ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: chrissmom on September 16, 2006, 03:05:07 pm
-
Well, the BAHA is out ! ::)
Chris agrees with Batty, he doesn't want holes drilled in his head and he doesn't want a post sticking out.
So we checked with our Doctors and they have Transear but the audiologist has found something new that she likes better.
It is transcranial, like the BAHA but surgery isn't required. You wear it in your deaf ear and sound waves travel thru the skull to the good ear. They say the sound quality is excellent and you can even talk on the phone with your deaf ear. This new device is a transcranial version of the Starkey CIC Destiny. We are anxious to try it. She found the Transear to be "buzzy" but she really liked this one.
Have any of you tried this yet ?
-
Thank you for the info Chrissmom. I am not a candidate for the BAHA, due to extreme head sensitivity. Plus I don't need another hole in my head LOL
This is exciting, I am calling my Audiologist next week and asking about it.
Thanks!
Cheryl
-
This is one of the reasons we all want to go to Philly this summer--to try out all the new technology. Ask Nate about the Phonak one he has--he's in transit from SC to Kansas right now but will probably be back online soon.
Capt Deb
-
It is transcranial, like the BAHA but surgery isn't required. You wear it in your deaf ear and sound waves travel thru the skull to the good ear. They say the sound quality is excellent and you can even talk on the phone with your deaf ear.ÂÂ
This is VERY exciting to learn. I will definately look into this after my surgery!
-
Please ask the audilogist what the hearing requirements might be for this product. We checked into the BAHA for Chet but was told that based on his high pitch tone loss in his "good ear" that the BAHA would not meet expectations. (Thought a Bi-Cross would work better). Since Chet has had a long term hearing loss his brain has all ready compensated for the loss and it's unknown how well it may work out for him. We're interested in any thing new out there. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Is there a website for this new product?
Thanks for any information that you might receive.
Raydean
-
Sounds interesting...I just got my letter to be evaluated for a hearing aid and the cross and bicross was mentioned would be interested on info on what they are recommending for chris...I want to make sure I get the best thing possible for me!!! Thanks for sharing ;D
-
We go back to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. I'll get more information then. The transcranial cros is about $2500. You wear it on the bad side. It is for single-sided deafness (SSD). However, it is my understanding that it all depends on your ear canal. If your ear canal is too small, it is out for you and the company has been good about that. Here is the website but I haven't seen the new device on here yet. I'll try to get more information this week.
http://www.starkey.com/
-
Chrissmom:
Thanks for the info. I sent Sharkey an email..........I can't find a thing online either. Not even at the FDA????
Thanks for checking on it for all of us.
Kathy
-
someone recently posted about a baha like device that uses bone conduction but is built like a hearing aid and the vibration is done from a piece inserted into the ear. No surgery required.
I think it was in the post op section, but I don't remember what they called it. I have the baha so it's not something I was paying much attention to.
-
Google TransEar also Starkey Destiny
-
chrismom, I absolutely was NOT going to get a Baha, the idea of surgery again was terrifying but after 9 months I started to change my mind and investigated it further. I didn't have my surgery until 15 months post op. So....keep an open mind. Chris might change his mind down the road. That said, if you find something else that works, Great! :)
-
I seem to have adjusted pretty well to hearing in only one hear, so never even considered having another surgery, just so I could have a post sticking out of my head....however, I'm not so vain that I wouldn't consider a hearing device in my former AN ear. Thanks for the info....something to really check out.
RTD
-
PSSS: After googling, yahooing, ask-ing, etc., the only reference to Transcranial hearing devices that I've been able to find refer to the CROS. This device has been around longer than the BAHA. Is this what we are talking about? or am I missing something (besides my hearing and balance nerves ;D) Anyone out there found something different? I'd really be interested....
RTD
-
I received this today from Starkey:
Dear Ms. O'Brien,
Thank you for your e-mail.
I believe your referring to the Destiny Completely In The Canal.
The Destiny can be build with maximum gain and fit to the dead ear. It
provides cross over to the better ear through bone conduction. We call
this a transcrainial cross.
