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40 Years of hearing aid Sound Processing

40 Years of hearing aid Sound Processing

 

40 Years of hearing aid Sound Processing

Tech Topic | June 2021 Hearing Review

By Claus Nielsen, MA, and Tobias Bollerup Henriksen

It’s easy to take for granted the exceptional sound quality offered in today’s hearing aids. However, the road to this level of sound quality was not always a smooth one. The authors cite quotes from hearing aid users through the decades and technologies to illustrate this point.

The life of a hearing aid user has changed quite a lot during the last 30 to 40 years. Generally, in many parts of the developed world, people live longer and healthier lives than they did two or three generations ago. Social norms and society have also changed—people are often expected to be accessible 24/7. Our increased understanding of hearing loss, listening problems, and cognitive processes has also increased and evolved in tandem with technological advances.1 The hearing aids available today (2021) do not compare to the hearing aids of the 1970s.

What has happened during the last 50 years and how have these changes been perceived by hearing aid users?

In May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)2 was introduced in Denmark and the rest of the EU. This regulation is quite extensive and has presented companies with several challenges. Part of the GDPR deals with the “right to be forgotten.” This means we have to delete all personal information once the test subject has deceased or decided to withdraw from our test subject panel. At Eriksholm we started working with hearing-impaired test subjects in 1977. Part of our normal business protocol was (and remains) to document our work by keeping physical and electronic records on all test subjects. As such, this GDPR requirement would potentially mean that we could lose a gold mine of subjective anecdotes and quotes from test subjects going back for more than 40 years. It was decided to preserve the data by transcribing and anonymising it before the papers went into the shredder. Reading through the resultant transcript was exciting, and we decided to analyse the data and share the users’ experiences. The right to be forgotten became the inspiration to remembered.

This is the first of five papers presenting this material. We have split the papers into different themes. This article focuses on how  sound processing in hearing aids has been perceived by the users. We also interviewed two hearing care professionals (HCPs) and a number of  active test subjects to get their perspectives on hearing aids during the last decade.

The Sound of the Hearing Aid Described by the Users

The primary function of the hearing aid is to amplify sound. More specifically, the primary function is to amplify speech sounds in different environments to enable communication. Over the years, different amplification and sound processing algorithms have been used.

A central part of the clinical work at Eriksholm with test subjects has been focused on fulfilling the needs of the individual user and their perception of sound. When we examined our data and how the users described the sound of the hearing aids across more than 40 years, we wondered whether it would be possible to arrange quotes from the users on a timeline? Could these standalone quotes demonstrate the advances in hearing aid development?

The following historical comments are illustrative of the technological gains throughout the decades:

1980s: Analog Linear Era & Early ASP Era

“When someone is using a typewriter next to me, it sounds like firing a machine gun, etc, so it is quite strenuous to be using a hearing aid in that situation.” —circa 1980, female

1990s: Digitally Programmable Era

“I felt it was very annoying to have to adjust the devices all the time due to background noise, using the telephone, etc.” —1993, male, 36 years.

“When several people are talking to each other during the coffee break at work, I cannot hear what the person next to me is saying, especially if it is a man, because the voice drowns in the surrounding speech noise. A loud female voice at the table next to me often sounds significantly louder than the man sitting next to me.” —1996, male, 35 years

“Many joys are taken away from me, for example, at dinner parties. If I have to hear the conversation of those persons closest to me, I am simultaneously almost half stunned by the noise from other people’s knives and forks against the plates.” —1996, female, 59 years

2000s: Early (DSP) Digital Signal Processing Era

“It is of course pleasant that the vacuum cleaner noise is reduced, but it seems strange when I drive my car that the engine noise is reduced. I do not have the same sense of speed as before. If I have my wife in the car with me and she speaks to me after a period of silence whilst driving, she must always repeat the first thing she said.” —2002, male

“Noise seems much less annoying now—eg, I no longer foam around my mouth due to my  screaming daughter when [she yells, saying she] needs the shower.” —2002, female, 36 years

“Example: The gas boiler makes noises in the background. When a cupboard door is slammed, the gas boiler noise disappears for a short period of time before it reappears.” —2003, male, 76 years.

