ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: rust1975 on March 03, 2010, 03:27:20 am
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Russ -
where's the rest of the comparison? I'm only seeing pictures.
Did a little comparison of my own a few months back. You'll find it at http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=11170.0
Jan
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HI Russ,
Thanks for the pictures I have never even seen one of these devices and I will surely be in the market soon. They are really similar in size. :)
Sue in Michigan
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What also may be helpful to have in the pictures is something by which you can guage the actual size of the units.. A ruler or something like that.. As they are, the units look big and bulky, but I have no frame of reference for the actual size..
Just a thought.. Good pics, though.
Thanks,
Brian
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I'll be taking some new pics with a quarter in it for reference. Thanks for the idea, Brian!
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Pooter -
a couple of us have posted our BAHA pictures on the Forum. Here are mine http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=6634.0
This is the Divino. My BP100 is still on back order, but it's the same size as the Divino; only a slight bit thinner. The Ponto Pro is comparable to both the Divino and the BP100, but as you can see from Russ' pictures it's a different shape.
Jan
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Pictures with a quarter for reference.
I'll do a audio comparison when I have more time with each. For now, a "side-by-side comparison" is exactly that - pictured side-by-side.
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Jan, I have seen those pictures before, however it's still difficult to guage the true size.. What if you have big hands? That would mean the unit is actually smaller than it "looks" in those pics.. Same with size of your head (no offense).. Without a standard-sized frame of reference (i.e. a quarter like Russ used) it makes visualizing the size without having the actual unit in my hand difficult.
Russ, exactly the frame of reference that makes it better... So, they're both slightly bigger than a quarter.. I'm interested in your comparison side-by-side on the sound quality..
It should be noted that the sound quality from one person to the next may be very different depending on how well YOUR skull transmits the sound, placement of the abutment, etc... But, one person's point of view is very valuable, nonetheless..
Thanks!
Brian
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I am looking in with interest but, sorry, I have no idea how big a quarter is!
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I am curious here. Do both of these units snap on to the exact same abutment? For instance would the BP-100 snap inside and the Ponto Pro on the outside?
Sara
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I am looking in with interest but, sorry, I have no idea how big a quarter is!
;D
About the size of a shilling, from what I read via Google, or a 5p coin.
Steve
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I am curious here. Do both of these units snap on to the exact same abutment? For instance would the BP-100 snap inside and the Ponto Pro on the outside?
Sara -
they do snap on the same abutment (at least currently) and you are correct, the BP100's "stem" snaps on the inside of the abutment and the Ponto Pro snaps on the outside - it kind of "embraces" the abutment.
The stem on the BP100 is actually sturdier than it looks - it's the same one on the Divino and I've had no issues with mine (used it for 2 years now).
One of the thoughts that people are having about the Ponto Pro is that it might sit too close to the head to give it good sound quality, but in all fairness, nothing has been scientifically proven.
I say the abutments are the same currently, because there is talk that one of the companies may decide to change theirs. I thought this would be a huge issue for current BAHA wearers because then we wouldn't have the choice of devices, but my doc assured me that it's a simple fix. The top of the abutment (part that's attached to the rod implanted in the skull) can easily be changed with a screw driver. He said that's what happened when Cochlear took over Entific.
Brian -
understand your question about size. Have you ever seen a BAHA device in person? If you decide to get one, I strongly recommend doing so. I saw my first "live" BAHA at a local ANA support group meeting. A woman was gracious enough to show me her head and demonstrate how the device is taken off and put back on. Perhaps you should look for a Cochlear BAHA meeting in your area. They are very informative. Grega had a thread going about them - I think it's in the hearing category - or you can get info on the Cochlear website.
And, to address your hand point, yes, Steve already established the fact that I have large hands ;) But you know what they say "Big hands, big heart". Or maybe that was another body part :D
Jan
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That would be about 'old' 5p size then - our 'newer' ones are very titchy! Thank you kindly Steve :D
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I have a youtube video where a person is getting fitted with a BAHA here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbPKHTwHqU0 It might give you an idea how big it is on a person.
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Not to keep anyone in suspense, but just wanted to add a quick note.
I'm super stoked!
After months of trying to get this BP100 tuned up (since September and back to the audi on Wednesday, March 17 for more tuning), I stuck a battery in my Ponto Pro while I'm waiting take that along with me the same day. And I have to say, even though it was shipped directly to me with factory settings, I'm hearing infinitely better than I've been able to with the BP100. Admittedly, the first program will need a little tweaking to bring more high end into it but the noticeable difference is on the noise reduction properties. The Ponto, to me, sounds more natural and doesn't kill noise and backgrounds with a "whooosh" tail like the BP100 does. My voice also is a perfect volume and feels like a part of me unlike the BP100 where it's always sounded apart of me (bottom of the barrel effect). Can't wait to get it tuned up!
More to come, stay tuned!
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O.K. Russ, I'm gonna stay tuned. Still waiting to hear if insurance will pay, etc.
