GN Hearing and Google Announce Partnership to Bring Direct Mobile Streaming from Android Devices to Hearing Aids
GN Hearing and Google have today announced a new technology partnership that will make GN Hearing the first hearing device manufacturer to enable a full spectrum of direct audio streaming from Android devices to hearing aids. The expectations are that direct streaming will become available to hearing aid users of the recently launched hearing aids ReSound LiNX Quattro™ and Beltone Amaze™ in a future Android release.
No More Streamers
Up to now, Android phone users have been stuck using streamers to play audio from their phones and to answer phone calls. Unlike Apple products, Android products were not enabled for direct connection. Earlier this year, there were reports that hearing aid support would come with the release of Android P and code commits were seen in the open source code that was available to developers.
This partnership confirms that the capability will be released and hopefully we will see it very soon. Initially, the new update will probably only be available on Google products, as they are the very first to get updates to the Android system. Other phone makers usually follow on within a couple of months. I would imagine that Samsung will respond pretty quickly and push the upgrade out to their products as soon as physically possible.
First For Made For iPhone, Now First For Made For Android
Resound were the first hearing aid brand to introduce Made For iPhone in 2014. Now fittingly, they will be the first hearing aid brand to introduce Made For Android. I for one, can’t wait.
Ruth Kirkham has told her story of sudden hearing loss before here on Know, today she would like to speak about her personal perspective of the resulting tinnitus. Unfortunately, tinnitus can accompany sudden hearing loss more often than not. Without further blah, I will hand you over to Ruth.
An Aniversary, But Not a Happy One
Yesterday was the two year anniversary of my hearing loss. I suffered a sudden sensorineural loss after a night out with friends which would seem to have been the result of a virus that attacked my inner ear and left me with a moderate to severe loss in my left ear. The virus caused me no other symptoms and my hearing disappeared in the time that it took for me to sit down on the sofa. Much of that I have come to terms with. It’s frustrating not to hear as I once did and there are days when it is more debilitating than others, but it is what it is and I move forward.
Yesterday was also (not coincidentally) the two year anniversary of my journey with tinnitus which is the cheeky, incessant, annoying little sibling of hearing loss. The moment I lost my hearing a loud whooshing and high pitched squealing started which has never really stopped. It changes sometimes, increases often, decreases rarely and is generally made a little better when I wear my hearing aid. In one way I think I’m lucky because I now realise that I’ve always had tinnitus. Not at the same level and nowhere near as loud, but that distant humming I’d hear at night, the sound that was maybe outside or maybe it was the low rumble of the heating or perhaps a factory somewhere off in the distance – all that I now realise was tinnitus and I’d been dealing with it perfectly well, albeit at a quieter level, for years.
It’s taken some time to come terms with obviously, but to be honest I rarely get driven completely crazy by tinnitus. I don’t like the spikes when the usual squeal increases for reasons that I can’t understand and I hate the momentary deafening increases that sometimes afflict both ears, but thankfully those do seem to be momentary and in general the one-sided squeal of my tinnitus (accompanied by the low rumble in my good ear) is something that I try not to give the time of day to.
Tinnitus can be an absolute pain, it’s there, but it’s not going anywhere so like the loss of hearing it’s just something one has to come to terms with. I’ve found that a hearing aid helps – I suspect that when the brain detects more sound it spends less time sending random squealy signals and more time actively deciphering that sound, an assumption that seems to be backed up by Karen Simpson in her post on the connection between tinnitus and hearing loss, though in my case I have no tinnitus support programmed, but find the general boost to my hearing beneficial in that respect.
Night time can be tricky, but strangely I’ve found that on the days that my tinnitus seems louder completely trying to ignore it is counterproductive. Instead, sometimes I just lie and listen to it. All the different pitches and sounds, all of what I can hear above those sounds and I try to just accept that it’s there. Perhaps it all sounds a bit new-age, but I find that mindfully accepting tinnitus and hearing loss without trying to judge either (certainly easier said than done and I’m not always successful), is the path toward living well alongside them.
As we reported earlier, Resound has announced the launch of a new premium plus hearing aid called the LiNX Quattro. I have been delving through the press release and the details on their website. While there are some pretty clear headlines that are discussed, many of the details have been left purposely vague. I imagine most of those details will be fleshed out over the next few weeks as they are launched to professionals and then to consumers. I wanted to outline clearly what we know, and take a guess at what we don’t, educated guesses in fairness. Hey, if I am wrong, you get to laugh at me, how bad is that? However, from what I am seeing, this hearing aid has pretty much the best of all worlds.
