ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: terisandler on June 23, 2013, 06:48:59 pm
-
I have appointments tomorrow afternoon with the audiologist and otologist to explore hearing aids. I'm thinking BAHA, Cros, and Sound Bite. The Sound Bite rep was given my insurance information ahead of time to see about coverage. I am thinking the BAHA might be covered, not sure about the Cros. Any input about these options? I have heard from some who really like the BAHA but not too much about the others. Thanks!
-
Had my appointment with the audiologist this afternoon. Since I still have some hearing in my AN ear I am not a candidate for BAHA or Sound Bite. Going to try a BiCros system and see if it works for me. Not sure what options are left if I don't like it...
-
Hi; There is 'Transear'. I'm unsure if your AN has been treated and how severe ( or, even if ) the loss is in your good ear? No loss, and you should be fitted with a straight cros, it seems. If that's your case, you may wish to ask your Aud.
-
I still have some hearing in my AN ear
How much hearing do you have left in your AN ear?
If it's serviceable by amplification, a pair of Phonak Audeos might work.
If it's not serviceable, then the bicros is a potential solution.
My AN side hearing was 90% gone when I got my bicros and 100% gone by the time I had my GK.
You can learn more about Phonak's equipment and features on the website:
http://www.phonak.com/us/b2c/en/products/hearing_instruments/cros/overview.html
-
Thanks, Jack. Not sure exactly how much hearing is left in the AN ear but my word recognition is down to 12% from 40% prior to CK in May. My otologist thinks some may come back. The other ear has hearing loss in the high frequency range, which is the reason for BiCros.
-
Thanks, Jack. Not sure exactly how much hearing is left in the AN ear but my word recognition is down to 12% from 40% prior to CK in May. My otologist thinks some may come back. The other ear has hearing loss in the high frequency range, which is the reason for BiCros.
My word recognition on the AN side was Zero in Feb 2012. All I could hear were faint, tinny, far off sounds. By Oct 2012 when I had my second MRI the hearing on that side was totally gone and my tumor was smaller than yours.
One of our members, PaulW, has had significant hearing recovery after CK but I think his hearing loss was only slight by the time he had CK.
I guess it's kind of a toss up. All you can do is wait and see.
Meantime, Bicros (or the like) is a good bet.
-
Not really counting on hearing returning so if any does, it will be a bonus. I haven't been able to hear well out of my right (AN) ear in years. Hoping my left ear maintains status quo! ::)
-
Hoping my left ear maintains status quo! ::)
Same here.
I also have high frequency deficit in my good ear. That part has remained unchanged but the lower frequency .5K to 1K dropped by about 5 db from 2012 to 2013.
I don't notice the difference but I'm going to get audiograms annually from now on just to keep track. Plus, those annual visits give me an opportunity to have the audiologist adjust the BiCros programming and see if there is any new tech available for them.
If you get the Phonak equipment make sure you get the MyPilot remote control. When I first got my hearing aids the only option was volume control and I had to do that by pushing a button on the hearing aid. One side raised it, the other side lowered it. Drove me nuts until I found out about the MyPilot on Phonak's website and had my audiologist order me one. It's very versatile and you can switch from a variety of programs depending on the circumstances.
http://www.phonak.com/us/b2c/en/products/accessories/mypilot/overview.html
A lot of vendors will make you a package deal and include the MyPilot at a discount.
-
"Explore" sounds like a good decision. I had translab and knew I would be SSD, so a BAHA was in my future. It is an excellent product. It might be the right idea to explore hearing devices, and then wait for some difference in your current hearing. It might be an error to pour a lot of money or insurance coverage into a hearing device an have your hearing change in your AN ear. I am not in your shoes, and I know you are anxious to hear well again, but I just thought I would throw in my opinion.
Jay has a BAHA on his AN ear and he has some hearing there. Maybe he can pop in here and give you some advice.
James
-
I picked up my BiCROS an hour ago. So far, so good!
-
I picked up my BiCROS an hour ago. So far, so good!
Did you get the MyPilot remote control?
-
No remote. The Aida are supposed to automatically adjust. We'll see. I am test driving for 30 days....
-
Hi Teri,
Please let us know how you feel about the BICROS. I'm thinking of trying it myself.
Jack, your experience with BICROS has been positive, yes?
Thanks,
Petrone
-
No remote. The Aida are supposed to automatically adjust. We'll see. I am test driving for 30 days....
Make sure you test drive it frequently in noisy restaurants and other noisy environments.
-
Jack, your experience with BICROS has been positive, yes?
For the most part, yes.
I still have some issues in noisy restaurants and other noisy environments but I don't know of any hearing aid that completely cures that.
The MyPilot remote and the different noise reduction programs gives some flexibility in fine tuning the equipment depending on the noise scenarios. The automatic (default) setting just doesn't cut it.
Suggestion: If you wear eyeglasses look into getting the inside the ear equipment instead of the behind the ear equipment.
As small as the hearing aids are my glasses sit on top of the hearing aids so the glasses are always in danger of sliding off.
-
Hi;
Just a thought about hearing aids on eye glasses; If they have to send the HAs into the factory for repair, the eye glasses are useless as the temples are cut off to fit the HA adapter.
I'd want to be sure I've an up to date pr. of eye glasses as spares.
HAs on eyeware are a cool idea though!
-
Hi;
Just a thought about hearing aids on eye glasses; If they have to send the HAs into the factory for repair, the eye glasses are useless as the temples are cut off to fit the HA adapter.
I'd want to be sure I've an up to date pr. of eye glasses as spares.
HAs on eyeware are a cool idea though!
We could all be spies.
