Why it is important that our clinical audiologists have the option to choose omni mic setting with all front end processing turned off

[Mary Beth]

Many of us learned to listen with our CIs using omni mic setting because our processors ONLY used omni mic setting.  Processors like OPUS2, Rondo 1, Rondo 2 and in the US the Sonnet 1 was introduced using omni mic setting for its first 2 years.

Some of us have moved easily into using various front end processing features like mic settings of natural or adaptive and features like wind block, transient noise reduction and ambient noise reduction.  Some like the automatic sound management of adaptive intelligence mild and adaptive intelligence strong.

But others of us continue to hear our best with all of those features turned off and using an omni mic setting.

It’s important that our audiologists have control over choosing to turn on or off these features.  And it’s important that we continue to have the option to choose omni mic setting.

After all, it is a way to show respect for long time CI users who learned to listen in omni mic setting and still hear best using that mic setting.

I hope Med-El continues to always offer omni mic setting and ways our audiologists can turn off front end processing features.

 

This is my BIGGEST wish for Med-El.

@MED-EL Moderator

[MED-EL Moderator]

Hello @Mary Beth,

thank you very much for sharing your feedback regarding this option. We've forwarded it with our product experts so we can keep improving our products. 

Kind Regards,

Giulia

[Abdulaziz]

@Mary Beth

 

Really I feel the difference,, after I have asked my audiologist to turn off adaptation feature ,, I hear and enjoy better and without it .

[Mary Beth]

@Abdulaziz

me too!  Much better with all those features turned off.

It is important to me that we always have the option of omni with front end features turned off.

[Mary Beth]

This need to request that omni mic setting and the ability to have front end features turned off stems from learning that a different CI brand removed those options for their new software/processor and some established users of that brand are very very disappointed because they can not hear as well now.  
 

Since I also hear best with omni mic setting and those front end features turned off, I sympathize with the other brand’s disappointed CI users.

I hope Med-El never takes away these options from us.

[Dianna]

I too finally have an omni mic setting with no ai. It took me awhile to request and receive it and its my bestest map!  At first i used to stream along with hearing aid (music) but keep forgetting after streaming to change lol. I love it please never take away!!!!!

[Mary Beth]

Unfortunately most adults never receive an omni mic setting program to try as it is not the default recommendation from Med-El.  Those people never get to experience the greater access to sound.

It really is unfortunate.  As quite a number of us, including people who were activated with the front end features turned on, prefer omni mic setting.

[Dianna]

We are born with no filters, however no one knows how sound is changed to electrical impulses by our brains. So controls have to be used so no one injures themselves when first implanted. At first we are compliant with our specialists.

Then we are so envigorated with better sound we want more.

Once the max levels are found, everyone should try an omni setting and not just in a lab!

[pdk]

Agree absolutely. 
I have 3 programs
Scan for speech in difficult conditions. Scan has the ability to adjust to different conditions. 
A music program with noise reduction
And a music program with maximum dynamic range.
I use program 2 during the day.

Program 3 listening to music in a quiet room. 
With program 3 things like the kettle and washing machine and vacuum cleaner are way too loud. The noise reduction in 2 takes care of that.
 

[David]

@Mary Beth

Do you know if the features have to be turned off for the entire device, or can it be turned off for a specific program?

[Mary Beth]

@David

my understanding is that for Sonnet 2 and Rondo 3 processors, we can have MAPs in Omni in  slots and any other kind of MAPs in the other slots   with features turned on/off separately for each MAP.  
 

I would advise you to listen to the Omni MAP for a bit during the appt and make sure it does not seem too loud for you before you leave.

[pdk]

13 hours ago, Mary Beth said:

@David

my understanding is that for Sonnet 2 and Rondo 3 processors, we can have MAPs in Omni in  slots and any other kind of MAPs in the other slots   with features turned on/off separately for each MAP.  
 

I would advise you to listen to the Omni MAP for a bit during the appt and make sure it does not seem too loud for you before you leave.

With n7 the audiologist has the ability to set switching off one electrode plus different filters. so I would think a whole lot is possible with all makes. 

[Lauren]

I was at least a year into bimodal use before finally trying Omni. It was a complete game changer and even my audiologist agreed. Did require a little pushing/self advocacy to get it though. When it came time for my second activation, for both sides that time, my audiologist asked if I even wanted to bother with Natural directionality anymore. I noped so hard my audiologist understood to never suggest/use that program ever again (personal preference).