I did speak to someone else who got to do trials of both and she too has opted for the BP100. Not sure if she is on this site or not.
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Just a note of clarification, Russ very much disliked his BP100 and (so far) has been enamored with his Ponto.
Small, but salient difference. :)
Brian
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My money's still on the BP100.
To each his own, and best wishes to Russ on his Ponto. Hope it works out well for you, Russ.
Jan
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Just a note of clarification, Russ very much disliked his BP100 and (so far) has been enamored with his Ponto.
Small, but salient difference. :)
Brian
You'd dislike it too if you've had it for 7 months with no success whatsoever programming it. Funny how not more than 2 weeks after getting the Ponto I'm up and running with few problems device-wise.
Disclaimer: I think I might be one of the few unfortunate ones who just isn't benefitting from the BAHA system as a whole. I just can't seem to filter voices well, even though the Ponto Pro is "working" for me. Might have been a mistake for me to get the abutment placed on the side opposite of where I'm used to wearing my previous bone oscillator (bone conduction hearing aid) the past 30 years. ...sigh...
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Might have been a mistake for me to get the abutment placed on the side opposite of where I'm used to wearing my previous bone oscillator (bone conduction hearing aid) the past 30 years. ...sigh...
I wonder how much effect that is having on your results with both the BP100 and the Ponto Pro. I would be interesting to get an audiologist's take on this.
Jan
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Might have been a mistake for me to get the abutment placed on the side opposite of where I'm used to wearing my previous bone oscillator (bone conduction hearing aid) the past 30 years. ...sigh...
I have to disagree. I'm glad to get rid of the bone conductor on the headband after 47 years. I'm tired of painful and sores after each night and I don't want to put it on ever again. Baha is probabvly the best thing for me and I don't regret it. Now I have bilateral Bahas. What the heck have I been missing after all these years? Of course, Baha is not perfect but at least for me, it's much better. I guess some people just have luck and others don't. Sorry to hear it's not working out for you.
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Might have been a mistake for me to get the abutment placed on the side opposite of where I'm used to wearing my previous bone oscillator (bone conduction hearing aid) the past 30 years. ...sigh...
I have to disagree. I'm glad to get rid of the bone conductor on the headband after 47 years. I'm tired of painful and sores after each night and I don't want to put it on ever again. Baha is probabvly the best thing for me and I don't regret it. Now I have bilateral Bahas. What the heck have I been missing after all these years? Of course, Baha is not perfect but at least for me, it's much better. I guess some people just have luck and others don't. Sorry to hear it's not working out for you.
Sounds like you were like me with the bone conduction aid on a band thing. My question really is: did I learn how to hear and only exercise the muscles in my bone oscillator side at the expense of deadening my other side where the abutment now sits? Do you remember having an adjustment period once you got the baha on your "not normal" side? Any stories might be insightful for me. Thanks!
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Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know I am following all this really close. 2 months post op & I am already sick of saying WHAT!!! Or missing out completely. I had about a 60% hearing loss before and it is amazing what I was able to hear with only 40%. I did miss a lot before but I seemed to at least have had a clue. Have been doing a lot of research and am leaning toward the BAHA. What I am not really clear on is how much directional sound you receive??
Happy Trails,
Lynn
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Lynn -
I hated being SSD too - it depressed me and made me miserable - so I can relate to where you're coming from.
Although BAHAs generally aren't known for directionality, I've found that I do have it with my Divino. I didn't have it right away, but it seems to have gotten better over time. Now mind you, it's not perfect. I think that Lori may have some directionality too.
I'm hopeful that the BP100, since it's an upgrade to the Divino, will give me directionality also.
Jan
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Hi Jan, Lynn et al,
Just got back to reading a bunch of BAHA threads here, since my BAHA activity is increasing at a furious pace :o.
Re the BP100, highly advertised features include automatic adaptive multi-band directional system, 12-channel sound analysis, 3 user-defined programs, automatic noise management and active feedback cancellation (whew!). These make the device very desirable to me, as I'm seeking directionality and various programs for situations in which I find myself .... by choice or by chance 8).
Lynn, perhaps a Cochlear rep can answer your questions on directionality, etc, to help with your decision-making.
Recently I've met with audi and ent doc, and also set up appts for pre-op stuff. I'm due to have the implant on tax-day .... hey, can I use that as an excuse for late filing .... ::)
OMG, guess I better choose a color!
Stay well!
Greg
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Have been doing a lot of research and am leaning toward the BAHA. What I am not really clear on is how much directional sound you receive??
Hi, Lynn,
The "directionality with BAHA" issue gets discussed from time to time here on the forum.
In April 2009 I attended a symposium on the BAHA sponsored by the New Jersey chapter of the ANA. The doctor who spoke (he was not my doctor, by the way) said that he always makes sure that his potential BAHA patients understand two things from the outset: (1) the BAHA will have no effect on their current level of tinnitus -- it will not make it better, nor will it make it worse; and (2) the BAHA will not restore their pre-SSD ability to determine directionality. He subscribes to the theory that the brain permanently loses its ability to determine directionality within a very short time frame (perhaps as short as just a few weeks) following the onset of SSD.