“I have a reoccurring experience in [highway] driving. With the hearing aid in Program 1, I get a strong reaction when the turn signal is activated and the acoustic signal from the relay is heard, then the noise level in the car rises remarkably. Other situations with unwanted noise levels could be when I, or others, say something. The noise is so loud that speech intelligibility does not improve. It takes some time before the noise level normalises and speech is heard.” — 2003, male, 74 years

“It’s wonderful that the devices automatically turn up and down in noisy environments, and even though there is background  noise, I can mostly concentrate on talking to someone.” —2004, female, 69 years.

“The Epoq [hearing aid] also has too much compression, it turns down the volume too much in the event of sudden sounds. During simultaneous conversation, some of the understanding is lost. Still, Epoq is better than no hearing aid.” — 2007, male

2010s: Later-generation DSP & Wireless Era

“As mentioned, I have not experienced any automatic adjustments to mute or amplify the sound in the device.” — 2010, male, 77 years

“It’s incredible how quickly I forget how bad I hear without my hearing aids. If I do not think the hearing aids help, I simply take them out and get shocked when I realise how little I hear without them.” — 2014, female, 68 years

2020s: Wireless & Artificial Intelligence Era

“So, if you can talk about such a thing as educating or ‘bringing up’ a hearing aid, then the new hearing aid here is super intelligent and it is really ‘well brought up.’ With its behaviour it constantly ensures the sound is comfortable. And it goes so far that when we get to the extremes, that is, for example a chainsaw, if you are riding your bicycle, and then all of a sudden, there is someone standing with a chainsaw inside the garden, then it is not like you think ‘What is happening here?’ No, then you just think that there is someone standing with a chainsaw inside the garden.” —2021, male, 66 years

Steady Dramatic Progress in Sound Processing

These quotes  demonstrate that the perception of the sound of the hearing aid has changed dramatically during the years.

The first quotes relate to the level of the sound either being too low or too high. These were the days of analog linear hearing aids with volume controls. Quotes from around 2002 change in character. The descriptions become more detailed and the users notice strange sound processing. One of the first changes to the sound processing was the introduction of compression (eg, wide dynamic range compression was introduced as early as 1991). The next advance in signal processing was the distinction between speech or no speech in the incoming signal. By 2001, the amplification became dependent on whether speech was present or not introduced. The problem was that the algorithms were not stable or precise enough, and sometimes the resulting amplification was perceived as strange or wrong by the users.

In 2004, a test subject took part in a research project. As part of the project the man was interviewed about his experiences with the hearing aid. “Did you notice any changes to the sound using the hearing aid?” The man answered: “What do you mean? I’m not supposed to hear my hearing aid, am I? I guess the idea is that I should hear my surroundings.”

With this, we had reached a tipping point! The most annoying artefacts almost completely disappeared. The methods used in the signal processing slowly became more robust resulting in less noticeable sound processing.

The signal processing became increasingly advanced and, at Oticon, research within the field of cognition led to the concept of BrainHearing. BrainHearing can be described in many ways, but is essentially about considering  the complete auditory pathway, and providing the brain with all the acoustic information required such that the brain can make maximal use of (ie, decode) the auditory information. The idea of limiting the sound by prioritising sound coming from the front while attenuating sounds from other directions was abandoned with the introduction of Oticon Opn in 2016.

In the last quote the test subject is talking about “bringing up” or “educating” the hearing aid. This is in fact a very interesting quote. This man is fitted with Oticon More. In this hearing aid, the sound from the hearing aid’s microphones is continuously analysed to estimate how complex the sound image is and then compared with the user’s listening needs. The listening need is determined by, for example, the user’s hearing loss and age, as well as individual preference. The aim of the analysis is to present the user with as clear a sound as possible (for details, see white paper by Santurette and Behrens, 20203). Clarity is achieved by making use of artificial intelligence. In the development of the hearing aid, a neural network has been trained with millions of different sounds and sound scenes.

