Hearing Aid Manufacturers Panel
Editor: We weren't able to make the SHHH convention in Cherry Hill,
NJ, this year, but we're hoping to get to the Seattle convention in
2002. Fortunately, Cheryl Heppner of NVRC did her usual outstanding job
of reporting, and she's given us permission to pass along her articles.
Here's her report on the Hearing Aid Manufacturers Panel.
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Hearing Aid Manufacturers Panel
Again this year, a panel of hearing aid manufacturers was invited to
give short presentations on their products. Again this year they gave
presentations peppered with industry speak such as "independent
processing channels" and "manual override volume control"
which sound very nice but do not tell the average layperson in the
audience the question in the back of most minds -- "what's so
special about this, how is it different than in the past, and how is it
going to help me hear better?"
The good news is that the industry has definitely received the
message from consumers and most digitals now have put the volume control
back to allow them to adjust the hearing aid, instead of telling
consumers they should learn to adjust to the hearing aid so
sophisticated it can set the controls for them.
Listening to the presentations, one was tempted to think of Tim Allen
on "Home Improvement" with his eagerness for "more
power." Digitals of the past seem much less powerful in comparison
with these new hearing aids.
Forgive me while I repeat a whole lot of the jargon in my notes about
some of the new hearing aids:
OTICON - DIGIFOCUS The new DigiFocus II "Super Power" with
90 dB of gain and 139 dB MPO. It has 2 independent processing channels
and an equalizer 10 times more powerful than your home stereo. The
manufacturer says it's designed to give the right amount of sound in
different environments. Designed to maximize the capacity of residual
hearing, it will sound different from a traditional analog. It has
feedback management, full spectrum telecoil compatible with all
assistive listening devices on the market, manual override volume
control, direct audio input compatibility. The websites www.digilife.com
and www.oticonus have more information, including a feature to find the
location of a dispenser near you who carries these aids.
SIEMENS Prisma 2 Super Power Plus now has 137 dB of output for those
with hearing in the severe to profound range. It's got 4 channels,
volume control, an a microphone noise reduction feature that squelches
low-level ambient noises. There's a voice activity detection feature
intended to be helpful with background noise, and a program to mimize
feedback. For children, there's an audioboot to use with FM systems,
etc.
Signia is the high-end new products. It's a mini behind-the-ear aid
with 8 channels, a programmable telecoil, and volume control. There are
beeps to let you know when the battery is low or to alert you when you
change a program so you can know which program you are in. Included are
directional microphones and a choice of colors. The slim design is
intended to make it easier for eyeglass wearers.
Tinnitus Control Instruments have been introduced. They are intended
to be used with Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, which was developed by a
doctor at Emory University. This therapy doesn't make tinnitus go away
but gives low-level stimulation with a pleasant sound, not a masker. You
learn not to focus on the tinnitus. You must wear two of the devices and
it can take 12-24 months of wear to be retrained. Two models are
available: a sound generator called TCI and a sound generator plus
hearing aid called TCI-Combi. The latter is based on their Prisma
digital hearing aid technology and is for mild to moderate hearing loss.
These devices are also appropriate for hyperacusis.
WIDEX The Senso Plus is Widex's 100% digital hearing aid. Products
range from completely in the canal hearing aids to Super Power behind
the ear hearing aids. All models have an optional volume control (no
remote needed). Soft sounds are increased and loud sounds of speech are
decreased. Widex claims the hearing aids provide more amplification for
soft sounds than any other hearing aid. Three channels can be adjusted
for low, medium and high pitches, because people told Widex that when
they lower the volume in noisy situations, tey also lose the speaker's
voice. There's a feedback management system and reduction of the hum of
the hearing aid circuit in quiet environments.
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
Q: What is available for Auditory Neuropathy? A: Dr. Charles Berlin
has some therapies available -- check the website for Kresge. A lot of
times it's not the product that gives success; it's the combination of
product and treatment you are getting.
Q: Can hearing aids be used only with assistive devices manufactured
by the company? A: All hearing aids should be compatible with all
listening devices.
Q: Will we see improvements in telecoils that are now too weak for
some uses? A: We may see telecoils eliminated or telecoil responses
programmable. Also Bluetooth wireless is coming down the pike and could
be applied to hearing aids.
Comment: Why not put ads in major magazines showing visible, colored
hearing aids to let people know it's okay to have hearing loss?
Comment: Why must consumers be forced to give up something that is
working well for them (e.g. assistive listening system) because it won't
work with newer digital hearing aids?
Q: What can be done to get the cost down; a refrigerator and tool
shed cost less than a hearing aid? A: Most hearing aids have been hand
made. Starkey buys all the parts and controls it needs for its hearing
aids from others and doesn't manufacture them. A lot of things behind
the scenes can force the price of hearing aids to change. New technology
uses machines and lasers. but to be cost- effective more hearing aids
would need to be sold. Some of the cost is also for the service and
warranty. Hearing aids get a 30-day free trial and often a warranty of
one year or more -- you don't get that with a fridge or tool shed. Our
U.S. policies are not very helpful either. Oticon, for example, sells
all over the world and in other countries the state helps to pay for
hearing aids.
Comment: What can be done about in-the-ear and in-the-canal hearing
aids which don't have telecoils good enough; people spend thousands of
dollars on them and then can't use assistive listening devices? More
research needs to be done on how people do with in-the-ear aids.
Comment: In ten years we may be able to walk into a room and our
hearing aids will have a smart chip to know what type of FM system is
being used and adjust for it automatically.
Comment: Consumers may be attracted to cheaper hearing aid prices on
the Internet but don't factor in that they will still need 5-7 hours at
approximately $50 per hour with an audiologist, which can end up costing
the same.
-- Cheryl Heppner, NVRC
