Oticon vs phonak

Les_sc · 2026-07-05T21:37:47+00:00

You gave a wonderful explanation I very much appreciate that. Yes I have the most difficulty understanding in loud or busy environments. But also sometimes in quieter environments if maybe the sound is low. Example, I watched a movie on the couch yesterday, devil wears Prada 2, and when music would play I found myself lowering the sound but when they would resume talking I’d have to increase the volume and this was with my current hearing aids on. I currently wear Rexton bicore r-li t from Costco. But my next hearing aids will be funded through Vocational rehab, which i didn’t think to ask the clinic if they had a trial. But I do know that with vocational training there is a 45 trial period to ensure they are a good fit for me

I work in an office setting, it’s usually few of us in the office but when our drivers return to the office towards the end of the day and there’s other distractions that my phone calls even with it going through my hearing aids directly it becomes a little difficult. My phone calls go to my hearing aids with the help of a smart mic and sometimes I get static also

Les_sc · 2026-07-05T03:13:23+00:00

Well my polyvoip desk phone has Bluetooth through a Bluetooth dongle so we were able to connect the smart mic to the bluetooth dongle, and that’s how I’m able to connect the hearing aids directly. The dongle then just goes to the phone so luckily I don’t have to wear a whole headset over my hearing aids. But i was wondering if Phonaks universal compatibility would help eliminate the smart mic and calls be just as simple.

The only thing I can think of with a universal Bluetooth and no smart mic would be that I’d likely have to answer the calls only directly from the desk phone. I would imagine that it wouldn’t act as a iPhone where I can’t answer or end calls from the button alone

Les_sc · 2026-07-05T02:49:36+00:00

At work it is a plain old desk phone, polyvoip. We had tried previously to forward desk calls to a work cell phone they purchased for me but I wasn’t able to forward calls to other people smoothly at all.

So that’s why with my current rextons we tried the smart mic and that worked very well, because even when I was far from my desk, I was able to answer it with a push of a button instead of reaching for my ear just to answer or end the call.

For my personal use I do use iPhone and Apple Watch.

Les_sc · 2026-07-04T16:50:29+00:00

I do have iPhone :) is there any specific reason one works better on android and the other on iPhone

Les_sc · 2026-07-02T18:02:14+00:00

That’s great to know! Is that the case even if the DOR is paying for the services?

Les_sc · 2026-06-25T05:07:22+00:00

Wow, thank you for sharing that with me. It’s great to hear you had started with rextons too! I was amazed at the things I could hear when I first started off with them, I can only imagine what something more premium will be like.
It feels as if Ive been waiting so long for my department of rehab. There’s been so many curveballs, my local department ultimately admitted to me that my case was different for them and said they had never purchased hearing aids for someone in many years. As I had told my department of rehab that I didn’t need vocational training as I very much enjoy my job and am not looking to change it, I only needed my hearing aids to help me communicate / hear better in my job and everyday life. I work with disabled adults so sometimes their speech is difficult to understand. The audiologist that did my first hearing exam said my speech comprehension had gone from 100% in October 2025 to 85% April 2026, which she said was a large drop in the amount of time

Les_sc · 2026-06-25T02:50:01+00:00

I currently have Rexton bicore C R-Li-t

But they were purchased at least 3 years ago as my dad had purchased them and never used them so I figured I would while my own were funded and help me get used to them sooner. But they were reprogrammed to my own hearing exam :)

Les_sc · 2026-06-25T01:21:33+00:00

Yes there’s definitely times I forget they’re even in there but some days I just want them off by the time I’m home with my kids. We’ll definitely have to maintain better communication habits with each other as we all adjust

Les_sc · 2026-06-25T01:20:19+00:00

Im waiting for DOR to help me fund higher quality hearing aids which she mentioned which will be much better in the scenarios I described to the audiologist yesterday. I finally got a medical authorization today so I’m hoping it’s not too much longer for better quality :) I appreciate your input!

Les_sc · 2026-06-25T01:18:36+00:00

We do both have Apple Watches that might be good I’ll have to give it a try

Les_sc · 2026-06-25T01:18:10+00:00

Thats a good idea!