What we know
This is what we know so far:
The devices will only be available in one new technology level
The devices are Receiver In Canal devices
The devices are Bluetooth hearing aids
The devices use a brand new chip platform
The chip has 100% faster processing than 3D
The chip has 100% additional memory over the 3D
Resound are using a new way of handling directionality inputs
They have introduced a redesigned wireless radio with extra signal strength
They have extended the bandwidth of the devices giving extra high-frequencies
They have increased their dynamic input range, calling it industry leading
The devices are available with a Lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack and without
The rechargeable hearing device will deliver 24 hours of use with 50% streaming on a three-hour charge
The Lithium-ion devices will deliver 30 hours of use without streaming on a three-hour charge
Pretty Discreet
Let’s take a closer look and give some observations on what we have seen so far. Firstly, the rechargeable hearing aids look pretty discreet. The Lithium-ion version is based on the LT-61 device which is Resound’s smallest RIC hearing device. The devices look very like the normal LT-61 but the bottom seems to flair a little, I would assume to hold the Lithium-ion powerpack. What is interesting is that there are no visible charging connections, so the devices are either using some sort of wireless charging or induction charging system. They are also available in an LT-62 version which is the slightly larger RIC hearing aid from Resound. This version uses normal hearing aid batteries, I have a feeling they probably won’t sell a lot of them.
The charger for the rechargeable device is both a desktop charger and a carry case for the devices. The charger holds its own charge and can be used for recharging the hearing aids on the go. The charger seems to be an intelligent charger with an auto off and on function for the hearing aids. It also offers clearly visible LEDs that allow you q quick understanding of the charge state of the hearing aids. The charger seems very well designed and in the promo shots, it looks pretty sturdy.
A New Technology Level
The LiNX Quattro will be available in a new technology level that Resound are introducing called Premium Plus. They will initially be released in the two RIC form factors and they will sit above the LiNX 3D which they will continue to offer. There is no word at this stage if Resound will introduce more form factors or how they envision the expansion of the Quattro range.
A New Chipset
Resound say they are using a new chipset and give some pretty good stats on the improvements over and above the LiNX 3D. Both myself and Steve wear the LiNX 3D 9 regularly and the devices are excellent. SO I am interested to see what the new chipset offers over and above the existing device. One of the things they seem to have used it for is a new type of directionality, on top of that they have saved power consumption by 20% on the LiNX 3D.
They have also used it to increase the dynamic range of the devices, this allows a more normal use of sound inputs. It means that louder sounds won’t become distorted because they won’t be compressed on input. Without getting too technical, it will mean louder sounds are more normal and be more pleasant.
A New Directionality System
They haven’t included many details on this, just a teaser, from what they are saying though, it seems that how they handle speech in their directionality rules may well have changed. How much so, remains to be seen, but I have a feeling it is a radical change. I think they have given greater emphasis to speech from every direction and allowed their noise reduction to work between. It should deliver a more normal sense of sound in noisier environments.
Better Bluetooth Connection
The newly redesigned wireless radio should make the direct connectivity to iPhones and hopefully Android phones in the near future more stable. Resound already delivers a pretty stable connection, but any improvement here will be welcomed by me and all of the other people who end up on our knees in the back garden offering our firstborn to the Gods of Bluetooth when our phones stubbornly refuse to connect. With the bigger dynamic range and the wider frequency bandwidth, music should sound really good.
To be honest, this hearing aid seems to have pretty much the best of all worlds. While the features concepts are not necessarily groundbreaking, this is the only hearing aid that seems to do them all well in one device. Those are my observations so far, if I hear any more, I will, of course, update the post. When the hearing aids are formally launched, we will give you all a full rundown of what we find out.
The much-awaited Livio AI from Starkey has now been launched and they have been a bit of a smash hit in the tech world. But is it more sizzle than substance? Not really, I think that the premise of the Livio AI opens up an entirely new use case for hearing aids and may well make the devices far more attractive to new consumers. The premise of the devices represents a great leap forward for hearing aid technology. Starkey says, welcome to the revolution, and for once, that actually isn’t quite marketing fluff. Let’s take a look at why I think this latest offering points the way for hearing aids in general.
A New Use Case
The Livio AI presents users with a completely new use case for hearing aids. A merging of different technology means that the device offers far more than just better hearing, it also offers a more holistic view of health and to a certain extent cognitive fitness. In the near future, it will also offer a feature that will allow caregivers or loved ones to monitor if an older user takes a fall. Let’s take a look at what has been said and cut through the marketing fluff.
The Big News A Hearing Aid That’s a Health Tracker and More
The Livio AI is truly a multifunctional device that combines features from wireless headsets, fitness trackers and health apps, and finally, language translation programs. That’s right, language translation. Oh, and it appears to be a very interesting hearing aid as well. The keys to all of this are a brand new chipset, an embedded sensor on the chipset and 2.4Ghz communication between the hearing aid and a smartphone. This allows the monitoring of movement and a deeper instantaneous communication between the hearing aids and a smartphone which has been leveraged to deliver real user benefits.