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‘Forbes’ Journalist Tries Widex Moment Hearing Aids

‘Forbes’ Journalist Tries Widex Moment Hearing Aids

‘Forbes’ Journalist Tries Widex Moment Hearing Aids

Mark Sparrow, a technology journalist, recently tested Widex Moment hearing aids and wrote about his experience in an article published March 7 on the Forbes website.

Related article: Sound Quality in Real Life–Not Just for Experts

Sparrow, who specialises in consumer technology, is interested in the convergence between hearing aids and earphones, and how technologies, like AI and machine learning, are now being incorporated into hearing devices to allow for an advanced level of hearing improvement.

In an amusing anecdote, he recalls a “maiden aunt” with hearing loss from his childhood whose hearing device he describes as a large and bulky implement strapped to a belt that “howled and squeaked” and was frequently turned off to conserve its batteries.

Related article: AI-Driven Insights from AI-Driven Data

In his experience with the Widex Moment, he calls the fit of the hearing aids “superb” and says that the sound quality had an “uncanny clarity.” He also points out the quick and easy nature of being able to connect with an audiologist remotely for a consultation via the hearing aids.

To read the story in its entirety, please click here.

Source: Forbes

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Phonak Launches Naida Paradise Hearing Aid

Bath hearing centre, Bristol hearing centre, Frome hearing centre,,

Phonak Launches Naida Paradise Hearing Aid

 

Phonak Launches Naida Paradise Hearing Aid

Phonak, a global provider of hearing solutions, announced Naída Paradise, the power hearing aid that “gives people with severe-to- profound hearing loss the power, sound quality, and wireless connectivity they need to connect with everything around them.” Now in its seventh generation, Naída Paradise is said to be “14% smaller, 27% lighter1, and further improves upon the hearing performance that wearers expect from Phonak.” This includes “powerful sound, industry-leading connectivity, and soon a new custom program memory feature with the new myPhonak 5.0 app.”

Phonak Naida Paradise and Roger On

Naída Paradise features a powerful double receiver that delivers up to 141 dB of peak gain in the UP model and up to 130 dB in the rechargeable model, according to Phonak. It’s powered by the new PRISM sound processing chip and features AutoSense OS 4.0 for “a host of premium features that work together seamlessly.” For example, the hearing aids can “automatically enhance soft speech in quiet places or reduce noise in loud environments.” A built-in accelerometer detects movement and automatically steers the microphones to improve listening on-the-go.2

Phonak Naida Paradise

Naída Paradise helps eliminate connectivity barriers that previously existed for consumers who needed more power. With Phonak universal connectivity, wearers can wirelessly stream audio directly into both hearing aids from virtually any smartphone, TV, laptop, tablet, eBook, and more. Phonak Paradise technology helps allow two active Bluetooth connections at the same time, so wearers can stay connected to their smartphone and their video chat without having to manually switch back and forth.

In addition to universal Bluetooth connectivity, Naída Paradise hearing aids are also equipped with RogerDirect. This means wearers can also receive the Roger remote microphone signal with no additional accessory required. Launched in 2013, Roger™ technology is “proven to boost hearing performance in loud noise and over distance.” In fact, hearing aid wearers who receive the Roger signal have better speech understanding in noise and over distance than people with normal hearing.3 Some Roger microphones and receivers have also been shown to help users understand up to 61% more speech in a group conversation in 75dBA of noise than using hearing aids alone.4

Universal Bluetooth connectivity coupled with on-board microphones means Naída Paradise wearers can use their hearing aids as wireless headsets for hands-free calls. A new Tap Control2 feature allows users to double tap on their ear to accept or end a call, or pause or resume streaming. A tap on the other ear gives access to smartphone voice-assistants like Siri or Google Assistant.

“Naída has a long-lasting history of delivering power without sacrificing sound quality, so we knew that we needed to deliver an outstanding product to our wearers who depend so heavily on their devices,” said Jon Billings, Vice-President Phonak Marketing. “With Naída Paradise, we’re making history again by giving those with severe forms of hearing loss access to next-level, powerful sound with industry-leading connectivity.”

In late spring, the myPhonak app’s 5.0 update will include the myPhonak Memory feature. It helps allow consumers to save a custom program from the app to the hearing aids, access the last-used custom program using the hearing aid’s multi-function button, or access other custom programs via the app.

