New user advice

[evilc3005]

Hi.
I believe yjat I have age related hearing loss - significant in the higer frequencies, now confirmed by an audiologist - it primarily causes me problems in nosy places.
I currently have a set of Oticom Intent aids (the top model I believe - but how would I know?) on a 30 day trial.
I have listened to lots of Youtube stuff about the various model of hearing aid and am now slightly confused. When the I told the audiologist that I listened to a lot of music she installed (enabled?) the music program. I now discover that there are lots of different programs that can be installed (car, loud noise etc) - is there any reason why the top model doesn't have these installed as standard?

My partner has a pair of Phonaks (not the latest) and is encouraging me to try their latest model - the Sphere. Listening to reviews on that it appears that it switches automatically between the various modes (car, loud noise etc) and doesn't need them all to be installed and switched manually.

Am I totally misunderstanding this whole scenario - as you probably gather the things that bother me the most are pubs, restaurants etc as well as road noise whilst travelling.

Any advice / guidance or explanation gratefully received.

 

[pvc]

I currently have a set of Oticom Intent aids (the top model I believe - but how would I know?)

Read the underside of one hearing aid. It should say "Intent 1" which is the top model.

I now discover that there are lots of different programs that can be installed (car, loud noise etc) - is there any reason why the top model doesn't have these installed as standard?

Personal preference. Some like specific programs (especially music programs for musicians).

My partner has a pair of Phonaks (not the latest) and is encouraging me to try their latest model - the Sphere. Listening to reviews on that it appears that it switches automatically between the various modes (car, loud noise etc) and doesn't need them all to be installed and switched manually.

Don't confuse manufacture hype, and fanboy recommendations, with the real world.

the things that bother me the most are pubs, restaurants etc as well as road noise whilst travelling.

Oticon Intent 1's have (AI/Artificial Intelligence) Speech-In-Noise reduction.
Here's a link to some → Testing of Noise Reduction using AI/Artificial Intelligence. Note that the amount-in-dB of speech-in-noise removal is variable to suit your ability to hear speech-in-noise. It's not the same for everyone, for example someone without any hearing loss has no problem hearing speech in noise, while someone with a severe/profound hearing loss may need several dB of noise removal.

as well as road noise whilst travelling.

Here's a link to some → Testing of Noise suppression. Note that the amount of noise suppression is also variable.

 

[evilc3005]

Thank-you - that is really helpful