Starkey Z Series hearing aids

[swindonian]

Has anyone experience of using the Starkey Z Series hearing aids, they are a budget priced brand sold in Boots. Apparently The Starkey Z series features brand new 900Sync technology...... amongst their claims are “A new feature designed to help tackle tinnitus” there is a choice of five different styles, including behind-the-ear and in-the-ear. The cheapest in the range is the Zi20 costing just £945 for two aids, I will certainly invest that if there any substance to their claim. I would appreciate any feedback.

[Ruud1boy]

I don't have any direct experience of them, but I have noted with interest this bit about 'a new feature' - however on investigation, it doesn't appear to be anything revolutionary, it's just a white noise generator built-in to the aids to try and mask / blend with the tinnitus. The new bit seems to be that you / your audiologist can shape the noise to best suit your own particular tinnitus tone, rather than just having the set noises other aids provide. Splash the cash and let us know how you get on.

[Wilson054]

The Starkey Z Series was Starkey's previous hearing aid range before the newer Muse series. Here is a link to a Starkey white paper that explains their MultiFlex Tinnitus Technology which might help explain what they do

starkeypro.com/pdfs/technic....

Here is the latest brochure although for the newer hearing aids I understand the same tinnitus technology is used in the Z Series

starkeypro.com/pdfs/Tinnitu...

[swindonian]

Thank you both so much for your words of wisdom, I will talk to my audiologist to decide which Starkey product to purchase. I will report back at a later date.

[Hidden]

I have starkey hearing aids I got through a Starkey hearing therapist mine are S9 and cost me over 2000.00 they are set by a computer to your own hearing test they work by having a app on your smart phone & Bluetooth technology the advantage is any sounds nature can be streamed to your hearing aids if you get a phone call it will automatically pause to what your listening to let you know you have a call I don't know if your model does some or all of what I have mentioned I at that price it would streaming sounds to your ears & getting a phone call I hope this helps. David

[swindonian]

Thank you, that is very helpful. I raised the matter with Boots and they responded in writing "Starkey have confirmed that the Z series range including the cheapest i20 are able to assist with customers who also present with tinnitus." I am still researching but must decide soon. I was told about the Bluetooth technology and I do have Bluetooth on my mobile but it is not a smart phone so I cannot stream. I am looking around to see if any cd or tape players have Bluetooth connetivity. I have used white noise etc for some time quite successfully but I have been using ear plugs which I cannot use when I wear aids which is why I need the aids with built in sound generators.