Phonak is also preparing for the newest member of the Roger family with the debut of Roger On. The new Roger On remote microphone will feature MultiBeam 2.0 technology and an “improved pointing mode that allows the user to zoom into a speaker by simply pointing.” Roger On will be compatible with most hearing aids and cochlear implants and will be able to stream a variety of audio content.

The new Phonak Naída Paradise is available for pre-order by licensed hearing care professionals in the US and other select markets and will begin shipping in late February. The myPhonak 5.0 app featuring myPhonak Memory feature as well as the new Roger On microphone will be introduced in the US and other select markets in late spring.

Source/Reference

1 Naída P UP with RogerDirect compared to Naída B UP + external Roger receiver.

2 In the Phonak power BTE portfolio, only Naída P-PR comes with motion sensor technology, including Tap Control.

3 Thibodeau L. Comparison of speech recognition with adaptive digital and fm remote microphone hearing assistance technology by listeners who use hearing aids. American Journal of Audiology. 2014;23(2):201-210.

4 Thibodeau LM. Benefits in speech recognition in noise with remote wireless microphones in group settings. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2020;31(6):404–411.

Bluetooth® word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such mark by Sonova AG is under license.

Siri® is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Google Assistant™ is a trademark of Google LLC.

Source: Phonak

Images: Phonak

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Ear Drum Scaffolding

Ear Drum Scaffolding

 

Ear Science Institute Australia Receives $993K Grant for ClearDrum Ear Implant

  

Ear Science Institute Australia Receives $993K Grant for ClearDrum Ear Implant

MTPConnect and the Minister for Health, The Hon Greg Hunt MP, announced $18.8 million in funding for 21 early stage medical technology projects across Australia, according to a press release on the Ear Science Institute Australia’s (ESIA) website. One of those recipients is ESIA, who received a $993,500 grant to advance the commercialisation of ClearDrum, a device that incorporates silk in an ear implant.

ClearDrum has been developed in Western Australia and has been driven by ESIA Founding Director Professor Marcus Atlas. It is a “world-first, acoustically optimised” silk fibroin implant for the treatment of chronic middle ear disease (CMED). It is the “first implant which mimics a human eardrum,” according to ESIA’s announcement. ESIA say that “while it looks like a contact lens, it’s instead a device on which the patient’s cells can grow.”

“What our team found is that the tympanic membrane cells, called keratinocytes, actively proliferate and migrate across this scaffold, promoting the healing process,” said Atlas. “This is a major step for ESIA as we move to translate our research science to the world.”

The device is developed in two different formulations, which will allow ClearDrum to dissolve over time, addressing small perforations or acting as a long lasting implant for larger perforations, with no need for further operations. Additionally, the transparent material “enables ongoing monitoring of healing and resolution of the middle ear,” ESIA says.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 65-330 million individuals have CMED, and 60% of them have a significant hearing impairment. ClearDrum will help provide “a novel and effective treatment for sufferers of CMED, which is a major cause of global disability in ear surgery practice and is particularly prevalent in Australian indigenous populations.”

ESIA Chief Executive Officer Sandra Bellekom adds, “Our plan is for ClearDrum to be available to patients in a clinical trial next year. Without funding such as this from MTPConnect, that opportunity for the end user to benefit from our breakthrough research would be a lot further away.”

Atlas worked with lead scientist Dr Filippo Valente on the successful grant. Valente said, “Current treatments leave a significant percentage of individuals with ongoing problems, often requiring multiple surgeries and incurring high costs for the healthcare system. The ClearDrum device aims to provide an off-the-shelf, near-permanent implant, to resolve these difficulties in a single, straightforward surgical procedure.”

The current stage of development of the project includes a working prototype, a strong international IP position, a contracted manufacturer organisation, and collaborations with a series of Australian companies and organisations to address various phases of pre-clinical and clinical development. This new BMTH funding will assist with the commercialisation phase.

MTPConnect Managing Director and CEO, Dr Dan Grant, says round three of the BioMedTech Horizons program focused predominantly on research funding for digital health innovations and medical devices.

