New Phonak CROS or BAHA????

[Mei Mei]

I just noticed I posted twice on this.    I wanted to let all of you know that for the past year I've been going through a lot of cognitive issues.    I send emails that I don't remember sending and then send again.   Yesterday I went to the dentist for a check up and asked to schedule the appointment for the filling and they said that I was there in March and the filling was done.   I have no recollection of it or many of the conversations or emails I've sent.    It's of great concern to me.    Well I've had 4 surgeries since 2010 and then the problem where the doctor at Cleveland Clinic gave me several injections through the Titanium mesh causing me to be put on life support for a day.    That a lot of anesthesia for one brain.    The doctor said it should take a year to settle down.    I don't know if I should go to a Memory Clinic for this or just wait it out.

No misunderstandings, honest.   I'm just coping with a memory problem right now.

As for Dr. N.   he's been fired as well as Dr. T.   Georgetown just published a paper on the followup of AN patients.    Off the cuff the nurse practitioner said there were too many coming to them from Hopkins and that they were going to arrange to speak to them about this.   I do hope he will listen.    In the meantime, anyone who calls or writes, I tell them to stay away from Hopkins. 

Sincerely,
Mei Mei

[spgreenfield]

I got my Cros yesterday, but also came home with an Oticon Ponto to test as well.  I'm not sure about the programming of the Cros - but it seems to pick up rustling noises very VERY easily!  Like the nylon jacket I was wearing yesterday - or a similar pitch level in daily living.  I gave it an extreme test yesterday by playing golf after being fitted - and I'm not really sure how much I like it. 

I have BTE on both pieces for the Cros - and the transmitter is VERY easy to knock off my ear.  I did it during golf and adjusting my hat and sunglasses - fortunately was aware as soon as the tones began telling me it had fallen out of range.  I found it though than heavens!

I also wore it to the restaurant afterwards and it really didn't seem to help with carrying on a conversation across the table.  It wasn't a horribly noisy place - but not a smaller room either.

I'll continue to wear and test it today - but since I AM able to have the surgery for the BAHA - I can say that even though the sound was a bit muffled on the Oticon Ponto I am testing, it is greatly different.  Wish it didn't look so weird as a headband because I'd test it more in public settings.  Maybe I'll try a hat or something and see if it covers it up enough to wear it away from home.

I was able to sense direction with the BAHA - not with the Cros.  Haven't tried the BAHA and my nylon coat yet - but the Cros got downright annoying with catching that sound from everywhere. (and not knowing where the sound was coming from.....)

I CAN see how the Cros would be an answer for those without insurance or eligible for surgery definitely.  I think if I wasn't able to compare the two of them personally and only had the Cros I might be happier with it - but my intent is to choose between the two.

Pam

[leapyrtwins]

Maybe I'll try a hat or something and see if it covers it up enough to wear it away from home.

Wearing a hat with a BAHA processor typically causes feedback (aka squealing). 

Jan

[Mei Mei]

Pam,
This is an important time for you so don't be self conscious about what people will think of you if you are wearing a device in public...
Mei Mei

[mk]

I had an audiologist appointment today and I got a prescription for the Phonak Cros, so now I am shopping around. My understanding from the forum was that the Phonak does not help with directionality. However the audiologist insisted that after a while the brain gets used to the aid, and gets retrained so that eventually some directionality is gained.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Have you been told something similar?

Marianna

[Phillies]

I got my Cros yesterday, but also came home with an Oticon Ponto to test as well.  I'm not sure about the programming of the Cros - but it seems to pick up rustling noises very VERY easily!  Like the nylon jacket I was wearing yesterday - or a similar pitch level in daily living.  I gave it an extreme test yesterday by playing golf after being fitted - and I'm not really sure how much I like it. 

I have BTE on both pieces for the Cros - and the transmitter is VERY easy to knock off my ear.  I did it during golf and adjusting my hat and sunglasses - fortunately was aware as soon as the tones began telling me it had fallen out of range.  I found it though than heavens!

I also wore it to the restaurant afterwards and it really didn't seem to help with carrying on a conversation across the table.  It wasn't a horribly noisy place - but not a smaller room either.

I'll continue to wear and test it today - but since I AM able to have the surgery for the BAHA - I can say that even though the sound was a bit muffled on the Oticon Ponto I am testing, it is greatly different.  Wish it didn't look so weird as a headband because I'd test it more in public settings.  Maybe I'll try a hat or something and see if it covers it up enough to wear it away from home.

I was able to sense direction with the BAHA - not with the Cros.  Haven't tried the BAHA and my nylon coat yet - but the Cros got downright annoying with catching that sound from everywhere. (and not knowing where the sound was coming from.....)

