Re: programmable/digital hearing aids

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am very interested in the Phonak Audio Zooms and especially the Micro

Link and how well it works. Our school audiologist has recommended the

Extend Ear for the FM system, but it looks huge to me. Is this system

as outdated as it seemed to be, especially when compared to the Micro

Link? I am assuming that the school won't provide anything except the

Extend Ear, but I'd like to know if I'm on the right track with the

Micro Link anyway. Anyone have any info on both?

Patti

[Guest guest]

>My son Ben (18 months) uses the Novo-Fortes; I can't give you much

>feedback on how they sound, since he can't tell me yet. But they

>HAVE spent a lot of time in repairs, although that could be from his

>THROWING them whenever he's mad at me! The switch has broken on

>each of them twice in the past year. And he does hear with them.

Good luck,

Stefanie

>

>

>My son Ben (7 yrs) currently has Phonak Pico Forte hearing aids,

>which he has had since he was 2 years old. We are looking into

>getting him new aids and are considering either the Phonak Novo-Forte

>or the Phonak Audio-Zoom. Does anyone have any experience with

>either of these hearing aids. Ben has a moderate/severe loss in his

>right ear and a severe/profound loss in his left ear. He really

>needs updated equipment. At school, he uses a Phonak Solaris FM,

>and Ben's audiologist said these could both be compatable with this

>system.

[Guest guest]

At 09:35 AM 3/3/00 -0500, you wrote:

>From: sbyrne1281@...

>

>

>I've never heard of the Extend Ear, so I can't comment on that particular

>brand. Patty, my 8-year-old (mod-sev fluctuating mixed loss), has the

>Audio Zooms and Microlink. I have never heard anything but the best

>things about them. They are rugged, and Patty says she has never heard

>the teacher more clearly (she used a Sound FM system before the

>Microlink, but this was before her loss progressed from mild to mod-sev)

>

>As far as the school saying they only provide the Extend Ear -- hog wash.

It depends on what the requirements are. The AVR Extend-Ear is a

self-contained hearing aid/BTE FM system. They may already have another

student in the class with this system, and using different systems in the

same classroom is problematic. There's nothing wrong with the Extend Ear as

a product. The one drawback it has that modular systems like the Microlink

and TMX systems don't have is, the hearing aid and FM are one unit. If the

Extend Ear is a good audiological fit, great. It's best for up to a severe

loss. If your child is profound, then it's not such a good fit, and this

could be the basis of a rebuttal to the district.

Chris

<< Christofer deHahn..................Lead System Administrator >>

<< Chiliad Publishing.............Amherst, Massachusetts, USA >>

[Guest guest]

At 09:35 AM 3/6/00 -0600, you wrote:

>

>

>

>

>You mentioned that the school may already have another child in class

>using the Extend Ear and using two types may cause problems. Does that

>mean that even if I wanted to pay for the Microlink myself that I would

>have problems using it? And thanks to everyone who has answered me on

>this question. No matter how much I searched the net, I would never get

>the info that I get here. Thanks again.

Yes. Two different FM transmitters in the same room can cause problems. It

may be possible to get two different receivers to work with one

transmitter, but I haven't heard of this being successful in practice.

Chris

<< Christofer deHahn..................Lead System Administrator >>

<< Chiliad Publishing.............Amherst, Massachusetts, USA >>