My new Unitron 360e...

P

Phi4Sius

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To say I'm excited and pleased with the initial results of my fitting is an understatement.

My speech discrimination has shot WAY UP and I can more easily interpret differences between different sounds. I no longer have trouble with certain accents. Case in point. A VM on my phone, I could barely understand the lady that left it because of the accent. Now, I pick up every word of the message perfectly. Pitch, harmony, melody, and lyrics are FAR EASIER to discern in music. It's like going from underwater for a long time into the bright sunlight.

So long as this hearing aid holds out like this over the next 30 days I'm keeping this one.

Obviously a few more adjustments will be necessary.

I haven't heard like this in months!!!!
 
I am SOOOO excited with my hearing today.

I can't believe much better and clearer my hearing has gotten just since I got this hearing aid.

I'll provide a more detailed post as I start to use it more and get more acquainted with it.

So far I'm lovin' this thing.

:D :shock: :D :D :D

:) :) :) :) :)
 
Im so happy for you! Did you get any new audiograms? What % is your speech up to now and what was it before?
 
That great.

Happy for you.

Please keep updating us and provide more details.


GOOD luck
:P
 
So far this thing is holding up well.

Went to work out at the gym tonight for the first time in awhile. After sweating profusely for a bit during cardio (after warmup) and sweating for a bit after my work out this hearing aid hasn't quit yet.

Here's hoping this hearing aid continues like this so I can start regular work outs again!!! Totally lovin' it so far!!! The "enviro-tough" construction is great!!!! :D
 
is that an analog HA? you know i could have got it too, 2 yearsa go, but the audis at hossy seem pushy /strategic towards the Sumo DM... but thats mainly because i had a real bad case of tinnitus.... it was to hard to say... but now I think after reading your raves, I think I might like to reconsider this option... also am in the midst of the waiting list for a CI - another year away... but i can not know what is the best option unless i try it now (the unitron analog, for that the tinnitus is getting down good....stablised...)and another attractive thing abotu unitron its the price $500 bucks cheap! and they do have good solid realibility in reputation too. so soon next month id try arrange a trial for this analog option. I have had used Oticon analog for a loooong time and liked it, its a real shame why all this banging ons bullshit about the greats of digitals... just more complication not needed. Hell my stereo is all analog (except the DAC taking from digital CDs...but in the whole its analog because my particular DAC (Digital/Analog Convertor box) is a inheriently an analog-based logic schematic in theory and practice and its proven. This particular model is so damn good, brings out music with the richness of the old vinyls LPs.., yet with the smoothness of CD...so from this experience i can appreciate how the 'new' revision of analog engineering have came a long way too. To be frank im a little scared of going to CI option, mainly (has been discussed in another thread, closely following this one) that the uneasy part about having to consider CI for the good ear, due to the bad ear have had nerves 'died out' , yet some members have proven this to be false as well !!...
So to ease all the shit, (and tinnitus, AND that i've been using digital since 2002, and had 2 bouts of long lasting tinnitus like 2 years TWICE!, im getting fed up with it and I suspect my brain/ear doesnt like Digitals it (may) seem to prefer to work out sounds on its onw natural , albiet straight amplified signals..

yeah
Im Very pleased for you Phi4Sius, truely I am, despite i dont even know you as does many members (theres a few good 'friends' but need more developing a relationship so i to know more than 4 (thats all i know quite 'well'...but anyway... back to this reply)
and that im pleased you have proved them wrong (and me 'right' in a way that I have been wondering about all this for a long time but i dismissed it thinking i gone mad with this over analysing and that audis and other people kind of arent very switched on - like they are trained to only think in ONE way, digital everything, and user-pay everything, PC-everything oh fuck i get sick of it eh....see my point?! i think you do

anyways to sign off, I AM glad you shared this, it is truly a good find as does it is sorely needed !!!, I know CIs are great for some... but my hunch hmmm i dunno....id rather explore a little more before i make a regretful decision....and theres newer technology on the way even its 5-10-15 years down the track....but main thing (like many people have replied to you) is to be happy and comfortable with a decision made, and that's is exactly what I need to do too.
Peace out
 
Hello Grummer!

No. The Unitron 360e is a digital hearing aid. I went back to digital at the recommendation of my audiologist after experiencing quite a few issues with my Unitron US80-PP (which was the analog). At first when I went back to analog, the analog was great, but then I noticed a few issues which presented themselves after having gotten used to it. It was very "boomy", there was an "occlusion" effect (all sounds came in at the same loudness, very hard time understanding in groups, noise, etc.). This presented more problems than than they ended up solving. For example, if I would activate my car alarm, the beep would cause a weird vibratory sensation in my ear. With this new digital, it doesn't and I actually hear it vs. getting a weird vibratory sensation. Same thing with the loud beeps coming from the grocery scanning device at the grocery store, and other sounds. In addition, the analog added significantly more audiological "substance" to most sounds which only detracted from the quality of sound and ended up making things more difficult to discern. I think many of my frustrations with this analog occurred more due to the fact that it was more powerful than I needed rather than the analog format itself. With a more accurate fitting, analog will probably be better for some people than digital.

The big difference between my analog and the digital 360e is that there is about 2000 extra Hz of amplifiable frequencies in the 360e. So, 4000 Hz in my analog vs. 6000 Hz in this digital. Already after only a couple of days there is a major difference.

