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Hearing and understanding speech involves more than just your ears – it also relies heavily on your brain. This is because your brain is where the sounds you hear are processed and meaning is created from those sounds. When your ears are not receiving sound properly your brain has to work even harder to fill the gaps in order to try to understand what you are hearing. People with hearing loss often become exhausted trying to listen and follow conversations in noisy situations because their brain is doing so much work. This can cause them to start withdrawing from conversations and social situations because of the effort required to listen in these environments.

BrainHearing Technology is Oticon’s approach to helping your brain make sense of sound. This technology works with your brain so that less effort is required to listen in difficult listening environments. BrainHearing Technology supports your brain’s natural process of making sense of sound by allowing you to hear all sounds, leaving fewer gaps for your brain to fill. Hearing aids with BrainHearing Technology help both of your ears work together to help you locate sound, and work with your brain as a system to separate relevant sounds such as speech from competing background noise.

Everyone has their own unique hearing profile. BrainHearing Technology enables Oticon hearing devices to be finely tuned to suit your specific hearing profile and personal sound preference, delivering the clearest and purest signal possible in the way that is best understood by your brain. With Oticon’s BrainHearing Technology you will remember more of what people said to you, with less effort.

Hearing aids contain five components – microphones, an amplifier, a loudspeaker, a battery and a computer chip. Although all hearing aid models have these components, there is a significant difference in the quality of the sound and speech understanding you will get from different models. Higher quality hearing aids will provide a more natural listening experience because of the more advanced technology and extra features they contain, such as bandwidth, automatic volume regulation, noise management, feedback suppression and various personalisation options. Newer models contain the most advanced technology.

This is how each part of a hearing aid assists in delivering sound to you.

• The microphone picks up the sounds around you.
• The computer chip, which is programmed by your practitioner to suit your specific hearing needs, analyses and processes the sounds captured by the microphone.
• These analysed sounds are then sent to the amplifier.
• Sounds are received by the amplifier and sent to the loudspeaker.
• The loudspeaker transmits the sounds to the inner ear via the ear mould tubing on your hearing aid or the small wire and receiver in your ear.
• Sounds are converted to electrical impulses inside your inner ear.
• The electrical impulses are picked up and processed by your brain, allowing you to understand the sounds.

Starkey Hearing Technologies have recently introduced the world’s smallest hearing aids, which are moulded to the size and shape of your individual ear canal. The SoundLens Synergy Invisible-In-The-Canal (IIC) hearing aids are available in a variety of colours to match your skin tone, and rest comfortably inside the second bend of your ear canal, making them virtually undetectable.

Not only are the SoundLens Synergy IIC hearing aids comfortable and invisible, these tiny devices are loaded with features. Available in wireless and non-wireless options, these hearing aids enable media streaming from your phone or any other Bluetooth device to your hearing aids. This means you can stream your TV audio, music and more directly to your hearing aids. Starkey have developed technology which gradually adjusts the settings of your SoundLens Synergy IIC hearing aids to get your brain used to the new sounds these hearing aids provide.

A range of Starkey accessories are also available which can be used in conjunction with your SoundLens Synergy IIC hearing aids, such as the Surflink Mobile 2, the Surflink Media 2, the Surflink Remote and the Surflink Remote Microphone. These accessories can be used to stream media, remotely control your hearing aid settings, and help you hear better in difficult listening environments.

Other features of the SoundLens Synergy IIC hearing aids include distortion-free listening comfort for loud sounds and ultimate clarity for soft sounds, a feedback cancellation system that prevents the hearing aids from buzzing or whistling, and advanced multiflex tinnitus technology, which provides relief from tinnitus.

The new Oticon ConnectClip is many things in one small device. Working with the Oticon OPN hearing aids, it can be used as a remote microphone, as a remote control, and it turns your OPN hearing aids into a high quality wireless headset.

Wireless Remote Microphone – When using the ConnectClip as a remote microphone it wirelessly streams the wearer’s voice directly to your hearing aids from up to 20 metres away. Simply have the ConnectClip clipped on to the person you need to hear more clearly, and their voice will be delivered to your hearing aids clearly and distinctly. This is especially useful in situations such as business presentations, classroom lectures and speeches at events, as well as conversations in crowded places or in the car.

