The latest device available at Hidden Hearing is the Oticon Epoq, an innovative device that takes hearing care to an exciting new dimension. And if you are worried about the price, don’t be, because the Oticon Epoq is now available in an affordably priced new version, the Epoq V. This new version offers better hearing for the more budget-conscious. The Oticon Epoq boasts the same wireless connectivity as the premium Epoq XW and the mid priced Epoq W, at a fraction of the cost. At the touch of a button, the Epoq V wirelessly co-ordinates volume and programme shifts in two Epoq hearing devices. This automatically secures a baseline for a more balanced sound picture. And with 8 kHz bandwidth, sound quality, localisation, and speech understanding are also enhanced.

The Epoq V is a digital hearing aid that connects wirelessly to Bluetooth-enabled communication and entertainment devices, including landline and cell phones, radios, MP3 players, personal computers, laptops, and now, TVs as well.

Peter Sydserff, product manager for Hidden Hearing states, ‘We are delighted to be fitting our clients with Oticon Epoq. The results since introducing the product last year is literally outstanding and one more year on we now have a value version’.

Studies were conducted with 34 hearing professionals and 134 Epoq users. The Epoq earned an impressive 90% satisfaction rating based on spatial sound and wireless connectivity.

Using the latest binaural wireless processing, the Epoq offers the most advanced hearing experience. The binaural wireless processing enables a pair of Epoq hearing instruments to work as one central processing unit. This helps support the brain’s proper interpretation of various sounds in the environment, resulting in a completely natural hearing experience. This allows users to focus on sounds they want to hear, and suppress the unwanted ones.

Hearing aid audiologist Phillip Page said, ‘It is a big advantage to be able to offer a hearing system that is now proven as the best in the world. This test used the top technology from other manufacturers and shows that Hidden Hearing is once again in the position to offer an unrivalled level of product quality combined with great customer service.’

Oticon is a leader in its field, so much so, that it has won three prestigious, international awards. These awards include the Danish Product Award for its ‘world class engineering, design and craftsmanship’, the Best Innovations 2008 in the healthcare category from the American Consumer Electronics Association, and the esteemed 2008 Red Dot Award for creativity, innovations and pioneering design.

Hidden Hearing has also recently introduced Vigo Pro and Vigo, two affordable, full product families of premium performing hearing instruments. This allows budget-conscious clients to benefit from state of the art hearing technology as well.

It is the excellent combination of high end features, better sound quality, and the easy and straightforward fitting process that makes Vigo real value for money. Reports Peter Sydserff, ‘With Vigo we can now provide technologies that were precisely seen at the top of our price list’. “These fantastic new systems allow us to tackle difficult listening environments without having to opt for top of the range hearing aids, and are a great example of where Hidden Hearing offers true value for money.’

An innovative feature of the Vigo Pro is the Volume Control Learning function. This function allows the hearing aid to ‘learn’ how you prefer to use it in difficult hearing situations and environments. It will then begin to make changes before you do.

For the best hearing aid for you, visit Hidden Hearing, where a specialised hearing aid audiologist will be able to advise you on which Vigo model beat suits your needs.

Thanks to their extremely small size, these aids are nearly invisible to most observers. Size matters, and in this case, it means that smallness is prized. Some may also refer to these devices as Open Ear Hearing Aids. This is a new technology, and is an improvement on BTE Hearing Aids. The shell that fits around the ear tends to be smaller and the whole aid is much lighter than the older aids.

There is much research being done to improve Open Fit Hearing Aids for people with severe hearing loss. At present, those with high frequency hearing loss and normal to low frequency hearing may get the most benefit out of these aids.

A symptom of high frequency hearing loss is being able to hear, but not understand, what is being said.

These aids are lightweight and many users forget they are wearing something after just a short while. Another big difference is that standard hearing aids have an ear mould; these do not, so the wearer’s ear canal is open.

Benefits

Besides not causing occlusion, which is really just a fancy term for blockage, Open Fit Hearing Aids may not be much more expensive than regular in-the-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aids. Some users may find the automatic controls to be an advantage and the fact that they are not custom made, could make them easier to fit. This also means that the fitting time is considerably shorter because the audiologist does not need to take impressions of your ears to create the moulds.

No longer will it feel as though you are talking with one finger stuck inside your ear. And that oh so familiar sensation of hearing your own voice echo while talking, will also be eliminated with an Open Fit aid.

How do these devices differ from what else is available?

Open Fit hearing aids have digital a feedback cancellation system that eliminates the horrible howling or squealing sound that so many wearers complain of.

They do not have visible controls and function automatically.

These hearing aids are also known as post-aural aids, and consist of two parts. A mould goes inside the ear and another small plastic unit fits behind the ear. A small piece of tube connects these two parts. Hearing aid technology has progressed beyond the very first models, but they are still only aids to complement a wearer’s hearing.

Most hearing aids are binaural, and are used in both ears. This is a good idea, as the level of hearing would become much bigger. A small percentage of hearing aids are monaural, which means it is meant for one ear only.

These pieces are comfortable and there are different models that would suit almost any degree of hearing loss. It is possible to have them custom made to precise dimensions, which will give maximum comfort. There may even be different colours to match the wearer’s hair and skin tone.

