ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: keithk on June 22, 2011, 12:09:09 pm
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Yesterday I sent my BAHA back for repairs. One week after getting it back the case cracked again. Along with the case it would shut off when it felt like it, even with a fresh battery and the feedback is terrible. I have the feedback manager off on program 1 and on in program 2 and still get feedback. I think it all has to do with the cracked case.
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I think it must have to do with the cracked case. I cannot believe you have had so many cracked cases. Mine finally seems to be stable with the newest adjustments that were made. I just don't find it powerful enough and will demo the new programmable Intenso when it comes in. Keep making Cochlear replace your cracked cases. Evidently the cracks aren't always visible. Are you sure it is cracked?
~Dale
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It is is cracked alright. From front to back on the right side. Last time it was cracked on both sides. It acculaay cracked less then one week after it returned from repair. I just couldn't give it up until now, and I am lost without it.
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Dale...
Seeing this post reminds me that I wanted to let you know that I believe that Oticon must be almost ready to launch (or maybe they already have) their high powered device...Ponto Pro Power. I saw it on a course brochure. I will keep you posted on anything I learn!
When is Cochlear's high powered device launching...do you know???
Hope all is well!
Kris
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Thanks, Kris. I think Oticon's is already out. Cochlear's is coming out in the next few months. The problem for me, is I have the newer abutment and the Oticon will not fit on my abutment. I found out that they would have to take out the abutment and let the skin grow over my post, then put in a new post for the Oticon. It would not be worth the expense, not to mention the second hole in my head! My insurance would definitely not approve this a second time. So, I am kind of stuck with Cochlear. I will say, mine is much improved this time around and I am not so frustrated. I truly notice the difference when I am not wearing it and the feed back is almost non-existant. Thanks so much.
~Dale
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Kris .....
Are you getting the Ponto Pro Power? Wonder if I can trade mine in since it has not been opened yet ...... Hmmmm. Should have asked last week-end. Actually I am just tickled to be able to soon have the Ponto Pro and some left side hearing again soon!
Dale .....
This is one of the reasons I went with the Oticon. However, I am so glad yours is much improved now so Cochlear does come through apparently.
Clarice
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Waiting and watching all these posts with much interests...
K ;D
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Keith, so sorry to hear about all of your problems! Very discouraging, especially when you were so much looking forward to the Baha. I got mine right after you (if I remember correctly) and have had great success. The audiologist who "installed" mine said that I had the model that was released in January and that it was MUCH better than the earlier BP100/3 models. She said that almost all of the earlier models her department installed came back for feedback problems - this was corrected in the most recent generation with the plastic battery door "latch." That is what she said, in any event. She is in the NYU audiology department and they do a pretty high volume of bahas so I tend to think she has a pretty good baseline.
I went back about 2 months after the initial installation to have my second program activated and to have her adjust the higher decibels a bit to get rid of some minor feedback (I only got it when certain higher ranges of music were playing). No other issues. I feel pretty lucky given the problems that others, like you and Dale, have had. It really doesn't seem right that you've had TWO cracked covers - that's just crazy, isn't it?
I sure hope you get this resolved. I am kind of lost without my baha now, too. It is pretty amazing to me how much improvement I've gotten over the last few months. It was good to start with, but as my brain has adjusted, it is even better now. The other day I was in an Applebee's (and you KNOW how noisy those places are) and I realized that I was not having any problem hearing the person sitting across from me - no more craning my neck around into anatomically impossible positions in order to catch a word here or there. I'm definitely a fan of bone anchored hearing devices!
Debbi
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Poor old Keith...we need to start a Dave Letterman "10 things not to do when you are wearing your BAHA." Number one might be, don't let your neighbor run over your head with his truck while you are wearing your BAHA. Number 2, do not use your BAHA for a jack stand.
Last time yours cracked, mine cracked. Mine works perfectly, so you have to stop doing what ever you have been doing!
James
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Clarice,
I'm not anticipating that you will have any problems at all, but if you ever wanted to change to Cochlear, you would have the same problem I have in reverse. You would not have the appropriate abutment. Also, before you ask if you should change to the Ponto Pro Power, you should see how satisfactory your Ponto Pro is. It might be perfectly adequate for you. You'll have to wear it for a few months before you really know.
