This was extremely exciting for me because the hearing aids I were wearing, were five-years-old and starting to become outdated. I didn’t have any major problems with these hearing aids, but I faced the issue where I felt that the sound I heard from them was too loud. I had my audiologists lower the gain, but I still felt like sounds were just amplified and unclear. Due to this I usually wore my hearing aids only when I felt like I had to. After a long day of school or work, I couldn’t wait for the moment to take my hearing aids off.
This all changed with my new hearing aids.
When it comes to living day-to-day with my hearing loss, I struggle the most with understanding speech. I have the most difficulty when I cannot read lips, or when I’m trying to understand speech in the car and large group conversations, or whispers. I get anxious going into situations where I know it will be hard to hear. For example, hearing my name being called at the doctor’s office or a coffee shop, or hearing my Uber driver speak to me in the car.
I wanted my hearing aids to do more than just amplify sounds. I wanted to be able to hear the sounds I felt like I had been missing out on.
My expectations for my hearing aids were high, and I wasn’t sure if any hearing aid would ever meet them.
After I put the hearing aids on, the moment was anticlimactic and the first thing I thought was “Are you sure they are on?” The sound was completely different from when I would turn my old hearing aids on. Rather than hearing instant amplification, the sound was quieter and smoother. I felt as though the hearing aid upgraded my natural hearing rather than just having amplification in my ear. Once I processed how well the sound quality was, the moment became exciting again.
“I felt as though the hearing aid simply my natural hearing rather than just having amplification in my ear.”
Within the first few minutes of having my Audéo B-R hearing aids on I noticed how AutoSense OS, Phonak’s unique operating system, worked. Before trying on my new hearing aid, I could hear the loud hum of a refrigerator nearby making it harder to hear my audiologist’s voice. Once I had the Audéo B-Rs in my ears, the humming of the refrigerator was quieter and my audiologist’s voice was more clear.
Read more: How Hearing Aids with Autosense OS Affected my Travels
In the first few days of wearing the new hearing aids, I noticed the sounds that were overwhelming and hard to adjust to the at first were better. I could tell my brain was adjusting to the new hearing aids. They didn’t bother me the whole day. I actually enjoyed wearing my hearing aids! On my sixth day of wearing my hearing aids, I already had been wearing them an average of 11 hours per day. I can honestly say that was a record for me.
“I actually enjoyed wearing my hearing aids!”
Hearing technology is rapidly improving. The technology from my hearing aid in 2011 is extraordinarily different than the 2016 technology. Not just with the sound, but also with other features such as the rechargeable feature. I can’t even count how many battery fiascos I have had in the past 18 years that I have worn hearing aids. It seemed like my batteries would always die at the wrong time. The rechargeable feature is amazing and I can’t imagine going back to batteries.
Read more: Ask Anna: Is there an easier way to change hearing aid batteries?
So far, my Audéo B-Rs have no problem meeting my expectations. It seems like I am continually learning more about my hearing aids and how they work each day. I love how they automatically switch in between programs based on the environment I am in. Even the smallest changes make a significant difference in my hearing. For example, when the sound of the rain on my car roof is softened so I can hear my radio or when wind noise is decreased as I walk outside so I can hear the person next to me. Hearing in difficult situations is now easier than ever for me.
“Hearing in difficult situations is now easier than ever for me.”
If you have been curious about Phonak Audéo B-R hearing aids, but haven’t tried them yet, I suggest you go for it! Especially if you have older hearing aids, you will be amazed with the technology.
If you’d like to try Phonak’s new rechargeable hearing aids, contact an audiologist near you to learn more!
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