Currently I have just two maps that we are building on. Program 1 is Omni and Program 2 is Adaptive Intelligence Strong. 

[Mary Beth]

I am glad you advocated for a chance to try an omni mic MAP.  Personally I wish all adults were given an omni mic MAP in a program slot to try as standard practice but almost all audiologists follow Med-El’s recommended MAPs for adults instead. @Lauren

[Dianna]

Hey lauren,

which map do you use for your tv setup via audiolink?

I was watching a great epic movie the other day and tried all of them for awhile.

One movie it was actually good on my omni map that i keep on low volume.

On another movie i actually liked my ai strong map.

 

[Lauren]

@Diannamy maps are so similar that for me there’s not a lot of difference in sound between them. Only real difference is ones mapped to Omni and the other to AI Strong. Not the same settings across the two if that makes sense; eg we didn’t program electrodes once then create two programs with same settings (rather the opposite of that, if I haven’t botched the explanation). I just have two programs I like that work in different listening environments and I use them accordingly. Created with a mix of my preferences, testing results, and things my audiologist notices.

With AL, my favorite “setting” is turning the mics off so I have 100/0 with streaming and hear only the TV  😊

But that’s just me. 😉

[Mary Beth]

@Lauren

That 100/0 mix ratio which provides streamed audio only is what we are missing in AudioStream.  I sure hope Med-El offers direct streamed audio only in their next BTE processor.

[Lauren]

I wish the AudioStream is easier to configure for bilateral use. I had to thrown in the towel as there’s nothing else I can try to get it to work. I can only stream unilaterally.

Before this, I’d consider myself techy and hip/with it. After losing to AudioStream though, I feel more like Patrick here. 

[Mary Beth]

@Lauren

maybe a convenient time will open up for the 1:1 zoom tech support.  It’s so strange that your AudioStreams will not configure and connect as bilateral.  That is an issue I have not read about before.

[Dianna]

Very interested in this subject. I have set up streaming in both AS and my hearing aid but only twice. Its a little work as i am not techminded. I hope bilateral ci is in my future.

I prefer the tv setup also and notice very little difference between the maps programs im sure quality of the sound from tv is bad enough but sometimes fiddling to adjust makes one a little clearer. I watched yentl last night being a musical and the singing by barbra streisand showed me "parts" and "tones" i am missing but i actually heard more of the talking voices with omni

[Lauren]

On 2/6/2023 at 8:03 PM, Mary Beth said:

@Lauren

maybe a convenient time will open up for the 1:1 zoom tech support.  It’s so strange that your AudioStreams will not configure and connect as bilateral.  That is an issue I have not read about before.

One such slot did open up so I quickly snagged it. Hopefully it’ll be resolved with professional assistance. 

[David]

According to a Med-El YouTube video posted today, bimodal works with Android 12 or later phones and ASHA-compatible hearing aids.

 

[Dianna]

Funny, two days ago after this post, i got up, decided it was audiostream day. Hearing aid on, and processor, got up, made tea, punched spotify and both came on!!! And volume was great! So i have audiostream as left hearing device and hearing aid in as right and my phone did it all! 3/4 hours no interruptions. Me, ci and paul simon!!! It was somewhat wowish for me! Yesterday ended up at two hospitals with my sister. She had a fall getting out of the shower, the whole ambulance to local hospital wait ambulance to second hospital for surgery come home and wait more thing. My hearing devices worked really fantastic all day!!!!!! And no disconnect!

 

[Dianna]

18 hours ago, Lauren said:

One such slot did open up so I quickly snagged it. Hopefully it’ll be resolved with professional assistance. 

Hey lauren, are both AS hearing devices set up on your phone? Apple or android? Hope zoom helps

[Lauren]

@Dianna yes but I can’t get them to configure properly. I have an Apple iPhone. I go through the configuration steps (with lots of difficulty as I keep getting error message after error message), then when finally configured in AudioKey2 I go to Accessibility and they appear on two separate lines as different hearing devices. In an 8 hour period, with the error messages and continuously failing to be recognized I got them configured only three times but couldn’t stream bilaterally as they failed to configure properly. I’m at a loss as to what the solution is.