Phi4Sius

So far, the move back to analog has been all kinds of awesome for me. Keep in mind that I have been wearing analog my whole life. I've been trying to get used to digital since 2003 with (what I now know are) very mixed results. Nothing ever sounded 100% right, but I would never have known this had I not put on my old analog aid the other week after my GN ReSound Canta 7 went bust.

Here's what I've been able to enjoy so far:

1. Everything (highs, mids, lows (if there are any as part of the sound) are soooooo crisp and clear. Nothing is blocked by dumb noise reduction programs.

2. I no longer have to use captions on the TV.

3. It does everything my old analog did...and more. It's louder, making things that much clearer. No distortion occurs.

4. Haven't tried it in a restaurant yet, but with echoey environments and the noisy environments I've been in, everything is soooo clear.

5. Music is phenomenal, e.g. while using headphones, I can hear cheers + whistles from the audience that I never heard with my digitals. I can also hear each execution of an "s" or "f" sound over head phones with no problem.

6. I'm sure my speech understanding just shot up to 100% from 85%, which is what it was according to the last audiogram taken while I was wearing my GN ReSound Canta 7 digital aid.

7. I no longer have to open the damned battery door to turn off the hearing aid. I have a switch. I actually have a freaking SWITCH!! YAY!

8. No more constant trips to the audiologist's office in order to update the software programming to adjust the sound quality of the hearing aid. The sound is 100% accurate right from the start.

Yeah I'm not going back to digital anytime soon. I haven't been this happy in a very long time.

Deafness

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Moon-child

Yay, I am happy for you, enjoy!

JamieLynn

I followed your other thread where you said you were having troubles with the new HA... I'm not an expert in that field at all so I left the thread open to others to help you.

I'm glad to read that your problem seems to be lifted now! Which of course is good news!

So happy for you!

JL

overthepond

Glad to hear that, Hope it contiunes to help you.

Lissa

im glad you like your hearing aid!

Phi4Sius

Thanks everyone. OMG...in noisy environments like in a restaurant I can TOTALLY hear speech clearly. I went to lunch today (chinese food) and I could hear the cashier perfectly without lipreading. This is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!

Moon-child

Wow! That is a wild thought, no wonder you are so excited!

deafdyke

Well it just goes to prove that the "most cutting edge technology" isn't the best for everyone.
I LOVE my digitals.....but I agree with you.......I hate having to open and shut the battery door to turn it off and on.

I Shed Misery

Dang, you're lucky. I wish I was in your shoes because I need new hearing aid SO BAD!

Good to hear you're happy.

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deafdude1

I just wanted to say wow! Ive shown my dad this and will be showing my audiologist this as well. What analog HA are you currently wearing? I might need to have a trial with the same HA you are wearing if you are getting such amazing results! You weren't hearing your best with the digital since some of the features are worse than useless. I feel the same, look how bad im hearing at 2000Hz, just 65db aided! I have 10db worse hearing from 1000Hz to 2000Hz, yet im hearing 25db worse aided? My digitals are probably blocking some of the gains in the higher frequencies as they did for you.

In about two weeks, they will be reprogrammed and hopefully I hear all that I can, else im going to have to try analogs. What brand and model do you have? Should I try your brand or go for the Oticon Sumo(analog version) Thanks for sharing your HA experience, me and others can learn what HAs will work to let us hear better as they did for you.

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My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

djchur

My hearing aids turn on and off by opening the battery doors too. It's such a pain. I broke one battery door by doing this while the HA was still on my ear. So now when I take them off at night I first switch them to the 'T' programme, so as not to disturb the rest of my family with the whistling. Yesterday morning when I put one HA in my ear I realised that I had left it on all night, I must have been really sleepy the night before. If I keep doing this I'm going to waste an awful lot of batteries!!

overthepond

I had same issue with battery door, I often had sailing crew mates waking me up saying that my HA is keeping them up. The HA slides freely in one wooden pocket and often when it hits one side the battery door closes. Since then I just take the battery out. But now i have analogue in one ear it got "proper" switch and CI in other ear.

