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

Unitron are giving away free remote controls and Bluetooth accessories for all orders up to 25th December – the package normally retails at £365 through Crystal Hearing.

Accessories included are:

A remote control to easily access your programme and volume settings.

The uDirect – to stream the telephone into your hearing aids

The uTV – to stream your television signal into your hearing aids.

Also included is an extra years warranty – so 3 years instead of 2.

If you are interested in upgrading this could be a good time to do it!

This offer applies to the latest portfolio of hearing aids by Unitron in all styles. 

Click here for a product chart showing all features.

And click here for an explanation of the features..

Read more on the Unitron hearing aid portfolio here on our website.

I have now set up a 2nd Blog  (online newsletter) which will be used purely to write about ALL new hearing aid related products as they are launched. The new BLOG will not be circulated to you as it more for increasing our web content.

This existing newsletter that you receive will now be used to summarise what is being offered and how these developments could benefit your hearing loss requirements, plus I will hopefully continue adding the lessons, tips and advice.

If you wish to be kept in the loop and receive the 2nd BLOG too, then please email a reply to this article and I will add you to the circulation list.

Please feel free to follow the new BLOG here:

http://hearing-aids.crystalhearinguk.co.uk/

This new item is a dual purpose remote control / bluetooth streamer which can be used with wireless compatible hearing aids.

The Phonak ComPilot enables the user to stream a telephone / mobile phone wirelessly into the hearing aids enhancing listening on the phone by sending the signal to both ears and by overcoming background noise and phone placement problems. The ComPilot can also be used for streaming a TV signal direct to the hearing aids when used with the Phonak TV-Link S. More reading on wireless compatible hearing aids here.

As mentioned the accessory is dual purpose meaning you can use it to change the volume and programme settings within the hearing aids. So no need to buy an additional remote control. The neckloop now comes off fully so if not using the wireless function you can keep it in your pocket more easily.

A key improvement is the battery life which is extended to 8 hours of continuous streaming.

The retail price will be about £200-215.

The new Oticon Intiga is Oticon’s very stylish new mini-RIC (receiver in canal) hearing aids which adds to their extensive hearing aid portfolio.

The new Intiga uses the same chipset (RISE) as Oticon’s other premium hearing aids and does not introduce any new technology. This hearing aid has been designed to encourage the first time user as it is so discreet and stylish. The Intiga is available in an array of colours to suit everyone’s requirements, and is available at 3 technology levels to suit differing budgets and lifestyle requirements.

Oticon Intiga

For more information please visit the Crystal Hearing website or

Click here for the latest product portfolio chart and features listing.

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf charity organisation has changed it’s name to…

‘ACTION ON HEARING LOSS’

With a more focused and driven approach to give assistance to those who  have a problem with their hearing or who suffer from tinnitus.

Please feel free to visit their new website at – http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/

‘Noise’ simply put is sounds that we do not wish to hear. This can be anything from the hum of a refrigerator, traffic (cars and planes), wind, doors slamming, road works, and worst of all … the background babble of many people speaking (know as cocktail party noise).

Background noise can typically be split onto two forms - that of steady state repetitive low frequencies such as air conditioning and traffic, or noise which is more random and intermittent such as plates clattering, cutlery being sifted through or heels on hard floors, and these are typically higher in frequency.

Digital technology allows us to manipulate incoming sounds at extremely fast rates before transmitting it to the wearers ears. The technology used includes:

• Low frequency roll off
• Noise reduction / NR- reduction of repetitive low frequency noise
• Sound Smoothing – focusing on suppression of sharp loud sounds to a comfortable level
• Directional microphones – reduction of sounds from behind (or other direction)

The key to all these forms of noise reduction is to reduce unwanted sounds without impinging upon the clarity of speech, and more specifically the actual person we want to hear speaking.

1. Low frequency roll off

Being that a lot of background noise is low in frequency, some programmes may reduce the amplification of the lower frequencies and give a slight boost to higher frequencies in order to enhance the ‘clarity’ of words which are higher in tone.

Does it work? – Low frequency roll off does give some assistance to making it easier to focus on the clarity of speech for certain people, but it is not enough on it’s own.

2. Noise Reduction / NR

NR focuses on trying to reduce steady state / repetitive waveform noise. NR is simple to achieve when speech is not present as we can just reduce the interfering sound. But when there is speech present we have to try and reduce the parts of noise in between the speech signal without hindering that speech signal. In order to do this the microchips have to work VERY fast between all sibilants of speech and act upon what it considers to be noise. Of course a hearing aid doesn’t actually know what is noise and what isn’t – the programming is set to recognise different waveforms, but as these overlap it is very difficult to remove all noise, and more so to do it without having some effect on the speech that is present. Some hearing aids incorporate speech enhancement technology in the higher end models to really try and bring out the best of NR.

Does it work? – It is impossible to incorporate NR without impinging on the gain for the speech, thus noise reduction works well for some and not so well for others. Noise reduction can act more as a comfort control which makes listening to speech in noise easier.

3. Sound smoothing

Sound smoothing is a feature that most leading suppliers now use, but this feature may be called a different name such as ‘sound relax’ or ‘anti-shock’.

Sound-smoothing technology is a very quick acting compression feature that dampens sharp impulsive noises. We have engaged this feature many times for clients who have sensitivity to loud sounds such as plates clattering and they have commented postiviely on he difference.

Does it work? – Yes. Very effectively for most people who would benefit from it.

4. Directional Microphones

Most modern hearing aids incorporate dual microphone technology, with the exception of the smallest in-the-ear hearing aids called CIC’c. Dual microphones simply means each hearing aid has two microphones – these microphones work in unison with each other and using the latest computer algorithms have the ability to focus on sounds in different directions (generally in front as we face the person we speak to). Directional microphones will be dealt with in more detail in a later lesson.

Does it work? – Yes. Dual microphones work, but they naturally work better in test environments which are carried out on dummy models in anechoic chambers where sounds are absorbed. BUT…  In reality  sounds bounce off walls and this makes dual microphones less effective in closed environments.

Below is a video link that shows dual microphones do work, but note in an open field environment where sounds can’t bounce around.

Video Link

Most hearing aids are now fully automatic – meaning automatic volume control to suit the wearers hearing loss and upper loudness levels, and they incorporate up to 4 programmes switching automatically between each other depending on whether speech or noise is present. (3 typical automatic programmes being quiet, speech in noise and noise only).

For noise reduction to work we need to incorporate all the above featuresinto these automatic programmes so that they work together. We can also set up additional programmes and turn these features up a notch which does help many clients.

Wearers of hearing aids must remember one crucial point – if you have a hearing loss result and from nerve damage to the inner ear, then your hearing organ is damaged – therefore we are sending an improved signal to damaged hearing and you may never get the clarity you desire because of this.

Microchips currently work at up to 400 million calculations per second, and are getting faster and more powerful every year which means hearing aid technology is always getting better, but we are still sending this improved technology to damaged hearing and this will only ever be overcome when we can replace or repair the nerve damage.

We will also do an article on FM hearing aid solutions soon which can be a boon to peoples lives.