Oticon Announce Release of Opn™

“Oticon Opn™ is the first hearing aid proven to make it easier on the brain”. - Don Schum, PhD, Vice President of Audiology and Professional Relations for Oticon, Inc.

Last week Oticon announced the launch of Oticon Opn™. Oticon Opn™ is the new line of hearing aids from Oticon on the Velox™ platform. Oticon advise breakthrough technologies will enable people with hearing loss to experience 20% less listening effort, remember 20% more and enjoy 30% better speech understanding based on preliminary data.

Key features of the Oticon Opn™ devices include the following: -

OpenSound Navigator™

Users can now focus on a conversation while staying attentive to people and things around them and switch focus quickly and easily.

The Velox™ platform

A powerhouse of groundbreaking features the new chip processor is 50 times faster than the Oticon Alta2. A market-leading 64-band frequency resolution enables a more precise sound analysis and better sound quality to support the brain’s ability to make sense of sound.

TwinLink™ technology

Opn is the industry’s first hearing solution to offer, two wireless communication systems in one hearing solution. One dedicated system is optimized for binaural ear-to-ear communication allowing users to enjoy high quality sound for better listening in all environments. A second dedicated system uses 2.4GHz Bluetooth direct streaming for wireless streamer-free communication to smartphones and other devices.

World’s First Internet Connected Hearing Aid

Opn is the world’s first hearing aid that connects to the internet via If This Then That (IFTTT.com), a web service that automates other web-based functions to make life easier. Opn provides users with a solution that will enable them to use their hearing aids with a growing number of IFTTT-compatible products and services as they become available.

The official UK launch of the Oticon Opn™ is at the end of May. Check back in the coming weeks for further details. See the below links for more details.

References

[Oticon]: New Oticon Opn™ Makes It Easier on the Brain with Ultra-Fast Access [http://www.pro.oticonusa.com/about/about-oticon/news-and-press/2016/4-13-16%20Opn%20Release.aspx]: [Apr 13 2016]

[Oticon]: Oticon Opn™ Delivers a Natural, OpenSound™ Experience [http://www.pro.oticonusa.com/hearing-care-professionals/hearing-devices/performance/opn/about-opn.aspx]

Phonak announce the release of the Naída V

“I am convinced the smaller size, reliability and unmatched hearing performance of Naída V on the Venture platform will surpass user expectations, as well as those of hearing care professionals.” - Martin Grieder, Group Vice President Phonak.

Phonak Naída V released

This week Phonak announced the release of the Naída V. The latest hearing device from Phonak to be released onto their hugely successful Venture platform. The Naida V is the successor to the Naída Q. The Naída V is Phonak’s most powerful hearing aid aimed at those with severe to profound hearing loss.

The Naída V features the following: -

• SoundRecover2 – The second and improved version of the Phonak frequency compression algorithm. SoundRecover2 helps lower high frequency sounds to give listeners with a limited hearing range access to sounds such as birds singing or a child’s laughter.
• Smaller size – Despite being Phonak’s most powerful hearing aid the new Naída V is 25% thinner in size compared to its predecessor making it less visible.
• More robust – The housing is constructed with a new glass fibre reinforced material that is 60% more robust than its predecessor.

The Naída V will be released in the coming weeks. 

References

[Phonak]: Phonak unveils Naída V portfolio of hearing aids: [https://www.phonakpro.com/com/en/about-phonak/press-center/2016/2016-april-13-naida-v.html]: [Apr 13 2016]

[Phonak]: Phonak Naída™ V: [https://www.phonakpro.com/com/en/products/hearing-aids/naida-v/overview-naida-v.html]

Tea for Tinnitus

Do you suffer from ringing in your ears?

Ringing in the ears or tinnitus, as it is medically known, is often described as a hissing, buzzing, chirping, whistling or a humming noise. Tinnitus is not a disease or illness, but is thought to be caused within a person’s own auditory pathway. About 10 per cent of adults in the UK experience mild tinnitus but up to one per cent have tinnitus that affects their quality of life.

Tea for Tinnitus – Tinnitus Awareness Week 8th – 14th February

The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) are a charity and world leader in providing support and advice about tinnitus. This year sees them celebrate their 10th anniversary of Tinnitus Awareness Week by launching their Tea for Tinnitus campaign.

