Hearing aid problems
August 6, 2009 3:06 PM Subscribe
Can anyone help with problems with Starkey Zon.5 hearing aids. Purchased six months ago and back to vendor 5 times. Vendor and manufacturer say adjustment problem but visits for readjustment have been useless. Seem OK in vendor's quiet office but no real help in the noisy world outside his office. Feedback almost constant in left ear, almost non-existant in right ear?
Left ear actually requires less "boost" and neither ear is so bad I can't carry on converstation without the aids. I am really disappointed because these things cost thousands and I can hear better at times but can't get problems corrected.
Left ear actually requires less "boost" and neither ear is so bad I can't carry on converstation without the aids. I am really disappointed because these things cost thousands and I can hear better at times but can't get problems corrected.
Response by poster: Thanks, sounds like useful information. A little more detail in case it might help you continue with you much appreciated input: These aids have the amplifier/speaker, or whatever it's called on the end of the small tubing inside the ear canal while the receivers on behind the ear on the aid, itself. Feedback in left ear is reduced if I slide the black bud too the very outside end of the canal. This makes the tube and aid more visible and I'm not sure why that works. Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Mike
posted by unclemike at 3:54 PM on August 6, 2009
Thanks,
Mike
posted by unclemike at 3:54 PM on August 6, 2009
You've gotten good advice so far, but I thought I'd also weigh in. I'm an audiologist, but I'm not very familiar with Starkey products. Regardless, most hearing aid companies have similar offerings and Starkey is no different. The Zon is an open fit hearing aid and there are definitely options to eliminate feedback. Is the feedback an actual high pitched sound that you are hearing? The high pitched feedback is something that really should never be present while you are wearing the hearing aids (unless you put your hand right next to your ear). This is something your hearing healthcare provider can and should take care of in the office. There are two options that come to mind. One is to have your vendor run the 'feedback manager' again while feedback is present. This is run though the hearing aid software in the office and finds and eliminates feedback.
The other option *might* also help with the noise situation. Feedback happens because hearing aids are in some ways similar to PA systems. They have a microphone and a speaker. When the speaker and microphone get too close together and/or the volume is too loud, you get that high pitched squealing sound. One way to get rid of feedback is to lower the volume (which is typically, but not always, what the 'feedback manager' does). The other way to get rid of it is to create a wall or a better seal between the microphone and speaker. I don't know what the piece in your ear looks like, but if it is not filling up your ear very much, a larger piece might help. This would keep more sound in your ear and prevent it from leaking out and causing feedback. The other nice side effect of doing this is that if you create a better seal by filling up the ear more, more sound is filtered by the hearing aid. One problem with open fit hearing aids is that the noise in noisy environments can sneak around the coupling in the ear and isn't filtered by the hearing aid, causing it to be difficult to hear in noise. By closing up your ear more, the noise is picked up by the hearing aid and filtered so you can hear better.
All of that said, I think you definitely need to see your vendor again. If he or she can't help you, consider branching out to another provider that may have some other ideas or a new perspective. Hearing aids will never be perfect and will never replace the hearing you had when you were a kid, but you shouldn't have to deal with feedback and I think there is room for improvement in your situation.
Good luck, and I hope I've been helpful!
posted by Carhart at 6:31 PM on August 6, 2009
The other option *might* also help with the noise situation. Feedback happens because hearing aids are in some ways similar to PA systems. They have a microphone and a speaker. When the speaker and microphone get too close together and/or the volume is too loud, you get that high pitched squealing sound. One way to get rid of feedback is to lower the volume (which is typically, but not always, what the 'feedback manager' does). The other way to get rid of it is to create a wall or a better seal between the microphone and speaker. I don't know what the piece in your ear looks like, but if it is not filling up your ear very much, a larger piece might help. This would keep more sound in your ear and prevent it from leaking out and causing feedback. The other nice side effect of doing this is that if you create a better seal by filling up the ear more, more sound is filtered by the hearing aid. One problem with open fit hearing aids is that the noise in noisy environments can sneak around the coupling in the ear and isn't filtered by the hearing aid, causing it to be difficult to hear in noise. By closing up your ear more, the noise is picked up by the hearing aid and filtered so you can hear better.
All of that said, I think you definitely need to see your vendor again. If he or she can't help you, consider branching out to another provider that may have some other ideas or a new perspective. Hearing aids will never be perfect and will never replace the hearing you had when you were a kid, but you shouldn't have to deal with feedback and I think there is room for improvement in your situation.
