In April 2023, Phonak announced the release of its latest hearing aid, the Phonak Slims. This new device marks the company’s first foray into the fashion hearing aid market, following in the footsteps of Signia’s Styletto, released in 2018.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fashionable design | Longer than typical hearing aids |
| Available in multiple colors | Personal preference on appearance |
| Lithium-ion rechargeable battery that lasts all day, even when streaming | Snap Fit receivers can stick out more due to 7-degree angle |
| Custom ear molds with optimized venting for steeply sloping high-frequency hearing loss | Only available in two technology levels: Premium 90 and Advanced 70 |
| Bluetooth Classic connectivity with virtually any Bluetooth device | No level 50 or 30 devices or telecoil |
| Motion sensor provides motion sensor hearing, tap control to answer/hang up phone calls, pause streaming, and access voice assistants with double tap | May not provide game-changing innovation in treating hearing loss globally |
| MyPhonak app compatibility for program changes, volume levels, accessories, customization, health data tracking, and remote sessions with hearing care professional | |
| Excellent noise reduction capabilities for steady state, soft, and impulse noises | |
| Integrated Roger Receivers provide wireless access to Roger remote microphones and TV connector box allows for direct streaming of audio from TV |
The Design
The Phonak Slims come in four different color options, including a new Santa wood color. However, I personally don’t like the way they look and find the Phonak Audeo L90 R hearing aids more appealing to me. However, they do look better on my wife’s ears.
Phonak Slim hearing aids are not just for women or men but are built for both genders. However, I personally think they look better on my wife than myself.
The Slims are relatively thin but longer than a typical hearing aid, measuring about 40mm in length, while the Lumity R devices measure just shy of 28mm, approximately 13mm shorter than the Slims. The widest portion of the Slims measures approximately 7.35mm from top to bottom, and the widest portion of the Lumity R hearing aids, towards the bottom, measures approximately 7.9mm, only 0.55mm wider than the Slims.
The top of the Lumity R hearing aid is slimmer than the Slims towards the top where it goes over the ear. There is a dedicated right and left version of the Slim, and they use the same receivers as other Lumity devices, which are Snap Fit receivers, so no push bin is required to remove or exchange them. The Snap Fit receivers of the Phonak Slim hearing aid are designed to fit at a seven-degree outboard angle to make them more ergonomic for the wearer. However, the seven-degree angle reduces interference with glasses but makes the wire stick out of the ear a bit more, which can be bothersome for some wearers.
Technology
Phonak Slims are the exact same technology as the other Phonak Lumity models. They use a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that lasts all day, even when streaming and takes only three hours to fully charge.
Phonak’s custom ear molds have acoustically optimized venting which I love about the product. Custom ear molds are recommended for steeply sloping high-frequency hearing loss to trap in high-frequency speech information and improve clarity and hearing in background noise. I recommend the custom cShell earmold to most of my patients.
Phonak Slims come in two technology levels: Premium 90 and Advanced 70, with no level 50 or 30 (basic or economy level) devices or telecoil.
Choosing the highest level of technology that is reasonably affordable is recommended, but hearing care professionals can optimize the performance of devices at lower technology levels.
Other features of the Phonak Slims are similar to those of other devices in the Lumity lineup.
Phonak Lumity hearing aids have Bluetooth Classic connectivity with virtually any Bluetooth device such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and more. Bluetooth Classic gives better access to other Bluetooth devices and better audio quality while streaming. Phonak programming software allows for customization of streaming audio for music and media. You can pair with up to eight different devices with two active connections at the same time and switch between them easily while streaming.
Phonak Slim hearing aids have a motion sensor that provides motion sensor hearing, changing microphone directionality when moving or sitting, and tap control to answer/hang up phone calls, pause streaming, and access voice assistants with a double tap.
Compatibility with the MyPhonak app for program changes, volume levels, accessories, customization, health data tracking, and remote sessions with a hearing care professional. I love Phonak but do admit that the app is not the greatest.
Integrated Roger Receivers provide wireless access to Roger remote microphones, and the TV connector box allows for direct streaming of audio from the TV.
Price of Phonak Slim Lumity Hearing Aids
The Phonak Slim hearing aids are priced similarly to the regular line of Phonak Audeo L rechargeable hearing aids. The Audéo Lumity 90 version of the Slims costs $4598 per pair, while the Audéo Lumity 70 version costs $3798 per pair. While these prices may seem steep, they are in line with other high-end hearing aids on the market. It’s important to note that hearing aids are an investment in your health and quality of life, and the benefits they provide are well worth the cost. Additionally, many insurance plans and hearing aid financing options are available to help offset the cost of hearing aids.
If you’re interested in purchasing the Phonak Slim hearing aids or any other hearing aid from the Phonak Audeo L rechargeable line, visit ziphearing.com. ZipHearing will connect you with a local hearing clinic to ensure the hearing aids are properly fitted to your individual needs. Don’t let hearing loss hold you back any longer, take action today and invest in your hearing health with the Phonak Slim hearing aids.
