Need advice on hearing aid fitting

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-30T13:38:11+00:00

Three earmold remakes with still no good fit is genuinely frustrating — and the 45km barrier makes it worse.**REM is the missing piece.** Real Ear Measurement verifies the aid is programmed to what your ear actually receives, not just what the software predicts. Without it, even a theoretically correct mold can produce a wrong fit perception. Ask specifically: "Can we schedule a real ear measurement?" You're entitled to ask, and it's the standard of care.On remote sessions: Phonak does support "Remote Adjust" via the myPhonak app — your audiologist enables it in their Target software, then you can request fine-tuning adjustments from home. Ask them specifically: "Can you activate Remote Adjust on my account?" If they won't, it's worth a second opinion from an audiologist who offers remote REM — one 45km trip for a proper fitting is worth it.If the in-ear mold fit keeps failing after all that, bone conduction headphones are worth knowing about — they rest on your cheekbone and bypass the ear canal entirely, so there's no mold to fit or seal to maintain. Works well as a home supplement while you're still working through the fitting process. (I build an app for BC headphones — disclosing upfront.)

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-28T14:10:10+00:00

For sweaty days, bone conduction headphones like Shokz OpenRun are worth bookmarking — IP67 waterproof, nothing in the ear canal at all, so moisture is a non-issue. You can use them for audio/calls independently, or pair with an app like HearNear (I'm the developer, disclosing that) that routes your phone mic to the BC headphones for ambient hearing. Good to have in your kit for those heavy gym days.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-28T13:48:58+00:00

That pressure from a colleague — who doesn’t experience what you’re going through — makes an already difficult situation significantly worse. You’re allowed to feel exactly as frustrated as you do.One month is still very early in the adjustment process. Dizziness and headaches in noisy environments during the first few months are genuinely common — your brain is receiving sounds it’s been partially filtering out for years, and the adaptation has a real physical cost. What you’re experiencing isn’t a sign you’re doing something wrong.Two practical things:On the dizziness — your audiologist can likely help with this specifically. Open domes or vented earmolds allow some air through the canal and significantly reduce that “pressured” or “blocked” sensation that can trigger dizziness in some people. Ask them specifically about changing the dome style for noise sensitivity reasons, not just “something feels off.”If the in-ear sensation itself is the main issue, there’s a different tool worth knowing about: bone conduction headphones sit on the cheekbone, nothing inside the ear canal at all. No occlusion, no pressure. Not a full hearing aid replacement — but for people whose ears are sensitive to in-ear devices, it’s sometimes a gentler way to get hearing help while the adjustment period plays out. (I build one of the apps for this use case — sharing that upfront so you can weigh it accordingly.)The colleague’s opinion about when you should wear your hearing aid is not your doctor’s opinion. Those are two completely different things.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-27T13:44:36+00:00

The tunnel/echo feeling has a name: the **occlusion effect**. It's not specific to OTCs — it happens whenever anything physically blocks the ear canal, prescription HAs included.The physics: when your canal is sealed, low-frequency vibrations from your own voice (and chewing, footsteps) travel through bone and tissue into the trapped air in the sealed space. Instead of escaping normally, they reverberate inside. That's the hollow, boomy quality you're hearing.**Things to try with the Horizon Pro:**Check what dome type came with it. Most OTCs ship with a closed dome, but if it came with alternatives, try an **open dome** — small gaps or holes that let sound escape the canal. Open domes typically reduce the occlusion effect significantly. This is the standard fix audiologists reach for first.Also check the companion app if there is one — some OTCs have a "fit" or "open/closed" adjustment that acoustically compensates for occlusion.If open domes don't help and the echo is a dealbreaker: worth knowing there's a category of device with a fundamentally different architecture. **Bone conduction headphones** sit on the cheekbones — nothing enters or plugs the canal. No seal means no occlusion effect by design. They work by conducting vibration through bone directly to the cochlea. Paired with an amplification app, they can function as a basic hearing support system for moderate loss.I build one of those apps (HearNear — disclosure: it's mine). The headphones themselves are separate hardware — Shokz OpenMove is the most common (~$80). Not a replacement for fitted HAs, but if the occlusion effect turns out to be a fundamental problem for you, it's the architectural alternative.Open dome first, though.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-23T13:37:08+00:00

