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Hearing Aid Technology

Today’s hearing instruments contain sophisticated digital circuitry available in all models from Behind-the-Ear to In-the-Ear and even In-the-Canal models that allow more functions and features than ever before.

Digital Sound Processing

  • Automatic sound processing
    • Incoming sound is continually analyzed and processed to best amplify speech while reducing unwanted noise
    • Soft sounds are given more amplification, while very loud sounds are given little or no amplification
    • Often creates hands-free operation with no need for external controls such as volume control wheels
    • Makes hearing instruments simple to use and comfortable for the wearer
  • Directional microphone systems
    • Proven to improve speech understanding in noisy environments
    • Helps you focus on sound coming from in front of you, by reducing sound coming from the side and behind you
    • The latest directional microphone systems automatically adapt and reduce multiple noise sources around you
    • New directional technology includes systems that use three microphones
  • Speech & Noise management technology
    • Helps minimize or reduce background noise in many situations
    • Allows for special listening programs to be set that offer personalized sound processing for specific listening needs such as listening to music
  • Feedback Cancellation
    • Continually analyzes incoming signals and adjusts seamlessly and instantaneously to minimize feedback (whistling)
    • Maintains excellent sound quality
    • Advanced systems avoid unnecessary cancellation of high-pitched external signals like music or the beeps from a microwave oven
  • Multiple Listening programs
    • Adjusts the way sound is processed to adapt to specific listening situations including listening on the telephone or to music
  • Wireless technology
    • Highly advanced instruments use wireless technology to literally communicate with each other when wearing two hearing instruments (binaural amplification)
    • Sound processing is synchronized for optimized sound quality
    • Wearers can use one control to operate both instruments
  • Intelligent features and accessories
    • Remote control
      • Allows volume and listening mode changes to be done discreetly, without having to touch the hearing instrument
      • Enables volume change and multiple listening programs on instruments too small for push buttons or volume control wheels such as with Completely-in-the-Canal models
      • Advanced remote controls can display hearing instrument settings including battery status, listening mode and volume
    • Telecoil
      • Special feature that amplifies only telephone signals and not other sounds
      • Operated automatically when telephone is placed near hearing instrument or manually by a push button or switch
    • Audio input
      • Allows attachment, either with or without a wire, to FM systems (assistive listening devices used by children with hearing loss in schools), televisions, tape recorders and other devices.

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