Phi4Sius

@deafdude1 - The Unitron US80-PP is the model I'm using.

I should point out as well that it all depends on how one hears. I'm used to the linear processing of an analog hearing aid and so it's the best hearing aid for me (and it's why I'm getting such awesome results). Using the same hearing aid with someone that's not used to it could lead to opposite results. Digital processing just didn't provide the optimum benefits for me.

It's like putting a square peg in a round hole - some experimentation with different "round pegs" if you will may be needed to attain desired results.

john57

Phi4Sius

I believe that analog is working better for you not because you were "used" to it but by the kind of hearing loss you have. You said that you have been trying digital aids since 2003 if I read you correctly. That tells me no amount of training is going to help you to get more benefits from digital aids. The one benefit that I have heard from digital aids is better noise reduction in certain situations. However I like analog much better in quiet and for music.

Phi4Sius

@john57 - You're correct about me trying digital since '03.

However, for me, analog helps me in all situations rather than just quiet and with music. Although, I can see what you mean re: quiet situations and music. Both are significantly better. Analog seems to be helping me in all different situations, including in noise. Go figure.

overthepond

I have Unitron too... to compesate the low frequency with CI. Works well even i can hardly hear out of it... I often forget if it's on or off!! I only wear it when i am out and about.

deafdude1

I looked up your HA and it's great in high frequencies, about 10db more gain than my HAs but 10db worse in low frequencies. I can ask my audie about those HAs but the Oticon Sumo sounds like a much better bet since it has so much low frequency gains. I might not have enough residual high frequency hearing to benefit from your HAs. How useful is 80db gain at 2000Hz with a 120db loss? Probably not much, as my audiologist considers a loss of 120+ db to be useless and can't be touched by any HA.

I sure hope my audie can reprogram my Phonak Naida HA so im not missing out on any sounds like you were. Thanks again for your reply.

Oticon Sumo has an analog version with great low frequency gains, have you tried that yet? You aren't getting enough power if you can hardly even tell if your HA is on or off! Would you have prefered a CI in the other ear instead?

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My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

deafdyke

The one huge plus that I love abt digitals is that there's NO feedback!
But yeah....some of the features of digitals are freaking ANNOYING! I wonder if it's b/c they are designed mostly for old people or formally hearing people who want something that will appromitate what hearies hear. Like I think many people who've been dhh since childhood have adapted well to what analog aids can deliver.

overthepond

Deafdude... would love to have 2nd CI but NICE guidelines in UK only allows one per Adult, Stimiulatious bilateral for little ones.

We cannot just choose HA's in UK they only provide whats on NHS so we have to put up with what we have got. I do get enough power with HA but if i turn it up it physically hurts my ear.

My best friend had phonak super front plus all her life (she's 31) and loves it she had been told that she got to go onto new HA since they have stopped making parts for phonak. She is having assessment on tuesday (next week) for both ears. And isn't looking forward to it.

deafdude1

Who chose which ear for your CI? Would you have rather done the other ear instead? I know about only one CI, I am just wondering why you got the CI in the better ear and not the worse? If you saved the money and paid out of pocket, would the surgeon be willing to implant the other ear? If not, they will in America, just don't expect insurance to pay a dime.

Sounds like you either have recruitment or you have reached the pain threshold(120-130db SPL) See your audiologist, the HA needs to be programmed so that it never hurts your ear. My audiologist told me my HAs are programmed to be loud but not hurt and if they ever do to let him know immediately. The gains shouldn't be a problem, it's the SPL, that's also why he said a 120+ db HL is useless for any HA since youd reach the pain threshold by the time you start to hear anything.

My audiologist said it would take several months for me to get used to this new Phonak Naida HA after wearing the Widex Simens for 10 years. He was right but now im used to it.

Thanks for commenting on my blog, I will reply to your comment now, feel free to check my other blog entries and comment on them.