I've worn a BAHA Intenso for almost two years now and find it to be quite helpful. I had lost almost all my hearing in my AN ear prior to my diagnosis (it was a very, very gradual loss over a number of years, and since I had no other AN-related symptoms, I thought I just needed to get a hearing aid ... and I wanted to delay doing that for as long as possible!), and my brain had become well-adjusted to hearing via only one ear. I've thought from time to time over the past couple of years that yes, I really can determine direction -- I'll hear an ambulance siren, for example, while I'm driving and look in the direction from which I think it's coming ... and sure enough, there it is. But probably for just about every time I've looked in the correct direction, I've experienced a time where I've looked in the wrong direction, so all of this might just be a case of "being lucky and guessing right" about 50% of the time.
But there are some forum members -- Jan and probably some others -- who feel that they truly have regained their sense of directionality with the BAHA, so perhaps this is further proof that we all have individual outcomes!
Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
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O.K. just have to comment on Catherine aboves post. Glad you shared what your doctor said, but seems like I have had a few people say they think the BAHA helps with the tinnitus some (of course some say not at all.....but none said it made it worse). It sounds like it may help kind of like cover up the sound some and helps people mask out the tinnitus more. Once again, like everything here.....each of us have so many differences :)
As for the direction you mentioned "being lucky and guessing right" about 50% of the time. That made me giggle....I guess it should be given a 50% chance....since our head only turns 2 ways :D (I think I said that right....just trying to be silly)
Denise
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O.K. just have to comment on Catherine aboves post. Glad you shared what your doctor said
Hi,
Just want to clarify this comment, Denise. The doctor whom I heard at the symposium was a doctor from New Jersey ... he has never been my own doctor. And he did say that the BAHA won't make the wearer's tinnitus worse. I may have misinterpreted your comment, but it sounded as though you thought he said the BAHA may make the tinnitus worse. Sorry if I misunderstood, but I just wanted to make his statement as clear as possible!
Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
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Oh no, I new what you meant. I was responding to the fact because I posted something before about asking if tinnitus got any better with hearing devices. My conclusion was that it won't make it worse. So, we were on the same page there :-)
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Denise -
I think I posted on your thread about tinnitus, but I can't remember.
Anyway, my doc told me that tinnitus won't be affected by a BAHA implant. If you have it, it isn't going to disappear or get worse. On the other hand, if you don't have it, a BAHA won't cause you to develop it. I am one of the lucky ones who doesn't suffer from tinnitus - never did; my BAHA implant didn't change that.
Grega -
WOW! I am so excited for you. A BAHA on tax day ;D I have taken the liberty of adding your surgery to the AN Calendar.
Please PM your address to me so I can send you one of Lori and my Official BAHA Recovery Kits! We just sent one to jazzfunkanne and we're dying to send out another ;D
Jan
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Might have been a mistake for me to get the abutment placed on the side opposite of where I'm used to wearing my previous bone oscillator (bone conduction hearing aid) the past 30 years. ...sigh...
I have to disagree. I'm glad to get rid of the bone conductor on the headband after 47 years. I'm tired of painful and sores after each night and I don't want to put it on ever again. Baha is probabvly the best thing for me and I don't regret it. Now I have bilateral Bahas. What the heck have I been missing after all these years? Of course, Baha is not perfect but at least for me, it's much better. I guess some people just have luck and others don't. Sorry to hear it's not working out for you.
Sounds like you were like me with the bone conduction aid on a band thing. My question really is: did I learn how to hear and only exercise the muscles in my bone oscillator side at the expense of deadening my other side where the abutment now sits? Do you remember having an adjustment period once you got the baha on your "not normal" side? Any stories might be insightful for me. Thanks!
Well to tell you the truth, There was a time for adjustment period at first with a single Baha. I never had a normal hearing or SSD. I was born with the hearing problem on both sides. Yes, there was an adjustment after I got my second Baha (roughly 6 months later) and it took time to learn how to adjust my hearing and having the volume set different on both units. I am really glad to get rid of the headband for one thing. I was thinking that maybe, the Dinivo or BP100 might not be powerful enough that you should have tried the Intenso which it's more powerful. Just a thought. ::)
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Hi all,
Very interesting thread re tinnitus, which I know will not improve with baha. I've stated before I think best way to try to ignore it is to stay active with other things .... anything .... just so that your focus is not on it. I hear my T louder when I'm on this forum just cause I'm thinking about it :o. Good luck with all your diversions .... hope they work for you!
Anyway, Jan, thanks for the offer and adding that to the AN calendar, but hold your baha just a minute there! The process will proceed if I get favorable feedback from my insurance company. Waiting for that now. I'll let ya know.
Greg
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Damn, guess I jumped the proverbial gun. I was just so excited about another BAHA user on the Forum ;D
I'll leave your date on the calendar, grega, in the hopes that everything is a go.
If something changes, please let me know.
Good luck,
Jan