Which CI is the BEST?

LadySekhmet said:
Is that the same for AB and Med El?

I remember when I first was activated, I could NOT hear the beeps at all. Finally, my audiologist turned up the beeping sound. Man it drove me crazy having to keep looking at the LCD!

I DO wish that they would have some sort of indigo light for night time just in case, ya know?
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Lady,

I'm not sure about Med-El or AB. Perhaps someone else could answer that question.

In regards to the beeps, if I remember correctly, it took me 6 months before I could hear them. My CI audi told me it's not uncommon for many CI users to be unable to hear the beeps so soon after activation. Also regarding the beep tones -- I think the frequency can also be changed from high to low and vice versa.

I really like your idea of an indigo light. What a clever suggestion. :)
 
Hear Again said:
In regards to the beeps, if I remember correctly, it took me 6 months before I could hear them. My CI audi told me it's not uncommon for many CI users to be unable to hear the beeps so soon after activation. Also regarding the beep tones -- I think the frequency can also be changed from high to low and vice versa.
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I haven't heard mine yet.
 
overthepond said:
I haven't heard mine yet.
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I heard them just few days ago..and before that , I was driven crazy!!

Also..are always the beeps just before CI dies? I was so used for my HA to beep all day to change the battery , before it completely died down! :shock: so , it STILL drives me crazy..I always have batteries with me..but I am afraid to change it somewhere with a lot of people..they can swipe it easily..

*sigh*

For the phones..yes I had a lot of problems..I never had done research on that though..but by luck , I also have a LG ..loud and clear as anything!! :shock: and I can upgrade in a few months..

LadySehkmet..indigo light..LOL!! Why don't you buy this thing for night locating your glasses / things ? I have one..

As for which CI is best..I chose mine b/c my surgeon was more expert with Cochlear..I did not want to have any risks!! But after reading that thread I feel happy with my choice!!
 
LadySekhmet said:
Is that the same for AB and Med El?

I remember when I first was activated, I could NOT hear the beeps at all. Finally, my audiologist turned up the beeping sound. Man it drove me crazy having to keep looking at the LCD!

I DO wish that they would have some sort of indigo light for night time just in case, ya know?
Click to expand...

As far as I know AB does not have a beep feature, I am an AB user and asked about that when CI shopping. beeps would be nice for low battery, but in my HA days low battery beeps gave a warning of less than a minute, not too useful.

AB controls are very simple, much like a HA, rotating dial for volume, "a very tiny" switch for program select 1,2,3.

Cons- dial can be brushed and moved, you have to remember what program you are in or slide switch to 1 and reselect, never found it to be a problem in both cases.

Last trip to the audie we talked about controls and she hinted that the controls on the C can be a pain to toggle through programs and volume, etc and my require taking off to look at lcd. I know little about freedom controls, that knowledge maybe useful for those "shopping" if someone could inform us.

I love tech stuff but my thoughts were sometimes simple is better in a device that we depend on so much. Is that true?
 
kc said:
Cons- dial can be brushed and moved, you have to remember what program you are in or slide switch to 1 and reselect, never found it to be a problem in both cases.

Last trip to the audie we talked about controls and she hinted that the controls on the C can be a pain to toggle through programs and volume, etc and my require taking off to look at lcd. I know little about freedom controls, that knowledge maybe useful for those "shopping" if someone could inform us.

I love tech stuff but my thoughts were sometimes simple is better in a device that we depend on so much. Is that true?
Click to expand...

Hmm, I didn't realize that it could be brushed. Does it beep when it goes to a new program? That's what Freedom does. P1 beeps once, P2 beeps twice, and so on. It does beep a couple times when battery is dying. Then a few minutes later (honestly, i think it has to do with certain maps...stronger map, drain battery quickier), there's multiple beeps then battery dies. It does give me time to locate battery or to switch it out. Although a couple mins seems short, it's enough time.

Yeah, toggling the controls can be a slight pain, but you do get used to it because of the beeps. want to increase volume? Just hold until you hear beep, then click up or down.
Honestly, it does need a bit of work, but Freedom is trying to incorporate all different types of control abilities, and it's kind of hard to make it that simple.

The audiologist can turn off the ability to adjust volume and sensitivity. So, suppose if client likes to adjust the sensitivity, but no need to do for volume, she can turn off the volume, and all you can do is press the buttons for sensitivity. Same goes for volume.
 
Well..CI beeps twice..and then DIES..no sound at all..and at the LCD display..H1

It does not give a second warning..

That beep about the programs..I never had heard them..I always remove it when I want to change programs..I want to be sure about the program slot..

And I mainly use Auto..seems to help me hear better ..ADRO is a bit too crisp clearer though , but I feel better suited to Auto..But I feel good with both in certain situations..

