Hearing aid technology has improved significantly over the last decade, as many other devices such as TVs and wireless earbuds have. The Phonak Lumity likewise has better features and technology than one may expect. It employs many abilities that smart devices now have. We have rated Phonak as a top hearing aid brand before. Here we will review the Lumity and how it could help you.
The Lumity is based on the Paradise series of hearing aids from Fall 2020 and the Lumity was released in August 2022. It has new Paradise features that make a true difference in user experience. It features tap control, better Bluetooth connectivity (more devices able to be paired at a time), improved automatic adaptability, Audéo Life waterproof features, and the world’s first intelligent hearing aid receiver ActiveVent.
New Lumity Features
There are two main categories of improvement- the charging system and the hearing aid technology.
This new aid improves on a major pain point of previous models- the charger. Its charging case is much like a wireless earbud case. You place the aids inside it and it charges. It’s that simple- wireless and without the need for cords. It takes only three hours for a full charge. It also has a portable case version that can charge them up to three times while you’re on the go.
SmartSpeech technology is a collection of features designed to improve speech understanding and allow less effort needed to hear in a variety of environments. It uses AutoSense 5.0, ActiveVent, and StereoZoom.
AutoSense 5.0 is an improvement on the existing AutoSense feature. It is an AI machine-learning program that scans your environment 700 times a second. The 5.0 update made improvements in both user comfort and speech understanding. AutoSense quickly captures and analyzes your environment and automatically makes adjustments based on the sounds it’s hearing. It has as many as seven automatic programs the hearing aids will switch between. It changes quickly so you can hear seamlessly in a wide variety of settings.
It does this in part by using ActiveVent, a mechanically switching vent. It is the world’s first intelligent hearing aid speaker, according to Phonak. It helps block noise in loud environments by closing the vent to block out environmental noise. When the environment is quieter, the vent opens to provide a more natural hearing experience.
Another new feature is new microphones. StereoZoom is an improved “zoom” microphone mode to further reduce background noise. It creates an overall lessened amount of listening effort required. A research study showed that StereoZoom works. It significantly improves the ability to hear speech in noisy environments. It creates improvement in sound quality, speech intelligibility, and suppression of interrupting noise. StereoZoom helps you hear from a variety of speaker directions while blocking out non-essential noises. This includes hearing multiple speakers at once.
Price And Looks
The price for one unit ranges from an average of $2,919 to $3,909 based on performance levels. This comes to a total of $5,838-$7,818 per pair, out of pocket. The average national cost for a pair of hearing aids is $2,000-7000 so the Lumity is in the higher range but a normal price.
It comes in a variety of colors, including black, champagne, beige, chestnut, sandalwood, and two shades of gray.
There is a waterproof option, Audéo Lumity Life, that is safe up to 50 cm (19.6 in). That is up to ½ a meter in your choice of a pool, fresh, or salt water. You can keep your hearing aids in to swim, raft, and play in the water. You don’t have to worry about sweat damaging them or having to take them out to shower.
Bluetooth Compatibility
Universal Bluetooth connectivity is another useful ability. The aids can be paired to eight devices and stream from two of them at a time. This includes both iPhone and Android phones so you can make hands-free calls. You can even connect to your TV to watch shows with ease by using the small Phonak TV Connector. This feature is a much more modern one that brings many useful abilities to hearing aid technology.
Tap Control is a continued feature for 70 (Advanced) and 90 (Premium) performance levels. You can tap the hearing aid to use a variety of controls, such as starting and ending calls, pausing and resuming streaming from Bluetooth devices, and performing other Bluetooth-enabled functionalities. Multipurpose high tech is at your fingertips.
Smartphone App Availability
The MyPhonak app (available for both iPhone and Android) captures health data and allows you to control your hearing aids with your phone, in addition to providing the user with access to enhanced hearing controls and personalization options. Your audiologist can also use the app to adjust your hearing aids remotely in real time.
Tinnitus Balance
Because 80% of tinnitus patients also have hearing loss, the Tinnitus Balance feature in the Lumity combines the best of both worlds into one single device. Tinnitus Balance is a customizable feature that offers different sound options for treating tinnitus. It is programmable by your audiologist. This version still offers white and pink noise. There is no change in Tinnitus Balance features for the Lumity; it remains time-tested.
It has continued compatibility with any Bluetooth audio device for streaming tinnitus maskers. This is a convenient, discreet way to do tinnitus sound therapy. Combining hearing loss and tinnitus treatment into one is convenient and sensible. Amplifying sounds from hearing loss can help mask tinnitus sounds, for one. Secondly, Phonak’s belief is that tinnitus can be retrained by the brain to appear as harmless background noise. That is their aim with Tinnitus Balance. Phonak helps us bring tinnitus treatments into the 2020s.
Overall, the Phonak Lumity is solid technology. It is making hearing aids more streamlined and intelligent so that users don’t have to make as much effort to hear. It works for everything from mild to profound hearing loss and you can look subtly stylish while wearing them. You can also use the Tap Control and Bluetooth features to seamlessly interact with other devices in your life. Our audiologists at Treble Health give the Lumity 5 out of 5 stars.
