Phonak unveils 2 new hearing aids

[lovezebras]

Phonak has unveiled two new hearing aids the versata which looks very similar to the exelia and the Cartena which looks more like the naida. Both have some cool newer colors and the versata looks like an exelia range model as the cartena looks like its a step or 2 above the una channel wise but with more options like whistleblock and windblock etc.
The Versata and Cartena join the Exelia and Naida as the new line of Phonak's "Core Collection" http://www.phonak.com/professional/productsp/instrumentsp/digitalp/core_collection.htm

Versata- http://www.phonak.com/professional/productsp/instrumentsp/digitalp/versata-overview.htm

Cartena- http://www.phonak.com/professional/productsp/instrumentsp/digitalp/certena_overview.htm


SteveAud care to comment! lol

 

[SteveAUD]

The two new aids offered are to fill in the product line. Meaning Exelia is still the top dog, Versata is there mid-level hearing aid, and the Cartena is the entry level hearing aid. They finish off the complete move to the new chip (CORE), prior you had the Savia, Eleva, Extra on the old chip set. The Naida is the CORE aid in the Superpower class. I would say for you and the trouble your having, the Cartena would be a good aid to try without breaking the bank.


BTW....Told ya.

 

[lovezebras]

Haha u did tell me lol..i was excited and then when i visited the site to get some info on an fm system for someone i saw the 2 new ha's u mentioned! I am going to a new audi next week so I will ask about these and the exelia. My dad is likely going to pay the difference (with trade in of the UNA) of the new ha i get..so i don't mind breaking his bank..he can afford it lmao! Thanks SteveAud

 

[SteveAUD]

Haha u did tell me lol..i was excited and then when i visited the site to get some info on an fm system for someone i saw the 2 new ha's u mentioned! I am going to a new audi next week so I will ask about these and the exelia. My dad is likely going to pay the difference (with trade in of the UNA) of the new ha i get..so i don't mind breaking his bank..he can afford it lmao! Thanks SteveAud

Make sure your ability to trade up is through Phonak, not that in particular audiologist that offered that to you. The exelia is nice and would suit you well cause your young and active, but it is expensive.

 

[JennyB]

Hey SteveAUD,

Know if any of Phonaks competitors are coming out with their 'version' of Naida yet? IE. POWER aid with frequency transposition?

 

[SteveAUD]

Hey SteveAUD,

Know if any of Phonaks competitors are coming out with their 'version' of Naida yet? IE. POWER aid with frequency transposition?

To the best of my knowledge no. The Naida is really a specialty aid that targets a specific group. Most manufacturers don't fight for small groups and tend to let one company have the answer for those patients (and they're happy to do so). AVR Sonovation is the company I'd look at if I were looking at transpositional hearing aids, the only problem is finding someone who fits them. I know Siemens is due out with 2-3 new aids in the next month, none of which will likely be a competitor to the Naida (but Siemens has surprised me before and I wouldn't put it past them being they have the money to spend).

 

[ljjehl]

To the best of my knowledge no. The Naida is really a specialty aid that targets a specific group. Most manufacturers don't fight for small groups and tend to let one company have the answer for those patients (and they're happy to do so). AVR Sonovation is the company I'd look at if I were looking at transpositional hearing aids, the only problem is finding someone who fits them. I know Siemens is due out with 2-3 new aids in the next month, none of which will likely be a competitor to the Naida (but Siemens has surprised me before and I wouldn't put it past them being they have the money to spend).

In a way, now I see why some hearing aid battery retailers (ie. Walmart, Sam's Club) are weaning out the 675 size batteries required by the Naida UP aids. There's not enough volume to support it.....darn!!

 

[SteveAUD]

In a way, now I see why some hearing aid battery retailers (ie. Walmart, Sam's Club) are weaning out the 675 size batteries required by the Naida UP aids. There's not enough volume to support it.....darn!!

Correct, only the super-power and ultra-power aid require 675's, which isn't the vast majority of hearing aid users. In the 80's to early 90's most BTE's used 675's, now the BTE's have shrunk and most use size 13.

 

[ljjehl]

Correct, only the super-power and ultra-power aid require 675's, which isn't the vast majority of hearing aid users. In the 80's to early 90's most BTE's used 675's, now the BTE's have shrunk and most use size 13.

If you are speaking of the Phonak Naidas, only Ultrapower uses 675....Superpower uses size 13...