After returning to this digital there is a world of difference. My speech discrimination has shot up DRAMATICALLY, and especially listening to people over the phone. My own voice is a lot quieter, etc.

The analog really wasn't working as well as I liked after wearing a digital for five years. I think it was due to the fact that at first, it sounded awesome but then after getting used to it I started noticing drawbacks. Not to say that it won't work for you. But, the analog I was using (the Unitron US80-PP) just didn't cut it and probably detracted more from my hearing than helped it.
 
The Theory

The theory with digital HA's is that by incorporating computer technolgy in the aid the sound can be both clearer(No distortion) & taylor with moe precission to you loss.
 
C-NICE- It's not exactly theory in terms of my use. I can turn the volume up if I need to with no distortion now - everything stays clear. Yay :D
 
Phi4Sius said:
C-NICE- It's not exactly theory in terms of my use. I can turn the volume up if I need to with no distortion now - everything stays clear. Yay :D
Click to expand...

:D:D:D:D Way to go digital! Havent seen you on AIM in a while. Also there's alot of other threads about stem cells and such with replies you haven't read yet. When's your next audie appointment for an unaided/aided audiogram?
 
Phi4Sius said:
Hello Grummer!

No. The Unitron 360e is a digital hearing aid. I went back to digital at the recommendation of my audiologist after experiencing quite a few issues with my Unitron US80-PP (which was the analog). At first when I went back to analog, the analog was great, but then I noticed a few issues which presented themselves after having gotten used to it. It was very "boomy", there was an "occlusion" effect (all sounds came in at the same loudness, very hard time understanding in groups, noise, etc.). This presented more problems than than they ended up solving. For example, if I would activate my car alarm, the beep would cause a weird vibratory sensation in my ear. With this new digital, it doesn't and I actually hear it vs. getting a weird vibratory sensation. Same thing with the loud beeps coming from the grocery scanning device at the grocery store, and other sounds. In addition, the analog added significantly more audiological "substance" to most sounds which only detracted from the quality of sound and ended up making things more difficult to discern. I think many of my frustrations with this analog occurred more due to the fact that it was more powerful than I needed rather than the analog format itself. With a more accurate fitting, analog will probably be better for some people than digital.

The big difference between my analog and the digital 360e is that there is about 2000 extra Hz of amplifiable frequencies in the 360e. So, 4000 Hz in my analog vs. 6000 Hz in this digital. Already after only a couple of days there is a major difference.

After returning to this digital there is a world of difference. My speech discrimination has shot up DRAMATICALLY, and especially listening to people over the phone. My own voice is a lot quieter, etc.

The analog really wasn't working as well as I liked after wearing a digital for five years. I think it was due to the fact that at first, it sounded awesome but then after getting used to it I started noticing drawbacks. Not to say that it won't work for you. But, the analog I was using (the Unitron US80-PP) just didn't cut it and probably detracted more from my hearing than helped it.
Click to expand...

Ah, to my embarrassment I didnt bother clicking on your provided hotlink, I just flatly assumed it was an analog. But your description of analog and how digital is better is well founded, i totally understand, MAYBE I ought to seek to trial this one too and if this benefits me more than the SumoDM, id keep the sumo in trhe drawer as spare...
and indeed try out that analog so I actually would know for sure what works for me and what dont BEFORE going ahead with CI...(just not that keen on wires, operations, nerves interferece(often irreversiable) etcc....)
cheers
 
So far, huge benefits:

1. No more over amplification, which is what was provided with the previous analog. That was getting to be a nuisance and it did NOT help my ability to discriminate in noise. Case in point: certain sounds like my car alarm beeping when activated or a beep from the product scanner at the supermarket would cause a vibratory sensation with my US80-PP. Not anymore - I actually hear all of these types of sounds vs. having a vibratory sensation.

2. Music is about 1,000 times better, smoother, and I can discriminate pitch much MUCH better than I was able to with my analog.

3. As my ear is adapting more to the digital signal, I'm noticing more sounds that I hadn't had before with the analog (which would make sense considering that I've moved up to a 6000 Hz HA vs. a 4000 Hz HA).

4. My discrimination in noise has shot WAY UP.

One more...

5. My desire to promote and debate stem cells has gone down in proportion with my increased hearing ability. (kidding) ;)

Further showing that more amplification + insane gains are not always going to help. It's all in the appropriate hearing aid fitting made by my audiologist. So far, I'm thrilled.

The only drawback is that my ear has had over amplification for so long that getting used to the quieter signal has been a challenge. So far, it's going well and I'm experiencing improvement in clarity every day! :)
 
Well, youve proven that the right HAs can make a big difference. I just don't understand why others don't make the effort like you and I do. I discussed this with my dad and I am going to try other HAs. I know it won't offer more amplification but perhaps it could give me more clarity like your HAs did. Amplification is important but once you max that out, clarity becomes just as important as you have proven!

For those who argue that you can't judge someone's hearing by audiogram, I disagree. If this was true, I would be hearing as well as Phi4sius but I don't! That's because audiogram does matter! I have alot less residual hearing! I could still get more benefit from a different HA, perhaps one with transposition to below 1000Hz where I have more residual hearing.
 
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