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Which one have you got? I know what you mean with the "helpful" bullshit. My conventional hearing aid, on my left ear, has this "smart" mode where it tries to d
by Kluny 10y ago
Which one have you got? I know what you mean with the "helpful" bullshit. My conventional hearing aid, on my left ear, has this "smart" mode where it tries to detect speech vs noise, and change the volume or the directionality of the microphone to compensate. You end up with this wildly fluctuating volume all the time where it feels like stationary objects are coming at you. I had them turn that feature off asap.
On the other hand, my cochlear implant (right side), has a directional microphone that's actually incredibly useful in noisy situations. Combined with the directional mic on the hearing aid, I can actually hear almost as well as a normal person in a crowded bar, after 20+ years of avoiding them because of how impossible they were to cope with.
I strongly recommend it if you can get it - the Nucleus Freedom 6. I'm saving my pennies up to get a second one.
- sdrothrock 10y agoI have the Advanced Bionics Harmony BTE. Since my implant is AB, I wouldn't be able to get the Nucleus Freedom 6. I have an in-ear mic, which does wonders for reducing surrounding noises and also for letting me use a phone normally, but my main issue is with the software itself; I've had issues with it since implantation and they've always been pooh-poohed by audiologists at Hopkins, Tokyo University, and Toranomon. The biggest problem is that it seems to operate on some kind of averaging system -- when there's a noise that's louder than the recent average, everything just cuts out for a few seconds. This is especially noticeable in the morning, where I've just woken up and am trying to get to work, but there are cars and trains etc. making noise and making my hearing cut in and out constantly, which not only drives me up the wall but gives me a terrible headache.
- Kluny 10y agoYep, that's exactly the thing I'm talking about. You'd think they could hire one deaf person at their labs to road test the things, but... On my hearing aid it's a "feature" that can be turned off. Too bad you're stuck with it.
- sdrothrock 10y agoI have had so many problems with the implant in general that are just brushed off as "well, you're unusual." It won't even stay on my head without me putting a few extra magnets on the headpiece.
- Kluny 10y agoWeird, it sounds defective. Have they tried replacing the unit?
- sdrothrock 10y agoI'm on my 4th or 5th BTE now (since 2002), so... yeah. :)
- Kluny 10y agoThat definitely sucks. Thanks for the headsup not to get one of those though!