Someone said that he had not much warning..weird! my old HA ( Widex ) could start beeping every 5-7 minuttes , and after an hour, the volume was decreased a little..Once , out of curiosity..I let it die completely..It was with a lot of beepings..annoyin though..to last a whole afternoon since the first beep, with a bit in volume decrease every 45 mins...So I felt a lot better for that..

I always am comfortable to switch batteries anywhere , but with CI am afraid they'll swipe it..
 
Hey Vivie,

Are you sure? yesterday my battery died, so there was beeping for a couple minutes before it beeped again, then battery died. Maybe the audiologist programmed that way...hmm I'll have to take a look at it.
 
LadySekhmet said:
Hey Vivie,

Are you sure? yesterday my battery died, so there was beeping for a couple minutes before it beeped again, then battery died. Maybe the audiologist programmed that way...hmm I'll have to take a look at it.
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no not audiologist. It's manufacturer's design.
 
LadySekhmet said:
Hey Vivie,

Are you sure? yesterday my battery died, so there was beeping for a couple minutes before it beeped again, then battery died. Maybe the audiologist programmed that way...hmm I'll have to take a look at it.
Click to expand...

Mine was same...
 
LadySekhmet said:
Hmm, I didn't realize that it could be brushed. Does it beep when it goes to a new program? That's what Freedom does. P1 beeps once, P2 beeps twice, and so on. It does beep a couple times when battery is dying. Then a few minutes later (honestly, i think it has to do with certain maps...stronger map, drain battery quickier), there's multiple beeps then battery dies. It does give me time to locate battery or to switch it out. Although a couple mins seems short, it's enough time.

Yeah, toggling the controls can be a slight pain, but you do get used to it because of the beeps. want to increase volume? Just hold until you hear beep, then click up or down.
Honestly, it does need a bit of work, but Freedom is trying to incorporate all different types of control abilities, and it's kind of hard to make it that simple.

The audiologist can turn off the ability to adjust volume and sensitivity. So, suppose if client likes to adjust the sensitivity, but no need to do for volume, she can turn off the volume, and all you can do is press the buttons for sensitivity. Same goes for volume.
Click to expand...

Volume control on the AB is a simple dial, scratch your head or put on a hat and you can "brush" the dial and change the setting. I think there is a software fix for that, "probably for children", never was an interest for that for me.

I would like to say that your review of devices was very very good, and this thread important, thank you to the person who started it.

Like all of you I first had to make the decision to get a CI, and then given three packet to choose a device, for me doctor and audies would not commit to which is "better". So to make one of the most important decision of your life, with little info and little time, I stalked places like this looking for real people feedback. So why you choose one device over another has always be of interest to me, with the goal to help the next person make an informed decision.
 
etalton said:
Thanks LadySekhmet,
That really helped me, too. I am just waiting on Tricare to find me a specialist that accepts said insurance before I go ahead with a CI. I have been through all the testing with my Military ENT and audiologist. These are the kinds of things I was hoping to find in this forum. I had already been to all three websites, but you have helped me narrow my own choices down. :ty:
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I have Tricare too. It will help for CI's insurance cover. I have to wait for my husband to finish with his college graduate. I will get CI. :)
 
LadySekhmet said:
Hey Vivie,

Are you sure? yesterday my battery died, so there was beeping for a couple minutes before it beeped again, then battery died. Maybe the audiologist programmed that way...hmm I'll have to take a look at it.
Click to expand...

Well I did mention that I heard the beeps just a couple weeks ago or something like that..maybe I haven't heard the first set of beeping..But I don't mind much..The trade off is great!

Since my haircut though I had no problems with CI :D just the odd tickling in the implant site..but I think it's quite normal...:lol:

Also , I do wonder if there was a simulation for CI..Someone at the Greek forum I frequent at , said he had done the simulation :shock::hmm: and you never say anything in here.. and that voices are always a bit metallic and no warmth or any feelings ..:roll: and that CI reaches only the 70% potential..

I don't know..It seems to me that he's over reacting a lot ...
 
The volume control on the AB can be deactivated by the audiologist so that if the dial is bumped it doesn't change the volume, but I would imagine that is mainly for little kids who play with the buttons. My daughter has a habit of running her fingers through her hair and hits that dial every time. I REALLY wish they had designed that better so that it would click into place when it was set so it wouldn't move around.

There are no beeps, though on my daughter's we have the firefly, which is a tiny light that blips green when it is working (so whenever there is a sound it blinks), and when the battery gets low it turns orange, and then goes to red when it dies. Not much help to the wearer, so I guess this is more of a pediatric feature too.

The t-mic is the only earhook we've ever used because it fits so much better than the others. It wraps around the ear and the microphone is right in front of the ear canal for more natural hearing. With the body worn it was on the headpiece.
 
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