Overview
The Picasso hearing aid is a custom-made device made by hearing aid manufacturer, Starkey. These devices are custom made to fit inside your ears and are tailored to your needs in order to provide wearers excellent sound quality and listening clarity. These devices provide amplification of the important sounds you want to be hearing better. Your audiologist will work with you and your new devices to ensure they are fit to meet your precise hearing needs. The Picasso model comes in a variety of sizes. In fact, Starkey was the first manufacturer to introduce the “Invisible-in-the-Canal” style device, which fit deep enough inside your ear canal that no one will know you’re wearing them. These small, intelligent devices will get you hearing better and more comfortably.
Starkey brand hearing aids are known by audiologists around the world for being one of the leaders in custom products. Composed of a team of 800 people, all involved in engineering and building their custom devices, they provide custom products made in the United States that are designed uniquely for you.
Things to Consider Before Buying
Pros
- Improved communication, excellent sound quality, and easier listening in noise.
- These devices are custom made, meaning they tend to be easier to put on and take off and are comfortable for all-day use.
o Also, because of this, these tend to be ideal for someone who has issues with dexterity or diminished vision.
- Picasso custom devices can come in many different sizes or “styles” and are a great option for people who are looking for a discreet device.
- These devices are made by one of the most well-known manufacturers for custom made products.
- Treating your hearing loss with hearing aids results in reduced risk of falls and a healthier brain.
Cons
- Custom products may not be ideal for certain “shapes” of hearing loss.
o People with excellent low-pitch (also known as low frequency) hearing loss, may prefer how a different hearing aid style sounds (such as a receiver-in-the-canal or RIC style device). Your audiologist will help guide your hearing aid selection with this in mind.
- Research suggests that people tend to have an easier time listening to noise with a RIC style device due to the different location of the microphones.
o RIC style devices have two microphones located behind the ear with enough distance between them that one microphone is more dedicated to picking out that pesky background noise you don’t want to be hearing. A custom device also has two microphones, but they are closer to or inside of your ear canal and very close together, so they don’t provide the same type of benefit when it comes to that separation of the speech you want to hear from the background noise.
- Custom devices tend to need repairs more frequently compared to a RIC style device.
o Because custom devices tend to have most of the technology tucked away inside your canal where it’s humid and moist, it tends to be more prone to moisture damage.
Features & Benefits
Design: Custom product uniquely molded and made to fit your ear anatomy, available in several different sizes: In-The-Ear, In-The-Canal, Completely-In-The-Canal, and Invisible-In-The-Canal. Read below for more information about each design.
In-The-Ear (ITE):
- This style is inserted into the ear canal and houses the hearing aid technology in the “bowl” of your outer ear, known as the concha.
- This style is available in two sizes, full-shell (FS) and half-shell (HS). A FS style is a larger device, utilizing both the “lower bowl” of your ear, called the concha cavum, and extends to the “upper” part of the bowl, called the concha cymba. A HS device is housed in the concha cavum to about midway up the bowl.
- A larger device typically means it has a larger battery size, meaning a longer battery life. It also has more space for push buttons, used to control the volume or the settings of the device.
- This device comes with wireless capabilities, enabling volume control by use of an accessory or some mobile devices.
- Hearing loss suitability: mild to severe hearing loss.
In-The-Canal (ITC):
- This style is inserted into the ear canal and has most of the hearing aid technology at the opening of the canal.
- While these devices do fill some of the space of the concha cavum, they are smaller than the ITE HS.
- This device comes with wireless capabilities, enabling volume control by use of an accessory or some mobile devices.
- Can accommodate a larger battery size, meaning less frequent battery changes than smaller devices. It also has the option for a push button, enabling personal control of the volume or the settings of the device.
- Hearing loss suitability: mild to severe hearing loss.
Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC):
- The second smallest size available, this tiny device is tucked into the ear canal and all the hearing aid technology is housed in the canal, making this device extremely discreet.
- This device has a small battery, meaning more frequent battery changes are required.
- Dependent on your ear anatomy, a button may be able to be placed on the outside for volume control or to control the settings of the device.
- This style can be ordered with wireless technology, enabling volume control by use of an accessory or some mobile devices.
- Hearing loss suitability: mild to severe hearing loss.
Invisible-In-The-Canal (IIC):
- This is the smallest style available, which sits deepest in the canal and ensures a truly invisible device.
- Small battery size, meaning more frequent battery changes.
- The device has no available space for a button, however, this device can be ordered with wireless connectivity allowing for volume control by use of an accessory or some mobile devices.
- Hearing loss suitability: mild to moderately-severe hearing loss.
Technology Levels
The level of technology determines how advanced and automatic your hearing aid is, impacting overall sound quality and how the device performs in noise. Most Starkey Picasso devices come in five different levels of technology, with the exception of the IIC style device, which comes in only the top three.
The top level of technology is the Picasso 2400, followed by the Picasso 2000, the Picasso 1600, Picasso 1200, and Picasso 1000.
