My Experience with Phonak Cros and Soundbite

[thursday49]

I have 40%word recognition in my right ear, due to a gradual hearing loss. My left ear has normal hearing with a little trouble with high frequency consonant sounds, such as S or F.
I"m 63 and this has been going on for nearly 20 years. I've seen audiologists, ENTs, hearing aid specialists, prosthetic device experts in NM and TX.    And spent thousands on devices that at best, helped me feel like I was 'doing something' about my hearing loss.

Finally an ENT here in Austin prescribed diuretics for the feeling of fullness in the right ear. It's not perfect, but it helps.  And after 6 weeks of the diuretic, my deaf ear's hearing improved to about 40%.
I met with the SoundBite representative and the ENT's audiologist, and tried the SoundBite in her office. It seemed like a great device. I would have somehow produced the $8000 after getting the insurance break down the following Monday, but the audiologist and ENT were on spring break.  Lucky for me they were.

In the interim, I read every post on the AN board on Phonak Cros and Soundbite.
I left messages on the AN board, and called a Phonak cros user in Dallas.  Everyone was quite helpful in any way they could be.

I saw the audiologist the first Monday morning after spring break. She understood completely my decision to try the Phonak Cros first---it costs $2300 as opposed to the SoundBite's $8k. Yes it requires the expense of large size 13 batteries, but there's no proof the SoundBite will last over 3 years, as it's so new a technology. What would I need do after three years? Buy another SoundBite at a higher cost than now.

I will get my trial cros Wed. morning in time to use at my seasonal job starting Thursday morning. I'll pay the $2300 with a credit card, as there's no financing available.  Should I return the device within 30 days, I will receive the $2300 back, minus $250 for the wear and tear of the trial period.

It was a hoot choosing the best shade of behind-the-ear doodad to go with my hair. The audiologist explained that the behind-the-ear piece in the 'good' ear is small and won't affect my normal hearing in that ear, i.e., I won't feel 'plugged up' with a device in my 'good' ear.

So as for now, I'm feeling a bit smug that I bulldogged my way into seeking cheaper solutions for my deaf ear. I'll keep you posted.

[Susan A]

Oh, do let us know how you like the Cros!

[james e]

I am 63, live in Georgetown, Tx and I am SSD and have a BAHA. It is great. You are almost deaf, and a BAHA might be your answer. It will work in a functioning ear...your bad one, as well in your good one. They are usually covered by insurance. Google Cochlear and find a local dealer with your zip code.

[thursday49]

I have 40%word recognition in my right ear, due to a gradual hearing loss. This percentage was determined after my second hearing test with the Austin ENT and after 6 weeks of taking diuretics. My left ear has normal hearing with a little trouble with high frequency consonant sounds, such as S or F.
I"m 63 and this has been going on for nearly 20 years. I've seen audiologists, ENTs, hearing aid specialists, prosthetic device experts in NM and TX.    And spent thousands on devices that at best, helped me feel like I was 'doing something' about my hearing loss.

Finally an ENT here in Austin prescribed diuretics for the feeling of fullness in the right ear. It's not perfect, but it helps.
I met with the SoundBite representative and the ENT's audiologist, and tried the SoundBite in her office. It seemed like a great device. I would have somehow produced the $8000 after getting the insurance break down the following Monday, but the audiologist and ENT were on spring break.  Lucky for me they were.

In the interim, I read every post on the AN board on Phonak Cros and Soundbite.
I left messages on the AN board, and called a Phonak cros user in Dallas.  Everyone was quite helpful in any way they could be.

I saw the audiologist the first Monday morning after spring break. She understood completely my decision to try the Phonak Cros first---it costs $2300 as opposed to the SoundBite's $8k. Yes it requires the expense of large size 13 batteries, but there's no proof the SoundBite will last over 3 years, as it's so new a technology. What would I need do after three years? Buy another SoundBite at a higher cost than now.

I will get my trial cros Wed. morning in time to use at my seasonal job starting Thursday morning. I'll pay the $2300 with a credit card, as there's no financing available.  Should I return the device within 30 days, I will receive the $2300 back, minus $250 for the wear and tear of the trial period.

It was a hoot choosing the best shade of behind-the-ear doodad to go with my hair. The audiologist explained that the behind-the-ear piece in the 'good' ear is small and won't affect my normal hearing in that ear, i.e., I won't feel 'plugged up' with a device in my 'good' ear.

So as for now, I'm feeling a bit smug that I bulldogged my way into seeking cheaper solutions for my deaf ear. I'll keep you posted.

We ought to get together and compare notes, living so close.

The ENT's audiologist who knows me and my hearing all too well was peachy keen fine with the phonak cros as an option.

Personally, if it does work fine for me, as it did in her office, I much prefer it to surgery and the expense of a Baja.

With my very high insurance deductible of $10k, my BCBS of TX will pay only 60% of the roughly $5000 I will owe after paying 100% out of pocket for the first $10,000 of a Baja. 

See why the Phonak Cros is so appealing?

I just realized I must amend my hearing level. In the second hearing test administered after the 6 week intake of diuretics, my poorer ear's hearing increased to about 40%, I think it was.

[Raven]

I've had the Phonak Cros for about 2 months and all I can say is WOW. I'm completly deaf in my left ear and have moderate hearing loss in my good ear, which still has a AN lurking. I'm hearing things I haven't heard since this crap started over 5 years ago. No more having to sit next to someone with them on my good side, no more twisting my head around to hear someone, no more saying what, huh, I'm sorry, etc. I got mine thru the audioloigy dept. where I had my surgeries. Being a Baltimore Ravens fan I picked purple as my color but they did not come in purple. I could not be more satisfied with them, If I don't tell someone I'm wearing them they wouldn't even notice

[arizonajack]

I can't help thinking that it's strange for you to get the Phonak Cros when you have some hearing in your right ear and almost normal in your left ear.