Health Monitoring With The Thrive App
The health monitoring element of the Livio AI is offered via the Thrive App. It offers two measurements that both deliver the possibility of a score of 100 points. It focuses on a Body score and a Brain score. The body score is calculated through a combination of activity, steps and overall movement. This information is tracked daily and accessed easily in the Thrive app. As I said, a daily score of 100 points is possible.
Cognitive Health
Starkey says that because of the important connection between cognitive health and hearing health, Livio AI measures the brain benefits of wearing hearing aids. That’s marketing fluff, however, there is some validity to what they are doing. The metrics used to measure the Brain score include hours of daily use, social engagement and the tracking of active listening. Again the daily score of 100 points is possible.
Does it really give you a score based on cognitive health? No, it doesn’t, however, it gives you a clear idea about some of the things that we know promote good cognitive health.
Language Translation
Like the embedded sensor, this really is a world’s first, it is an integrated feature to help users easily communicate with people who speak other languages via an easy-to-use translation tool in the Thrive app. The feature is Smartphone based so you will need a Smartphone to make it work, I think it will only work directly with an iPhone. If you have an android phone, you will probably have to use a streamer for it to work.
This really is a cool feature that offers more than just coolness. Many seniors travel in retirement, this type of feature will make that travel easier. It will also appeal to younger users, again, they like to travel, who doesn’t like the idea of easier communication?
Fall Notification
This will come in a future update, in essence, the sensor can sense a fall. It will then set off a notification to be sent to someone that the person wearing the devices has fallen. I think this is an amazing feature and I believe it is a feature that will make families of older hearing aid users very happy. It will be interesting to see how this feature is deployed. I will keep you updated on the evolution of this feature.
Binaural Compression
On top of those headline features, there is a lot more to talk about. There are a host of features you need to know about, some are new to Starkey, some aren’t. These look like really solid hearing aids, they are automatic hearing aids that offer binaural processing of sound. That means that the aids work as a unit to make decisions about what they do. The binaural compression strategy also retains auditory and spatial cues that naturally occur so the experience should be more natural.
Remote Programming
Starkey has also introduced remote programming facilities in the Livio AI, Patients can request adjustments from their professional remotely to help fine tune their hearing experience.
Find My Hearing Aids
This feature has been around for a long time, you can easily locate lost hearing aids using the Find My Hearing Aids feature, with both a location and timestamp. A signal detector sends a stronger or weaker signal based on how close you are to locating their Livio AI hearing aids. While this will definitely work with iPhones, I am not sure about Android phones.
Phone Calls Direct to Hearing Aids
So Starkey says that you can answer calls with the touch of a button and hear an entire conversation streaming directly to their Livio AI hearing aids. I take it this means that you can use an iPhone as you would with other Made For iPhone hearing aids. If that is what they are talking about, then I would imagine you will need a streamer for Android.
Remote Control
There is a remote control feature in the Thrive app, which will allow you to change volume and switch memories.
Personalized Memories
This has been around for a while and Starkey does it exceptionally well. Basically, you can create multiple custom memories in the Thrive app by using any of the Customise options. It gives you a lot of freedom in the personalisation of your experience.
You can also geotag memories, a geotagged memory will use your Smartphones GPS and cellular towers to recognize where you are and automatically adjust your Livio AI hearing aids when you enter the space. For instance, if you set up a geotagged “coffee shop” memory, it will automatically activate when you walk into that coffee shop.
Audio Notifications From Your Smartphone
Notifications for phone calls, texts, emails or other apps can be streamed directly to your Livio AI hearing aids but only if you are using an iPhone, if you have an Android, you will need a Streamer.
Adaptive Car Mode
This is a new automatic hearing aid setting, in Adaptive Car Mode, Livio AI hearing aids will automatically change to a setting designed to reduce the annoying sounds of driving and enhance your overall driving experience.
Universal Bluetooth connectivity
Starkey says that the Livio AI hearing aids connect simply and easily to any modern smartphone, TV or media device, like Amazon® Echo, to stream phone calls, music, voice assistants and more. Again, we will need more info on how that works but as I get it, I will update the article.
AI Artificial Intelligence
Starkey has labelled the new Livio with the buzzword Artificial Intelligence. To be honest, there really isn’t a true artificial intelligence feature within the hearing aids. Or at least not one that fits the normal conceptual parameters. Having said that, and without doubt, these are a big leap forwards for hearing aids, I think their marketing department got a little over exuberant with the name.
Two Hearing Aid Types
The Livio AI will be available in two different hearing aid types, a Receiver In Canal device and a Behind The Ear device. The RIC has two options, one for moderate to severe hearing losses and one for severe hearing losses. The BTE will cover down to severe hearing losses. The RIC is powered by a 312 battery and there is no word on a rechargeable option. The BTE is powered on a size 13 battery.
As I said, these hearing aids represent a big leap forward in hearing aid technology. I think they point the way towards the future of hearing aids as an integrated health device. It will be very interesting to see how consumers receive them. I think they will be well received by both older users and younger users, while many think older users aren’t as techy, there are still features here that will excite them.