 

[JennyB]

To the best of my knowledge no. The Naida is really a specialty aid that targets a specific group. Most manufacturers don't fight for small groups and tend to let one company have the answer for those patients (and they're happy to do so). AVR Sonovation is the company I'd look at if I were looking at transpositional hearing aids, the only problem is finding someone who fits them. I know Siemens is due out with 2-3 new aids in the next month, none of which will likely be a competitor to the Naida (but Siemens has surprised me before and I wouldn't put it past them being they have the money to spend).

I am not looking for new aids! I actually think I like my Naidas now..it only took 7 months. I just know that my audiologist is always looking for new technology to try on me...and I don't think I will ever use anything put an aid with frequency transposition again.

 

[Hear Again]

I am not looking for new aids! I actually think I like my Naidas now..it only took 7 months. I just know that my audiologist is always looking for new technology to try on me...and I don't think I will ever use anything put an aid with frequency transposition again.

JennyB,

I'm curious...how much different do transpositional aids sound compared to analog or digital? During my first CI evaluation, I asked my CI audi what she thought about me trying transpositional aids. She discouraged me from doing so indicating that many people have difficulty adjusting to them. (FYI, my hearing loss at the time was 95 dB at 250 Hz, 100 dB at 500 Hz and NR at 1000 Hz and above.) I know you can't understand speech with your Naidas, but I was wondering if you could tell a difference in some way between them and analogs or digitals?

 

[Hear Again]

Correct, only the super-power and ultra-power aid require 675's, which isn't the vast majority of hearing aid users. In the 80's to early 90's most BTE's used 675's, now the BTE's have shrunk and most use size 13.

Interesting...I didn't know that. I thought all BTEs used 675 batteries. My Oticon DigiFocus II super power BTEs were the same size as my Oticon 380Ps and both took 675s.

 

[Hear Again]

In a way, now I see why some hearing aid battery retailers (ie. Walmart, Sam's Club) are weaning out the 675 size batteries required by the Naida UP aids. There's not enough volume to support it.....darn!!

I rely on 675 batteries to power my CIs (although I also have rechargeables). Makes me wonder what Cochlear and hearing aid companies will do once they are finally phased out?

 

[Hear Again]

To the best of my knowledge no. The Naida is really a specialty aid that targets a specific group. Most manufacturers don't fight for small groups and tend to let one company have the answer for those patients (and they're happy to do so). AVR Sonovation is the company I'd look at if I were looking at transpositional hearing aids, the only problem is finding someone who fits them. I know Siemens is due out with 2-3 new aids in the next month, none of which will likely be a competitor to the Naida (but Siemens has surprised me before and I wouldn't put it past them being they have the money to spend).

SteveAUD,

Have you had any experience fitting transpositional aids? If so, what has been the general concensus (positive or negative) among your clients? Have they had any difficulty adjusting to them?

 

[JennyB]

JennyB,

I'm curious...how much different do transpositional aids sound compared to analog or digital? During my first CI evaluation, I asked my CI audi what she thought about me trying transpositional aids. She discouraged me from doing so indicating that many people have difficulty adjusting to them. (FYI, my hearing loss at the time was 95 dB at 250 Hz, 100 dB at 500 Hz and NR at 1000 Hz and above.) I know you can't understand speech with your Naidas, but I was wondering if you could tell a difference in some way between them and analogs or digitals?

I have used all three, and after the adjustment period (which I don't think is any worse than the switch from analog to digital) I prefer the frequency transposition for sure. My hearing loss is around 110dB up to 1000Hz and no response beyond that. I am not sure what I do hear I am often hearing something but I have no idea what it is. I can hear speech but not to understand it. Though I can understand my mother occasionally without speech reading. Initially they helped my own speech but my hearing dropped again and my speech went with it.

I think the thing I like most is that I am not being blasted by high frequency sounds I cannot hear anyway. Everything is brought down to a more audible range and I feel more blanaced and less dizzy with them if that makes sense.

 

[Hear Again]

I have used all three, and after the adjustment period (which I don't think is any worse than the switch from analog to digital) I prefer the frequency transposition for sure. My hearing loss is around 110dB up to 1000Hz and no response beyond that. I am not sure what I do hear I am often hearing something but I have no idea what it is. I can hear speech but not to understand it. Though I can understand my mother occasionally without speech reading. Initially they helped my own speech but my hearing dropped again and my speech went with it.