Does your right ear respond to amplification?

If it does, then maybe a pair of Phonak Audeo Smarts might be a better option.

I've had the Cros system for almost a year now. I'm deaf in my right ear from the AN and slightly impaired in my left ear. The Cros on my right ear collects sounds coming from my right and transmits them to the Audeo on my left ear.

Either way I suggest that you get the MyPilot remote control device.

Without it you have to reach up to push the buttons on the hearing aids to control the volume and that's all you can do.

I did that for a month and it drove me crazy so I had my audiologist order me the MyPilot remote control.

With the MyPilot remote control you not only control volume with the remote but your system can be programed with a variety of features that you can change to suit your various hearing situations.

Check out the Phonak website for information about the products and features:

http://www.phonak.com/us/b2c/en/products/hearing_instruments/cros/overview.html

You can buy Power One batteries on Amazon in packages of 60 for $20. I use them and so do lots of other people. Check out the reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_14?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=hearing+aid+batteries+size+13&sprefix=hearing+aid+ba%2Caps%2C237

Buy two or more packages at a time and shipping is free.

[arizonajack]

I've had the Phonak Cros for about 2 months and all I can say is WOW. I'm completly deaf in my left ear and have moderate hearing loss in my good ear, which still has a AN lurking. I'm hearing things I haven't heard since this crap started over 5 years ago. No more having to sit next to someone with them on my good side, no more twisting my head around to hear someone, no more saying what, huh, I'm sorry, etc. I got mine thru the audioloigy dept. where I had my surgeries. Being a Baltimore Ravens fan I picked purple as my color but they did not come in purple. I could not be more satisfied with them, If I don't tell someone I'm wearing them they wouldn't even notice

Raven,

Do you have the MyPilot remote control?

[Raven]

Arizona,

I think you misread my reply.............I'm completely deaf in my left ear & have moderate hearing loss in my right/good ear. The Phonak hearing aid and the transmitter look identical. I have the transmitter in my left/deaf ear and the hearing aid in my right/good ear, they are both BTE (behind the ear). The transmitter picks up sound from my left/deaf side and transmits it to the hearing aid on my right/good side, all the sound is then amplified into my right/good ear. I can even hear phone conversations on my left/deaf side. These Phonaks work perfectly, well worth the $2,500.

I did order the Power One batteries a few weeks ago - 60 for $20, and read all the good reviews. If I'm doing stuff around the house by myself I typically don't wear the Phonaks, help conserves batteries. I wear them everyday to work and usually get 2.5 - 3 days before I have to change the batteries in both of them.

I don't have the MyPilot............mine are programmed for raising and lowering the volume only, which is the way I wanted due to some fluctuation in my right/ good side once in a while. So far I haven't even had to adjust the volume, let alone make changes due to conditions around me...............maybe I'm just gratefull to hear again at this point and will fine tune later.

Oh, forgot to mention my insurance picked up half of the $2,500.

John

[thursday49]

I got my Phonak cros today. I can 'hear' from my deaf ear when someone whispers into it. It's amazing.  I took the two devices off when I got home. It's a bit different, but worth the trouble for sure.

I can't believe the number of sounds I was not hearing b/c of the 'deaf' ear.

[TexasSprinter]

thursday 49--so glad you are enjoying the cros on day 1.  I'm 2 weeks into my Phonak Cros H2O trial period.  Still not used to the tubes in the ears but being able to hear my 3-year old daughter whisper in my deaf ear is special.

[thursday49]

Texas,
My ears are hurting a bit. The tubes in my ears are buggin' me. Like when I got home after wearing them for 3.5 hours after the audiologist's appointment to fit them, I took them out cheerfully. And puttered around my condo without them. I don't hear as well, but no tubes. Still, much better than trying to guess what folks are saying into my 'deaf' ear.

[Raven]

You will get used to the tubes, I don't even feel them anymore.

Arizona,
After reading this thread again, I realize your reply was directed towards Thursday and not me.............sorry about the confusion.

[arizonajack]

Ditto about the tubes. You get used to them.

The Cros side is usually fitted with a mold to the shape of the ear opening.

The hearing aid side has a rubber dome that holds the electronic end in the ear.

I was originally given a medium dome but had a lot of trouble inserting it. Then went to a small dome and that fixed the problem.

You can get the domes and the wax guards on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dhpc&field-keywords=phonak+domes

[thursday49]

Dear Followers of my Phonak Cros Saga,

Today I inserted the two devices around 7am, and wore them straight thru to 5pm.
The effect was much better. I was at work and was amazed at what I heard on my 'deaf' ear's side. The tubes didn't bother me.
But the woman on the side of my 'good' ear has a low-pitched voice, probably due to years of smoking. I had to ask her to repeat her comments many times today.  This means the 'good' ear isn't catching everything, like I wish it did.

So, during this 30-day trial period with the Phonak Cros, I'll ask the audiologist to fit me with a little hearing boost for the good ear.

Damn I hate getting old.

[arizonajack]

But the woman on the side of my 'good' ear has a low-pitched voice, probably due to years of smoking. I had to ask her to repeat her comments many times today.  This means the 'good' ear isn't catching everything, like I wish it did.

That's a good reason to get the MyPilot remote control. Lets you switch back and forth between several options that you can use for different circumstance. Also allows you to adjust volume on each side separately.