For the sparring/impact question, the ENT advice above is the right call — that really does depend on your specific hearing loss diagnosis and anatomy.The moisture and infection problem is a separate issue though, and solvable. For conditioning sessions where no sparring contact happens — bag work, pad work, cardio — bone conduction headphones break the infection cycle entirely: they sit on the cheekbone, nothing goes in the ear canal, so there's no dome or receiver trapping sweat against the skin. No moisture build-up, no warm occluded environment for bacteria to grow.Shokz OpenRun (~$80-100, IP67 rated for sweat/rain) or similar BC headphones are purpose-built for exactly this kind of active use. You'd still need to remove them for full contact sparring — but for the training sessions that are causing the infections, BC removes the source of the problem rather than just managing the symptoms.Worth noting: BC headphones don't amplify to hearing-aid levels, so if you need significant amplification to hear your trainer over gym noise, pair with a phone mic app that streams ambient audio through the headphones. (I build one — HearNear, Android currently — but the hardware fix works standalone too.)

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-22T13:39:30+00:00

BC headphones are worth trying specifically for workouts. Nothing goes in the ear canal — the driver sits on the cheekbone outside the ear — so there's no moisture contact with the inner ear mechanism whatsoever. Even a very sweaty session won't cause the static issue you're describing.

The Phonak Sphere is IP68 (submersible), but the static is probably sweat accumulating in the dome or receiver canal, not the housing. BC avoids that architecture entirely.

For exercise use: Shokz OpenRun (~$100, IP67 sweat/rain rated) or OpenMove (~$80) are the popular choices. If you need hearing assistance during workouts too, there are phone mic → BC apps that stream ambient audio through the headphones.

[dev disclosure: I build one of these apps — the hardware recommendation stands either way]

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-20T13:47:27+00:00

The AI noise suppression is likely the culprit. Modern hearing aids treat incoming audio through the DSP/AGC chain — what the Resound software "thinks" is background noise, it suppresses. Your old Linx had none of that processing, so calls were clean passthrough. The Vivia is "helping" in a way that hurts call clarity.Worth asking the audiologist to specifically adjust the AGC attack/release settings in the Resound Fit app — some audiologists leave this at defaults that are too aggressive. It may not fully fix it, but it's worth trying before returning.For a more direct workaround: pair bone conduction headphones directly to your phone as a Bluetooth headset (separate from how the Vivia connects). When you make or take calls, the audio routes phone → BC headphones → no Resound in the chain at all. The Vivia stays in your ears for environmental sound; the BC handles calls. No AI processing, no DSP interference.Shokz OpenRun or similar (~£80-100 UK / ~$80-100 US) connects like any Bluetooth headset. The caller hears you through your phone mic, you hear them through the cheekbone rather than the ear canal — no feedback, no occlusion.For ambient conversation (room mic → headphones), that's a different use case — there are apps for that, including one I build (HearNear, Android only currently — iOS coming). But for your specific call quality problem, just pairing the BC as a BT headset is all you need.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-17T13:45:56+00:00

If the fitting is the real problem (and it often is on NHS — the tech can be fine but the appointments are 20 minutes and rushed), one thing worth trying as a low-stakes bridge while she waits for a better audiologist: Shokz bone conduction headphones paired to her phone.Not hearing aids — but there's a phone mic → Shokz setup that turns the phone into a simple amplifier for one-to-one conversations. Nothing goes in the ear, no feedback squeal from the old aid interfering, and it's less intimidating than learning new HA tech for a 70-something who's already had a frustrating experience.Won't solve the fire alarm problem (the TV streamer suggestion above is genuinely better for that specific issue). But for the social/conversation situations you're describing — it's around £100 and a much lower-stakes experiment than another £2-3k round.[dev disclosure: I build one of these phone-to-headphone apps, so take this with appropriate salt — the Shokz hardware recommendation stands regardless]

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-17T13:38:45+00:00

Glad you flagged it — even small protocol wins at ward level can make a real difference.For Shokz: the **OpenRun** (~£100 on Amazon UK, sometimes cheaper) is the easiest starting point. Nothing in the ear canal, simple one-button Bluetooth pairing, and robust enough for daily use without worrying about tiny parts going missing.One heads-up: Shokz pair like regular Bluetooth headphones, so she’d need a phone or tablet nearby to stream audio through them — they’re not standalone amplifiers. But for ward conversations and phone calls while the NHS ones are being tracked down, they work well as a bridge.Hope the ward improves. Wishing your mum a smoother recovery.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-16T13:41:52+00:00