“Building home-grown translational and commercialisation capacity means boosting our knowledge economy and creating new products, jobs, and potential exports. This is particularly important now considering the hit that our sector has taken dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown,” said Grant.

Source: ESIA

Image: ESIA

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Oticon More Keynsham Hearing

Oticon More Keynsham Hearing

   

Oticon More Now Available Through VA, DOD

 

“Oticon More continues Oticon’s commitment to providing innovative hearing solutions that improve not only hearing but overall quality of life for our nation’s veterans,” said Rob Zimmer, director of government services for Oticon, Inc. “New independent research has shown that the brain needs access to all sounds — not just speech — in order to work in a natural way.  The breakthrough technology in Oticon More makes the full sound scene 60 % clearer.** This ability to represent all relevant sounds in the brain is crucial for a patient’s ability to navigate in environments that are dynamic and complex.”

Radically New Approach to Sound Processing

The Polaris platform supports Oticon More’s technologies. The MoreSound Intelligence (MSI) and MoreSound Amplifier (MSA) innovations in Oticon More are designed to give the brain “better access to more relevant and precise information, breaking with traditional approaches to noise reduction and  compression in hearing aids.”

MSI technology reportedly optimises the way the hearing device makes sounds more distinct, helping it to work “seamlessly across varying listening environments.” All types of sounds are recognised, including their details, and how they should ideally sound to optimally support the brain. Scanning the soundscape 500 times per second, MSI captures the details in the sound scene and processes them with “better contrast, balance, and clarity than ever before.” According to the company, MSI is proven to make the full sound scene 60% clearer based on EEG testing.** The rapid high-resolution amplification of MSA works in both 24 and 4 frequency channels to naturally follow changes in the sound scene, helping to balance and amplify sound objects.

Direct Streaming from iPhone and Android Devices 

Oticon More features Bluetooth Low Energy technology and offers a range of connectivity options. Oticon More is a Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aid and compatible with the new Android protocol for Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA), making it possible to stream directly from Apple and selected Android mobile devices.***  Oticon More can be combined with Oticon ConnectClip to stream from any other Bluetooth device.

The Oticon ON app lets veterans personalise their listening experience via the new streaming equaliser that allows them to fine-tune the sound when streaming. The ON app also lets users adjust the volume, change the program, check the battery level, and control other Oticon devices. It even comes with a “Find my hearing aids” feature.

More Power, Freedom, Flexibility

The rechargeable Oticon More miniRITE R uses reliable lithium-ion batteries for a full day of battery life****, including streaming, after just three hours of charging. A quick charge takes just 30 minutes and provides an additional six hours of power.

Oticon More is available in eight colours and supports hearing loss from mild to severe.  For more information about Oticon More and the entire portfolio of Oticon hearing solutions with BrainHearing technology available through the Veterans Affairs Administration, visit: https://www.oticon.com/solutions/for-veterans.

*Compared to Oticon Opn S™, Santurette, et al. 2020. Oticon More clinical evidence. Oticon Whitepaper.

**EEG testing with MoreSound Intelligence in on vs off setting, from Santurette, et al.

*** Android devices need to support ASHA to allow direct connectivity to Oticon More.  Please visit Oticon.com/support/compatibility for more information.

****Lithium-ion performance varies depending on hearing loss, lifestyle, and streaming behavior.

iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries. Android, Google Play, and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

Source: Oticon

Images: Oticon

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‘BMJ’ Publishes ‘First Reported UK Case’ of Sudden Hearing Loss Linked to COVID-19

‘BMJ’ Publishes ‘First Reported UK Case’ of Sudden Hearing Loss Linked to COVID-19

 

‘BMJ’ Publishes ‘First Reported UK Case’ of Sudden Hearing Loss Linked to COVID-19

Although uncommon, sudden permanent hearing loss seems to be linked to COVID-19 infection in some people, warn doctors, reporting the first UK case in the journal BMJ Case Reports. An article summariSing the results appears on the EurekAlert website.

Awareness of this possible side effect is important, because a prompt course of steroid treatment can reverse this disabling condition, they emphasise.