Remote Control – OPN hearing aid wearers now have another way of controlling the hearing aid settings using the ConnectClip, which allows you to adjust things like the volume and programme that your hearing aids are set to.

Wireless Headset – The ConnectClip streams phone calls, video calls, music and podcasts directly to your OPN hearing aids, delivering clear, high quality stereo sound to both ears, whilst still allowing you to hear all the sounds around you.

Bluetooth Low Energy – The ConnectClip uses 2.4GHz Bluetooth Low Energy to connect to any modern Bluetooth enabled smartphone, tablet, music player, or computer. Unlike classic Bluetooth, it is able to stream sound to both ears, instead of just one. Bluetooth Low Energy also has lower power consumption and a broader frequency bandwidth than classic Bluetooth. For devices without Bluetooth built in, the ConnectClip comes with a USB that plugs into the USB port of the device, giving a range of up to ten metres.

Many hearing aids require new batteries as often as every few days if the hearing aids are used regularly. For some hearing aid wearers, using disposable batteries can be an inconvenience. Modern rechargeable hearing aid technology found in the Oticon OPN can now provide a solution to this problem without compromising any other technology or features.

The Oticon OPN rechargeable hearing aids provide a full day of use after an overnight charge. Users can simply put their hearing aids on the charger before they go to sleep every night, and put them back in every morning without ever having to put batteries in them or even open the battery door. Having a permanent place for your hearing aids every night will also ensure that you always remember where you put them.

Not having to buy hundreds of batteries each year for your hearing aids means you’ll be saving time and money, as well as making a positive impact on the environment. However, in emergency situations where you may be unable to charge your hearing devices or if you just forget to charge them, the Oticon OPN hearing aids will also work with disposable batteries.

From time to time hearing aid wearers will face the issue of their hearing device not working. There are a number of reasons why your hearing aid may have stopped working and a number of things you can do to troubleshoot the problem.

Reset – Firstly, you can try resetting the device by opening and closing the battery door. If your hearing aid has volume control buttons, it may be possible the volume has been accidentally turned down. Resetting the device will change the volume back to the default volume it has been programmed with.

Wax blockage – As you wear your hearing aid, wax from inside your ear can build up on and inside parts of your hearing device, blocking the sound from travelling to your ear. To remove wax from your hearing aid, you can use the cleaning tools provided by your practitioner, or a toothbrush to carefully dislodge the wax from your hearing device.

If your hearing aid has filters you should also replace these as they can sometimes become blocked with wax. Some types of hearing aids may need re-tubing if the wax cannot be dislodged using cleaning tools. This can easily be done by a staff member at your hearing clinic.

Battery – A very common reason why hearing aids stop working is the battery. If this is the problem, putting a new battery in your device will usually solve the issue. Before inserting the battery into the battery door, make sure the battery is new out of the packet and has not had the sticker removed already. Peel the sticker off the new battery, insert the battery with the correct side facing down and firmly close the battery door.

Damage – Every now and then a hearing aid will become damaged. In this case you will need to bring your hearing aid in to your hearing aid provider. Your provider may then send your hearing device to the manufacturer to be repaired.

By mid-2019 the Hearing Services Program will in-part be transitioning to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This will only affect a small percentage of program clients, with most clients remaining in the program and continuing to receive high quality hearing services.

After mid-2019, NDIS participants will no longer be able to receive hearing services through the Hearing Services Program and will instead receive their supports and services through the NDIS.

The NDIS will provide Australians under the age of 65 who have a permanent and significant disability with supports they need to enjoy an ordinary life. This will include a suite of hearing services and supports to eligible clients, which aims to reduce the consequences of hearing loss.

The following groups of Hearing Services Program clients will likely be eligible to become NDIS participants.

• Children and young adults under the age of 26
• Some adults classed as complex clients.

If you are eligible to become an NDIS participant you will be contacted directly by the NDIS before mid-2019. Until then, you will continue to receive your existing hearing services and supports through the Hearing Services Program.

Oticon Opn 1

Released in April 2016, the Oticon Opn 1 is one of the best hearing aids on the market. The device is built on Oticon’s Velox platform and features 64 frequency processing channels, environmental analysis of 100 times per second, and the highest level of BrainHearing support, as well as Bluetooth and internet capabilities. The Opn 1 hearing aids are water resistant to one metre and come in four different models to suit each user’s specific needs, including a rechargeable model.