-
I just was fitted with Phonak's yesterday. So far, they are working great. I still have serviceable hearing on my AN side, so for now I have the AudeoQ with the ComPilot. The audiologist was able to program in masking also which seems to help a little with the tinnitus. They can be converted to CROS if the need arises by switching out the right (AN) side with a transmitter.
The True test for me will be when we try a Bluetooth enabled stethoscope paired with the hearing aids so I can do my job.
Jack, did you check into the remote mike to use with the ComPilot? It may help with the restaurant/crowd issues.
-
Jack, did you check into the remote mike to use with the ComPilot? It may help with the restaurant/crowd issues.
I have the remote mike with a ComPilot. I took it to the restaurant when I first got it but didn't bring the instructions with me and couldn't make it work. It's not very intuitive and a bit cumbersome. One of these days I'll try again.
You have an advantage with two Audeos where you can use the Zoom feature to aim the receivers toward the person in front of you. Have you tried that?
The Zoom feature is not available with the Cros.
-
Jack, how are you finding the battery life on the BiCROS? The first two batteries my audiologist installed (without letting them "breathe" first) lasted about 4 days. I am now on my second set of batteries. Thinking that I might have to be ordering batteries in large lots after the audiologist stops providing them...
-
Jack, how are you finding the battery life on the BiCROS? The first two batteries my audiologist installed (without letting them "breathe" first) lasted about 4 days. I am now on my second set of batteries. Thinking that I might have to be ordering batteries in large lots after the audiologist stops providing them...
If I use my hearing aids consistently for a couple of days I probably get two days on the batteries.
Here's the best deal you're probably going to find:
http://www.amazon.com/PowerOne-Hearing-Batteries-Battery-Keychain/dp/B00CEKFNHY/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1373150245&sr=1-2&keywords=power+one+p312+batteries
$17.90 for 60 batteries with free shipping.
You can get other Phonak supplies (wax traps, domes) on Amazon, too.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dhpc&field-keywords=phonak
If you are going to shop regular on Amazon I suggest you get the Amazon Visa Card and take advantage of the Reward points. They further reduce the already low prices you find on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=sr_1_1_acs_h_3?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201179390&qid=1373150789&sr=8-1-acs
-
Thanks, Jack. I was planning to order the exact same batteries once my audiologist stops providing them. Is that the Amazon Prime you are referring to?
-
I see Prime is not the same as the Amazon Visa.
-
I see Prime is not the same as the Amazon Visa.
Prime gives you free shipping on a lot of things and a few other benefits. But you pay extra for it.
I had a free trial last year when I was ordering a lot of computer stuff but then dumped it because there are usually several vendors for any one product and many will ship free. And most orders over $25 ship free anyway.
-
I am happy to report that week 1 with my Phonak BiCROS went well. Today I managed to do quite well in a few very noisy environments - I specifically went with a group of friends to a restaurant which I normally avoid due to the acoustics and noise level. Yes, it was plenty noisy but I was able to hear people talking for the most part. And, tonight I realized that I am not as exhausted as I have been for ages. I never realized how draining it is to strain to hear and keep up with conversations!
-
I am happy to report that week 1 with my Phonak BiCROS went well. Today I managed to do quite well in a few very noisy environments - I specifically went with a group of friends to a restaurant which I normally avoid due to the acoustics and noise level. Yes, it was plenty noisy but I was able to hear people talking for the most part. And, tonight I realized that I am not as exhausted as I have been for ages. I never realized how draining it is to strain to hear and keep up with conversations!
Terri ~
Congratulations on your successful venture into a noisy environment with your BiCROS unit!
Good point about the stress of straining to hear in noisy environments. I'm SSD but chose to forgo a hearing device. It isn't a problem most of the time. One learns subtle ways to compensate and I'm retired which also helps in it's own way. However, after some time dealing with being in a noisy environment (restaurant, reception, party, etc.) I notice that I'm more fatigued at night and sleep especially well, which is a bonus, I guess.
Jim
-
I actually always felt fatigued no matter what. I am retired also and work p/t from home so I am not being overly stimulated except the occasional large gatherings. I wonder if the fact that I have some hearing left in my AN ear (not much) makes it more difficult to adjust than having no hearing in the AN ear. Or maybe it's the AN fatigue. I guess time will tell...
-
Hi;
Hearing does take a lot of cognitive energy and if we are doing something else at the same time ( multi tasking ) I do understand the fatigue. I'm usually exhausted after trying to hear someone speaking to me after just a couple hours.
I actually always felt fatigued no matter what. I am retired also and work p/t from home so I am not being overly stimulated except the occasional large gatherings. I wonder if the fact that I have some hearing left in my AN ear (not much) makes it more difficult to adjust than having no hearing in the AN ear. Or maybe it's the AN fatigue. I guess time will tell...
-
Well, after about 3 weeks with the Phonak, I wasn't quite content with them so I tested a demo Ponto Pro Power on a metal headband. I actually prefer the BAHA, even though it means some surgery. We began the process of trying to get them approved by my insurance, which has denied (as expected) any coverage for the Phonak. To be continued...
-
Well, after about 3 weeks with the Phonak, I wasn't quite content with them so I tested a demo Ponto Pro Power on a metal headband. I actually prefer the BAHA, even though it means some surgery. We began the process of trying to get them approved by my insurance, which has denied (as expected) any coverage for the Phonak. To be continued...
I had my Phonak Cros for a month and it drove me nuts until I found out about the remote control and various programming that's available. Once I got the MyPilot remote control I was able to adjust volume and change programming from the remote whenever conditions around me changed.
I'm still annoyed by background noise but I don't think anything gets rid of that.
Did you get the remote with your Phonak?