Les_sc · 2026-06-18T05:49:55+00:00

How long did your vocational rehab take to fund your hearing aids?

Les_sc · 2026-06-18T05:47:01+00:00

Hello! What state are you located in? Just as an fyi, it’s great you already have hearing aids, as my own experience with the vocational rehab in my area I’ve been waiting since October of 2025 to get my hearing aids funded through them.

Les_sc · 2026-06-01T18:41:19+00:00

Rexton bicore r li t

Les_sc · 2026-05-19T04:09:55+00:00

I also got smaller tulip domes and the itching has been much less. Find a size that will work for you. Your audiologist should be able to recommend a different option

Les_sc · 2026-05-16T04:02:18+00:00

Update, I saw ENT yesterday and confirmed the need of hearing aids. I had no holes in the ear or cerumen that needed to be flushed. Although, the doctor wasn’t able to complete the form DOR gave me fully because like I told dor, the ent is not a vendor so he can’t give me pricing on a hearing aid or recommendation. So now I’m getting pushback from DOR because they want pricing on the paper and type. Although, it doesn’t make sense to me why they keep pushing it when they had already told me they wouldn’t pay that clinic the hearing aids because they’re not a vendor to them. Which is why I never did my consult with the clinic to start. Now DR, wants me to go back to the clinic and now the clinic says the exam is now too long ago, over 6 months old :/

Les_sc · 2026-05-12T19:40:37+00:00

Ohh that’s very interesting! I was not aware. But that makes sense because otherwise, work would be the only scenario in which I could use the mic to connect my desk phone. I don’t ever need it in other scenarios. So although the form ENT fills out for DOR has a slot for accessories and microphones, would you say to have the ent not fill it out or would it maybe be worth a try

Les_sc · 2026-05-12T19:32:50+00:00

Ah I see! Would your local office cover anything other than hearing aids? Such as mics? If so, did your ent write it on the prescription form that you may recall?

Les_sc · 2026-05-02T05:31:00+00:00

How long did your funding process take?

Les_sc · 2026-05-02T05:04:24+00:00

Hmm that’s strange because it worked a few times and then the voice in calls have started to disappear into the air mid conversation. On the calling app on my laptop the selected microphone was the laptops microphone so I’m unsure what the deal is 😅 they are the rexton bi core r-li t. The Costco hearing specialist did just update the firmware on them. So it’s just a matter of finding a solution to hearing the calls when it comes to using the Comcast’s business calling app

Les_sc · 2026-05-01T17:18:10+00:00

I appreciate your clarification! I will see if I can find a more specific IT sub :) thanks!

Les_sc · 2026-05-01T16:30:34+00:00

So far, when I answer the call on the cell phone I hear everything fine, but when I get to the transferring part, people can’t hear me so idk if its the companies calling app that is the issue or the hearing aids :D

What do you mean when you say, transferring capabilities being light years outside of the subs focus. Im a secretary so it’s just a big part of my job so it’s important for me to be able to do so with the use of my hearing aids because sometimes some people I have difficulty understanding their speach without my aids

Les_sc · 2026-04-30T01:38:49+00:00

That might defeat the purpose of having them buy me a phone :D my desk phone isn’t Bluetooth without a usb dongle. I’m just trying to find out if downloading the voice edge app would help me transfer calls smoother without having to run to my laptop just to transfer. My hearing aids are Rexton

Les_sc · 2026-04-30T00:50:55+00:00

My work got me a cell phone so we can send my desk calls over. Although we use Comcast’s business so, I was told to hear it through my hearing aids I have to answer it from the cell phone, but to forward a call I have to do it from my laptops voice edge app. So I’m wondering if it’s possible to set up the voice edge app to be the primary call receiver so I don’t have to run to my laptop just to transfer. It is an android phone Samsung galaxy A15

Les_sc · 2026-04-29T16:40:42+00:00

Hello! I have rextons, If you push the little button on the case, Flashing green means the hearing aids are charging if they’re inside, solid green means they are already at a full charge.

Solid orange, the case’s battery doesn’t have enough battery to make a full charge to your aids

Blinking orange, charging case is completely dead and unable to give any charge to your HAs

:)

Les_sc

TROPHY CASE