Lindsay Engle of Medicare Faq speaks today about hearing aid coverage for Seniors with Medicare. Original Medicare does not normally cover the cost of hearing aids. However, Medicare coverage may help to cover the cost of hearing aids and related hearing services. I will hand you over to Lindsay
As the baby boomer generation reaches and exceeds the age of 65, the need for good, affordable hearing aids will continue to expand. Problems arise when you experience hearing loss and look for a good, affordable remedy. You may be unprepared for what you find when seeking out high-quality, affordable hearing aids.
Medicare and Hearing Aid Costs
Probably the first question will be, “Does Medicare offer any coverage for hearing aids?”. The real battle will then begin. Like many seniors, you may be financially challenged, having little more than Social Security to cover your expenses. Must you avoid social interaction or just deal with the frustration of not being able to hear normal conversations?
Medicare Part B
If you are a senior citizen on Medicare and have a hearing loss issue, you will be able to get coverage through Part B Medicare if your physician recommends these services because of a medical condition such as vertigo. In the absence of a medical indicator and an order from a health care provider, the hearing exam and hearing aids would not be covered.
Even if Medicare Part B does cover the services due to a medical condition, the 20 per cent copay will be your responsibility to pay, unless you have coverage through a Medicare supplement plan. If the hearing test was done in a hospital, and the hearing aids provided there, then you would have to pay the hospital copay.
What is Meant by Medically Necessary
Remember that patients who have coverage with Original Medicare generally must pay 100 per cent of hearing tests and hearing aids because they are routine care.
If the healthcare provider suspects you may have a disorder that will require medical treatment, and a balance test or hearing exam is required for proper diagnosis, then Medicare Part B may cover up to 80 per cent of Medicare’s allowable rates after you pay any necessary deductible).
To help you understand medical necessity, consider the case of a patient who presents to the doctor reporting at least two episodes of vertigo, each of which had a duration of between 20 minutes and 24 hours (not exceeding 24 hours). The patient may have experienced vertigo (ringing in the ears) or a full sensation in the ears and reported hearing loss. The hearing test would then be needed to confirm the hearing loss.
Medicare Supplement Plans
Without insurance to cover or supplement the costs of hearing aids, your cost per hearing aid could be in the range of $2,400 each. The next question might be whether or not a Medicare supplement policy (Medigap) would cover any of your hearing aid expenses.
At this time, none of the 10 Medicare supplement plans available cover hearing aids. If a patient has a hearing problem due to a medical condition and has been referred by a doctor, a Medigap policy could help cover the 20 per cent out-of-pocket cost of the hearing examination.
Patients who have Plans C or F will have the deductible covered. That is the amount the patient is obliged to pay before Medicare makes any payments on any services.
Do Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Hearing Aids
Part C Medicare (Medicare Advantage Plan) is a private policy offered through Medicare that offers the same benefits as Part A and B, as well as potentially some additional coverage. These extra benefits may include dental and/or vision insurance, prescription drug coverage, and in some case hearing aids. To date, most Medicare Advantage Plans still do not offer hearing aid coverage.
Legislation to Help with Hearing Aid Costs
Congress passed the Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aid Act in August 2017, making hearing aids more accessible to patients with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. After the Food and Drug Administration composes updated regulations that assure the safety of these products, the OTC hearing aids will become more widely available for purchase without a doctor’s prescription.
This legislation is a step in the right direction to help people who cannot afford to pay the high price of hearing aids, but for many people, the price will still be restrictive. The goal of the new law is to continue to reduce hearing aid prices in the future to make them accessible to more people.
Proactive Steps to Get Help with Hearing Aid Costs
Patients do not have to be passive about their hearing needs. Information is available online and through healthcare providers, as well as hearing aid companies, that can guide you in finding help.
Private insurance companies offer a spectrum of plans that cover varying benefits, many at affordable prices. For veterans, a good place to start would be the local VA Office.
Regardless of which Medicare Plan you choose, the insurance policy will list the number of a representative to call 24 hours a day. This person will be able to check the specific plan and outline in detail what it will cover. There will also be advice as to what specialized policies can be added to help cover specific needs.
Conclusion
If you are one of the millions of Americans who experience hearing loss, know that there are steps you can take to find assistance with the phenomenal costs of hearing aids.
Turn to your health care provider or your health insurance representative for information and guidance. You can also seek help 24 hours a day at http://www.Medicare.gov.
