Dear Bob,
Your experience with the left aid is consistent with a setting whereby high
input signals are making it saturate, which essentially is like a form of
overloading. Chances are that if your DigiLife has enough power for soft and
moderate sounds then it also likely to be sufficient in its maximum power
output, as it has a very similar level of power to the old 440's. It
definitely needs your dispenser to have a look at it, and perhaps do some
more fine tuning. It's a bit tricky to propose to your dispenser what to
do, without seeing your audiogram and how the aid has currently been
configured, as the aid is extremely flexible, and there is actually a choice
of two prescriptive rationales available. But following are our suggestions
for him/her to try depending on the type of algorithm selected.
- WDRC rationale- increase HF loud gain and set MPO to 0.
- MF+ rationale- increase HF (P) a couple of steps
If fine-tuning of the WDRC is not sufficient, then switching to the MF+
rationale might provide a little more 'headroom' for those more familiar
with a linear response.
Hope that helps,
best wishes,
Paul B. Davis PhD, MAudSA (CC) and Dragan Gusatovic, Oticon A/S Copenhagen
-----Original Message-----
From: maiello at my-deja.com [mailto:maiello at my-deja.com]
Sent: 5 May 2000 06:10
To: bionet-audiology at moderators.isc.org
Subject: Another Digital First Impressions (help)
I am trialing 2 Oticon DigiLifes BTE. Its only been 12 hours but I need
some advice.
My background briefly. I have been wearing hearing aids since age 7,
first with one in the left ear only.
Sometime in my teens I started wearing 2. My audiogram is exactly the
same for both ears. In my 30s now, I
am switching from 2 Oticon Personic 440s (analog) that have been quite
durable and reliable. I have worn the
left one with the volume higher than the right (probably from my
starting out with one HA in this ear).
The problem:
With the new DigiLifes the right one seems fine. The left one I had
adjusted; the gain was increase (mainly the high freq) because it
didn't seem like it was amplifying enough. The filters (little green
pieces) in the mold tube were also taken out. After wearing the
aids now; the left aid definitely distorts loud pressure sounds car
door slamming, clapping, drawer closing). The right does not exhibit
this behavior. I know I need to go back to get this adjusted.
I'm concerned that:
a.) The gain is maxed out on this. Perhaps I need an aid with more
power.
b.) That perhaps I should go back to analog aids like I had. (Does
anyone know if the Oticon Personic 440 has more power than the
DigiLife?).
I must say its been quite hard describing how it sounds. I am going
back for a "real ear" test that may help my dispenser. Any advice would
be great; I will summarize my experience.
Bob Maiello
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Before you buy.
