ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: dalern on May 07, 2011, 04:36:15 pm
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I am so frustrated right now I could scream. My audiologist was in Colorado at Cochlear for a forum with 11 other audiologists from around the country. Seems like they all had the same complaints and suggestions for improving customer service. Sometimes their attitude of "well, we've done all we can" is just not enough. Anyway, they did not give her my BAHA to bring back, they mailed it to me. My audiologist found out that my BAHA was NOT cracked, and they think the feedback was coming from cranking up the program to give it more power. They said it might be too much. So, when I went in to have it programmed, we turned off the feedback manager in two different programs and decreased the low tones. This is what was recommended. It sounded great sitting in the audiologist's office. However, as soon as I got in my car, I had music on, but not loudly. The feedback started and has been continuous. She wanted me to turn around and come back, but I didn't have the time. It's 20 miles each way and I have a busy work schedule. I'm taking it back next week so she can turn the feedback manager back on. I'm so frustrated, I want to throw the processor away. Every time I'm in the car, I have to turn the processor off. I have continuous whistling. Wish I could try the Oticon. I'm sorry the abutment won't work.
~Dale
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I can't imagine how frustrating that must be! :P I am so sorry!!
K
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It's frustrating. I have an audiologist appointment on Wednesday for a tuneup then it goes back again. Twice in a month for a cracked case. I think the problem is the screws are over tightened causing a stress fracture. Looking am the crack ion my BAHA it is about two thirds thru the side and there is a slight bow in the case. Cochlear needs to solve this I don't intend to send it back once a month.
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Keith, you need to call Cochlear directly and ask for a new processor. They did that for me after mine had gone back so many times. They will be accommodating in that way. I understand they are looking at manufacturing with a different kind of plastic material to avoid this problem. Keep us posted.
~Dale
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Sorry to hear about your BAHA boo hoos as I can them. :'( How frustrating for you, because you are one busy lady!
Hang in there, I thought you were getting a completely new processor, I hope so! As you know, don't give up hope!
Maureen
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Dale,
Sounds you and I have the same problems with the BAHA...Whistles to no end while in the car with the music on low....Mine should arrive this week by mail along with a ponto pro...I'm anxious to see the difference...If I feel that the ponto is better, I"m buying it...Might as well as there is a promotion on now here in Canada
Jo
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Maureen,
I did get a totally new processor. This is the new one that is giving me problems now.
Jo,
You are lucky your abutment will fit the ponto pro. Mine will not. I would have to take out the abutment and let the skin grow over my post, then have a totally new procedure if I wanted the Ponto Pro. Yuck! It's just not what I'm up for. It seems from what I have read on the Forum, there are less problems with the Ponto Pro. I did demo them both, felt comfortable at the time with the Cochlear, but as it turns out, UCSD can't do the Oticon brand because of contract restrictions. So, in the end, I had no choice, even though I was leaning toward the Cochlear anyway. I will be most anxious to hear about your experience.
~Dale
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Update: So, I took my BAHA in today and when the audiologist connected it to her computer, it showed that the feedback manager was still ON! I had seen for myself that it was off the last time she set it. Somehow, it de-programmed itself. So, she turned it back off in program 1 and program 3, which is where I seem to get the most feedback. That was 6 hours ago, and guess what???? NO FEEDBACK!!!!! If this holds, I will honestly be relieved and able to say I'm a happy camper!
~Dale
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Just thinking about your feedback problem. When I watch TV, some high pitched sounds cause me some feedback, but I just turn MY volume down on my BAHA. It has never happened to me in the car. Usually I turn off the BAHA in my truck because it picks up the road noise from the tires...no feedback, but it amplifies the noise and it is annoying. The only other time I get feedback is when I touch the BAHA with my hands, my sunglasses, or if I snap it onto the abutment when it is turned on. I will take a wild guess here...my hair is very short, and I changed my glasses so they don,t touch the BAHA. Is it possible that your hair style is causing the feedback by brushing up against the BAHA, or if you wear glasses, maybe they are causing the feedback? My mother used to wear so much hair spray back in the "old days" that her hair never moved...I don't think she ever had to brush her hair...kind of like helmet head. You hair looks very nice in your picture, not a helmet head, but I'm just throwing out an idea.
James
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Thanks for the suggestion. The noise it makes if my hair rubs against it is not feedback. It's just a rustling sound. Totally different than the high pitched feedback. I have my fingers crossed now since the adjustment yesterday and will keep everyone posted.
~Dale
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I see the audiologist tomorrow and I am having him trun the feedback mamager off on program one and leave it on on program two along with some tweeking for tinny sound. Like James my feedback usually comes from watching tv, but nor as bad as before the first time it went in for repair last month.