Resound today announced the launch of a new hearing aid, the Linx Quattro, which they call a premium plus hearing aid. They say “ReSound LiNX Quattro™ is designed for people who want the very best that technology has to offer. It is the first hearing aid that maximizes the full sound potential of today’s high-performance hearing aid components enabling clearer, fuller and richer Layers of Sound™ for people with hearing loss”. The key takeaways so far are,
Brand new chip platform
100% faster processing than 3D
100% additional memory than 3D
a new way of handling directionality inputs
extended high-frequencies
higher input dynamic range
Lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack
24 hours of use even with 50% streaming
here is what they had to say
ReSound LiNX Quattro™ defines a new category in hearing aids: Premium-Plus
ReSound LiNX Quattro™ represents a combination of benefits that no other hearing aids offer, including:Sound quality: A brilliant sound experience, with clearer, fuller and richer Layers of Sound™. With the highest input dynamic range available and extended high frequencies, sounds are processed in increased detail at all input levels, leading to superior sound quality where softer sounds are clearer and louder sounds are fuller and distortion-free. Rechargeability: Longest rechargeable battery life available. Users benefit from an integrated Li-ion battery with 24 hours of use even when streaming 50% of the time.
Access to clearer, fuller and richer Layers of Sound™
With ReSound LiNX Quattro™ GN Hearing introduces a new chip platform and its 6th generation of 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity. Compared to ReSound LiNX 3D™, the new chip enables 100% faster processing, 100% additional memory, 35% increase in frequency bandwidth, and the highest input dynamic range in the industry. With a new chip platform, a completely rewritten sound processing package, a redesigned wireless radio with extra signal strength and a unique utilisation of microphones, sounds are passed to the amplifier without being altered. The result is a brilliant experience with Layers of Sound™ that is designed to inspire confidence in people with hearing loss, so that they can enjoy the moments that matter most.
“ReSound LiNX Quattro is the perfect choice for people who want to upgrade to a new premium-plus class of hearing aids that deliver unprecedented Layers of Sound and the longest battery life available in stylish, discreet designs,” said Paul Daft, Managing Director, GN Hearing UK. “Most importantly, the richer sound quality helps people hear better and be more present in their daily lives. Whether at a loud dinner party or business meeting in a quiet café, people can hear a fuller, clearer range of sounds, allowing them to focus on the conversation while still hearing the sounds around them.”
ReSound Assist™ enables personalised care from anywhere The ReSound Assist™ feature connects hearing aid users with their hearing care professionals via the ReSound Smart 3D™ app, allowing remote adjustment of their hearing aids without having to visit the clinic. This is especially beneficial for users who have limited mobility, live in rural areas, have active lives and busy careers, or need to travel long distances to visit their hearing care professional.
In a study to examine the impact of remote fine-tuning on hearing care professionals and users, results showed that 100 percent of hearing care professionals said they would recommend remote fine-tuning to peers, and 94 percent said it helps them provide users with a better hearing experience. The same study showed that 77 percent of users think their new settings improve their hearing, while 89 percent said they would recommend remote fine-tuning to other hearing aid users.
I have noticed quite a bit going on the internet recently in relation to OTC hearing aids and their availability with increasing irritation. Generally, it’s a crock of shit (Irish technical term). Firstly, there is no such thing as an OTC hearing aid right now (Aug 2018), so they are neither legal or available. While the legislation to introduce OTC hearing aids has passed, the FDA has yet to specify what an OTC hearing aid actually is. So, therefore, the current crop of devices available that are being labelled OTC hearing aids, simply aren’t.
OTC Hearing Aids Don’t Exist
Over The Counter hearing aids don’t actually exist as a product line. The FDA first has to tell us what OTC hearing aids are. Until it does, which is expected to happen perhaps in 2019, they can’t exist. Yes, there are plenty of PSAPs and even a few hearing aids being sold online, but they can not be labelled OTC hearing aids legally.
OTC Hearing Aids are Not Legal or Available
As I have said before, OTC hearing aids are a brand new product concept, a product concept that there are no guidelines for. Once the FDA has finished its work though, I would expect to see many of them hit the market pretty quickly. Up until then, OTC hearing aids are neither legal or available.
At present, you can buy devices like Eargo, which I discussed in Eargo, Do They Live Up To The Hype? and iHear. Just to be clear, neither of these companies have labelled themselves OTC. However, both offer online delivery of hearing aids. While both offer pretty good products, it remains to be seen whether either of them will fit into this new category.
No Guidance So Far
We have no guidance so far on what an OTC hearing aid should be, we understand that the devices should be able to help people with mild to moderate hearing loss. We also believe that the hearing aids will have to have some sort of self-fit and fine tune ability. That’s about it, we know no more because the FDA hasn’t reached its conclusions.
So if you see a product right now, labelling itself as an OTC hearing aid, that’s bullshit (another Irish technical term). Consider everything else that they say about the product as probable bullshit as well. We will be closely following the OTC hearing aid story here on Know, and when and as it develops, we plan to inform you in an in-depth manner.
I have spoken about online hearing aids sales and what you need to think about here before in Buying Hearing Aids Online? Here is What You Need To Know. The article is worth your time if you are considering the purchase of hearing aids online.
