Feedback Manager

[keithk]

I get terrible feedback with my BAHA along with tinny sound. I have an apointment next month for another adjustment. I need some advice on the feedback manager as far as to have it turned off or leave it on.

[leapyrtwins]

Keith -

only you, and your audiologist, can decide if you want your feedback manager turned on or off; everyone is different when it comes to this.

Speaking from my own experience, my feedback manager has never been turned on and I've had no problems related to that.

Jan

[dalern]

Keith, which BAHA do you have?  If it is Cochlear, which model?
~Dale

[keithk]

I have the BP 100/3

[tenai98]

i get terrible feedback noise while driving in my car with the radio on.. so i'm going to assume its because of the accoustics in the car...it very seldom gives feedback problems when NOT in the car..but does sometimes...going in for a tweeking april 13....mine is the BP100/3....
JO

[dalern]

So, Cochlear replaced my BP100/3 because of the feedback.  The loaner I had in between was great, no feedback.  Now I have the new processor, and bingo....more feedback.  I spoke to Cochlear yesterday.  They are going to have a conference call between my audiologist, the cochlear audiologist I spoke to and one of their BAHA gurus who is also an audiologist.  I will keep you posted.  They seem to be as frustrated as I am and want to fix it once and for all.  One of the suggestions being bantered about is turning off the feedback manager or setting it to only respond in certain situations.
~Dale
My message here is to keep persisting with Cochlear.  They do want to fix the problems.

[leapyrtwins]

My message here is to keep persisting with Cochlear.  They do want to fix the problems.

Absolutely. 

The solution might be to turn it off.  As I said earlier, my feedback manager has never been on and that hasn't been an issue for me.

Sometimes getting your BP100/BP3 "tuned in" correctly is the whole battle.  Once that's done, it should be issue free.  I haven't had issues with mine in ages (thankfully).

Jan

[deheisel11]

I am almost afraid to ask the question, but what is the feedback manager?  I got my BAHA one week ago and I can't find anything in the directions about the feedback manager.  Also, the only thing I see in my package is BP100, no BP100/3.  Did I get an older model of the BP100?

[keithk]

The feedback manager is a setting only your audiologist can set.

[leapyrtwins]

As Keith said, the feedback manager is only something that can be turned on or off by an audiologist.

As for the BP100/BP3, officially the processor is a BP100, but at some point when Cochlear started doing on repairs on some of them they started being called BP3s.

The only differences between the BP100 and the BP3 are the buttons on the top of the processor (much, much easier to use - you don't have to push them as hard) and a rubber insert was added to the battery compartment to help keep moisture out.  My BP100 was "upgraded" to a BP3 when I sent it back to Cochlear for a problem I was having.  I didn't have any issue with the buttons or with moisture in the battery compartment, but apparently some people did.

Jan

[deheisel11]

Thanks for the clarification, Keith and Jan.  My audiologist did not mention the feedback setting or at least I didn't hear her (pun intended).  I am trying to become a little more knowledgeable about my Baha since I just got it.  Thanks again.

[tenai98]

Well my audiologist tweaked my BP100/3 and I am still getting high volumne of feedback, especially when in my car with the radio on....so now its going back to cochlear for fixing...I'm also going to try out the Ponto Plus when the unit comes back into the office...out on trial right now...and if I want it, it will cost $3000.00...on special as a new product in the area.
Jo

[dalern]

Jo, I'll be anxious to hear what you think of the Ponto.  However, I'm surprised that it will fit on your abutment.  They are now different abutments and not interchangeable. 

My update is that one of the Cochlear audiologists called me.  Several of them have conferred and they want me to send my processor back in.  They have been finding some microscopic cracks in the plastic casing of the BP100/3's.  They are now starting to manufacture them with different plastic.  The microscopic cracks do cause feedback.  After they check my unit, they will also discuss programming, including turning off the feedback manager in certain settings.

Keep us posted, Jo!
~Dale

[tenai98]

Dale
my abutement is the old one so Ponto will fit on it. 
Jo

[dalern]

You are very lucky to have the old abutment.  Please keep me posted!
~Dale