For the fourth time, I've had to send my aids to Colorado for repair, tho I expect it's really replacement. Can't seem to get a year out of a pair, either rechargeable battery failure or speaker goes fuzzy/distorted. They're Phonak's.

Questions:

1. Anybody have another brand and/or better luck?

2. Can I request a different brand or model?

3. What are the odds I can get an extra set to cover the 10 days or 2 weeks they're gone?

Answers:

1. I have Phonak. Can't speak to their reliability or longevity, I've had them for less than two weeks, but their performance so far seems to be head and shoulders above the Costco's best (Jabra) that I was using before.
   
   
2. Yes, you can. I went in requesting Oticon, per recommendations of ensigmatic and a few other people. VA Audiologist said that she could order those if I insisted, but she urged me to get the Phonaks, stating that they were better suite for my extreme hearing loss. She said that if I was unhappy with the Phonaks, she could order Oticon for me.
   
   
3. No idea, but I bet not likely. I still have my Costco Jabras for back-up.

You might want to check out a pair of Apple Air Pods Pro 3, they have a "hearing aid" feature, you open the app, it runs a diagnostic of you hearing and determines if it can help.

My neighbor always takes his out after a day of work because his $$$$ aids hurt, then he can't hear jack shidt. So I got him to go pick up a set and he says they actually work really well, he's able to hear people talk, they cut out ambient noise such as a lawn crew working.

They are on sale at Costco for $199 and include two years free apple care.

https://www.costco.com/p/-/app...applecare/4000404510

This would over the 10 days and provide you with an alternative as well as backup..

You can get them elsewhere for $249

Just had a hearing aid conversation with Dayton VA. I want to replace my Oticons (which are hard to tune to my loss) that are easily dislodged when I remove my glasses, with inside the ear types.
No joy. I was told they can only replace my current Oticons after I have had them 5 years. Only been 2 years so far.
Going back later this month to try and fine tune the Oticons.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
You might want to check out a pair of Apple Air Pods Pro 3, they have a "hearing aid" feature, you open the app, it runs a diagnostic of you hearing and determines if it can help.

This would over the 10 days and provide you with an alternative as well as backup..

You can get them elsewhere for $249

I'm guessing this option would require pairing to an iPhone for running the app? I'm an Android fanboi...

PHPaul

My dad went through a few pairs before he found a pair that was halfway decent. I know it took a few visits and conversations with the VA in Gainesville.

It sounds like you are having the same problems he did.

I just spoke with my mom about 20mins ago, and she told me he was out running errands.

I was call this evening and see if he or my mom can ascertain what model or brand he has.

quote:

Originally posted by mrapteam666:

I was call this evening and see if he or my mom can ascertain what model or brand he has.

Thanks, much appreciated.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
You might want to check out a pair of Apple Air Pods Pro 3, they have a "hearing aid" feature, you open the app, it runs a diagnostic of you hearing and determines if it can help.

This would over the 10 days and provide you with an alternative as well as backup..

You can get them elsewhere for $249

I'm guessing this option would require pairing to an iPhone for running the app? I'm an Android fanboi...

True enough, you'd need an iDevice too...

I have had the Phonak for about 2 years. They are my first hearing aids. No battery replacement, I just charge them up at night. I was apprehensive about getting hearing aids, but these are so comfortable I forget they are in.

Lock N Load

Michael
USMC Ret

quote:

Originally posted by specter77:
I have had the Phonak for about 2 years. They are my first hearing aids. No battery replacement, I just charge them up at night. I was apprehensive about getting hearing aids, but these are so comfortable I forget they are in.

Lock N Load

Mine are rechargeable but after x number of charge cycles, the internal battery won't take another charge.

Lately, the left unit (my worst ear) has been starting off fine but after about 10 minutes the speaker goes all fuzzy and distorted. Take it out, power cycle it, put it back in, it's fine. For about 10 minutes...rinse, repeat.

They are comfortable and when they're working I forget I have them in. When they don't work, they're a pain in the ass.

So the VA community care years ago gave me "in the ear" hearing aids which not only didn't work, but I sweat so much they would die. as this happened after the 90 days I had to buy a set.

I purchased over the ear hearing aids from Costco, and when it was time for me to get new hearing aids from the VA their audiologist said I didn't qualify for hearing aids as my hearing loss wasn't hearing loss, but rather "threshold Shift" which was bull as threshold shift goes away. So another pair of Costco hearing aids.

eight years ago I had the VA send me to their community care contractor who said I need hearing aides and set me up with Phonak hearing aids which just don't work well for me as they tend to want to amplify the loudest sound and not the sound I am trying to hear (loud talking at the other end of a room instead of the conversation right in front of me).

