. I was looking at the Widex Diva or the phonak naida. I like the phonak naida but I am unsure about reliablity. Does anyone know how reliable Phonak is? I know that the Widex Diva is a little old now and they are more money then the Phonak Naida. I will be financing the whole amount. Please any suggestions here. I asked the audi. but he could not say one was more reliable then the other....ya right. Thanks everyone!!! :wave:
Click to expand...

There is thread with many posts regarding the phonak naida. Seems like CDMeggers, and JennyB are the Naida specialits, might do some good to ask them about the Naida and quality and also read the posts in the 'Phonak Naida' thread. ok
 
Jenny is more of the expert with the Naida than I am, as I haven't even worn the Naida for over a month now. But when I did wear it for a short while, I wasn't really all that pleased with it. But then, there were some bugs and glitches. I don't know if the Naida is any better now.

In response to the original poster, I've always worn Phonak hearing aids since I was 2, and never had a problem until I tried out the Naida (brand new, fresh out of the market). I've gotten new digital hearing aids before that were BRAND new and fresh out, and never had a problem with them, so why the Naida was so buggy, I do not know. But I was pretty disappointed.

I have no knowledge of the Widex hearing aids, so cannot be of any help there.
 
Thanks to everyone that replied! The audie gave us three choices: Oticon Vigo, Widex Diva and Phonak Naida. I am not liking too much of what I am hearing about the Phonak Naida. I was thinking about getting two more opinions before I make a choice. The audie is also telling me they only have one year manufacture warranty, which I don't like.
 
Don't know about that one, since I have a 3 year warranty on my Phonak Naida UP aids. Maybe your dispenser will only cover 1 year.....I know the aids can be a little bit difficult to adjust if the dispenser does not have the proper training for fitting the aids. I have 2 aids.....so far there has not been any issues. I am still making adjustments to these aids, though they are getting better every time. Hopefully you have found a good hearing aid.....not sure if you have seen the stuff the Phonak Naida does.......along with some of the accessories that help complement the aids:

Naída Phonak - Adult

Good Luck!!
 
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