starkey halo

Starkey Halo Users-please weigh in on this:

When using the hearing aids to have a conversation with someone, would you find it helpful if you were able to adjust the volume of your Halo hearing aid by adjusting the volume control on your phone? There are times when I am talking to somebody and can not hear them, and I find it cumbersome and rude to look at my cell phone to facilitate my listening ability. I'd like to be able to turn the volume up discretely without looking at my screen.

Nice idea, but virtually not possible since use of the HA's mics are not considered streaming. Only streaming and use of Live Mic in the app would be covered under that. Sorry.

Yes, it would be very useful. I feel the same when talking directly to someone. On my previous Starkey aids (3-Series and Surflink mobile), I could use the small and discreet remote, or touch the controls on the aids themselves. This is a disadvantage of the Halos.

@dbmtx; I realize that it is not currently possible. My intent is to see how other feel about this, and submit a request to Apple. If they can do it with streaming and Live Mic, and with phone calls, it should be possible . I think it would be a huge selling point for the hearing aid and for iphone.

I make no apologies for wearing hearing aids and if I need to use my phone to adjust them, it is very much the same as when my father would hold his "wand" up and press buttons to adjust his HAs. I see no difference between that and removing my glasses so I can clean them to see better.

I think the difference is that not many observers will know you are making hearing aid adjustments and not just checking messages or scores. I was at a funeral recently and needed to adjust the Halos but felt it would appear disrespectful. I am hoping that control will be built into the Apple Watch. Listening Apple?

I did it with the surf link and people would sometimes ask why I was still using a pager. I have never had an issue telling people that I am hearing impaired and wear aids. The ones who made somewhat rude sounding comments about me using the surf link in what they deemed inappropriate places felt about 1/2" tall after I informed them I was adjusting my aids.

On an old note...I have had to change batteries 3 times in 18 hours. The first set of batteries lasted 6 days. Last night I got low battery, changed in both aids, I turn them off at night, remove batteries, this morning low battery, replaced them, less then an hour later, no streaming I got low battery in just the right aidd??

So for I have tried 2 different brands - the ones from Starkey and Duracell

SantafeNM - I understand what you are saying. I see that I approach wearing hearing aids differently than you do. My friends, acquaintances, family, project team members, students (I also teach) become aware very quickly that I wear hearing aids, if they are not already aware.

However, there is a technical issue at stake as well. In the iPhone's "idle" mode, the volume control buttons are used to raise and lower the ring volume. There is not a way to tell those buttons to do something different without launching an app. Launching an app to adjust my hearing aid settings is something I already do. I don't need another separate function to do something that TruLink can already do. Then if one app can take over the function of those buttons, what is to stop a myriad of apps doing the same thing? I'm afraid we are going to have to get used to opening an app to control the volume on our HAs.

Anyone who misunderstands my actions when I am adjusting my hearing aids and assumes the worst is going to assume I am ignoring them if they don't get my attention before speaking to me. Their loss.

LanB22 - I have used primarily Xcell batteries and they have lasted 6-7.5 days over the past three months. I inserted a set of powerone's on Monday morning and the battery level remains unchanged from full now 2.5 days later. The poweroone's were recommended by my audiologist I also have a "sampler" pack from microbattery.com. For less than $30, I ended up with enough batteries to last me perhaps nine months or more. That way I can try out different manufacturers and see which ones work best,

So true OldGnome!!

I didn't realize how many people I ignored until my kids were old enough to tell me...Mom that lady was talking to you and you just walked away.

I am sure there are plenty of people over the years that thought I was just rude and uppity because they didn't get my attention first. I am in the habit in social settings to tell people that I wear aids but I still have to read lips, so if I am not looking at you I am not hearing you. Some people get it others just can't grasp it. Most difficult when I was sitting in bleachers at one of my kids sports games and moms if front of me would talk without turning around, I usually sit in the front row so I can turn and see whoever might be talking, only issue then is I miss the game.

Normally I do not care either but there are some social situations where playing with the iPhone just looks bad. Especially if people do not know you. I.e. The funeral. I just chose not to hear In that instance. In a group of friends no one cares.

Did you buy them online?? I usually buy from costco or sam's, I've never seen Xcell brand

I bought most of them online at microbattery.com and I also got some from an online colleague who runs a Web site devoted to hearing loss (hearingtracker.com). He gave some Xcells to me for writing review of both the Halos and Linx (which I wore for a month and returned).

I understand.

Ordered the sampler pack, will keep notes on each brand. Great tip. Thanks!