We would all like a top of the range something, for me, it would probably be a laptop. Unfortunately, when it comes to purchasing something, we have to cut our cloth to our budget. When it comes to hearing aids, sometimes that makes for tough decisions. However, with the introduction of a slew of new devices from hearing aid brands, losing out on Bluetooth connectivity is not one of them. Let’s talk about Bluetooth hearing aids on a budget.
Zerena 3 and 1 Hearing Aid Ranges
With the introduction of the Zerena 3 and Zerena 1 hearing aids from Bernafon, it is now possible to purchase Bluetooth hearing aids on a budget. Bernafon has billed the new additions to the Zerena platform as budget options, but what does that mean and what can you expect from them? Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect and what features are on offer.
The Zerena 3 and 1 hearing devices were introduced as part of a Budget range of Zerena hearing aids in 2018. While they are not quite as advanced as the higher levels of Zerena hearing devices, Bernafon has ensured that they are still pretty solid hearing aids.
Bluetooth Hearing Aids
Even though the Zerena 3 and 1 platforms are Budget hearing aids, they still use that super-fast and powerful chip that is inside the higher levels. That means that just like the rest of the Zerena range you can enjoy direct audio streaming from your iPhone straight to your ears. It also means that you can use the SoundClip-A remote microphone and streamer and the TV-A streamer. They offer huge benefits with direct streaming to the hearing aids for different situations.
Automatic Hearing Aids
The Zerena 3 and 1 hearing aids are fully automatic and dynamically change to reflect the sound environment. Neither the Zerena 3 or 1 range uses the brand new Dynamic Environment Control System™ or DECS™. However, they do both use elements of the new system.
Premium features
Both the Zerena 3 and 1 use Dynamic Directionality, in both ranges, it is set to low focus and both have Dynamic Noise Reduction but there are no changeable settings. While the Zerena 3 has the Transient Noise Reduction feature which handles sudden impact sounds, the Zerena 1 does not. Basically, that means that the Zerena 3 range has a strategy to handle sudden impact sounds and the Zerena 1 range does not.
Both the Zerena 3 and 1 range offer an 8 kHz Frequency Bandwidth, and while the Zerena 3 range provides 10 Fitting Bands, the 1 offers just 8. That means that the 3 can be better customised to your hearing loss as you would expect.
The Zerena 3 range has the Bernafon Frequency Composition nxt feature, while the Zerena 1 range does not. The frequency composition feature allows you to hear high-frequency sound information at lower-frequency regions even if you cannot process the high-frequency information.
Tinnitus SoundSupport
Both the Zerena 3 and 1 ranges offer amplification and tinnitus relief together in one solution.
Zerena Budget Models
The Zerena 3 and 1 range are available in the full range of hearing aid types, two Receiver In The Ear (RITE) models, one of which has a rechargeable option. A Behind The Ear (BTE) Model and finally five custom or In The Ear models (ITE). All of the hearing aids in the range except the two smallest, the Completely In Canal (CIC) and the Invisible In Canal (IIC or Invisible hearing aid) are direct connection Bluetooth enabled hearing aids.
A Strong Budget Offer
All in all, the Zerena Budget ranges add up to a very strong budget offer. Where else could you purchase a Bluetooth hearing aid in any model type you wished at a bargain price? While the feature sets are reduced, they are pretty solid. The Zerena 1 range is very basic, but when combined with a SoundClip-A or the TV streamer it offers the ability to hear in many of the situations that people find difficult.
The Zerena 3 range is quite a robust offering, and I would expect it to help you in some noisy situations, of course, you would also have to use coping mechanisms to get the best effect. However, if you combined it with the SoundClip-A, I think you would be surprised by how well you could hear your companion.
Phonak Marvel 30 Hearing Aids
Phonak has just introduced a brand new range of Bluetooth enabled hearing aids called the Marvel. The entire range will connect directly to any Bluetooth enabled device, that means a phone, a TV even a computer. The devices fall under the Sonova concept of Made For Any Phone. That means they don’t fall into the traditional concept of Made For iPhone or even Made For Android. But that doesn’t mean they won’t work with both!
Unique Bluetooth Hearing Aids
Because the Marvel uses a very unique Bluetooth protocol the Marvel range will allow you to stream audio and phone calls from any Bluetooth enabled mobile phone whether that be a Smartphone or not. Phonak have also brought the new range out in their typical four levels of technology. That means there is a Marvel 30 range, which means there will eventually be a full line of models at the entry or budget level device with outstanding connectivity.
Automatic Hearing Aids
Phonak Marvel hearing aids use AutoSense OS 3.0, which is Phonak’s latest hearing aid management system. In essence, the system blends and merges the features of the hearing aid to give you the best hearing possible within the sound environment you are in. At the thirty level of technology, the system only uses four presets, they are calm situation and speech in noise and the new streaming programmes streamed speech and streamed music.