Related article: COVID-19 May Damage Hearing Cell Function, Study Shows

Sudden hearing loss is frequently seen by ear, nose, and throat specialists, with around 5-160 cases per 100,000 people reported every year. It’s not clear what the causes are, but the condition can follow a viral infection, such as flu, herpes, or cytomegalovirus.

Despite plenty of published research on sudden onset hearing loss, only a handful of other cases associated with COVID-19 have been reported, and none in the UK—until now.

The doctors describe a case of a 45-year-old man with asthma who was referred to the ear, nose, and throat department at their hospital after suddenly experiencing hearing loss in one ear while being treated for COVID-19 infection as an inpatient.

He had been admitted to hospital with COVID-19 symptoms which had been going on for 10 days. He was transferred to intensive care as he was struggling to breathe.

He was put on a ventilator for 30 days and developed other complications as a result. He was treated with remdesivir, intravenous steroids, and a blood transfusion after which he started to get better.

But a week after the breathing tube was removed and he left intensive care, he noticed ringing (tinnitus) in his left ear followed by sudden hearing loss in that ear.

He had not lost his hearing or had ear problems before. And apart from asthma, he was otherwise fit and well.

Examination of his ear canals revealed that he had no blockages or inflammation. But a hearing test showed that he had substantially lost his hearing in the left ear. He was treated with steroid tablets and injections after which his hearing partially recovered.

He tested negative for other potential causes, including rheumatoid arthritis, flu, and HIV, prompting his doctors to conclude that his hearing loss was associated with COVID-19 infection.

“Despite the considerable literature on COVID-19 and the various symptoms associated with the virus, there is a lack of discussion on the relationship between COVID-19 and hearing,” say the report authors. “Hearing loss and tinnitus are symptoms that have been seen in patients with both COVID-19 and influenza virus, but have not been highlighted.”

The first case of hearing loss mentioning COVID-19 alone was reported in April this year.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is thought to lock on to a particular type of cell lining the lungs. And the virus has also recently been found in similar cells lining the middle ear, explain the report authors. SARS-CoV-2 also generates an inflammatory response and an increase in the chemicals that have been linked to hearing loss.

“This is the first reported case of sensorineural hearing loss following COVID-19 infection in the UK,” write the report authors. “Given the widespread presence of the virus in the population and the significant morbidity of hearing loss, it is important to investigate this further.”

They add: “This is especially true given the need to promptly identify and treat the hearing loss and the current difficulty in accessing medical services.”

Doctors should ask patients in intensive care about hearing loss and refer them for urgent treatment, they advise.

Original Paper: Koumpa FS, Forde CT, Manjaly JG. Sudden irreversible hearing loss post COVID-19. BMJ Case Reports. 2020;13(11):e238419.

Source: EurekAlert, BMJ Case Reports

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Unitron has announced the introduction of Blu

Unitron has announced the introduction of Blu

 

Unitron announced the introduction of Blu, an innovative new platform designed to keep up with the complexity of everyday life.

The new Blu platform helps “provide next-generation sound performance” according to the company. Powered by the new Sonova PRISMTM (Processing Real-Time Intelligent Sound Management) chip and Unitron’s new signal processing system, Integra OS,  Blu delivers an “adaptable, personalized, and freeing hearing experience like never before.” Integra OS helps “optimize the listening experience to each client’s specific situation from highly complex to very quiet.”

“It is hard to know what experiences we may encounter throughout the day,” said Nicola McLaughlin, director of hearing instruments business at Unitron. “With our new Blu platform clients are provided with our most advanced sound performance and will be ready for life’s unexpected moments knowing their hearing aids will keep up with their unique lifestyle.”

With Blu and the Remote Plus app, clients can temporarily “boost clarity and comfort within the automatic program,” the company says. For special circumstances they can select from up to six optional, pre-set programs which they can further adjust to enhance speech, reduce noise, or focus the microphones to meet their lifestyle needs.

Compatible with Bluetooth products, Blu “helps allow wearers to interact seamlessly with their favorite devices.” With new tap control, Blu wearers can access virtual assistants, accept and end calls, as well as pause and play media while connected simultaneously to two Bluetooth devices, all with a double-tap to the side of the ear. In total, clients can pair up to eight devices, including both Android and Apple phones, tablets, and other Bluetooth devices.