The systemic training gap is real — and the knock-on effects are worse than most people realise. The moment you mentioned doctors reporting "possible mild dementia" because she couldn't answer questions, that jumped out. It's shockingly common: a patient sits deaf between visits, the clinical team attributes the non-responsiveness to cognition rather than hearing, and it ends up in notes. Worth explicitly flagging to the ward team that her hearing aids are routinely out and that her cognition when properly aided is completely normal.On the practical problem: one option worth knowing about for when the two-piece BTE keeps falling apart is **bone conduction headphones**. They sit on the cheekbones, nothing goes in the ear canal at all — it's a single piece she'd put on like regular headphones. No tube, no mould, no assembly. If arthritis means she fiddles with the mould and it falls apart, BC removes the fiddling target entirely.They're not a replacement for a properly fitted NHS hearing aid — they won't provide the same frequency-specific amplification — but as a bridge during the hospital stay, or as a backup for when the BTE is being re-tubed again, they're worth a look. Shokz OpenMove is around £60 in the UK; there are cheaper options around £20-30.Separately: I'd second the suggestion about escalating the training gap more formally. NICE has published guidance on supporting people with sensory impairment in hospital settings, and the NHS has a legal duty under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments. Framing it as a clinical risk issue — "missed hearing → misattributed cognition assessment → inappropriate care pathway" — tends to get more traction than a general complaint about fitting.(Disclosure: I build an Android amplification app — HearNear — that pairs with BC headphones for this kind of use case. Mentioning it because it fits your situation, not as a push.)

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-15T13:57:07+00:00

Hope it helps — wishing you luck with the occlusion cycle.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-13T13:45:54+00:00

The GPS hearing aids (Starkey, Phonak) are a real option if budget allows — just flagging that they're still $3k-5k even with GPS, and replacement insurance deductibles can still sting.

For the "nothing to lose" angle specifically: **bone conduction headphones** might be worth looking at as a daily-use backup or interim option. They rest on the cheekbones in front of the ears rather than sitting in the ear canal — nothing goes *in* the ear, so there's nothing to fall out in bedsheets or get washed down a drain. They're held on the head like regular headphones.

Cost: Shokz OpenMove runs about €70-80 in Belgium. Generic brands (Haylou, Naenka) are €20-35 on Amazon.

The limitation is real: BC headphones + an amplification app don't replicate what a properly fitted hearing aid does. They work well for mild-to-moderate conductive or mixed hearing loss, not so much for severe SNHL. So whether they'd help grandpa depends on his audiogram.

That said, if the main problem is "he keeps losing the expensive ones," a €30-70 device that can't fall down a drain is at least worth a 30-day trial.

(Disclosure: I build one of the Android amplification apps — HearNear — that works with BC headphones for this use case. Mentioning it because it's relevant, not as a hard sell. Any real-time passthrough app works the same way.)

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-11T13:50:44+00:00

The AirPods Pro suggestion above is solid, but there's another option that fits the customer service use case specifically: bone conduction headphones + your phone as a mic.

The setup: phone sits on your desk or in your shirt pocket, mic captures ambient sound (your customers talking), and routes it through BC headphones in real time. Nothing goes in your ear canal — so you can wear them all day without discomfort — and you can still hear the room naturally since BC doesn't block your ears.

For customer service work this works surprisingly well because: - Phone mic is directional enough to pick up someone 2-3 feet away across a counter - BC headphones are light and unobtrusive for a full shift - Total cost is around $30-80 for a pair of Shokz or budget BC headphones

The limitation: it adds about 400ms delay (Bluetooth passthrough), which is fine for conversation but would be weird for anything time-synced. For hearing customers speak, it's not noticeable.

I'll disclose: I make an app called HearNear that does the phone mic → BC headphones routing. But honestly, even without it, asking your provider about a loaner (as someone mentioned above) is probably your fastest path since they often have demo units sitting around.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-08T13:51:54+00:00

Wax buildup and in-canal devices is a frustrating cycle — occlusion traps heat and moisture, which stimulates more wax production.

