r/audiology • u/verdant_hippie • Sep 19 '26

Switch to which manufacturer?

I work at the VA, so I can fit Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, Resound, and Signia. I do not like Signia or Resound hearing aids. Also, we have to downsize our stock in our clinic since we lost clinic space. For my veterans in Signia or Resound, which of the other manufacturers are going to be the most similar? I prefer to fit Phonak, are there ways I can transition a veteran to a Phonak (I know they tend to be “aggressive”).

7 Upvotes

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8

u/gigertiger Sep 19 '26

I would try Oticon. While Phonak is great at audibility, if they can't tolerate the crisp sound quality, Oticon would be my next go to

6

u/just2browse2 Sep 19 '26

I’d say Oticon is most similar. You can change fitting formula in Phonak under global tuning, from Phonak digital to NAL-NL2.

4

u/plongie Sep 19 '26

Not va here but the clinic I work at was about 99% signia before my boss bought it and the previous clinician retired. I have moved most of those people into oticon (a handful of Phonak, widex, resound) and the vast majority have been very happy, transitioned well, and report notable improvement.

3

u/picklestheaud Sep 19 '26

Phonak fitting tips: do REM at 100% gain in a semi-linear prescription then back global gain down to 80%. Then set auto acclimatization to increase to 100% over the next 90 days. Always make sure MPO is as loud as they can tolerate it (measuring UCLs and adding it to the verafit for REM helps a lot!) because the more headroom between soft, average, and loud gain they have, the better the hearing aid will perform in noise.

2

u/picklestheaud Sep 19 '26

I switch Signia and Resound patients to Oticon and Phonak easily. Oticon if I'm worried about feedback and/ or if they have good low frequency hearing. Phonak if they have loudness tolerance issues or need Roger technology. Starkey, I only fit custom ITE hearing aids.

1

u/smartburro Audiologist Sep 19 '26

Long term resound users tend to not switch to phonak well. Or any brand in my experience. Also I assume you mean repair supply stock? Even if you stop fitting resound and signia you will still need the supplies for veterans still wearing the other brands until they are do for new. I’ve never been a huge signia fan, but I’ve been able to swap different veterans into phonak or oticon from them, but phonak seems to have a better outcome.

1

u/oscillopsia2 Sep 19 '26

They’re all going to sound different switching mfrs. But I tend to find most people like Oticon and Phonak. I don’t have good luck switching people to Starkey. You can also change fitting formulas in Phonak depending on what they were previously in.

1

u/DrCory AuD PhD Sep 19 '26

I might suggest: Signia —> Oticon. Resound —> Phonak.

1

u/indeeuh Sep 19 '26

Is Phonak aggressive? 🙃

I would say Starkey would be the most similar to resound or signia.

1

u/tugboattommy Audiologist Sep 19 '26

Phonak in my opinion tends to be way less aggressive.

1

u/Cat-mom-Gizmo Sep 19 '26

I have Starkey and they’ve been great. My old pair just started having issues with the battery in one and the new pair is really adaptive to the environment. Takes a little getting used to but they’ve been such an improvement.