I am going back to the community care later this month and will probably get another set of hearing aids, but now there is a device I can set in the middle of table in a restaurant to ensure the sounds around that table are what is prominent.

quote:

Originally posted by lizardman_u:

Phonak hearing aids which just don't work well for me as they tend to want to amplify the loudest sound and not the sound I am trying to hear (loud talking at the other end of a room instead of the conversation right in front of me) ... now there is a device I can set in the middle of table in a restaurant to ensure the sounds around that table are what is prominent.

I was given a "Roger" device that couples to my Phonaks. it has several modes including the table-top mode for listening to a group, and the pointer mode for isolating one person. I haven't had the opportunity to try this in a noisy restaurant yet as I have only had the Phonaks for less than two weeks.

Tomorrow will be the first test. I'm meeting ArtieS and TonyBen for the Veteran Day lunch at Mission BBQ. There will probably be a noticeable level of background noise, restaurant clatter, conversations, laughing, etc., so this shoul be a good test. I'll report back tomorrow afternoon or evening.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

I'm guessing this option [Apple AirPods] would require pairing to an iPhone for running the app? I'm an Android fanboi...

True enough, you'd need an iDevice too...

Not necessarily. There are a few Android apps that will get most of the AirPod features. The main one that Android won't handle is the occasional firmware update, but an Apple store will do that for you at no cost.

Suggestion: Try the AirPods. If they don't do the job for you, they can be returned for a full refund.

I've had Widex hearing aids for about twelve years now, and I'm happy with their performance.
I had rechargeable batteries for about a year of that time. After a year, they wouldn't hold a charge any longer.
The rechargeables were exactly the same size as the zinc-air disposable batteries, so I went back to using those. To me, it's not a big deal to change the batteries once a week or so.

I’m on my 2nd pair of VA issued Oticon hearing aids, and have not had battery or other issues with them as long as I change out the wax shields and domes occasionally.

I had over the ear ones for 8 yrs., Went in when my left quit working and got the Resound in the ear ones. I've been wearing them for about 2 years and love them. I put mine in about 6a.m. and take them out about 9p.m. and the mold they used to make them was perfect. No pain whatsoever!

Got a phonak for the left one during Covid. I rarely wear it because I don’t go out much. It’s still good, charges fine. I’m not looking forward to going back if I ever need a new one.

My experience with the VA has been just a pile of steaming shit.

Sorry, it took me so long to get back to the board.
(The other half brought home Chinese, and I overindulged and fell asleep.)

My dad has the same brand as MikeinNC.
He says they are okay. I know he took them back a couple of times and these are the better of them.

He has been hit or miss with the audiology dept at the Gainesville, FL VA.



He stated he has had them for about 4+ years and he has an appt. with audiology coming up.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

I'm guessing this option [Apple AirPods] would require pairing to an iPhone for running the app? I'm an Android fanboi...

True enough, you'd need an iDevice too...

Not necessarily. There are a few Android apps that will get most of the AirPod features. The main one that Android won't handle is the occasional firmware update, but an Apple store will do that for you at no cost.

Suggestion: Try the AirPods. If they don't do the job for you, they can be returned for a full refund.

I stand corrected.... GoogleFu says:

No, you do not need an iPhone to use Apple AirPods. AirPods function as standard wireless Bluetooth headphones and can pair with non-Apple devices such as Android phones, Windows PCs, and Chromebooks.

How to Pair AirPods with a Non-Apple Device

1. Put your AirPods into their charging case and open the lid.
2. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light begins flashing white.
3. Open the Bluetooth settings menu on your phone, tablet, or computer and select your Apple AirPods from the list of available devices.

What Features You Lose Without an iPhone

While you can listen to audio and make phone calls, pairing AirPods with a non-Apple device means you will miss out on ecosystem-specific features, including:
• Seamless pairing and auto-switching between Apple devices.
• Spatial Audio tracking and head-tracking features.
• Siri voice control integration.
• Find My tracking capabilities.
• Automatic ear detection (auto-pause/resume).
• Native battery level indicators on the screen (though third-party apps can display this on Android

My local VA doc said when I went in for a checkup
(do you have a backup pair of aids?)

So now I have 2 pair of Oticon aids.
The fine tuning from the doc could be a bit better, but both pairs work fine.

Bob