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Just wanted to jump in and mention how your BP100 works. It actually has some "smarts".
When your processor encounters a strange sound, like a different pitch on a song on your car's radio, it will squeal in response. This may happen on some songs for months until your processor gets used to the sound and realizes it's normal for your environment. I know I'm talking like your processor is human, but I can't think of any other way to describe it.
When I first got my BP100 it would beep in response to the beeps that my van makes when I first start it up and forget to put on my seatbelt. But over time, it came to "view" these beeps as normal and doesn't "respond" anymore.
I still get the occasional beep when listening to songs on my iPod in the car, if it's a song I haven't listened to in a while.
Obviously if these squeals don't stop over time you're got a problem and need to see your audiologist.
Jan
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Jan, my BAHA is not as smart as yours. I have had 2 processors over 8 months. Neither one ever adjusted to regular noises. They even gave me feedback when there was no noise in a silent room. This has been pretty frustrating. With the new program I got yesterday, I am still getting feedback, but it isn't as loud. It's more subtle, but it's still a drone. Thanks.
Dale
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I saw the audiologist today and had the programming tweaked. He increased the default gain for program 1 and adjusted the tone. So far I am very pleased and have it where I thought it should have been back in February. I had him take the settings for program 1 and apply them to program 2. The feedback manager is off on program 1 and on for program 2.
One thing I found usefull when I go in for programming is I wear an ear plug in my good ear. This helps me focus on the BAHA.
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Have to ask this...how much does it cost to get a "tune up" to adjust your BAHA? I had my BAHA installed in Houston in the hospital where the surgery was done. Houston is 3.5 hours from here. My little bionic ear is due back from Cochlear today because of its cracked case. I suppose they just pull the internals out of the old case and install it in a new case, and leave the adjustments alone...or do they? Anyway, I'm not going to Houston to get it adjusted if it needs it, and would have to pay out of pocket for an adjustment. I have Aetna...maybe they'll cover it.
James
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James -
if your processor was programmed by an audiologist once it's returned from Cochlear you need to get an audiologist to reprogram it.
I'm one of those lucky enough to have "factory settings", so when I have to send my processor in for repairs (only done twice) I can wear it without programming.
The cost of programming and reprogramming depends on the facility you go to; some places charge, some places don't.
My doc's office doesn't charge anything for the initial programming. I'm not sure about subsequent programming though, since I've never needed it.
Dale -
all I can say is - although it's a pain - if Cochlear can't fix your processor to your satisfaction they will give you a new one. Insist on this - even if you have to get 2 or 3 new ones. As with other things, sometimes there are "lemons" that just can't be fixed.
Jan
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well I got both BP3 and the ponto pro and tried both....Hands down for BP3...now it could be because the ponto is a demo and my BP3 is programmed for me...the real test will come this monday when I'm inclass...I'll wear one for half of the inclass and then change it to see which ones passes that test...I did the same for incar lessons last night, and I prefered the BP3..it seemed cleared/louder.
JO
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It has been 3 days since the feedback manager was turned off on my BAHA and no feedback. Now I am a happy camper.
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Should Cochlear pay to reprogram my BAHA? It was repaired due to a manufacturing defect. It was returned with a green slip that says "the enclosed sound processor has been loaded with programs intended for the sole individual below." The space for the name was left blank.
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I just called Cochlear's service department, and I have a new case, but the same internals, and the programming was not changed by the R&R procedure. It sounds the same to me, but I have not ventured into any loud noisy areas. They also said I have the new case that should not crack.
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I do not have to pay anything to have my BAHA programmed or reprogrammed, but I go to the audiologist at UCSD where I had my surgery done. I don't know what you would be charged to have it reprogrammed. You should ask Cochlear if they left the programming as they received it.
~Dale
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well I got both BP3 and the ponto pro and tried both....Hands down for BP3...
I demo'd both the BP100 and the Ponto Pro before deciding on the BP100. I found them very similar, but because I already own one Cochlear processor (Divino) and have had no issues with it, and because I like Cochlear's customer service, I decided to go with the BP100. I haven't regretted my decision.
Just my two cents,
Jan
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I demoed both and like the BP3 better...
As I said, dont know if Ponto was programmed for me to demo. The BP3 came in louder on a lower setting...I had to turn the Ponto way up....
JO
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so this is what the audiologist said they fixed on my BP3
They
indicated that they changed the transducer, shell, seal, protective
sleeve, snap coupling and wires.
JO
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It has been one week and no feedback since the feedback manager was truned off in program 1.
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Keith -
sometimes people find that turning off the feedback manager is the perfect solution.
Glad things are looking up; hope that continues.
Jan