Technology levels that come with wireless functionality, that is, the ability to pair to hearing aid accessories or connect to certain mobile phones, will be denoted with an “i”. For example, the Picasso i2400.
Performance
Batteries
This line of hearing aid utilizes a disposable battery. The smaller styles, such as the CIC or IIC use small, size 10 batteries, whereas the larger ITC or ITE styles use a larger size 312 battery.
The typical lifespan of a 312 battery is 5-7 days, whereas the lifespan of a size 10 battery is 3-4 days.
Sound Quality: The following features are dependent on the level of technology you get
Directionality
Allows your hearing aids to focus on sounds coming from specific locations. This feature also allows wearers to distinguish speech sounds in noise.
Adaptive Noise Reduction and Automatic Sound Adjustment:
Analysis of your environment is made and adjustments are automatically applied to your device to reduce from 7-20 dB of unwanted noise, making it easier to hear the speech you want to be hearing.
Music Optimization
Hearing aids can be switched into different “modes” called memories, one of which is dedicated to optimizing how music sounds.
Telecoil
This feature is in select hearing aid styles and allows the hearing aid to connect to electromagnetic energy sources for sound. In other words, it allows wearers to get sound directly from certain landline telephone systems or certain environments with loop systems. For example, this system is sometimes installed in large auditoriums or events where someone is speaking into a microphone, like at a church. The hearing aid wearer can switch the Telecoil on, which then will receive the sound from the microphone right to their hearing aids.
Streaming
Devices with wireless technology have the capability to stream audio from your phone to your hearing aids with the use of an accessory. The accessory, the SurfLink Mini Mobile, acts as an intermediary device: it is paired to your phone and to your hearing aids, and will wireless send the sound from your phone to your hearing aids. This enables wearers to listen to audio from their phones, whether that be a phone call, music, or audiobooks, right in their hearing aids.
Accessories
Several accessories are available for this line of hearing aids: SurfLink Remote, SurfLink Media 2, SurfLink Mini Mobile, and the SurfLink Remote Microphone 2.
SurfLink Remote: A special remote control for your device, allowing you to adjust the volume, memory modes, and streaming modes. Some patients prefer the ease and convenience of pushing a larger button to adjust their hearing aids, rather than use the small button on the hearing aid device itself.
SurfLink Media 2: This accessory can be plugged into a TV, MP3 player, or radio and allows you to stream stereo sound directly to the hearing aids.
SurfLink Mini Mobile/SurfLink Mobile 2: This is an intermediary device, enabling any audio from a cell phone with Bluetooth capabilities to be sent to the hearing aids. This is especially beneficial for patients who have difficulty hearing cell phone calls.
SurfLink Remote Microphone 2: This is a small, discreet microphone that will pick up sound and send it directly to hearing aid devices. This is especially useful in those noisy situations, where you are having trouble hearing someone speak over background noise.
Unique Perks and Features
- Bluetooth connectivity with the use of Starkey’s SurfLink Mobile accessory.
- Dedicated app allowing for volume adjustment, memory adjustment, or fine-tuning changes to the settings.
- Some devices offer special Tinnitus Relief programs.
Cost
The cost of a Starkey Picasso device depends on what level of technology is selected. In other words, how advanced is the computer chip inside the device. This can vary from $800-2,800 per device, and may or may not include services with the hearing aids.
Hearing Aid Alternatives
Starkey also manufactures behind-the-ear (BTE) and receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) style devices.
Some people may be candidates for an Over-The-Counter device, though these devices are most suitable for mild hearing losses and will not provide the same features and benefits, particularly when it comes to how the device performs in background noise.
How much does a Starkey Picasso hearing aid cost?
The cost of a Starkey Picasso device depends on what level of technology is selected. In other words, how advanced is the computer chip inside the device. This can vary from $800-2,800 per device, and may or may not include services with the hearing aids.
What is the most powerful Starkey hearing aid?
The most powerful Starkey Picasso hearing aid would be the ITE or ITC style. However, Starkey’s most powerful hearing aid overall would be their Power Plus Behind-The-Ear (BTE) device. Only the most severe hearing losses would require a Power Plus device; your audiologist will help determine which device is most appropriate for your hearing loss.
Does Starkey Picasso have Bluetooth?
Devices ordered with wireless technology allow for Bluetooth streaming using the SurfLink Mobile 2 or SurfLink Mini Mobile accessory.
Is Starkey a good brand?
Starkey is a trusted brand world-wide, offering devices that audiologists consider to be reliable, high quality, and durable.
How long does a Starkey hearing aid last?
The average lifespan of a device is approximately 5 years, though this is assuming the device owner takes proper care of their devices. Routine cleanings at your audiologist’s office are recommended for optimal hearing aid performance and lifespan.
The Starkey Picasso hearing aid is an excellent choice for a high quality, reliable, custom-fit device. Providing clear sound and the option for streaming audio with an accessory .