Tinnitus Awareness Week 2016

Come along to your local event

The local Bournemouth Tinnitus Support Group are holding a Tea for Tinnitus event at Sunrise Senior Living, 42 Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth BH6 3DS on Friday 12th February at 2pm.

Members of the support group including Keeley Salmon, a hearing care professional from Key to Hearing, will be on hand to provide advice about tinnitus, tinnitus management and prevention.

Come along and have a chat whilst enjoying some delicious sandwiches, cakes and entertainment. Sunrise Senior Living are kingly providing a complimentary high tea so in return the Bournemouth Tinnitus Group are asking for a donation to the BTA. Every penny raised will make a difference by helping to pay for the support the BTA provide and their important medical research into causes and treatments for the condition.

Please telephone Ian Warren at Sunrise Senior Living to book your place on 01202 437600.

Tea for Tinnitus Bournemouth

Local tinnitus support group members describe how tinnitus effects their day to day lives

You may be surprised to learn that 10% of the UK population experience tinnitus. A tenth of these people report that tinnitus has severe effects on their quality of life. Tinnitus is defined as a noise in the head or ears which has no external sound source.

Did you know there are currently 61 British Tinnitus Association (BTA) support groups across the country for those who experience or know someone who is affected by tinnitus? Our local club is the Bournemouth and District Tinnitus Group of which Keeley has been a member since 2012 and has more recently been appointed role of Chairperson.

Recently the group had an interesting meeting where the members talked about their own experiences with tinnitus. Find out more below.

Describe the sound of your tinnitus?

Bleeps that come and go. Hissing. Swooshing. A low pitch drumming. The ringing of about three tiny metal bells. Like I’m driving down the M23 with the driver window open 1/4”. The hiss of a deep fat fryer. Squeaks and squeals. Buzzing noises. Similar to the sounds you hear when having a hearing test.

To your knowledge, does anything affect your tinnitus? E.g. food, drink, noise?

Tea or coffee in the evening. Caffeine. Red wine. White wine. Stress. Tiredness. Loud traffic noise. Dehydration. Dairy foods. I’m lucky as nothing seems to worsen my tinnitus. Anxiety.

How does your tinnitus make you feel?

Tired. Frustrated. Why have I got this noise? It affects my hearing and my concentration. I worry that my tinnitus may get louder in future. Stressed. Isolated. It doesn’t bother me. It irritates me and I find it annoying. Intrusive. It concerns my partner as they do not like to see me suffer. I sometimes feel I would just like five minutes’ relief.

Are there any methods you use to help manage your tinnitus?

I try to ignore it and distract myself. Keep myself busy/occupied. Relaxation breathing exercises. Tell myself it is not there—mind over matter! Avoid noisy places. Tai-chi. Hearing aids. Gardening. It doesn’t bother me anymore. Add background noise e.g. have the radio on. The support group is therapeutic, it’s good to know I’m not alone with this noise. Yoga. I use a pillow speaker as my sleep can be disturbed by my tinnitus. Reading. Conversation—it distracts me from my tinnitus. I’m lucky my tinnitus seems to stop after a short while. Singing in a choir.

Results from recent BTA Survey

Tinnitus can affect people in so many different ways. For some tinnitus has a mild impact on their lives but for others it can be very distressing. The BTA recently carried out a small survey on the effectiveness of tinnitus support groups and produced a booklet with the results. The survey highlighted that for some attending a support group was a considerable benefit. These attendees saw improvements in emotional health and wellbeing, a greater understanding of the condition and how to manage their tinnitus on a day-to-day basis.

Please feel free to contact us if you would like some further advice on tinnitus or are interested in joining the Bournemouth Tinnitus Group or click the link to learn more about tinnitus solutions.

Update on hearing aid batteries now mercury free

As of the 1st October 2015 the hearing care industry has adopted a move to Mercury Free battery solutions in line with the European Directive to help reduce polluting the environment.

What you need to know

• Hearing aid battery manufacturers now only supply mercury free batteries
• We have now started to supply mercury free batteries to you
• Mercury free batteries can be used in all hearing aids
• Running time for mercury free batteries is the same as standard batteries
• Any batteries containing mercury can be used until they have run out.

Click the link to find out more about hearing aid batteries.