Bluetooth enables users to stream phone calls and music directly to their hearing aids. Users can turn down the microphone volume to hear less background noise, and hear the person on the phone call or the music better. Users are also able to pair other Bluetooth-enabled home devices to the hearing aids, such as doorbells, appliances and baby monitors. The Opn 1 allows users to pair the hearing aids with a TV adaptor to stream audio from their television, and also enables stereo streaming.

The Opn 1 hearing aids have a universal program, which is able to auto-adjust to different listening environments without the user having to keep switching between programs. Users are able to adjust the volume of two hearing aids separately, and the hearing aids feature wind noise management to make listening easier.

Oticon has created an app for smartphones called Oticon ON, which enables users to control things like volume settings, and switch programs from the app. The app features other useful tools such as the ability to view the battery status of the hearing aids. The Opn 1 hearing aids can also be controlled from a remote control.

Phonak Audeo B-Direct

The Phonak Audeo B-Direct hearing aid was released in August 2017. This device is built on the Belong platform and comes in six different models. The Audeo B-Direct hearing aids are rechargeable and feature Bluetooth connectivity, enabling users to connect directly to any mobile phone.

The battery life of one single charge is approximately 24 hours, meaning users can charge their hearing aids each night and the battery will last until the next night. With Bluetooth connectivity to any mobile phone, users who own a classic mobile phone, instead of a smartphone, are still able to connect their mobile phone to their hearing aids. Users can also connect Audeo B-Direct hearing aids to their television using the TV connector, turning their hearings aids into wireless television headphones.

The Audeo B-Direct hearing aid features a program called AutoSense OS, which senses the user’s surroundings and adjusts automatically. All the user needs to do is turn the hearing aid on and the rest is automatic. The hearing aids also allow users to zoom in one a single voice in a noisy environment, providing 60% better speech understanding than they would have without the hearing aids. Phonak has also improved the soft-speech understanding feature in the Audeo B-Direct hearing aids.

Starkey Halo 2

The Starkey Halo 2 hearing aid, released in March 2016, is a Made For iPhone device that can connect to users’ smartphones using Bluetooth. Starkey built the Halo 2 with a variety of technology, including a new processing power that is 5 times faster, to improve users’ listening experience in any environment. The Halo 2 is available in Starkey’s smallest Made For iPhone style and features Surface NanoShield – a water, wax and moisture repellent system.

The Halo 2 hearing aids have the ability to use the GPS on your smartphone to remember where you are and automatically switch modes. For example, when your smartphone geotags your home, your hearing aids will recognise when you are home and switch to a specific mode. Through Starkey’s TruLink Hearing Control app, users can also adjust the SoundSpace and Noise Manager to fit their preferences in different listening environments.

The Halo 2’s Acuity Directionality and Speech Shift features improve speech audibility in difficult listening situations, and its feedback cancellation system prevents the hearing aid from buzzing or whistling. Advanced Multiflex Tinnitus Technology, which is adjustable through the TruLink app, relieves users who suffer from ringing in their ears.

Oticon was founded by Hans Demant in 1904. Han’s wife suffered hearing loss, and his passion to help her lead a life unhindered by her hearing loss is what led to the establishment of Oticon. The company started out as a distributor of hearing devices in Denmark, then in 1940 Hans’ son, William, who had taken over, started manufacturing hearing devices. In 1946 he partnered with American hearing aid producer, Charles Lehman, to establish the American-Danish Oticon Corporation.

By 1965 Oticon had expanded globally and in 1977 they introduced their first in-the-ear hearing device. In 1991 Oticon’s headquarters moved from Copenhagen to Strandvejen, where the company was led by Lars Kolind and Niels Jacobsen, then taken over by Niels Jacobsen. In 1996 Oticon launched the first fully digital hearing device, programmed to fit the individual’s hearing loss.

By 2004 –the year Oticon celebrated their centenary and introduced their “People First” slogan – they were known as the world’s second largest manufacturer of hearing devices. The year 2007 saw the launch of Oticon’s Epoq – two hearing aids which can continuously communicate with each other.

Today, Oticon believes in the philosophy of BrainHearing and their hearing devices support the way the brain works and makes sense of sound. Oticon employs more than 3,000 people and their products are sold in 24 countries. Oticon Australia’s Head Office is located in Sydney.