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My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

overthepond

The Surgeon and I chose mutally the better ear since it had stimiulation from wearing HA for long time. My left ear didn't have HA for 16 years until before i was implanted, the tinnitus became less noticable so they set it quite low enough for me to hear and not to set off the tinnitus so that at least i have some sounds while recovering from the op for 5 weeks until the switch on.
Funny enough you said it I forgot to ask my Audi to turn down my HA last fri. Will ask someone on friday anyway as i am doing the talk at my Centre.

Unfortuately with the pay i have i would never beable to afford CI. I am living comfortably but on bare minimum.

deafdude1

Ive been told that if you don't stimulate the auditory nerve for a long time(over 5 years) the nerve will start to atrophy and youll hear less with HA/CI. Could this be why your worse ear does so bad with HA? Would a CI ever give good results with a damaged auditory nerve? If not, maybe wait for technology that can repair/regenerate your auditory nerve then youd hear so much better with HA

(I left a comment in your blog in reply to the comment you left in my blog)

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My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

SkullChick

Ok now that's not true at all. I got my worse ear implanted that haven't been stimulated at all not for 1 second for 15 years. And I'm hearing at 15 db all across frequency for speech sound and 30 for pure tone beep (reason: can't tell diff between my tinitus or my body noise I was hungry that day so stomach was growling whole time) and the clarity is amazing, and I noticed great difference from the first few minutes after the activation, I didn't hear any beeping or fake electronic sound.
Care to explain this phenomenon?

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[Left Ear] Implanted 1/15/08 with Nucleus Freedom!
Activated 2/12/08 with Freedom BTE
Link for my Cochlear Implant
http://skullchick.blogspot.com
Link for my Blog unrelated to cochlear Implant
http://skullchickworld.blogspot.com

Phi4Sius

@deafdude1 - My audie has the same concerns which is why I hadn't tried an HA for my left ear. We'll see what happens to see if that info is true because my left ear has a 100 dB loss and above and it's been like that for 25 years. But, I still heard something when my audie did my last hearing test, which was pretty scary at first because it felt/sounded like a truck hitting the side of my head. We'll find out on Monday what will happen with an HA in that ear.

@SkullChick - Those are pretty amazing results. I'm interested in hearing more about this phenomenon and the explanation behind it. Here's hoping my ear's the same way when I get my left HA on Monday!!

BTW, @SkullChick - did you ever try a hearing aid in that ear before getting the CI?

deafdude1

Unfortunately some people get their better ear implanted for the only reason that their worse ear didn't have a HA for years. I am just saying I talked to one of the woman who has a CI blog and she said if you don't stimulate the auditory nerve for over 5 years it will begin to atropy then you won't have very good results with CI. You proved her wrong though. This also makes me believe no one should rush into a CI.


I am as curious as you. Even if the HA doesn't give you speech comphrension, no reason why you can't benefit from environmental sounds. And if it distracts from speech in the better ear, wear both HAs only when you aren't talking to anyone and turn the worse HA ear off when you talk. I am curious how well youll be aided with a 100+ db loss. You probably won't qualify for CI in any ear since your better ear already hears better than CI.

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My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

LuciaDisturbed

I am 28 and I have not worn a HA in either ear since I was 10. I was implanted in my left ear when I was 26 in October of 2006, so my left ear had not been stimulated for 16 years and I still got good results with my CI. I thought everything would beep beep beep when I was activated, but nope. I heard voices and many other sounds right away, could hear the sounds clearly. Maybe I was just lucky. Only reason I do not understand speech was just because I was NEVER taught to understand speech (I was only taught to speak a little) when I was a small child.

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"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - Philosopher George Santayana.


Implanted left ear 10/11/06, activated 10/16/06 - Nucleus Freedom

My own CI experience, my views on CI and ASL and Deaf Culture and Society

DeviantArt

stream2525

I am glad to hear that.

Happy for you

sallylou

Doesn't it make sense to put CI on the ear with the least amount of hearing so that you can preserve the ear with some hearing?

deafdude1

Of course! However when someone's good ear scores above 60% speech, one wouldn't be a CI candidate.

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My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

Phi4Sius

Okay...why are we resurrecting a thread from April?