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Best Accessories
Phonak has a wide range of high-quality accessories that help increase the functionality of its hearing aids. This includes a number of microphones that can help make it easier to hear conversations in loud places like restaurants and churches. Other Phonak accessories let users stream media directly to their hearing aids or adjust their hearing aid settings via remote.
The following guide is designed to help people with hearing loss learn how Phonak’s hearing aids work. It has information on Phonak’s instruments, their costs and their warranties.
Phonak's Pros and Cons
Pros
- Professionally Programmed: Each Phonak hearing aid is fine tuned by a hearing care professional. This ensures that each wearer’s device is customized to meet their specific needs.
- Innovative Instruments: Phonak has a wide range of hearing aids, including classic behind-the-ear instruments equipped with modern software. Phonak also has a fully invisible hearing aid that can be used for months at a time without removal.
- Bluetooth Enabled: Phonak devices are Bluetooth enabled and can connect to Phonak’s range of wireless accessories as well as smartphones, tablets and other electronics. This lets wearers connect to mobile apps to make adjustments to their hearing aids with ease.
- Battery Choices: Wearers can choose rechargeable models that have a battery life of up to 24 hours. Hearing aids with replaceable zinc-air batteries can last for one week to 10 days.
Cons
- Audiologist Only: Phonak’s hearing aids must be programmed by a hearing care professional, so they aren’t available online. This can make it difficult for prospective wearers to do a cost comparison. It could also be inconvenient for wearers who aren’t in close range of an audiologist’s office.
- Costs: Because of their high quality and advanced technology, Phonak hearing aids can be pricier than some competing devices.
Phonak's Pricing, Warranties and Return Policy
Warranties
Because Phonak’s hearing aids are only sold in hearing care centers, prices and warranties can vary. Phonak provides a manufacturer’s warranty on its products, giving users free replacements or repairs to hearing aids with factory defects. This warranty doesn’t cover batteries, tubes or other accessories. Phonak’s factory warranty is valid for one year after purchase, but individual hearing centers may offer additional warranties and insurance for Phonak products.
Trials & Returns
Wearers who are unhappy with their Phonak hearing aids can return them within 60 days to the audiology office where they were purchased. Because the Lyric is available only on a subscription basis, a 30-day risk-free trial is available.
Pricing
Individual retailers set the price for the Phonak devices sold in their stores. On average, Phonak’s Audeo Marvel can cost between $1,545 and $2,400 per hearing aid. Wearers who opt for the fully invisible Lyric can expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,000 per ear on a one-year subscription.
How Phonak's Hearing Aids Work
Audeo Marvel
The Audeo Marvel is Phonak’s line of receiver-in-canal hearing aids. These are a little smaller than behind-the-ear models and go right in the ear canal to produce a crisp, clear sound. The Audeo Marvel is suitable for any degree of hearing loss.
Features:
- Optional rechargeable battery that lasts up to 24 hours
- Physical button and app controls for volume
- Automatic setting changes based on the environment
- Connects with smartphones, apps and accessories
- Comes in five models with nine color choices
- Optional telecoil
Connectivity
Phonak’s hearing aids are Bluetooth-enabled and designed to connect to iOS and Android devices. To connect Phonak hearing aids to a mobile device, users should find the settings menu. From there, users should turn Bluetooth on. Then, after turning the hearing aids off and on again, the hearing aids will be visible on the smartphone’s pairing menu. Users should tap the hearing aids, tap “pair” and wait for the hearing aid to beep to confirm successful pairing.
Cleaning
Cleaning hearing aids can help keep them in good working condition and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. This is especially important for in-the-ear models because they are frequently exposed to sweat and earwax. Each day after use, users should wipe their hearing aids with a dry, soft cloth. If earwax deposits start to form, the hearing aids should be gently scrubbed with a soft brush. Phonak also sells a range of products and accessories to help keep hearing aids clean.
Naida Marvel
The Naida Marvel is a traditional behind-the-ear hearing aid with modern features such as direct streaming and hands-free calling. This super-powered hearing aid is designed for those with moderate to profound hearing loss. Its app connectivity allows users to consult their audiologist remotely for troubleshooting.
Features:
- High-powered hearing aid for those with high levels of hearing loss
- Replaceable batteries
- Comes in nine neutral colors
- Wireless connectivity for direct streaming
- Apps enable call-to-text, remote fine-tuning and live transcription
Taking a Call Hands-Free
After using the above instructions to pair Phonak hearing aids to their mobile device, users will be able to hear the phone ringing directly into their hearing aids. By double-tapping the hearing aid, users can pick up and hang up the call without having to use their phones.
Lyric
The Lyric is a first-of-its-kind hearing aid that sits completely inside the ear canal. It is inserted by an audiologist and can be worn continuously for around three months. Unlike most of Phonak’s other hearing aids, the Lyric has no Bluetooth connectivity and cannot be connected to accessories.
Features:
- Can be worn continuously through showers, exercise and sleep
- Completely invisible
- Low-maintenance
- Around three months between replacements
- Usually requires an audiologist for changing, but self-replacement training is available
- Conforms to the ear’s natural shape for comfort
Taking Care of Your Lyric Hearing Aids
Because Lyric hearing aids never need to be taken out, they require very little maintenance from the user. Wearers don’t have to worry about cleaning their hearing aids, turning them off at night or charging the batteries. However, Lyric wearers need to visit their hearing care professional every three months for new instruments and ear health checkups. Lyric wearers can undergo training on how to change the instruments themselves to reduce audiologist visits to once every six months.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers are impressed by Phonak’s modern technology, which can make its hearing aids easier to use. Reviewers note that Phonak’s software is updated frequently in order to keep their hearing aids in the best working order.
Users say that Phonak hearing aids have significantly improved their quality of life by making sounds smoother, clearer and easier to listen to. Some are especially impressed by the app controls, which let users switch between optimized environmental settings.
On the downside, reviewers note that some of the smaller models can be difficult to work with for those with arthritis or dexterity issues. Further, some users have needed multiple repairs over the lifespan of the hearing aid, which can get expensive if not covered by a warranty.
Who Should Consider Phonak's Hearing Aids
Phonak has a wide range of hearing aids with various features and technology levels to meet every need. Phonak’s hearing aid collection has models suitable for all ages and all levels of hearing loss.
Consumers Seeking Discretion and Ease-of-Use
Phonak’s Lyric is arguably one of the most discreet hearing aids on the market with its completely-in-canal design. It also requires no daily maintenance from the wearer, making it ideal for active users.
Smartphone Users
The Audéo Marvel is Bluetooth enabled and can connect to smartphones, tablets and accessories. Wearers can rely on their phones to troubleshoot and adjust their hearing aids. These apps dramatically increase user-friendliness for those who are tech-savvy.