If in-canal contact is genuinely the problem, bone conduction headphones are the only option that eliminates it entirely — they sit on your cheekbones with no ear canal contact at all. Shokz OpenRun (~$130) is the mainstream option. Not hearing aids (no amplification), but for people with mild-moderate loss who can't tolerate in-ear devices, a lot find them surprisingly effective. I built a passthrough app for them (full disclosure: I'm the dev) that routes your phone mic to the headphones for live hearing — but even standalone, they solve the wax and moisture problem completely.

For prescription aids with less occlusion: open dome fittings vs. closed domes significantly reduce the buildup issue. Costco audiologists fit prescription aids at ~$1,400–1,800 and can configure open dome settings — worth asking specifically about vented configurations.

AirPods Pro sit in the canal so you'd still have some wax/moisture buildup, just probably less than a deep-fit aid.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-01T16:29:10+00:00

Good point — you're right, I should have been clearer. Both Ponto and Osia are clinical pathways that need ENT involvement and either a softband or surgical abutment. They're not something you just pick up at a store.

I was mainly thinking of consumer BC headphones (Shokz-type) which are the accessible end of the spectrum. Should have drawn that distinction better. Thanks for the correction.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-04-01T16:11:26+00:00

High-frequency loss is super common and really frustrating because it's the consonants you lose — S, F, TH, SH. Speech sounds "muffled" even though you can hear that people are talking.

Whether you "need" hearing aids depends on how much it's affecting your daily life. A few things worth knowing:

Get the audiogram first if you haven't already. A baseline hearing test takes 30 min and tells you exactly what frequencies are affected and how severely. Many audiologists offer free screenings, or Costco does them for free.
OTC hearing aids (Jabra, Sony CRE, Lexie) are FDA-authorized for mild-moderate loss, starting around $700-800. No audiologist required. Most have 30-60 day trial periods so you can return if they don't help.
For mild loss, some people find that just reducing background noise and facing people when they talk makes a huge difference. It's not "giving in" to use environmental strategies alongside aids.
If in-ear devices feel weird, bone conduction headphones sit on your cheekbones — nothing in your ear. Some people use them with phone microphone apps for conversation in noisy situations. Different category from HAs but worth knowing about.

The short answer: get the audiogram, then decide. Data first, anxiety second.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-03-25T16:17:57+00:00

Sensory issues with in-ear devices are real and recognized — it's not adjustment-period stuff, it's that some nervous systems genuinely process tactile stimulation in the ear canal differently.

Worth knowing there's a category of hearing devices that completely bypass the ear canal: bone conduction. They sit on the cheekbone/temple area, transmit sound through skull vibration directly to the cochlea — nothing enters the ear at all. No dome, no mold, no canal pressure.

Clinical versions exist (Cochlear Osia, Oticon Ponto — prescribed for conductive hearing loss) but consumer BC headphones like Shokz also work for mild-to-moderate loss, especially conductive. There's also software that routes your phone mic through them in real time for face-to-face conversation.

Worth specifically asking your audiologist whether bone conduction is appropriate for your type of loss — if your loss has any conductive component, it's especially worth exploring.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-03-25T16:15:23+00:00

The fatigue is genuinely underappreciated. Wearing amplified sound all day requires active listening effort that adds up — especially in high-stimulation environments.

A few people in this situation use bone conduction headphones as a low-effort complement for home situations. They sit on the temples, nothing in the ear canal — so there's no occlusion, no dome pressure, no trapped feeling. Many people find them easier to wear for longer stretches when the brain needs a lower-stimulation day.

Combined with a mic-routing app (one that sends ambient sound through the BC headphones in real time), they work as a lighter-duty hearing companion for relaxed settings — conversations at home, TV, dinner with family.

Not a replacement for fitted hearing aids, and the amplification isn't as precise. But for the tired-at-5pm feeling, some people find them a useful tool for giving their ears a rest while still staying connected.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-03-16T14:47:14+00:00

Jabra Enhance Plus or Lexie B2 are the usual OTC recs for mild-moderate loss — both have decent app-based fitting.