Besides this one key advantage, there are also some less obvious ones:

• All age groups can wear a BTE hearing aid.
• Hearing amplification is very good with a BTE hearing aid.
• The batteries are bigger and easier to handle.
• Hot earwax would not affect BTEs.
• Directional microphones come standard with most BTEs
• BTEs tend to be more reliable.

Behind the ear hearing instruments are also not perfect. Some users may receive a bad fitting, which could cause feedback. Ear moulds may need the occasional remake to preserve the acoustic seal. These instruments are also larger than other hearing aids. This does mean they are a bit more noticeable.

How does a BTE hearing aid work?

Most normal hearing aids consist of the following:

• A tiny microphone
• An amplifier
• A loudspeaker

Who should consider a BTE hearing aid?

People who are prone to getting ear infections, have had surgery, or who suffer from excessive earwax production may want to get BTE hearing aids.

Digital Signal Processing

BTE Digital hearing aids use digital technology to process sound signals. The processor, which is really a tiny computer, has scientific models for sound and hearing programmed into it. Digital hearing aids therefore have a wider range of possibilities compared to analogue hearing aids.

Digital Signal Processing relies on the microphone for the incoming analogue signal. The signal gets sent to an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) and is converted into numerical values, which the digital signal processor can process.

When the digital signal processor finishes the task, a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) converts these signals back into an analogue signal.

Hearing aids have come of age in this modern, technological world. Digital hearing aids are now the preferred style and analogue technology may soon be superfluous.

There are many different types of hearing aids: the normal behind-the-ear type; the in-the-ear type; the in-the-canal type; a small box worn on the body and bone conduction hearing aids.

Behind the ear

The aid has a small plastic case that fits behind the ear, and a plastic tube connects it to the ear mould inside the ear.

Open ear fitting is a newer, slightly more hidden than ear moulds, version of BTE aids. These aids would only be suited to people with mild hearing loss.

In-the-ear and in-the-canal hearing aids

This device’s working parts are in the ear mould, so it is small enough to fit into your ear. Some ITE aids are visible from the side, though other ITC aids are inconspicuous as they fit into the ear canal.

These aids might not be safe for people who have severe hearing loss, or who have very narrow ear canals.

Body-worn hearing aids

A small box clips to your clothes or onto your pocket. It contains the microphone and working parts and connects to an earphone that clips into your ear mould.

These aids are great for people who have sight problems or who find it difficult to use small switches or buttons.

Bone conduction hearing aids

Someone who struggles to wear a conventional hearing aid or someone with conductive hearing loss would benefit most from these types of aids. Conductive hearing loss is the condition where sound vibrations pass through the outer and middle parts of your ear with increasing difficulty.

Bone conduction hearing aids transmits sound vibrations through the skull, directly to your inner ear. Patients wear a headband that holds a small bone vibrator behind their ear.

A second type of hearing aid, called a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA), requires an operation behind the patient’s ear to insert a fixture into the bone. This will remove the need for a headband.

CROS/BiCROS hearing aids

People with hearing in only one ear might prefer these aids. A CROS hearing aid picks up sound from the side with limited hearing and feeds it to the hearing ear. A BiCROS aid amplifies sound from both sides and feeds it into the ear that has some hearing.

What is the difference between digital and analogue hearing aids?

The difference lies inside the hearing aid. Miniature computer chips control, monitor and instruct digital hearing aids. These instructions or “programmes” give digital hearing aids their name – digital programmable or digital signal processing (DSP) aids.

These aids are connected to a computer that automatically adjusts the settings to the patient’s requirements. Each patient’s programme is stored, and this makes adjusting or reprogramming the aid a cinch.

Analogue hearing aids use microphones to pick up sound and convert it into small electrical signals. Depending on the sound’s pattern, the signal may vary slightly. The device amplifies these signals and sends them to the earphone.

The upper-scale hearing aids use automatic gain control that amplifies quiet sounds just enough until can be heard. The patient’s ears will not suffer from much noise, but an analogue hearing aid does not have the same type of settings to suit someone’s individual hearing loss.

How advanced are these devices?

These hearing aids are highly intuitive and can filter out unwanted noise, and prioritize the type of sounds the patient wants to hear. Artificial intelligence enhances speech in listening situations that may be difficult for hearing impaired people. It changes automatically to adapt to changing listening conditions, and ensures you will always hear voices clearly.

These devices use the same type of artificial intelligence as that of voice-activated phones and speech recognition software. These programs shift through the normal clutter to detect human voices, and filters out office clatter, traffic and other normal sounds.

Comfort and design

Hearing aids have become more comfortable to use than in the past. There are different volume levels and the aid can be programmed to suit a particular hearing need.

Some hearing aids have a certain form of loudness compression system, and this will work well if the person who fits it adjusts the settings carefully.

There’s also no reason why you should put up with an ugly hearing aid. A growing awareness of people’s needs have prompted companies to design hearing aids that any aesthete will be proud of. These new aids blend in behind the wearer’s ear, and even if it is visible, e.g., a bald man who wears a hearing aid, it could still be an attractive piece.

Bluetooth technology can also be used in these new devices. The wearer would be able to listen to music through a portable music player, or answer a mobile phone.

Small enough

Digital hearing aids have different sizes, and private dispensers may have the widest range. There are small models that may be attractive options, even though these aids are notoriously fiddly to use. They also break easier and may not be very co-operative when you want to use the loop system.