Oticon Real 1 R & Phonak Audeo Lumity 90 R

 

July 2023

Day one – 11th July

Phonak Audeo Lumity 90: At start sounded a little tinny compared with Oticon Real. However the speech is very clear. Face to face speaking not so good.

Changed to Oticon Real – more clear, not as tinny listening to TV face to face slightly better.

 

Day Two 12th July

Phonak Audeo Lumity 90. TV in morning was better not as tinny not so sharp. Using iPad sound direct to ear very good. Tinnitus drone in background first thing. In cafe afternoon a lot of background noise, struggling to hear face to face. Back home, not hearing my wife too well.  A few telephone calls, one outside able to talk by tapping ear piece, very good. Watching TV at night very clear.

Day Three 13thJuly

TV very clear and good. Out for walk could not hear background noise so well, rippling water, birds singing, or traffic around me. Down at Golf Club, face to face talk not too clear as a lot of background noise. Back home could not hear (wife) as well. TV very clear.

Day 4 14th July.

TV very clear, volume set at level for (wife) to hear comfortably. Face to face not so good, I have a cold which does not help. Went to York races, a lot of background noise, so struggling to hear face to face clearly. TV at night ok

Day 5 July 15th

TV in morning good. The cold I have is not helping the test as my tubes are all blocked. As a result, face to face not good both at home and Golf Club.  TV still good.

Day 6 16th July

TV in morning very good. Out for morning walk, sounds of birds good. Visitors for Lunch, sitting in Lounge four of us hearing all conversation very well. TV at night very good.

Day 7 17th July

Back to Oticon Real

TV in morning very good. Have noticed I am hearing background noise in the kitchen a lot more.

Out at Snainton Golf was not hearing face to face so well.  TV at night good.

Day 8 18th July

TV as usual ok. Left for Scotland. Overall, during the day my hearing was not so good. The cold had a lot to do with this. At night in company of four, they all spoke to me face to face and the hearing was good.

Day 9 19th July.

Hearing Aids do not appear to be functioning well, I am not hearing as well. Still have the cold, overall. At present the Oticon Real are not performing well. My wife says I am not hearing her talk to me as well as before.

Day 10 20th July

Phonak Audeo Lumity

Used all day. TV very good- Face to face talk a bit better, slight difference to background noise. However overall, not a great difference.

Day 11 – 21st July.

TV in morning very good. Went racing to Pontefract, found hearing quite good even with background noise, overall not a great difference, possibly slightly better.

Day 12 – 22nd July

Oticon Real

TV very good at low level. Sound walking around the house on carpet quite loud. Background noise louder. At Golf Centre very busy cafe, quite difficult hearing people talk at my table although face to face ok. Later on, when less people in much easier to hear.

Day 13 – 13th July

TV as always now ok. Went to outside meeting in a crowd, no problems hearing clear. Remembered had not changed wax protectors in aids, now changed. Could not notice much difference.

 

Comparison

Oticon Real

Very good clear hearing face to face. Background noise a bit louder as Phonak.

Outside good and clear.

Charger very good.

TV very good and clear.

Phonak Audeo Lumity 90

Very good clear hearing face to face. Background noise not as loud as Oticon.

Outside good and clear.

Charger very good.

TV very good and clear.

The hearing Aid mobile phone capabilities are very good and useful and will be even more so when I get used to them.

 

Conclusion

What’s important? Face to face conversation if very important. Listening to TV is very important. Hearing conversation in a group gathering and being able to take part fully in the discussion. Conversation in crowded places is very important. Ease of use. Being re-chargeable.

To be honest, after an extensive trial, I find that there is not a lot of appreciable difference between both units. However, given to mobile phone capabilities of the Phonak Audeo Lumity 90 my preference will be for this Hearing Aid.

 

Jack Bowers

27th July 2023.