Below is a link to our nFusion website which has more product information:
http://www.starkeynfusion.com/destiny/index.html
Destiny is available through Hearing Health Care Professionals in your area.
We hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Anne Williamson
Consumer Relations
-
How can we find out which one works better? Is it Starkey Destiny or TransEar? I find both of them something that I am definately interested in. It would be so good to be able to hear out of both ears again, tell where sounds come from. And to be able to do it all without surgery sounds even better.
Jean
-
Hi Jean:
Chris's audiologist likes the Sharkey better. Look at the start of the thread from Chrissmom.
I have an appointment with my audiologist in 4 weeks. Boppie went to see her's yesterday. I'm sure she will post her audiologists recommendation soon.
Kathy
-
your NOT gonna be able the tell the direction of sound from either product.. (and that includes BAHA) ... in the case when the one ear is nerve deaf (SSD), as in the case of a trans-lab ... sound on the deaf side with the vibrations on the deaf ear are picked up by the good ear .. and ALL the sound "feels" like its coming from that side ... and the brain hears it on the good side, but it coming from both.
Now having said that .. in cases were the nerve is NOT dead .. mainly if you have no eardrum or ear canal or you can't wear a normally hearing aid .. the BAHA aids are even better, each side can be worn, and each nerve picks up its own sound, and you can locate direction .. only the MARKETING of these aids forget to tell you this ...
now // if your real close, and talking on the deaf side, and it not noisy, I might be able to tell direction if the volume on the BAHA is to loud, because you will sound like a AM radio >:( so there for you must be on my bad side .. but this is a logic decision, and NOT my brain telling me which side its on ... its hard to explain .....normally the volume is lower, so its sound kinda mixes in .. so this is not a normal case...
now dont get me wrong, I love my BAHA ;D ... but I hate to see anyone get thier hopes up, only to realize it does not work that way >:(
who knows, maybe in a few years, I could learn to know direction , but dont count on it... thats all I'm tring to say...
-
for TransEar  paste this   www.transear.com   You will get to their site.
My audiologist is sending to TransEar for a "kit" and info for this aid. She saw the vendor at a conference. She said its been in the works for a long time, but hadn't known it was available yet. There is a link and video with the first TransEar user on local news. He is middle aged, AN patient, and loves his TransEar.ÂÂ
The good side hearing must be within certain parameters. I passed the tests for it so we are waiting to hear back from TransEar about a trial aid.ÂÂ
Interesting fact here... Some people don't get enough sound vibrations through their skull to use a bone conduction device. I tested out okay.ÂÂ
My Dad would've liked to know I didn't have a "thick skull" after all! :D
I hope I have more news for y'all in a week.
-
Joef is absolutely right there is no directionality help in any aid. Furthermore tinnitis will not go away with an aid.
My audiologist wants to find out if my good ear and its particular hearing characteristics could be aided to lessen the hissing I have. Pre surgery I had only the regular buz, and pulsing tinnitis. Now I have this other thing like teeny bells tinking with every sound. Pure tones do not give me the hissing/jingling. I am able to live with it but on humid days in South Texas it is pretty noisy ::) inside here.
-
Boppie,
Thanks for sharing. Along with the TransEar did you discuss the Starkey Destiny with your audiologist? I will be looking forward to hearing more information. As soon as I get my new teaching contract and the insurance is settled I will be making a trip to my audiologist. I've noticed that when I rub a Q tip on the inside of my deaf ear that I can hear it. I wonder if that means I have good bone conduction.
Jean
-
Jeanlea, My audiologist did not believe a Starkey CIC Destiny would help me at all.
But to test for the possibility of using the TransEar she clamped a small phone against my deaf side on the bone behind my ear and then blocked off my good ear canal. I could identify and repeat the words that she said through the bad side phone. That just astounded me. She proved I had still hearing through the bone. That means the bone conducts the sounds to the good ear nerve. I experienced the same thing with the BAHA test band on my head 6 weeks after surgery in January.
I think the price for each of the aids available is between $2,500 and $3,000. So the trick is to have an audiologist who really wants to spend the time to match you up with the one that is best for you.