“Our world is increasingly rooted in technology-based solutions. As more of us move to a remote work model, the amount of devices we are connected to throughout the day is growing,” said Sandra Fulton, vice president of group marketing at Unitron. “As our clients’ lifestyles evolve, so must Unitron’s products, and Blu seamlessly allows our customers to immerse themselves in all aspects of life with full confidence in their hearing aid compatibility.”

The new Moxi Blu family has been redesigned for “additional wearing comfort and ease of use,” and includes two lithium-ion rechargeable models. With Unitron’s Remote Plus app, clients can help maximize their hearing experience with in-app reminders and contextual how-to’s designed to “seamlessly familiarize clients to the new technology.” A no-commitment trial period with all Moxi Blu hearing instruments also ensure clients have peace of mind while selecting the right device for their needs.

“Confidence in not only the product, but in one’s ability to embrace life’s spontaneity and take in every experience from one moment to the next is vital,” said Fulton. “Unitron is proud to provide innovations that fit seamlessly into our clients’ lives.”

The new Moxi Blu hearing aids will be able to order/ship on May 4, 2021. For more information on the Blu platform, please visit: www.unitron.com/blu.

Source: Unitron

Image: Unitron

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Musician Creates Soundscapes to Help Tinnitus

Musician Creates Soundscapes to Help Tinnitus

 

Musician Creates Soundscapes to Help Tinnitus

Rupert Brown, an Isle of Wight musician, mixes nature sounds with music to create a soundscape that helps distract his brain from the tinnitus.

“The island is my orchestra,” says Brown in a BBC video, about his efforts to record waves crashing, birds twittering, and wind in the trees, which he then mixes in the studio with non-classical music and the sounds of what he believes are others’ type of tinnitus to form the soundscape.

To learn more, please click here.

Source: BBC

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Signia Releases Active X Hearing Aid

Signia Releases Active X Hearing Aid

 

Signia Releases Active X Hearing Aid

Signia announces the general availability of its latest hearing aid, Signia Active X, that “enhances human performance by delivering breakthrough signal processing technology for optimised hearing in noise.” Its earbud form factor helps allow wearers to “pop them in and out as needed for those with normal hearing but who may have difficulty hearing in certain environments,” according to the company. It can also be worn all day for individuals with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

Signia Active’s earbud design helps ensure “better hearing without the stigma, while its portable rechargeability and Bluetooth connectivity enable wearers to remain connected and perform their best all day long.”

“Signia Active isn’t just a new product. It’s an entirely new category of hearing device that allows our hearing care professionals to reach a new, untapped, and unserved category of wearer,” said Dr Tish Ramirez, vice president of professional relations and product management. “Consumers want hearing aids that are disguised as earbuds – that improve their hearing without the stigma. Signia Active delivers on this need by providing users with a device that looks as good as it performs.”

Dr Tish Ramirez, vice president of professional relations and product management, Signia

Signia Active: A new era in hearing technology

Research studies show that between 12% and 20% of adults with normal audiogram thresholds self-report hearing difficulties, suggesting that these individuals could benefit from a boost in their hearing performance.[1-4] Signia Active features “customised technology with advanced hearing support in the functional design of an earbud to attract individuals who might not otherwise wear hearing aids.”

Whether walking in a crowded street, working in an open-plan office, or dining in a busy restaurant, high-levels of ambient noise make holding conversations a significant challenge – even for those with mild hearing loss. Signia Active addresses these challenges with the “true-to-life sound of Signia Xperience technology and its Dynamic Soundscape Processing, which helps deliver enhanced sound and speech clarity in every situation, even when moving,” according to the company.

Signia Active also features a lithium-ion rechargeable battery; a portable charging case; Qi charging technology; and Bluetooth connectivity. Furthermore, its ClickSleeves 2.0 technology helps enable “a quick fit while ensuring the hearing aids remain firmly and comfortably in place.”