Kay,
Don't let a few of us scare you. Mine is doing well now. My only question is weather or not I will need the Intenso. I think at this point, Cochlear would be amenable to a bait and switch! I won't do it without demoing the new Intenso for a week or two.
~Dale
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I'm sorry that you've having so problems with your processor, Keith.
I got my BP100/BP3 a year ago in April and I haven't had any issues with it in a long, long time (knocking on wood, even as I speak).
Sounds like unfortunately you just got a lemon :'(
It happens.
Although it's a major pain, don't hesitate to keep returning your processor to Cochlear until they get it right. They WILL get it right!
Jan
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Hi all,
I just spoke at an Oticon training event for audiologists...so I was able to get some updated information!
Clarice, you have 90 days with your processor to decide if you like it or not to have it switched out. The FDA just approved the Ponto Pro Power this past Friday, so it is now available. I have not tried it, but we talked about the opportunity for me to demo it just so I know the difference...I do have normal hearing in my good ear. I think you told me that you had to drive a ways to get your Ponto programmed??? Otherwise you might see if they could get a Ponto Pro Power demo for you to try out before opening the box. If you go to oticonmedical.com, they just updated the site this week to have information about the Power device, so I am going to check it out later tonight.
I was also told that there are software upgrades available for Ponto Pro that continue to enhance the sound quality and word discrimination. All units being activated now will have the software based upgrade. They said that I could go to my audiologist and have it quickly updated for free! I am told that all units now have a tamper resistant battery door for children.
They also recently added silver as a color option.
Hope this information is helpful!
Jan, just got the audio cord today...and it is indeed a concert in my head! Very fun! I haven't tried it with a phone yet...do you use it much that way???
Kris
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Kris -
somewhere Dr. Battista is smiling ;D
I've worked with audiologists from Cochlear - helped train them how to program BP100s - and now you've worked with audiologists from Oticon. I think he's very proud of both of us ;D
Glad you like your audio cord. The concert in your head is truly something to be experienced. This is an accessory that you should "talk up" with those from Oticon. Most people I know from Cochlear - and my own audiologist @ Chicago Ear (Krystine) - don't know anyone who uses an audio adapter and they have no idea how great it is. So spread the word!
I've never used my audio adapter with a phone. I typically still use my "good" ear when I talk on the phone even though my BAHA would let me use my "bad" ear.
Sorry I missed you at the symposium. If I don't make it to LA in 2013, we'll have to get together in Chicago. Maybe I'll do the HLAA Walk again this year on behalf of Dr. Battista's pediatric audiology program and you'll join me. The more the merrier; it's a great cause.
Best,
Jan
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Hey Jan!
I really need to catch up with Dr Battista one day again soon...I haven't talked to him since December! I will have make a point to get to say hello to him when I have my Ponto software updated! I saw Dr Wiet attended the symposium, but it sounded like Dr Battista was at another conference that was the same time...
I would love to do the walk with you...and more importantly, to meet you! Pass along any details you may have!
It really was a great opportunity to share my experience with the group of audiologists. I hope that it helps drive them to talk about the option with patients who are candidates and feel good about offering the device! There is such a lack of awareness...from both a health care profession and patient standpoint!
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Thanks for the info, Kris. It looks now like I will have to go out of state to have my processor programmed. It has not been opened so when I make the contact, I will ask about the possibility of testing the other model and/or getting the silver color (mine is the chrome beige at the moment).
Clarice
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I just looked at my BAHA as I went to bed last night, and it is cracked. This is the third time. Just like Keith's was a few months ago, right where one of the screws goes through the case to hold it all together. Last time they fixed it, they said this was the new improved case.
NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!
I did not use it as a jack stand, and my neighbor did not run over my head while I was wearing it.
NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!
James
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Just got off the phone from Cochlear...NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!
Personalties are personalties, but the Cochlear support guy I talked to right now really pi--ed me off. He talked to me like I was a first grade kid, and I HATE being talked down to. The computer talking to me was better than talking to that guy! I'm not stupid...I'm just SSD and you don't have to talk down to me so I can understand you!
