Phonak hearing aids are designed with the user in mind. Besides from the advanced technology, Phonak hearing aids feature a special design which goes up to custom shapes, made especially for each patient, thus fitting perfectly in the ear canal. One of the greates features of Phonak hearing instruments is SoundRecover, which expands audibility to include even the high frequencies encountered in bird songs or insects buzzing, which are usually impossible to be heard by people suffering from a hearing loss condition. Phonak hearing aids can be outdoors as well as indoors, thanks to the WindBlock Management technology which helps eliminating the sound effect produced by the wind blowing, which can be extremely irritating. Prevention of whistling caused by things like wearing helmets or kissing someone is very effective and it’s made possible by the WhisteBlock technology incorporated in all hearing devices from Phonak.
The Phonak hearing aids are not only comfortable and effective, but they are also made to fit into the modern world full of technology. The Phonak wireless technology makes it possible top connect your hearing aid to mobile phones, mp3 players, television sets or laptops, for a perfectly normal life. As in life the sound environment can sometimes change suddenly from silence to loud noises or music, Phonak hearing aids are prepared for this challenge by featuring the so called SoundFlow, a technology that allows smooth transition between various levels of noise. Other interesting features are SoundRelax, which automatically recognizes and eliminates abrupt sounds, NoiseBlock Processing, which reduces the environmental noise, or EchoBlock System, which offers sound clarity in large indoor spaces.
Phonak hearing aids are available in many shapes and colors, one of the most discrete ones being the Completely-in-the-Canal model, which can barely be seen by others, but which, unfortunately, doesn’t feature wireless connectivity. Nevertheless, if you really need the wireless functionality, you can choose the Phonak In-the-Canal model which is also very discrete hearing aid.
Query: Foe how many hours should a no. 12 battery last in a Phonak hearing aid? My average is 8 hours per day over a three day period. This seems a rather brief time span.
No complaints, however, the Phonak is so much better than the Starkey Destiny (CIC) model I formerly used.
What is ‘official’ average for battery life?
Thanks, KH
Posted by Kathleen Hamilton | 12. Sep, 2010, 2:26 pmi had a pair on loan for 3 weeks from h.u.h.(help u hear)i could not believe i have my normal hearing back with these phonak b.t.e.aids,i am practically deaf,and the features they have are unbelievable,plus my doctor of audiology who programmed them to my hearing is a whiz,also they can cut out background that you would not believe,they are sure a miracle. john mc queen.
Posted by john mc queen | 08. Oct, 2010, 12:32 pmI have the Phonak BTE model and the digital technology is crap. Music is so broken up that I switch back to my old analog set. Forget trying to carry on conversations in a restaurant or conferences, these aids just amplify everything loudly. Eventually they will cut down the sound but then the noise has gone away and now I have to wait for them to come back up. Worst $3K I ever spent!
Posted by Sam Dillon | 20. Oct, 2010, 8:15 amCRAP is an understatement! I have been fighting with my PHONAK AUDEO YES, originally with the Palm Pilot, for over two years now.
In a restaurant setting, they amplify EVERY voice in the room to an uncomfortable degree, yet I cannot hear the person an arms length away that I am trying to converse with. As for “Directionality”, that exists only in their advertising.
I have already spent a fortune trying to get them adjusted locally by three different reputable audiologists. They have also been back to the manufacturer, with no success.
Think it is time to flush them down the toilet!
Posted by Julius Siddon | 21. May, 2011, 10:16 amI am in the same boat. I bought the Phonak Audeos, and I hate them. After 30 years of success with hearing aids, I am ready to give up and learn sign language. Phonak should rot in hell.
Posted by Pissed at Phonak | 31. Oct, 2011, 7:55 pmI have had my Phonak’s a year now. They are also my first hearing aids and for the money I spent you would hope they would be better.
They do great for background noise and the bluetooth totally suck. I’d look elsewhere
Posted by Douglas C Daniels | 14. Nov, 2011, 9:10 pmFor John MC Queen,
You sound like you really like the Phonaks that you tried. What model were they and what cost?? Also what frequencies were your problem areas?
Thanks, David
Posted by David | 08. Nov, 2010, 8:19 pmOne of my phonak hearing aid batteries lasts about half as long as the other, and my ears are almost the same hearing-wise. How lomg do other peoples’ last?
Posted by Elinor | 02. Dec, 2010, 10:57 pmI have my Phonak hearing aids for under two years. In that time, they required three new molds (at $100 each). The tiny little plastic string that pulls the hearing aid out of the ear breaks of and that requires an entirely new mold!