However, they do offer three extra slots that can be filled from a pick of five additional programmes. They are Speech in noise, calm situation, comfort in noise, music, acoustic phone and finally a custom programme. That is a decent selection at this level of technology. It may be industry leading; I will get back to you on that.
Strong Feature Set
The Marvel 30 range has quite a strong feature set as well. It offers Phonak’s latest frequency compression system, SoundRecover 2. The frequency compression feature allows you to hear high-frequency sound information at lower-frequency regions even if you cannot process the high-frequency information. The devices also have WhistleBlock which suppresses feedback (nasty whistling), NoiseBlock which helps to turn down the background noise and QuickSync which keeps everything synced between the two hearing aids. They only offer 8 fitting bands, which means the customisation of the hearing aids to your loss should be pretty solid.
Tinnitus Balance
The Marvel 30 range will come with the Phonak tinnitus support feature called Tinnitus Balance. Because it is stereo streaming enabled, it will also allow you to design your own tinnitus sound therapy playlist to stream to the aids from your phone.
Marvel Hearing Aids Budget Models
Right now, the Marvel is only available in two Receiver In Canal hearing aid type, a lithium-ion powered rechargeable device and a traditionally powered device. However, this is pretty typical of Phonak introductions to the market, and we would expect them to introduce BTEs and custom hearing aids over the next 12 to 16 months. When they do, it will mean that you will have a full range of budget Marvel Bluetooth hearing aid types to choose from.
A Strong Budget Offer
The Phonak Marvel 30 hearing aids are an exceedingly strong budget offering. The devices have already been well received across the industry and a lot of people are really excited about them. You will need to consider battery life though, as with all Bluetooth hearing aids, these will be power hungry. They aren’t quite in the marketplace long enough to get a clear idea of how hungry.
You need to balance that up with functionality if the hearing aids deliver everything that you need but demand new batteries every three to four days, how bad would that truly be?
The Oticon Siya
The Oticon Siya is a family of hearing aids that were introduced in 2018 that fall within what Oticon call the essentials level of technology. The family includes a full range of typical Oticon models at two technology levels. The hearing aid models include the Siya miniRITE (comes in a rechargeable version), the Siya BTE, the Siya BTE13 PP, the Siya miniRITE-T and finally five custom or In The Ear models (ITE). All of the hearing aids in the range except the two smallest, the Completely In Canal (CIC) and the Invisible In Canal (IIC or Invisible hearing aid) are direct connection Bluetooth enabled hearing aids.
What Oticon Says
Oticon makes some pretty strong claims for the Siya, here is what they say:
Category-leading performance
50 times faster data processing than ever before
Category-leading resolution with 48 frequency channels
Directionality in 15 independent frequency bands for high precision
Super-fast noise reduction features
2.4 GHz Bluetooth® low energy for advanced connectivity
Two Technology Levels
As I said, there are two technology levels which include the Siya 1 and the Siya 2. The beauty of the Siya range is that they are built upon the same groundbreaking chipset that the Opn is built upon. In everything but the directionality protocol, the Siya range is basically cheaper Opns. Having said that, I need to be very clear here, one of the stand-out features of the Opn is that very special directionality strategy.
Bluetooth Hearing Aids
Even though the Siya 1 and 2 ranges are Budget hearing aids, they still use that super-fast and powerful Velox chip that is inside the Opn. That means that just like the Oticon Opn range you can enjoy direct audio streaming from your iPhone straight to your ears. It also means that you can use the Connect Clip remote microphone and streamer and Oticon’s TV streamer. They offer huge benefits with direct streaming to the hearing aids for different situations.
Premium features
Both the Siya ranges offer Multiband Adaptive Directionality, it isn’t the famous Opn directionality strategy but it is the base strategy that every other manufacturer is using. Both of the Siya range offer Dynamic Noise Reduction but there are no changeable settings. The Siya 1 range has the Transient Noise Reduction feature which handles sudden impact sounds, the Siya 2 does not. Basically, that means that the Siya 1 range has a strategy to handle sudden impact sounds and the Siya 2 range does not.
Both of the Siya ranges offer an 8 kHz Frequency Bandwidth, and while the Siya 1 range provides 10 Fitting Bands, the 2 offers just 8. That means that the 1 can be better customised to your hearing loss as you would expect.
Both of the Siya ranges offer the Oticon Frequency Composition feature. The frequency composition feature allows you to hear high-frequency sound information at lower-frequency regions even if you cannot process the high-frequency information.
Tinnitus SoundSupport
Both of the Siya ranges offer amplification and tinnitus relief together in one solution.
A Strong Budget Offer
All in all, the Siya ranges add up to a very strong budget offer. You will get a Bluetooth hearing aid in any model type you wish at a bargain price. While the feature sets are reduced in comparison to the Opn hearing aids, they are pretty solid. When combined with a Connect Clip or the TV streamer it offers the ability to hear in many of the situations that people find difficult.