My BAHA cracked in March 2011, May 2011, and June 2011. Each time I was told I am getting the new BAHA body, and that will stop the cracking. This guy told me I would be getting the new body, and I told him I was told that the last two times. I asked if they changed the body since May 2011, and he said, "oh yea, I think they changed it in the last 6 weeks." I asked what changed, and he said he had been talking to a fellow employee who said they were changing the screws. I asked to talk to someone that can confirm what is being done to solve this problem.
He began to mention I can purchase an extended warranty, but I stopped him. All I want to know about is how is your company going to correct this problem. I'll let you if I get a call from someone that gives a darn about us!
James
PS All of my other contacts with Cochlear people have been excellent, and I do not mean to talk badly about their support team. At this time, I'm just fed up with them talking around the problem, and I want to talk to an engineer/designer about what is going on. I'm not interested in buying an extended warranty on a faulty product. The BAHA is a great device, but I'm not happy that I send it in every other month. Maybe Ponto will come up with an adaptor and I'll get one of those. It really makes me angry to have a surgery and go through the healing, spend a lot of money, and get a bad product.
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James -
if you aren't already a member of the Cochlear Community, then you need to become one (www.cochlearcommunity.com).
There are lots of Cochlear Awareness reps and others there who work for Cochlear that will help you. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
So my best advice is become a member (it's free), locate a rep in your area, and send them an earful (no pun intended) in a personal message. Unfortunately sometimes it's getting to the right person that solves the issue.
Good luck.
Kris -
the HLAA Chicago Walk is usually in October @ Diversey Harbor and it's organized by the head of the pediatric audiology dept @ Adventist Hinsdale Hospital - Dawn Maniskas. I have Dawn's contact info that I can pass along to you when we get closer to October; it's too early to discuss it now.
You'll probably see Dr. Battista long before I do; give him my best ;D
Jan
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James: So sorry to hear of your woes w/Cochlear's BAHA. I was wondering.....how many of you got the extra warranty ($$$) if offered?
I'm receiving my Ponto Pro in August & was given the option. Thanks Kris!, for the update on the Oticon Pro Power. I'm going to email my audiologist this evening & see if they can upgrade my device or see if they can demo. Can't wait!
Carolyn
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I got a call back from Cochlear, and thought I posted a reply about the call. I had a stroke a while back and my short term memory has suffered, and sometimes I cannot remember what I have done sometimes...sorry.
Happy Camper now. A rep said that the last time it cracked, they removed the internal components and put them in "the new case", and "fixed it off the shelf." It should not have cracked. Cochlear is going to send my unit to the manufacturer "as is" so they can examine it. They are going to down load my settings onto an new BAHA and swap it out. I am getting one that was newly manufactured and not a repaired one.
I am happy because this rep did not try to talk around the problem. She said she has no idea why it cracked, made no excuses, and that this a beginning to determine the cause of the problem. Keith, you need to call Cochlear and pull their chain a little.
The rep I talked to was professional, and just the type of person I really wanted to deal with.
We had friends over for dinner last night, and my wife grabbed my arm and asked if I had my "ear" on, because I was not responding to the conversations. I have already set in my BAHA, and I was missing out on what was being said. I miss my BAHA already.
I hope they figure this out quickly. Maybe they can make a titanium case! Light weight, bullet proof.
James
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Bulletproof ;D
Glad to hear you're a happy camper once again.
Jan
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Gee James, while you are at it, how about waterPROOF too ;) Wouldn't that be great for users. Haha
I have read on this topic where some mention about the Cochlear Baha 3 POWER. Here is a link I found to the FDA clearance was last month:
http://products.cochlearamericas.com/news/FDA-clearance-Baha3-power-sound-processor
I read more about the 2 POWER items. Can anyone else say what the better part of these are supposed to be, that they are aware of?
Denise
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James
I am glad that Cochlear has stepped up and replaced your processor. Maybe the manufacturer can figure what the problem is. I expect mine back this week and just maybe finally fixed.
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This is some great info...I had my abutment put in, then taken out...and now gonna be put back in again next week. I got the Ponto Pro as well, so maybe I'll get in on that software upgrade. I am thinking that this should be adequate enough for me without having to go to Pontro Pro Power.
Jay