Rondo 2 #4 magnet too weak?

[Richard G]

Hello

On June 2 I have been implanted on the left side with a Synchrony and on June 15 we activated Rondo 2. I have the original Rondo on the right side.

The activation process went great, but the unit strongest magnet and Grip Wear do not hold the Rondo over the Implant almost at all. When I sit still, it will stay but with the slightest movement it falls off.

I used the grip.wear and activity clip - they do not help.

There still is a slight swelling in the Implant area but there is just no comparison with the original Rondo with #4 magnet. Rondo is just slightly thicker than Rondo 2, therefore the magnet is also thicker.

I was wondering if there is any Rondo 2 user with the same problem, and I am looking for a so!ution. 

Thank you. I am so glad that now I am a part of this group.

[Mary Beth]

Hi @Richard G and welcome to HearPeers.

When did you have your first side done?

I have two different internal implants.  My first side is a Concert and my second side is a Synchrony.  The magnets behave differently.

As you mentioned, you still have swelling.  Have you tried using a headband to hold your Rondo2 in place until your swelling goes down?

[Mary Beth]

And have you seen this?  This activity clip is not compatible with internal Synchrony implants.  Most Med-El internal implants since mid-2015 are Synchrony implants only the US.  Just sharing in case this applies to you @Richard G

 

[Richard G]

Thanks for replying. Indeed that is what the instructions provide, however, my right sight Implant (Sonata ti 100) and Rondo were implanted 5 years ago in Poland and since I use activity clip on that side which, by the way, works great, I thought I will try with Synchrony. Imdeed, it doesn't improve adhesion of the magnet.

[Mary Beth]

@Richard G

You and I both have one of each type of magnet in our heads.

Circle marked magnet strengths for our first CI

Triangle marked magnet strengths for our second CI

[Richard G]

That is correct. The proverbial jury is still out on the issue of Synchrony magnet strength. From what I have learned, one of the major benefits of Synchrony is its adaptability to most of the MRI machines. This necessarily had an impact on the magnet array inside the implant and the magnet type in the processor. It is most likely why this magnet is weaker. Besides it is also thinner as the Rondo 2 is slimmer than Rondo. 

I have experimented with both and I could definitely feel the difference when placing Rondo 2 over my rt side Implant which is a Sonata ti 100. The magnet was not that strong.

I will try to be patient and wear a headband for a couple.of weeks hoping that it is only a matter of swelling going down

[Mary Beth]

@Richard G

I hope the magnet strength of your new Rondo 2/Synchrony combo sorts itself out soon as your swelling resolves.

 

I keep my circle marked magnets (polarized top and bottom) and my triangle marked magnets (polarized left and right) separate so I don’t mix anything up.

There is something we can do to help the Synchrony magnet align which in turn gives us a stronger connection.  Let me see if I can find a link to it.

[Mary Beth]

@MED-EL Moderator

Do you have a link to where you explain placing the Rondo 2 or DL-coil on our head and rotating to 10:00 and 2:00 position to align the Synchrony internal magnet?

[Richard G]

I do not have that link, but I figured out a position with the best magnet strength and it is 10 or 2 o 'clock.

I only have one magnet for each processor.and each is #4.

[Mary Beth]

@Richard G

The maneuver I am referring to, which I learned from Med-El but I can not find a link at the moment....

Rondo 2 positioned with mic at 12:00

Turn Rondo 2 to 10:00 position and then to 2:00 position (while it is always on your head while turning it)

Then Rondo 2 back at 12:00

 

I need to do this from time to time when the magnet connection seems loose.  Not often.  ONLY on the internal Synchrony side.

[Richard G]

There is a difference between various position on my head but even in 10 or 2 o'clock position, the magnet is weak.

Let's hope it is just swelling.

Thanks for your help

[Mary Beth]

@Richard G

I found it in the Rondo 2 manual.  Click on the pic to zoom in to read.

[Richard G]

Great, thanks a lot !!!

[Tommy C]

@Richard G I too sometimes have a problem with my Rondo 2 falling off. The magnet alignment technique that @Mary Beth posted above did help some but i still have the problem from time to time. It seems to be weaker of the mornings when I first put it on. As time goes by it has a stronger attachment later in the day. I know that does not make sense but that is what is happening. My audiologist thought that the magnet was too strong and put a weaker one in and that is when I started having the problem. 

[Richard G]

Tommy C, thanks for responding. I am curious why would your audiologist suggest a weaker magnet when the processor on occasion falls off.

I am going to wait a couple of weeks for my swelling to go away and see if the magnet makes the processor stay on firmly. I do have the original Rondo on the other side that stays on properly to compare to.

If not, I will contact Medel. There is no reason to make an improved and upgraded Rondo2 at the same time making it more difficult to stay on the implant.