It is strange I don't hear anything when I use a Q-tip in my deaf ear. But I hear the sound when I tap my skull back there.
-
The point about the small ear canal could be an issue for me, too. The audiologist stated that I had really small ear canals. So, an answer won't be availble until we get the trial units and specifications for measurements. Getting set up for any hearing aid takes a few months I think.
UpdateAudiologist states the latest technology for the feedback prevention is good in the Starkey and they are promoting it hard. But not everyone can use every aid. I don't exactly know why but she is still not recommending the CIC Destiney for me. I learned that my good ear has a deficit in the upper range so maybe that fact complicates my choice of aids. I could end up with a Phonak Bi-Cros.
-
The Starkey Destiny and Transear work the same. An Audiologist in the same Dept. with SSD tried both, she felt that the Transear was uncomfortable and she experienced a feedback, buzzing sound similar to a stadium effect. She tried the Destiny and really liked the quality of the sound, she felt that she experienced excellent directionality and quality of sound in several situations.
I'm not deaf, so I can only tell you what she experienced. We don't know if Chris is a candidate for Destiny. His ear canal must be measured. We go to Pittsburgh today. I'll get more information to pass on to all of you. Chris is young, still in college. He needs something that is comfortable, removable, and I think he needs the best directionality for classes and driving etc. His hearing loss was sudden so he is missing it.
-
Seems like I'm only deaf in one ear only when I think about it or when my tinnitus escalates. As far as I am concerned, I am fine "as is" unless my good ear should deteriorate some. :-\
-
Ok Listen Up (Teacher Voice) ::)
Here is what I learned today.
1. Joef is right, nothing is going to help alot with the direction that sound is coming from and sometimes the good ear gets overwhelmed with sounds in all transcranial hearing devices, including BAHA. The brain has trouble sorting it out.
2.  With Destiny, you can use the telephone with your deaf ear but that's not a big deal.
3.  Destiny is totally in the ear canal but you must be tested to determine if the sound waves will travel thru the skull to the other ear. The reason for this is to determine the power necessary to send the signals from Destiny to the good ear .ÂÂ
4.  Some people choose to do nothing about their SSD (single-sided deafness) and that's ok. They adjust well to the situation.
5.  If you want a hearing device with good quality sound, cutting edge software and no feedback, Destiny is a good choice.
6.  Destiny is a good starting point too for someone who only wants a hearing device for driving and social situations. You can remove it or turn it off.
7. You can't see it in the ear unless you really look for it.
8. OVR might pay for it.
9. Our doctor told us to keep watch for new implantable devices that are currently being developed. They will be implantable in the middle ear. He said some exciting new technologies are on the horizon but not yet available. Chris is young and we have a future ahead of us.
Good Luck to all of you. Here is the website again. There are some interesting videos here too. http://www.starkey.com/
-
oh I'm right ? .. just does not happen very offten, just ask my wife :P ;D
-
thanks for all the input!
VR is paying for my hearing aid I'm just in the beginning stages it's nice to know what's aval so I know what to ask for when I see the audiologist :o) If you're right handed..hearing with the left ear can make a big difference in being able to write notes while talking :o)
-
Hey Chrissmom,
Like Chris, I am also young (23) and have single sided deafness. And I also do not want hole in my head or somthing that can be seen on the ear. I am excited about what you have found out about transcranial aid. Please keep us informing more about it. Also, let me know if you have heard about anything better that are on the horizon. I can wait for sometime before really going for it. BTW, how did Chriss lose his hearing?
Thanks,
Robin
-
I am trying to get as much info as possible about hearing aids. With this thread has anyone had experince with the Starkey Destiny CIC? Has anyone had any experince with both Transear and Starkey?
Thanks for the info.
Greg Brown
-
Hi Greg,
Not sure if you have read the "Hearing Forum" here, but here's a thread from that forum re: TransEar... LOTS of feedback on it... hope it helps.
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=2933.0
Phyl
-
thanks phyl,
I did read that and will give that info to my ENT. I just came across this thread today about the Starkey aid and hoped to get more infoon the starkey as well for my appointment.
Thanks for getting back to me.
Greg