The new hearing aids from Signia are available in two models: Signia Active and Signia Active Pro. Signia Active is a starter option, designed for occasional use by those in need of a hearing edge in noisy situations, while Signia Active Pro is for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. Both models are available in the colour combinations of White and Rose Gold, Black and Silver, or All-Black.

“Signia has established a reputation for developing breakthrough products that deliver best-in-class performance yet also tap into new, unaddressed patient markets,” said Signia President Mike O’Neil. “Signia Active is yet another example of a market-expanding product from Signia, and we look forward to working with our hearing care professional partners to grow their businesses through our pioneering hearing devices.”

The Signia app: Modern care around the clock at the tap of a finger

Through the Signia app (iOS and Android), wearers have access to hearing aid controls, streaming capabilities with multiple devices, tinnitus therapy, Signia Telecare for remote care support, the new Face Mask Mode for better speech understanding through masks, and much more.

The app also includes the Signia Assistant, which “leverages artificial intelligence to continuously optimise the performance of the device by learning in real time the wearer’s individual preferences, for the most personalised hearing experience possible.”

“The most powerful products in history are those that meet a specific, unaddressed consumer need. Rather than fight over an existing share, they create entirely new categories of consumers that grow the overall size of the market,” said Ramirez.

“Signia Active is a solution for those who have long fought the adoption of hearing aids, but know that they need them. Signia Active is a breakthrough device that shatters the traditional definition of a hearing aid to create a new category of device that enables increased patient conversion and attracts entirely new demographics of wearers.”

For more information, visit: www.signia-pro.com/en-us/local/en-us/active-resource-center/.

[1] Gates GA, Cooper JC, Kannel WB, Miller NJ. Hearing in the elderly: The Framingham cohort, 1983-1985. Part I. Basic audiometric test results. Ear Hear. 1990;11(4):247–256.

[2] Garstecki D. Self-perceived hearing difficulty in aging adults with acquired hearing loss. J Acad Rehabilitative Audiol. 1987;20:49–60.

[3] Taylor B, Manchaiah V, Clutterbuck S. Using the personal assessment of communication abilities (PACA) tool. Hearing Review. 2016;23(3):20.

[4] Tremblay KL, Pinto A, Fischer ME, et al. Self-reported hearing difficulties among adults with normal audiograms: The Beaver Dam Offspring Study. Ear Hear. 2015;36(6):e290–e299.

Source: Signia

Images: Signia

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Researcher Designs Vibrating Glove for Deaf Individuals

Researcher Designs Vibrating Glove for Deaf Individuals

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Researcher Designs Vibrating Glove for Deaf Individuals

Artem Brazhnikov, a master student of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, and Transport of Samara Polytech, a Russian technical university, attempted to help restore hearing function with the help of a vibrating glove he designed. A press release announcing the invention appears on the EurekAlert website.

Initially, Artem designed a joystick glove to be able to play computer games one-handed. He then improved the device, turning it into an unusual hearing aid. To make the joystick glove into the vibro-glove, he removed the finger-position sensors, provided the glove with tactile feedback modules (vibration motors), and converted the electronic control unit from a game controller into an audio signal spectrum analyzer.

“When a person loses his hearing, his other senses become more acute. The sensory substitution occurs: the brain compensates the lack of information from one sense organ at the expense of others,” said Artem. “A vibrating glove is a re-translator that converts sounds into tactile sensations.”

A glove microphone amplifies the audio signal and transmits it to a spectrum analyzer that splits the audio range into separate frequency bands. Each tactile module corresponds to one sound strip. The strength of a tactile stimulation is proportional to the amplitude of sound vibrations in the corresponding frequency band. This process is somewhat similar to playing a keyboard.

“For example, a piano has many keys, pressing which (tactile stimulation) generates a certain note, that is, a sound vibration of a certain frequency,” Artem explained. “Now imagine that there is an instrument that performs the opposite operation, that is, catches notes (sound vibrations) and converts them into keystrokes (tactile stimulation). A person playing such an instrument does not hear the sounds it makes, but feels how the piano itself presses the keys. So a vibrating glove is a piano, but only working vice versa.”

Source: EurekAlert!, Samara Polytech

Image: EurekAlert!, Samara Polytech

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