This is a great forum, and I am very grateful for all responses.

[Tracey_66]

For me the magnet is not so strong in the morning as like @Tommy C the rest of the day fine.  I had noticed this when I was activated also.

  My specialist didn't want me to have the stronger strength magnets as she felt that it would pull on the internal implant magnet.  No idea At the  moment if she will recommend later the stronger magnet time will tell.

 I've not tried the grip wear yet. But will need to sort something out before the flamenca classes start-up!!! Fortunately that will be some time!!!!.

[Richard G]

I also noticed that the magnet is considerably weaker first thing in the morning and I am having really difficult time in trying to explain it. This is just a magnet connection,  so the time of day should make absolutely no difference. Perhaps, the skin over the implant gets more blood at night by not being squeezed all day long, therefore it is a bit thicker. Just speculation.

Grip Wear makes the processor surface less slick, but in my opinion it is not nearly as good as the thin rubber cover I have on my original Rondo, but you need to try it

[Tommy C]

@Richard G My audiologist gave me the same reason that @Tracey_66 mentioned above plus the stronger magnet can cause skin irritation if it is too tight. I dont have much hair so I keep it cut very close. When it grows out a little there is a weaker attachment. I suppose a person with longer hair would require a stronger magnet. The spot where the magnet sets on my head is completely bald, no hair grows there. With all this being said, I still like the Rondo 2. I will get my sonnet 2 July 1, if the Corona virus allows me to keep that appointment. The Sonnet 2 will have to be absolutely amazing for me to prefer it over Rondo 2.

[Richard G]

Why would you choose Sonnet 2 over Synchrony 2 with Rondo.2? Just  curious.

[Tommy C]

@Richard GI am assuming your last question was directed to me, if not please excuse me for answering. Before I was implanted I was ask to make a decision as to which processors that I wanted. I was implanted only on my left side but I was to get two processors. It was suggested to me from another MED EL user that I choose one Rondo2 and one Sonnet. Sonnet 2 was scheduled to be released in the U.S. in two to three months and there was an exchange program to swap out the Sonnet for Sonnet 2 when it was released, providing the package was not opened. I did not know which processor was better or which I would like better, so it seemed to me that one of each would be a wise decision. I was activated with the,Rondo 2 and the audiologists held the Sonnet to make the exchange when Sonnet 2 was released. The audiologists made the swap for me and then before I could get in to activate the Sonnet 2 the Corona virus hit and my appointment was canceled. So when I do get it activated i will have a choice of which one that I want to wear for the situation that I am exposed to that day if one is better than the other for that situation. I am extremely happy with the Rondo 2, so it is hard for me to see that I would prefer the Sonnet 2 over the Rondo2. I think that the weak magnet problem can and will be fixed. I think it would have already been corrected had the virus had not necessitated cancellation of my March appointment. I have not seen my audiologists since December. Hopefully July 1, I can get all of this addressed, but I consider all of it to be only minor problems. 

[Richard G]

Thank you Tommy C for your answer.

I have had the original Rondo on the rt side for the past 5 years and it worked very well so when the time came for the left side the choice was simple. Also, I always had a problem with having something over my ears when wearing hearing aids so going into  a Rondo processor was an easy choice.

I am glad you are getting ready for your long awaited appointment and I wish you the best!!!

[Richard G]

Now I got #5 magnet in my Rondo2. It is the strongest magnet available. It is markedly stronger than #4 but still not as strong as #4 magnet in my original Rondo on the other side. I am a scientist and it bugs me to no end that I cannot explain why the magnet is very weak in the mornings, right after it is off the charger and gets stronger while the day progresses. I recall that Tommy C and Tracey experienced the same phenomenon .

Does anyone can explain?

 

[Mary Beth]

@Richard G

Is it possible that the strength of the magnet is constant but in the mornings you have more fluid in your skin flap area?

If you sleep in a recliner overnight, does the same thing happen?

Just an idea

 

Have you tried the rotating your Rondo 2 to 10:00 then 2:00 then back to 12:00 in the mornings?

[Tracey_66]

Wow! You have #5 magnet.  I've just looked at mine and it's a  #3 magnet.... 

I've no answer at the moment why there should be a lack of strength , particularly first thing in the morning. @Richard G you have described it exactly as how it is. 

I wonder if there is a connection from charger to switch on? Discharge?

I agree it is a bit strange.

 

 

[Richard G]

Thank you Mary Beth and Tracey_66.

I don't think the skin thickness would increase to such degree that it would decrease the magnet adherance. 

I will try to get an answer from Medel engineers. They got to know.

The whole benefit of rearranging magnet in Rondo 2 that is its adaptability to MRI machines is lost on me since I have a Sonata Ti.on the other side and this one is not working well with MRI but the magnets are very strong.