Conforma Hearing Aid

May 2000

Editor: Innovation in hearing aids continues at an unprecedented pace. We'll have to wait and see if any of these new ideas catch on, but it's good to see that people are thinking about ways to improve hearing technology. Sonic Innovations recently introduced a hearing aid that uses a soft cover over the electronics core, so no shell is required. Boon or bust???

Also, please notice the last sentence before the "For additional information" paragraph. I did edit this press release a bit, and I nearly removed that offensive sentence. But I thought some of you might want to contact Sonic Innovations and tell them what you think of their attitude <hint, hint>.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May 8, 2000-- Empowering the hearing impaired with a new standard in convenience, comfort and size, Sonic Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNCI - news) today announced the national availability of CONFORMA(TM), the first instant, high-tech digital hearing aid. The smallest, most sophisticated digital hearing aid ever produced, CONFORMA is the only personalized, high-performance device that is instantly available to patients after a single office visit with a hearing care professional. CONFORMA has already been successfully tested and test-marketed across the United States, with a particular emphasis on targeting aging ``baby boomers.''

At the forefront of design and sound technology, CONFORMA consists of two parts. The first is a tiny core, about the diameter of a pencil eraser, which houses the product's electronics and the smallest, most powerful computer chip ever used in a hearing aid. The second is a disposable, "squishy" soft shell that fits snugly over the aid's core. Since the soft shell comes in four standard sizes, there is no need to wait 1-2 weeks for ear impressions to be made into the hard, acrylic shells that are characteristic of traditional hearing aids.

CONFORMA's shell molds itself to the shape of the wearer's ear canal, making a complete, comfortable and flexible seal, thereby providing a custom fit with every use. Its soft shell is replaced each week: wearers simply remove the core and insert it into a fresh shell. CONFORMA fits deeply within the ear canal--so deep that it will go seemingly unnoticed, potentially eliminating the social stigma of wearing a hearing aid.