I CAN see how the Cros would be an answer for those without insurance or eligible for surgery definitely.  I think if I wasn't able to compare the two of them personally and only had the Cros I might be happier with it - but my intent is to choose between the two.

Pam

They easily fall off?? I run and work out with my cros on all the time and never once did they ever fall out. Sounds like you have a loose fitting.

[Ross]

They easily fall off?? I run and work out with my cros on all the time and never once did they ever fall out. Sounds like you have a loose fitting.

I ride a bike with a helmet, run around all the time, as well, and never once did my aids fall off.  For the BTE transmitter, I use the attachment that goes into my ear canal vs. the one that hugs the ear lobe.  My audiologist who used to work for Phonak said that the ear lobe anchor only works for certain people whose ears have the right lobe configuration.  Most of her patients wind up using the version that I have.

There is also an option to get a mold made to make the ear canal holder more custom fitting.  I'm thinking of doing that...I've been told it is more comfortable than the generic fitting.

[Paul F]

When I received my Cros, it came with just a small hook that laid over the top of my ear.  It would pop off every time I removed my glasses or moved my head quickly.  I then found out that for a real secure fitting, a hollow ear mold can be attached as an anchor.  That is what I have now.  They never fall off.
Paul

[Ross]

Thanks Paul...that is exactly what I want to do.

[dalern]

Pam,
I am curious as to the outcome of your trial and comparison with the Cros and the Oticon Baha.  What did you decide?
Dale

[tweety]

I have had the Phonak cros for one year.  It is comfortable and improved my hearing some. Nothing like the two ears I used to have but I like them.  Tweety

[Denise S]

Been doing my Hearing device trial....the newer Phonak CROS. Well, only been 2 weeks and for starters on side does have a thin clear tube thing that goes in my ear....it was hurting bad, so audiologist gave me smaller one. I am not sure it is working well enough, UGH!!! If someone is setting next to me on my deaf ear I 'thought' it would pick them up, but it don't seem to be, unless they are loud or looking straight at me. How is it working in those situation for others? I have 3 settings and tried them all. This is frustrating!!!

SORRY I haven't updated (since I started this topic)    I just haven't been happy with any of the trials so far.   I did the Oticon Ponto Pro on a metal headband for a week and felt like I got nothing from that either.  B U T, it wouldn't stay put on my head and the band was increasing my already bad headaches.    I called that audiologist again just now and will go in 2 weeks and get a Soft band Cochlear BAHA BP110 trial, maybe it will stay put better.     I have very thick, soft hair too, so wonder if that is why it moves so much.?.?

This is frustrating!!  If all this stuff wasn't so expensive, it wouldn't be such a difficult decision

THANKS for listening

Denise (MI)

[Ross]

Denise, I'm sorry this is proving frustrating.  No fun in that!

I have found that depending on the situation, the effectiveness of CROS can be on both sides of spectrum.  It's either really great and feels like a miracle or just not effective enough and disappointing.  I've been wearing them now for a while and have learned that I can count on them in lower noise environments (like meetings) where the people on my deaf side would be inaudible to me otherwise. But in noisier settings I find that it's better not to even turn them on as the microphone picks up too much ambient sound that actually makes the situation worse!

I don't have to be facing the person to hear them. In fact, I pick up sound really well when he/she is next to me in places like movie theatres. We're able to carry on a complete conversation and I marvel at not having to crane my neck.

Which environments are proving the most challenging for you?  Don't expect too much in very noisy places. But in reasonable places like moderately noisy restaurants you should experience a boost. If that's not happening, something may be not quite right with the hearing aid or transmitter.

[dalern]

Hi Denise,
The hard band hurt my head too.  The soft band was much better, but I still did not get the full effect from the BAHA.  I have to say that the real thing, once implanted is far better than the trial with the band. Therefore, the trials only give you a slight glimpse of what you might expect, but not the full impact.  Different with the Cros, because you are actually wearing it the way you would wear it permanently.  If you are going to try the BP100 on a soft band, see if you can also try the ponto pro that way and see if you can tell any difference between them.  I think it's a little different for different people.
Let us know.
Dale

[Paul F]

Denise,

When I was first fitted, the audio said "that's it".  I told her I didn't see much difference from SSD side.  I asked her if she had some sort of clicker or sound maker.  We used a pen that had a pocket clip on it.  I would pop it on one side and then the other.  I couldn't even hear it on the SSD side.  She was amazed and made some changes to the programming, back and forth until both sides were equal volume. I've been wearing these for over a year and think now I will go back and see if the volume can be raised on both sides.  What I notice the most is that I have much better word recognition with the aides but that has nothing to do with the Cros part, just the hearing aide.

It seems that some audios are going strictly by what the software tells them to do.  This was the first Bi-Cros she has done with the new Phonak.

I hope it all works out for you.

Paul