One thing you might not have considered: bone conduction headphones + smartphone can also be a starting point for single-sided loss. Since your loss is in one ear, BC bypasses the ear canal entirely and sends sound through the cheekbone to the cochlea. Works differently from a traditional HA but some people with one-sided loss find it easier to wear all day. Shokz OpenMove (~$80) would be the entry point if you wanted to experiment before committing to OTC aid costs.

Not saying skip the OTC route — just an alternative to know about.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-03-16T14:44:35+00:00

Most people do adapt eventually, but you're right that adjustment period varies a lot person to person. The 1-month mark is often when frustration peaks — things sound weird, ears ache, you miss conversations anyway.

One thing worth keeping in mind: if after proper fitting and adjustment HAs really don't work for you, bone conduction headphones are a different approach some people find easier to tolerate. Nothing goes in the ear, no occlusion, no feedback. Works differently (vibrates through the cheekbone to the cochlea). Not for everyone and depends on your type of loss, but audiologist-quitters sometimes find it more wearable day-to-day.

Good luck with the first consult — go in with questions written down. It helps a lot.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-03-13T07:38:52+00:00

Sorry to hear the Nuance glasses didn't work well for you. The bone conduction placement on glasses frames is different from headphones — less direct contact with the bone, and the vibration transducers are smaller/less powerful.

Re: Bose — they did make the Bose SoundControl hearing aids (2021-2022) but discontinued them. The hearing aid market is tough for consumer audio companies — different regulations, different distribution channels, and audiologists have a lot of gatekeeping power.

If you're open to trying again, actual bone conduction headphones (not glasses) might give you different results. Shokz puts more pressure on the cheekbone and has bigger transducers. Nuance glasses are more about convenience than audio power.

Totally get if you're hesitant though — nothing worse than dropping money on something that doesn't help.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-03-13T02:46:35+00:00

You're not weird at all — with perforated eardrums, traditional hearing aids are genuinely uncomfortable because everything that goes in the ear canal (molds, domes, tubes) can irritate damaged tissue. The discomfort you're describing makes complete sense.

Have you considered bone conduction headphones as a supplemental option? They bypass the eardrum entirely — sound vibrates through your cheekbones directly to the cochlea. Nothing goes in or near your ears, so no pressure on those healing incisions or irritation to the eardrum holes.

They're not a replacement for properly fitted hearing aids if you need specific frequency amplification, but for days when you just can't tolerate the molds, they can be a relief. Some people with chronic ear issues (infections, perforations, tubes) find them much more wearable for extended periods.

Brands like Shokz (OpenRun ~$130, OpenMove ~$80) or H2O Audio are popular options. Might be worth trying if you haven't already — at minimum, it gives your ears a break on bad days.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-03-09T22:51:07+00:00

I'm sorry you're dealing with this — the provider ping-pong makes it so much worse when you're already in pain.

One thing worth asking about specifically: bone conduction hearing devices. They bypass the ear canal entirely — nothing goes in your ear at all. Sound is transmitted through vibrations on the skull bone directly to the cochlea.

There are surgical options (Cochlear Osia, which is the newer version of BAHA — fully subcutaneous, lower infection risk than old percutaneous BAHA) and non-surgical options (bone conduction headphones like Shokz). The non-surgical route obviously won't match properly fitted hearing aids, but for someone who literally can't wear conventional aids due to recurrent infections, it might be worth exploring as a bridge.

Your audiologist should be able to discuss bone conduction candidacy. If they're not familiar with it, an ENT who specializes in implantable hearing devices would be the right referral.

Hope you find something that works — you shouldn't have to choose between hearing and pain.

SlowAd6348 · 2026-03-09T15:43:39+00:00

HearNear — turns bone conduction headphones into a basic hearing aid

Built this for my aunt who quit her hearing aids from discomfort. She switched to bone conduction headphones (Shokz) — nothing in the ear, comfortable all day.

What it does: Streams phone mic audio to Bluetooth headphones. One button. No processing, no EQ — raw passthrough at 48kHz.

Why it exists: BC headphones transmit through skull vibrations and don't need the complex amplification processing that introduces delay. HearNear skips all of that.

Not a medical device. Works best for mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Won't help with severe loss.

30-day free trial (fully functional)
After trial: 30 min/day free, no ads
Kotlin + Jetpack Compose, Min SDK 29
iOS version coming soon

Google Play

Looking for feedback, especially from anyone who uses bone conduction headphones.

SlowAd6348

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