Good luck, and I hope I've been helpful!
posted by Carhart at 6:31 PM on August 6, 2009
Yes, the type of aid worn behind the ear (BTE) means you have (In my opinion) the better type of model for most hearing loss, the little black "bud" that goes in your ear is an "open" mold. In many BTE's you will have a mold that is custom fit for your ear which is made out f a variety of materials but is usually clear or opaque and can sometimes have a vent which works similarly to the open ear bud you are using but allows less of the sound to escape and more natural (un-amplified) sound in.
Sliding it essentially OUT of your ear is more than likely changing the position or location of the microphone that is picking up the leaked sound from the earbud, or the bud is directing sound in such a way that it is not being bounced or picked back up by the microphone, or even a combination of the two.
Again, I'm not familiar with Zon specifically, but perhaps a different fit of ear mold would be advantageous in that it will sit snugly in your ear (without being partially pulled out) and the BTE will also rest comfortably on top pf your ear
I'll second carhart -
".... This is something your hearing healthcare provider can and should take care of in the office. There are two options that come to mind. One is to have your vendor run the 'feedback manager' again while feedback is present. This is run though the hearing aid software in the office and finds and eliminates feedback.......All of that said, I think you definitely need to see your vendor again. If he or she can't help you, consider branching out to another provider that may have some other ideas or a new perspective. Hearing aids will never be perfect and will never replace the hearing you had when you were a kid, but you shouldn't have to deal with feedback and I think there is room for improvement in your situation. "
You SHOULD get them (the vendor) to provide the best possible fit and while it may take a while to adjust and get comfortable with wearing them... it will happen and you and many of the people in your life will appreciate them greatly.
posted by emjay at 3:06 PM on August 7, 2009
Sliding it essentially OUT of your ear is more than likely changing the position or location of the microphone that is picking up the leaked sound from the earbud, or the bud is directing sound in such a way that it is not being bounced or picked back up by the microphone, or even a combination of the two.
Again, I'm not familiar with Zon specifically, but perhaps a different fit of ear mold would be advantageous in that it will sit snugly in your ear (without being partially pulled out) and the BTE will also rest comfortably on top pf your ear
I'll second carhart -
".... This is something your hearing healthcare provider can and should take care of in the office. There are two options that come to mind. One is to have your vendor run the 'feedback manager' again while feedback is present. This is run though the hearing aid software in the office and finds and eliminates feedback.......All of that said, I think you definitely need to see your vendor again. If he or she can't help you, consider branching out to another provider that may have some other ideas or a new perspective. Hearing aids will never be perfect and will never replace the hearing you had when you were a kid, but you shouldn't have to deal with feedback and I think there is room for improvement in your situation. "
You SHOULD get them (the vendor) to provide the best possible fit and while it may take a while to adjust and get comfortable with wearing them... it will happen and you and many of the people in your life will appreciate them greatly.
posted by emjay at 3:06 PM on August 7, 2009
Response by poster: Thank you all for your help. I will make an appointment with my vendor as soon as I can work it into my schedule. All seem to agree that modern aids do not have to have a big problem with feedback. I hope my vendor will at least agree to that.
Mike
posted by unclemike at 8:23 PM on August 7, 2009
Mike
posted by unclemike at 8:23 PM on August 7, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
You don't really give much detail but it sounds more like a problem with the "fit" of the mold in the left ear.
If the statement "...and neither ear is so bad I can't carry on converstation without the aids..." were true, you likely wouldn't even have gone to get tested. But, you probably do have issues with comprehension and the soft consonant sounds (ckkk, shh, phhh)
Zon are designed to be "open ear" so if you are over amplifying, then the sound is escaping and causing the feedback loop. I'm guessing you were sold digital hearing aids, as analog aids generally don't help much for your described loss. You probably also said you wanted to hear a little more of the natural sound. Resist the urge to use only one, as stereo hearing is better for your ears and your head (interpreting the sounds) and fight the vendor. Either they adjust them to work or get your money back and try someone else. It shouldn't have gone past 30 days if you reported problems right away. If nothing else, maybe a different type of aid would work better for you - DONT SETTLE. Your hearing is too important a part of your life and relationships.
One thing to consider.... if the mold is a bad fit and it's not the programming of the aid, have the wife pluck the hair in and around your ear canal (anywhere the mold part of the aid will fit. THis helps more with traditional molds as opposed to the open ear molds.
posted by emjay at 3:25 PM on August 6, 2009