I think the thing I like most is that I am not being blasted by high frequency sounds I cannot hear anyway. Everything is brought down to a more audible range and I feel more blanaced and less dizzy with them if that makes sense.

Thanks for the explanation! Yes, that does make sense. One of the reasons I wanted to try transpositional aids was because of how they bring high frequencies into the low frequency range. Since I didn't have any useable hearing at 1000 Hz and above (pre-CI), I thought transpositional aids would do a good job of helping me hear those frequencies. Although I'm quite happy with my CIs, I wish I would have had an opportunity to try them. It would have been interesting to see how much (or perhaps how little) they helped.

I'm glad you're happy with your Naidas (and sorry about yet another drop in your hearing )! It looks like your patience in waiting through 7 months of adjustments finally paid off!

 

[SteveAUD]

If you are speaking of the Phonak Naidas, only Ultrapower uses 675....Superpower uses size 13...

No, I was speaking of hearing aids in general. The terms superpower and ultrapower in my mind are interchangeable. So on manufacturers UP is another's SP.

 

[SteveAUD]

SteveAUD,

Have you had any experience fitting transpositional aids? If so, what has been the general concensus (positive or negative) among your clients? Have they had any difficulty adjusting to them?

Yes I have fit them. My feeling on them is similar to that of a CROS or BiCros aid. If I fit you as a kid with them, you won't ask for anything else. Mainly because your brain doesn't know anything but the crunched (transposed) signal. Fit them on someone older and who's never worn that type before, and it can take their brain sometime to adjust to this "strange" input. Some struggle more with the new signal than others and some never get used to it. I warn everyone before they get a hearing aid about what to expect and what not to expect given their hearing loss and what aid I'm anticipating fitting them with. This way I never have anyone coming back to me saying, "You never said it was going to be like this".

 

[Hear Again]

Yes I have fit them. My feeling on them is similar to that of a CROS or BiCros aid. If I fit you as a kid with them, you won't ask for anything else. Mainly because your brain doesn't know anything but the crunched (transposed) signal. Fit them on someone older and who's never worn that type before, and it can take their brain sometime to adjust to this "strange" input. Some struggle more with the new signal than others and some never get used to it. I warn everyone before they get a hearing aid about what to expect and what not to expect given their hearing loss and what aid I'm anticipating fitting them with. This way I never have anyone coming back to me saying, "You never said it was going to be like this".

Thanks for your reply. Now I can understand why my CI audi was reluctant for me to try transpositional aids. What you've said makes perfect sense. In fact, I felt the same way about analogs vs. digitals. When I tried digital aids (Oticon DigiFocus II super power), I had alot of difficulty understanding speech (although they were excellent for hearing environmental sounds). I wore analogs for 9 years prior (Oticon 380Ps) and really liked the stronger, clearer sound quality they provided. Having said that, I realize that people have different experiences when it comes to analogs vs. digitals.

I'm glad to know that you warn your clients about what they can expect from a hearing aid. My audi who fit me with my first pair of aids did the same thing. In fact, she never showed me ITE, ITC or CIC aids (I had a moderately-severe loss at the time) because she knew I was a self concious teenager who had to learn how to wear BTE aids. Aside from that, she also explained the benefits of wearing BTEs (more amplification can be added in the future if/when hearing changes, having the ability to connect to FM systems, portable CD players, etc., less repairs required, etc.). In looking back, I'm happy she made that choice for me because when I experienced further hearing loss, making the transition to the next BTE was easy.

 

[ljjehl]

Yes I have fit them. My feeling on them is similar to that of a CROS or BiCros aid. If I fit you as a kid with them, you won't ask for anything else. Mainly because your brain doesn't know anything but the crunched (transposed) signal. Fit them on someone older and who's never worn that type before, and it can take their brain sometime to adjust to this "strange" input. Some struggle more with the new signal than others and some never get used to it. I warn everyone before they get a hearing aid about what to expect and what not to expect given their hearing loss and what aid I'm anticipating fitting them with. This way I never have anyone coming back to me saying, "You never said it was going to be like this".

I think I am getting these "growing pains". I still am not 100% sure what the transpositional sounds are really supposed to sound like....any way to describe it? Not sure what sounds will make the area of the sound transposition.