As we end to another year let’s take a quick look at what hearing aid manufacturers developed this year.
The smallest ever in-ear hearing aids: 3 companies have excelled themselves here by offering micro sized CIC hearing aids which are sometimes now completely invisible. This has been made possible with the use of newer micro components, thinner but tougher shell casings, lazer scanning of impressions, precise 3d modelling and 3d printing. The 3 current options for micro-CIC’s are: Phonak Nano, Starkey Soundlens, and Siemens iMini. These in-ear hearing aids can sometimes be completely invisible as per the image below (this gentleman IS wearing a Phonak Nano):
Improved water resistance on BTE digital hearing aids: 2 new options here offering waterproof up to 1m depth using specially housed components; the Siemens Aquaris and the Phonak H20. A great option for people who spend a lot of time sailing, or
golfing, or even for those who play sport and worry about excessive sweat damaging their hearing aids performance. These new waterproof hearing aids are standard behind-ear options whereby the speaker is housed in the part behind the ear (as opposed to receiver-in-canal options) and this allows protection of the speaker the microphones and also the battery.
Wireless technology / communication: This is probably the biggest step forward and investment from all the leading 8 suppliers. As it becomes harder for them to reduce the size of hearing aids and add to inner technology, they are adding accessories used to enhance communication between devices such as TV’s and televisions. Key new features include:
-
Starkey Surflink Media streamer: This adaptor plugs into your television or hi-fi and streams wirelessly to your hearing aids. No need for a neckloop or pocket device. So simple to use for those who struggle with their television.
-
Widex Phone Dex: Widex have developed their own cordless home telephone which connects directly and automatically to your hearing aids. No fiddly connection, adaptors or buttons to worry about. Very effective and easy to use.
-
GN Resound Mini-microphone: Resound and Oticon have developed these devices which allow a speaker to wear a microphone which transmits their voice direct to the hearing aid wearers aids. A good example of a use would be when driving and the wearer cannot use visual lip reading cues. The passenger can clip the mini-microphone to their jumper / shirt and talk freely to the hearing aid wearer, who maybe driving on a noisy road yet still follow the conversation.
And of course… Speech in Noise: The holy grail of hearing aids performance. All manufacturers work extremely hard to improve their technology and digital algorithms to improve speech recognition thresholds in noisy environments. The problem here is to remember that if you suffer from inner-ear nerve damage then your ear is still damaged despite wearing a hearing aid, and the damage is typically worst where the most important parts of speech occur (a high frequency loss = loss of speech clarity). Key developments include Starkey’s Voice IQ and Phonak AutoZoom / UltraZoom which both allow for binaural spatial mapping with extremely powerful and fast chipsets in left and right hearing aids talking to each other and using 4 microphones to determine where those important speech cues are and give extra focus to them whilst trying to suppress the unwanted noise.
Things to look forward to in the new year:
Bernafon are bringing out a new all singing all dancing hearing aid – apparently! With improved feedback management amongst the technology which will hopefully extend to the Oticon portfolio (as they are sister companies).
Widex will be finally launching their in-the-ear wireless compatible hearing aids to complete their portfolio alongside the Clear440 Passion and Fusion. Widex will also be launching a new slimline power receiver-in-canal hearing aid.
Starkey will be launching their in-the-ear wireless compatible hearing aids to complete their Wi-Series portfolio.
We are sure many other developments will occur but also remember microchips getter faster and more powerful every year meaning better performance. Please do follow the blog updates as this will help you understand what is available when you come to renew / upgrade.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all