The wax trap is impossible for me to exchange, my son has to do it with a surgical instrument.
I have had hearing aids for nearly 40 years, these are the shoddiest and most poorly designed ones I have ever had. All the pitfalls were not explained to me. Buyer beware.
Posted by Dr. Erika Karohs | 04. Jun, 2011, 11:27 amI first had widex clear 220, then I switched to the phonak “cassia”, they were so so, nex i went to the phonak solana’s micro M,lots of hissing, then went to the phonak S Smart 5, which were totally crap, they crackled in my ear, and were totally a waste of time, then i went back to the phonak solanas. they are not bad but way over priced. during the day, the phonak aids periodically close my ear drum, which totally sucks, but now i don’t know what to do, somebody please help me. i have heard seimens are better, and widex clear 330 are better than phonak, give me an answer.
Posted by John Kulchyckyj | 18. Oct, 2011, 3:44 pmYou may want to consider a different hearing professional who is not “locked into” dispensing just those brands of aids. Some professionals limit their choices of offerings due to financial incentives from certain manufacturers. If you are not happy with your professionals selections, after giving them several shots at the apple, then maybe a different professional is called for. There are several quality manufacturers out there and each has a wide variety of models from basic to super advanced. It is the professionals job to select the unit that will do the patient the most good. That selection should not be based on price or “kickbacks”, it should be based on the needs of the patient. Seldom does the patient get the best value from either the most advanced or the most basic hearing aid in a line. The “sweet spot” is usually about 85% of the way to the top of the line, but is individual with each patient.
Posted by Hearing Aid Expert | 24. Oct, 2011, 6:52 pmI am fitted with solana hearing aids. The problem with it is similar to your experience. The hearing aid closes one of my ear drum.
My physician says that another impression should be done. The audiologist disagrees. Since I have been wearing these instruments I have had pain in the ear. Only the left ear is affected.
For seven years prior, i had widex bravo and never had a problem.
audiologist says that due to the severity of my hearing loss, phonax solano was the best fit.
exchanging them, returning them is a costly solution.
Wish i knew what the answer is.
Posted by barbara wolfsfeld | 08. Feb, 2012, 10:17 amtwo weeks ago I was fitted with Solana Phonac hearing aids. The initial testing lasted over two hours. Once the Solana was ready for programming, the testing lasted two hours. it appeared that the computer had matched my hearing loss, mostly ‘word recognition’. i was to wear these aids to get accustomed to “hearing’.
Unfortunately, the sound is so loud i feel that I cannot tolerate the loudness which comes into my eardrums as piercing , forcing me to cover my ears to protect them.
however, I did noticed a great improvement in the word recognition phase. but as soon as other noises interfere, that effect is no longer valid, other sounds overwhelm the benefit.
The hearing aid itself I feel is a poor design and is rather awkward as it fits behind the ear and having to set my eyeglasses on top of the aid, it just is not a good fit.
The audiologist recommended Solona Phonac due to my hearing loss. The cost: $5000 including testing. .
The technology has been around for a long time and audiologists as well as hearing aid companies spend a fortune advertising and the cost of hearing aids unlike that of computers , etc keeps going up.
I have a follow up visit with the audiologist next week. i am hoping to have the problems solved , if not the design at least the program.
Most dissatisfied so far with Solona phonak
Posted by barbara wolfsfeld | 30. Oct, 2011, 12:13 pmHi Barbara, my name is john and I had simular bad experiences with the “Phonak solana”, there was a lot of background noise, it sounded like a loud hissing sound, which was very annoying. Als barbara the domes of the hearing aids, in my opinion is one of the key aspects, on getting good results from your hearing aids. I went to another audiologist, which was more thorough, said i have small ear canals, because i had trouble with the sound of the aids, cutting in and cutting out all through the day. Anyways i think you should try the unitron quantum 20, this aid, is owned and operated by the same company as phonak, they both are sister companies, so give them a try.
Posted by John kulchyckyj | 24. Jan, 2012, 11:44 amWhat are two possible solutions to reduce or avoid wind noise in hearing aids with directionaal microhones.
Posted by Cynthia santhmayor | 30. Nov, 2011, 11:16 amHello Cynthia,
I spent a little extra time to answer your question about Hearing Aids and wind noise. I hope you find it helpful.
Posted by Hearing Aid Expert | 01. Dec, 2011, 8:02 pm