Question
Who is an ideal candidate for Phonak ActiveVent™ Receiver?
Answer
ActiveVent solves the dilemma that hearing care providers face on a daily basis: do I fit my patient with open or closed venting? Open fits provide more natural sound quality, improved comfort and increased first fit acceptance. However, they are prone to feedback, aren’t ideal in noisy situations, and can reduce the effects of directional microphones. On the other hand, closed fits result in improved streaming sound quality, better performance in noise and reduced background noise. But, they can make patients complain of occlusion and less first fit acceptance.
So, how does it work?
ActiveVent combines the best of both worlds. It is the world’s first intelligent hearing aid receiver with an automatic vent switching between open and closed venting. During day-to-day situations, the vent is open. When the patient starts streaming a phone call or music, or is in an environment with very loud background noise, the vent automatically closes to boost their hearing performance. It’s open when your patients want it, and closed when they need it.
Identifying the ideal candidate for ActiveVent
From an audiogram perspective, you’ll want to offer ActiveVent to patients with mild to moderate sloping losses, such as the one below. These are the audiograms you see and debate which dome or custom earpiece to use…open or closed!
In terms of lifestyle, you’ll want to think about active patients who are often in background noise, and do a lot of streaming of music and TV throughout the day. Of course, you’ll want to consider ear health and excessive amounts of wax, similar to many RIC devices. In general, the more the patient is in background noise or streaming (especially streaming in noisy places like on the train to work), the more benefit they’re going to find with ActiveVent.
The great thing about ActiveVent is that it can be added on to any rechargeable Audéo P device, even those that have been previously fit with a simple hearing instrument firmware upgrade. It’s a great opportunity to provide an upgrade to existing patients, and can be an interesting add-on in the hearing aid evaluation process for a new patient. The cost of the receivers can either be bundled into the hearing aid price, or purchased individually; this flexibility allows ActiveVent to easily integrate into your existing clinic structure.
For more information on Phonak ActiveVent Receiver, click here.
