New products
Improving hearing tests: no more beeping
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- Published on 08 January 2014
RESEARCH
A team of researchers in Melbourne, Australia, has developed a new hearing test aimed at replacing the traditional audiogram. They hope that the new test will help to bring in more people to evaluate their hearing. According to the researchers, the traditional test has become a barrier to people who would benefit from a hearing aid but who do nothing about it.
Low-cost solar-powered hearing aids from Africa
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- Published on 13 December 2013
SUSTAINABILITY
Providing people in need with hearing aids is, of course, an important step in the right direction, but if they cannot afford to buy new batteries, the success story stops there.
Mimosa Acoustics OtoStat®
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- Published on 05 December 2013
OtoStat® is a handheld, touchscreen, device for testing middle- and inner-ear status using wideband acoustic immittance (MEPA reflectance and absorbance) and DPOAEs. Audiologists, ENTs, and other hearing-health clinicians have access to a portable, clinically-friendly wideband immittance system, that doesn’t need daily calibration. With the same probe fit and two-taps on the color touchscreen, middle- and inner-ear status is obtained quickly and easily, aiding differential diagnosis. Clinicians can choose from 3 DPOAE protocols, all with smart early-stopping rules to optimize testing time. Analysis and norms are provided for four age-groups: newborns, infants, children, and adults, using the latest clinical findings. “Our customers asked for a handheld version of our successful HearID+MEPA reflectance system – we are delighted to offer them the OtoStat”, said company president Dr. Patricia Jeng. Mimosa Acoustics have been serving clinical and research communities since 1994 with high-quality otoacoustic emission and wideband immittance test equipment. OtoStat is a legally marketed device (FDA 510(k)).
New features in Noah System 4.4
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- Published on 25 November 2013
Noah System 4.4 is a free upgrade, released in January 2014. This five minute video describes the new features in this Noah software upgrade.
GSI Corti™, a new hand-held OAE instrument
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- Published on 21 November 2013
Grason-Stadler (GSI), a world leader in audiometric assessment instrumentation, introduces the GSI Corti™, a new hand-held Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) instrument for screening and diagnostic testing. The Corti provides both Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) and Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE) in a battery powered instrument. The Corti is designed for fast paced screening and diagnostic clinical environments for testing patients of all ages, infant through adult.The intuitive color OLED display on the Corti provides color graphics that are easy to interpret. Assessment may be completed in two ears in as little as three button presses. The four-button operation is easy to learn and use. The Corti introduces smart technology that maximizes accuracy and speed. Corti’s Auto Start automatically assesses the probe fit, background noise and probe stability. When conditions are acceptable, in-the-ear calibration is conducted providing stimulus precision. Immediately following the Auto Start routine, the testing automatically initiates. During testing, Corti continually assesses the probe fit and background noise to ensure test results are accurate. The patented Adaptive Noise Algorithm which uniquely identifies and manages the emissions in challenging variable noise conditions is pivotal to Corti’s speed and accuracy.
Using either DPOAE or TEOAE, the Corti provides fast, accurate screening with results acquired in seconds, and includes data compatibility to HiTrack and OZ eSP which may be a requirement for reporting newborn-screening data. Corti DPOAE and TEOAE protocols are designed to meet U.S. CPT code requirements for a fast return on investment.
Oticon Medical launches new Ponto Plus family
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- Published on 14 November 2013
Built on the Inium platform, the latest chip technology from Oticon Medical’s sister company Oticon, the Ponto Plus family features a new powerful transducer, an efficient and innovative Inium feedback shield and the newest Bluetooth 2.4 GHz wireless technology, all designed to deliver better sound quality, less feedback and fewer artificial sounds.
Innovative wireless capabilities make it possible to connect Ponto Plus directly to smart phones, to loop systems in public venues and to other modern communication devices to allow conversation, music and other sounds to transmit from the Ponto Streamer directly to the sound processor. In combination with Oticon Medical’s proprietary OptiFit™ and OptiGrip™ implant design concepts and the newest tissue-preserving surgical techniques, Ponto Plus creates exciting new possibilities for clinicians to increase long term prospects and well-being for both new and experienced users of hearing implant technology.
The DREAM continues – new BTE model
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- Published on 14 November 2013
Since its launch in January, the DREAM™ family of advanced hearing aids from Widex has set a new standard in hearing aid performance. By dramatically increasing the input range and maintaining the fidelity of all sounds entering the hearing aid, DREAM gives users incredibly rich and detailed sound.
The DREAM family now also includes the elegant FASHION model. It is perfect for those hearing aid users who appreciate the power of conventional BTE’s but would like the discretion of smaller models. Despite its slim design, FASHION has a new and improved receiver that provides more output and its better input range allows users to enjoy a larger and richer sound picture. In addition, a new housing design makes it easier for users to control the volume and change programs.
GN ReSound announces the world’s first “Made for iPhone” hearing aid
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- Published on 24 October 2013
GN ReSound announces ReSound LiNX™, an entirely new premium hearing aid, taking Surround Sound by ReSound™ to a new level and further expanding its lead in connectivity. GN ReSound’s third generation 2.4 GHz wireless technology is based on the new smartRange™ chipset.
With ReSound LiNX™, hearing impaired people will be able to stream music and phone calls directly from an Apple iPhone to their hearing aids. The streaming is possible without any intermediary body worn device.
It will be made available in a limited release later this year, followed by a global launch during the first quarter of 2014. Under the Beltone brand the equivalent Beltone First™ will be launched following the same release pattern.
New Siemens Hearing Instrument Nitro
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- Published on 24 October 2013
Nitro hearing systems have already been on the market since 2007. They were especially developed for the needs of people with severe to profound hearing loss.The new Nitro BtE instrument now offers even better performance in a housing that is nearly one-third smaller than that of the previous model. It has a substantially slimmer design and also fits behind a baby’s ears. Regardless of whether it is utilized in childhood or as an adult, the new Nitro BTE takes the various requirements of all age groups into account, both acoustically and through security features for babies. If the parents request it, the acoustician can activate a battery compartment safety feature or a lock on the control elements. At the same time it is protected from water and dust according to the industrial standard IP 67.
All Nitro models that are equipped with wireless connection capability synchronize sound and volume settings in cases where both ears have hearing aids. This binaural technology, which was developed by Siemens in cooperation with research scientists at Oldenburg University, was presented with the German Future Prize (Deutscher Zukunftspreis) by the German President.
In addition, the Nitro BtE is also compatible with nearly all FM systems via an optional audio shoe.Siemens has also equipped the Nitro hearing aid series with a special tinnitus feature and they amplify up to a 140 decibel sound pressure level.
The new Nitro ITE devices are available starting immediately, the new BTE devices will be available starting at the beginning of 2014.
Interacoustics launches EyeSeeCam vHIT system for measurements of the VOR
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- Published on 21 October 2013
EyeSeeCam Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) has been launched by Interacoustics for quick and objective measurements of the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR).
The EyeSeeCam vHIT system comprises a light weight goggle with a high-frequency camera, head accelerometer, calibration laser and a laptop. Thanks to its no-slippage-goggle design, EyeSeeCam vHIT produces more accurate and reliable test results, and the flexible design allows for testing on left or right eye on a wide range of patients.
During data collection, eye and head movements can be viewed simultaneously in real time, and a practical “impulse guide” will help the user to adjust their impulses to the correct amplitude and velocity. EyeSeeCam vHIT features a comprehensive test report with instantaneous velocity measurements as well as velocity regression. The informative report displays both overt and covert saccades in 2D or 3D rotations as well as gain calculations @ 40, 60 and 80 ms.
