Phonak Audeo Sphere Infinio vs. Oticon Intent: A Comprehensive Comparison of Two Leading Hearing Aids

Two standout advanced hearing aid options available at our Phoenix clinic are the Oticon Intent, which introduces the world's first user-intent sensors powered by the Sirius platform, and the Phonak Infinio Sphere, featuring innovative dual-chip technology that separates core sound processing from artificial intelligence functions. Both represent significant steps forward in hearing technology, though they approach sound processing and user experience in different ways.

Technology Levels and Pricing

The Oticon Intent and Phonak Infinio Sphere approach technology levels differently, giving patients multiple options to match their needs and budget.

The Oticon Intent comes in four performance levels. At the premium level (Intent 1), you receive the full suite of features including user-intent sensors that adapt to your listening behaviors. The Intent 2 maintains most premium features while the Intent 3 and 4 provide progressively streamlined technology packages. Each level uses the same physical hardware but differs in the processing features activated within the hearing aids.

The Phonak Infinio Sphere takes a focused approach with two premium technology levels - I90 and I70. Both utilize the innovative dual-chip design that separates sound processing from artificial intelligence functions. The I90 represents the flagship model with complete access to all features, while the I70 maintains most premium capabilities with slightly reduced customization options. Both levels include 20 fine-tuning channels for precise programming.

Choosing Your Technology Level

When selecting a technology level, several factors influence our recommendations:

• Daily Environment: Higher technology levels offer more advanced features for managing complex listening situations like restaurants or group conversations
• Lifestyle Needs: More active lifestyles with frequent social interaction, work demands, or travel often benefit from premium technology levels
• Hearing Goals: Your specific hearing challenges and communication priorities help determine which features would provide the most benefit
• Long-term Value: Since hearing aids typically last 5-7 years, investing in technology that meets both current and anticipated future needs often proves worthwhile

Hearing Loss Range and Receiver Options

Both the Oticon Intent and Phonak Infinio Sphere accommodate a wide range of hearing losses through their receiver options. Understanding these options helps ensure you get the most appropriate solution for your specific hearing needs.

Phonak Infinio Sphere Receiver Options

The Infinio Sphere offers four receiver power levels:

• S Receiver: Designed for mild to moderate hearing loss
• M Receiver: Supports mild to moderately-severe hearing loss
• P Receiver: Handles moderate to severe hearing loss
• UP Receiver: Addresses severe to profound hearing loss

Each receiver option provides different maximum output and gain capabilities, allowing us to match the device precisely to your hearing loss. The frequency range typically extends from below 100 Hz up to 8000-10000 Hz, covering the full spectrum of human hearing.

Oticon Intent Receiver Options

The Intent provides similar flexibility with its receiver range, accommodating hearing losses from mild to profound. The receivers are precisely calibrated to work with the Intent's user-intent sensors and sound processing system, ensuring optimal performance regardless of power level.

Custom Fitting Process

When fitting either hearing aid, we consider several factors beyond just your audiogram:

• Your specific frequency loss pattern
• Speech understanding ability
• Previous hearing aid experience
• Ear canal anatomy
• Comfort preferences
• Lifestyle needs

Both manufacturers offer various dome options and custom earmolds to optimize the physical fit and acoustic performance. For the Infinio Sphere, options include soft domes, SlimTip (custom soft silicone), and cShell (custom hard shell) earmolds. The Intent similarly provides multiple coupling options to ensure both comfort and optimal sound delivery.

Verification of Fit

At Applied Hearing Solutions, we use Real Ear Measurement to verify that your chosen receiver option delivers the correct amount of amplification across all frequencies. This scientific approach ensures you're receiving appropriate amplification for your specific hearing loss, regardless of which receiver option or hearing aid model you choose.

This verification process is particularly important when fitting more powerful receivers, as it helps us confirm that the hearing aids are providing sufficient gain while maintaining sound quality and preventing feedback. We can make precise adjustments to optimize performance based on these measurements, rather than relying on manufacturer presets or guesswork.

Customization and Programming

The programming flexibility of modern hearing aids directly impacts how well we can tailor them to your unique hearing needs. The Oticon Intent and Phonak Infinio Sphere each offer sophisticated programming options that allow our audiologists to fine-tune your hearing experience.

Programming Precision

The Oticon Intent provides 24 adjustment bands, allowing for detailed customization across the frequency spectrum. These bands let our audiologists make precise adjustments to specific frequency regions where you need more or less amplification. This level of control helps us address particular listening challenges, such as making certain speech sounds more clear or managing specific types of background noise.

The Phonak Infinio Sphere features 20 fine-tuning channels, combined with its dual-chip architecture. While it has slightly fewer adjustment bands than the Intent, the Infinio Sphere's processing power - capable of 7,700 million operations per second - enables sophisticated sound processing and real-time adjustments.