Children with Down Syndrome have many health and development difficulties. Not least among them can be hearing loss. I read an interesting study in the Hearing Journal recently by Emily Nightengale AuD (1). The study results showed a high prevalence of hearing loss in children with Down Syndrome. 36% of the cohort studied showed some sort of hearing loss, whether, conductive, conductive and transient, sensorineural or mixed. In essence, the conclusion of this study was that it was important to educate parents and physicians to the possibilities in order that there could be early referrals. In this article, I would like to help make the concerns and difficulties clear.
Physical Ear Structure Causes Problems
The physical ear structure of children with Down syndrome may predispose them to hearing difficulties. They are more prone to conductive hearing problems (problems with the middle ear and outer ear) over and above simple ear wax issues (which may be a regular issue) including middle ear issues such as middle ear effusion (build-up of fluid in the middle ear), acute otitis media (mid-ear infections), and eardrum perforations (2).
In fact, it has been reported that up to 93% of children with Down syndrome suffer otitis media (3) and between 43 to 83% percent are fitted with grommets (4). Unfortunately, it appears that grommets may not be as successful a treatment as is the norm for children with Down Syndrome (5).
It also seems that sensorineural hearing loss (a problem with the inner ear) can be a problem, again in the case of sensorineural hearing loss occurring, it appears physical structures may be the underlying problem. Computed tomography scans have been undertaken in cases of sensorineural hearing loss and they revealed structural abnormalities in the inner ear, such as narrow internal auditory canals and semicircular canal malformations (6).
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss can be transient as is the case with otitis media, however, recurrent or chronic otitis media can damage the middle ear and eardrum leading to a permanent conductive hearing loss. While a transient conductive hearing loss is rarely treated with hearing aids, a more permanent conductive loss is.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
A sensorineural hearing loss is a permanent hearing loss that can only be treated with hearing aids.
Developmental Difficulties
Unidentified or untreated hearing loss in children will delay their development and communication skills. It can also have an effect on their psychosocial skills. In most cases, the hearing loss can be treated with medical intervention (grommets) or hearing aids and ancillary equipment. In this way, at least one obstacle to development and communication can be removed.
The Advice
As the parent, the carer, or the physician of a child with Down Syndrome it is important to be aware of the possibilities. Just because there is a high prevalence of hearing loss does not mean that your child will suffer from one. However, forewarned is forearmed. Awareness will lead to early identification and hopefully treatment
Hearing Loss in Children with Down Syndrome, Nightengale, Emily AuD, The Hearing Journal: February 2018 – Volume 71 – Issue 2 – p 10,12 doi: 10.1097/01.HJ.0000530645.24806.bf Hearing Loss and Down Syndrome
The new custom Made For iPhone hearing aids from Bernafon will be available from November 1st, and they look pretty good. Bernafon will be one of only three hearing aid brands to offer a direct connection to iPhones once the devices are launched. Both Oticon and Bernafon are renowned for their custom hearing aids, but because of the delayed introduction of the Zerena customs, they have fallen slightly out of favour. I think that the new launch of these devices will change things. That wasn’t the only news; they are also introducing two new technology levels at the value range. Let’s talk about what’s going on with Bernafon.
Two New Technology Levels
Bernafon is introducing two new levels to the Zerena that they say will fall within the value offering. The new technology levels are called the Zerena 1 and the Zerena 3 range. The new customs will be available in those new technology levels as well, which will mean custom Made For iPhone hearing aids in the value price proposition which is probably a bit of a first.
I can’t really think of anyone else who is offering any direct connection Made For iPhone hearing aids at the type of price I would expect these to be sold at. There certainly is no brand offering custom Made For iPhone hearing aids at this price point. The basic Zerena 1 is a basic device, but with the addition of the TV streamer or the Soundclip-A you will get a lot of hearing aid functionality quite cheaply.
Powerful Customs
We have spoken already about the custom devices that are being introduced but we found out a bit more about power levels and options. The IIC and CIC will have access to a 75 and an 85 receiver which basically means that they will cover moderate to severe hearing losses. The size of speaker will be dependent on the space in the ear canal. However, Bernafons says that the new components are smaller than ever and should allow the IIC and CIC to physically fit far more people than ever.
The rest of the custom range has access to four levels of receiver, the 75 and 85 as well as a 90 and a 100. This should allow these devices to be fit for people who have severe to profound hearing losses.
Upgraded Easy Control App
Bernafon has upgraded their app on both iOS (iPhone) and Android. The new app is a little more functional than it originally was. It still doesn’t match up to some of the other brand’s apps, but it does all of the basics.
Early November Launch
The devices and the new tech levels will be available to order from Bernafon in early November, so people should be able to give them a try pretty soon. If we hear any more, we will keep you updated.
Itshearingaidknow 