Bernafon, originally named Gfeller AG, was founded in 1946 by Hans Gfeller in Bern, Switzerland. Their first hearing device was the A1 2 Pack. In 1963 Gfeller AG launched their first behind-the-ear device – the H-Series. Their first in-the-ear device was the Charisma, which was introduced in 1986. The following year, Gfeller AG was integrated into the Ascom Audiosys Group and a year later they introduced the world’s first digital programmable hearing operating system.

In 1995 the Ascom Audiosys Group was taken over by William Demant and renamed Bernafon. In 1996 Bernafon celebrated their 50^th anniversary and launched their first remote controllable hearing system. Bernafon launched the world’s first ChannelFree hearing system. In 2007 Bernafon won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for their Brite hearing system.

Since then, Bernafon have launched a number of hearing systems and celebrated their 70^th anniversary in 2016. Their products are currently sold by 18 sales companies worldwide and more than 70 independent distributors.

Sonic Innovations was formed in 1991 and introduced their first hearing aid in 1998. They currently have five product lines, including the Adesso, an instant-fit completely-in-the-canal model, which is the smallest digital hearing aid on the market.

Phonak was founded in 1947 in Zurich by a French-Belgian group of investors. In 1978 they launched Superfront – a hearing aid with the highest amplification. In 1992 the PiCS Hearing Computer was successfully launched internationally. Since then, Phonak have continuously launched a variety of innovative digital hearing technology and opened a number of production facilities globally. In 2017 Phonak hosted an open day which attracted more than 5,500 guests as part of their 70^th anniversary celebration.

Unitron is a Canadian hearing aid manufacturer that was established in 1964. They have worldwide operations, 21 Unitron locations, and are headquartered in Waterloo, Canada. Unitron has more than 100 experts and engineers in their development centre.

GN ReSound was established in 1943 and has developed a number of hearing industry firsts. They created the world’s first Made for iPhone hearing aid with direct stereo sound streaming. ReSound has business in over 80 countries globally.

Widex is a family-owned company founded by Erik Westermann and Christian Tøpholm in Denmark in 1956. The two friends started the company in Christian Tøpholm’s basement. Today, Widex employs over 4,000 people worldwide and their hearing aids are sold in over 100 countries. Widex introduced the world’s first digital in-the-ear hearing aid in 1995 as well as other revolutionary technology, and has since developed their own wireless technology.

Founded in 1967 by William F. Austin, Starkey has developed many hearing industry firsts. In 1971 Starkey launched the first custom in-the-ear hearing aids. In 1974 they introduced the first 90 day trial period and worry-free warranty. Starkey delivered directional custom in-the-ear hearing aids the following year, and in 1980 they delivered miniaturised shells and reduced-size in-the-canal hearing aids.

They were the first company to introduce traineeships for students in Ph.D. and Masters programs in 1991. Starkey developed the first completely-in-the-canal hearing aids in 1992, and the first invisible-in-the-canal hearing aids in 2010. President Ronald Reagan was fit with Starkey Intra hearing aids in 1983. In 1984 the Starkey Hearing Foundation was founded, and has since helped more than 1,100,000 people in need around the world, providing critical aftercare services in 52 countries. Starkey launched the world’s first custom-made wireless earphones in 2017.

Siemens hearing aids are manufactured by Sivantos Pty Ltd. Sivantos Group extends back to 1878 when Werner Von Siemens developed a telephone receiver with substantially improved transmission quality, after noticing that people with hearing difficulties needed better transmission quality in order to understand telephone conversations. Sivantos Group currently employs approximately 5,000 people in more than 25 countries around the world and has customers in another 95 countries.

In the past, hearing aids needed to be removed in order to use headphones for personal audio devices such as mobile phones and music players. However, more advanced technology exists today, which allows wireless hearing aids to connect with personal electronic devices and stream signals directly to the hearing aids using Bluetooth. This means you can listen to audio from your personal electronic device directly through your hearing aids.

Devices that may be compatible with your Bluetooth hearing aids include:

• Mobile phones
• Tablets
• Televisions
• Music players
• Computers
• Remote microphones

Benefits of these devices connecting with your Bluetooth hearing aids include:

• Better conversations – on the phone, through video chat, or face-to-face
• Better sound when listening to music, podcasts, or watching videos
• Clearer hearing when watching movies and TV shows