Automated Sound Processing

The Infinio Sphere incorporates AutoSense OS 6.0, Phonak's latest automatic operating system. This system:

• Analyzes your listening environment 700 times per second
• Automatically adjusts settings based on your surroundings
• Seamlessly blends multiple programs for optimal hearing in complex environments
• Uses machine learning trained on 22 million sound samples to recognize and process different sound situations

The Oticon Intent takes a different approach with its user-intent sensors, which:

• Monitor your listening behavior and preferences
• Track head and body movement
• Analyze conversation activity
• Adapt to your specific listening patterns over time

Fine-Tuning Process

At Applied Hearing Solutions, we combine these programming capabilities with Real Ear Measurement to ensure optimal performance. This process involves:

1. Initial programming based on your audiogram
2. Real-time measurement of actual sound delivery in your ear
3. Fine-tuning adjustments using the available bands
4. Verification that the adjustments meet prescribed targets
5. Additional customization based on your feedback and preferences

Both hearing aids allow for ongoing adjustments as your needs change or as you provide feedback about different listening situations. The sophisticated programming options mean we can continue optimizing your hearing aids long after your initial fitting, ensuring they perform their best in your daily life.

We can save multiple programs for different listening environments while still allowing the automated systems to make real-time adjustments within each program. This combination of automated processing and custom programming helps provide the best possible hearing experience across all listening situations.

Daily Use Features and Practical Benefits

Protection Against Water and Dust

Both the Oticon Intent and Phonak Infinio Sphere carry an IP68 rating - the highest standard for electronic device protection. This means you can wear them confidently in Phoenix's summer heat and humidity. Both devices withstand submersion in water up to one meter deep for 60 minutes and resist dust intrusion for 8 hours. The Infinio Sphere has undergone over 135 individual "torture tests" to verify its durability in challenging conditions.

Bluetooth and Connectivity

The Oticon Intent incorporates LE Audio and Bluetooth Low Energy technology, supporting ASHA (Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids) protocols. This newer Bluetooth standard provides better sound quality while using less battery power.

The Phonak Infinio Sphere uses Bluetooth 5.3 with universal connectivity, working seamlessly with both iOS and Android devices. Both hearing aids allow direct audio streaming from phones and other devices, though each handles the connection slightly differently.

Mobile Apps and Control Options

The Oticon Companion App provides basic volume and program controls, while the myPhonak App offers additional features like a hearing diary and health tracking. Both apps allow you to make adjustments discreetly from your smartphone, though you'll find differences in their user interfaces and capabilities.

Music Experience

For music lovers, both hearing aids process music differently than speech. The Infinio Sphere's dual-chip system helps preserve the nuances in both recorded and live music, while the Intent's processing aims to maintain the natural quality of musical sounds. During fittings, we can create specific programs optimized for music appreciation.

Battery Life and Charging

The Phonak Infinio Sphere provides 16-18 hours of use from a full charge, requiring about 3.5 hours for a complete charge. A quick 15-minute charge gives you 3 hours of use. The Oticon Intent offers comparable battery performance.

Both devices come with charging cases, though they differ in design:

• The Infinio Sphere's charger includes LED indicators and portable charging capabilities
• The Intent's charger focuses on simplicity and ease of use

Physical Design and Comfort

The Infinio Sphere measures 28.8 x 12.4 x 8.7 mm and weighs just 2.4g, while the Intent maintains a similarly compact profile. Both devices are designed to sit comfortably behind the ear, even when wearing glasses. The receiver wires can be trimmed to your exact needs, ensuring a discrete fit.

Available Accessories

The Phonak Infinio Sphere offers an extensive accessory range including:

• TV Connector for direct television streaming
• PartnerMic for improved hearing in noise
• Remote Control for easy adjustments
• Roger wireless microphones for challenging listening situations

The Oticon Intent currently offers a more focused accessory selection, though both systems provide the essential tools needed for daily use.

A Note About Real-World Performance

While these features are impressive, what matters most is how well they work in real-life situations. During your consultation at Applied Hearing Solutions, we'll demonstrate these features and use Real Ear Measurement to verify their performance. This helps ensure you're not just getting a list of features, but actual benefits that improve your daily hearing experience.

Superior Performance in Challenging Environments

Both the Oticon Intent and Phonak Infinio Sphere utilize advanced neural networks to manage background noise. The Intent's user-intent sensors work with its neural network to understand and adapt to your listening preferences, while the Infinio Sphere's dual-chip system achieves up to 10 dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio.

The Infinio Sphere processes sound using a system trained on 22 million sound samples, enabling real-time sound processing with 7,700 million operations per second. The Intent's Sirius platform similarly provides sophisticated processing power for complex listening environments. Both hearing aids excel at helping you follow conversations in noisy settings, though they approach this challenge differently.

Schedule Your Professional Consultation

Our audiologists will help you compare these options in person, demonstrating their features and explaining how each might benefit your unique situation. Call our Phoenix office at 602-877-0000 to schedule a comprehensive hearing evaluation and consultation.

Choosing between these advanced hearing aids requires careful consideration of your specific needs and lifestyle. At Applied Hearing Solutions, our approach goes beyond simply programming hearing aids - we use Real Ear Measurement to verify that your devices are meeting prescribed targets, ensuring you receive the full benefit of whichever technology you choose.