Hi, I am in the trial period of the Phonak Audeo Q (left ear) with the Phonak Cros (right ear). I paid $3775. It comes with a 3 year warranty and a one-time replacement warranty should I lose it over that 3 year period (will cost $250.00 to replace). It includes visits to the Audiologist (unlimited, but heavier in the first month and suggested every 6 months after that). I have a 30 day trial period -- I can forego and they will retain $150.00.
My story: I was born deaf in my right ear, but with normal hearing in my left ear.
About 6 weeks ago -- I suddenly got a "humming/air conditioner" noise in my head that is constant and also my "good ear" feels "stopped up" and it feels like I am hearing at the bottom of a well. Went to ENT and had a hearing test. Right ear is deaf and Left ear doesn't hear low frequencies very well (going to locate a hearing test from before the humming started to see if there is actually a change). Anyway, had an MRI -- no AN. Went on a 2 week regime of Valtrex and Prednisone -- no change. Have had 4 injections of steroids to my left ear (through the eardrum) -- no change. Not sure what my next step should be. Have seen 3 ENTs and they all agree: Don't know what caused it, but don't think the tinnitis is going to go away and don't think the hearing will return to normal.
Hear we go:
Saw Audiologist and Ordered the Phonak Audeo Q (left ear) with the Phonak Cros (right ear)
Day1: Hearing aides are a little uncomfortable (not use to having something lodged in my ear canal). I talk on a cell phone often -- hearing is fine on my cell (no real change / aide or no). Strange being able to hear other noises while I am on the phone. Seem to hear better on my deaf (right) side. Background noise is VERY loud (wind, shuffling, clanking, etc).
Day2: Phonak Audeo and Phonak Cros seem to have a separate "white noise" that is present ontop of my own head "humming". That's annoying. Does seem to help in "one on one situations" with amplifying the sound and making it easier to hear and understand conversations (doesn't require a lot of what, huh, what did you say, I didn't hear you). Background noise is still VERY loud (restaurants are still a nightmare -- no where close to what it use to be 6 weeks ago). Also, went to a friends house -- had the same issue with a ceiling fan or outside on the porch with "wind". Unimpressed.
Day3: In the car, talking to my husband -- it's alright. Still have another noise over my own humming -- annoying. I can still hear him. Also, it's taking some adjustment to hearing from my deaf side (it's kind of like information overload). Went to another restaurant. Can't hear conversation -- aggravating. Heard my husband in my deaf ear / waiter in my deaf ear -- trying to have conversation with a friend in my good ear -- it was frustrating and annoying because I was getting noise ontop of noise -- it was a cacophony! Impossible to carry on a conversation. Waking up in the middle of the night, thinking I left the aides in -- I didn't. Must mean my ears are getting use to having things crammed into them. I can hear on my cell in my "bad ear" -- it sounds distant, but it's doable. Have to hold the phone up to the "mic pick ups behind my ear". Interesting experiment. Still really unhappy with the crowds / restaurants performance.
I go into my Adiologist on Wednesday (Day 7) to "tweak" the program. Will inquire about the remote control, because I agree with others it's annoying to have to fiddle with the "button" to increase / decrease volume. Also, this thing is supposedly able to be programmed to deal with different situations -- yeah we need to figure that out ASAP -- because at this point -- it's still annoying and not worth the almost 4k.
