It looks like Oticon’s next big thing is called the “Alta”. It hasn’t appeared on the U.S. website yet (as of this writing), but from what I’ve gathered from Oticon’s worldwide site, it looks intriguing.

Of course, it includes the next generation of advanced hearing aid technologies wrapped in fancy names: “Speech Guard E”, “Spatial Sound Premium”, “Feedback Shield”, etc. But the most unique feature appears to be the way the hearing aid is programmed.

Oticon Alta’s hearing aid programming process recognizes the fact that two different people hear things in different ways – even if, on paper, their hearing loss is identical. The Alta’s programming software allows audiologists to present various sounds to the patient during the programming process, in an effort to determine their acoustic preferences. The details on how this is accomplished are still a little unclear (at this time), but my guess is it involves an A/B comparison of certain types of sounds.

We, at Harmony Hearing & Audiology, have been using recordings of real-world sounds during our hearing aid programming process for quite some time. But this is the first time I’ve seen it integrated to this extent in the hearing aid manufacturer’s software. As an official supplier of Oticon hearing aids in Bel Air, we’ll be able to offer the Oticon Alta as soon as it becomes available.

The Phonak RemoteMic is a great solution to those Phonak hearing aid users who have difficulty listening to one-on-one conversations in noisy settings. In order for the RemoteMic to work with your Phonak hearings aids, you must wear the Phonak ComPilot around your neck. The RemoteMic is then clipped on your partner’s shirt, which will transmit their voice through the ComPilot into your Phonak hearing aids. This works great in loud restaurants, listening to lecturers, hearing your partner on the golf course, listening to your passenger while driving in the car, and many other challenging listening environments. The Phonak RemoteMic is able to transmit your partner’s voice from up to 20 meters away! Good news for all you existing Phonak Hearing Aid users- the RemoteMic is compatible with earlier model Phonak hearing aids. If you come up with another great use of the RemoteMic or want to give it a try for yourself, be sure to let us know!

Image borrowed from gnresound.com

The Verso hearing aid is ReSound’s newest hearing aid on the market. It is available in two different levels of technology: The ReSound Verso 7 (mid-level) and the Verso 9 (high-end). Some advancements in the these hearing aids include: improved sound quality of music, increased feedback control (meaning your hearing aids will be less likely to whistle unexpectedly), and better listening in background noise. The Verso 9 has something called “Binaural Fusion.” This means both of your hearing aids communicate with one another to automatically adjust the settings within your hearing aids and optimize your hearing ability no matter what environment you find yourself in. Don’t forget, the ReSound Verso’s are also wireless, so they can connect to all of ReSound’s wireless Unite accessories (that’s the Mini Mic, TV Streamer, Phone Clip, and Remote Control)!

Could you imagine being able to hear music for the first time at the ripe age of 23?  Well, the 23 year old mentioned in this story remembers it vividly.  This is a great story about a hard-of-hearing man finally able to appreciate music for the first time in his life thanks to getting new hearing aids!  Click here for the full story!

Hearing aid users spoke and Starkey delivered.  Starkey’s newest hearing aid, the 3 Series, has been released and includes some new patient-driven features.  Besides the slightly altered design, the 3 Series now offers patients with a new tactile toggle switch and their most updated sound processing strategies to date.   One toggle button can control both the memory function and the volume control for both hearing aids, based on how long you hold the button down.   These hearing aids really can be as simple or as complex as you would like.  Keeping up with the times, the 3 Series hearing aids are wireless so they are able to connect to any of Starkey’s wireless accessories (e.g., the Surflink Media and the Surflink Mobile).

Q: During the past several months, I’ve developed some ringing in my ears. I only hear it when it’s very quiet though. Is this something I need to be concerned about?

A: Ringing in the ears is relatively common, but not exactly “normal.” I personally hear a ring in one ear and crickets in the other when it’s very quiet. In many cases (including mine), it’s not something to be concerned about. But sometimes, ringing in the ears can be a symptom of a more serious medical condition – such as inner ear damage, a neurological disorder, or a cranial tumor. My philosophy is that anytime your body starts doing something it hasn’t done in the past, you should get it checked out. An audiologist will thoroughly evaluate your hearing, and if any warning signs of a medical condition pop up, we’ll refer you to the appropriate specialist. And if the ringing turns out to be just annoying (but not dangerous), we’ll be happy to discuss management and treatment options with you.

Answered by Dr. Matt Perry, Au.D. – audiologist and owner of Harmony Hearing & Audiology, located in Festival at Bel Air, 5 Bel Air S Pkwy, Ste. 1411, Bel Air, MD 21015 – (410)569-5999

Of course, the best place to keep your hearing aids is in your ears. But if they’re not in your ears, we always recommend putting them in an actual case. It’s unfortunately fairly common for someone to take out their hearing aids and put them in a tissue, to protect them. But that’s risky, because crumpled up tissue usually ends up in the trash.

When I saw this, I couldn’t resist commenting on it:

I’ve never heard of keeping your hearing aids in a bag with your golf balls and tees – but apparently, that’s risky too. The Sacramento Bee just reported:

“On the Fourth of July somebody impeded a golfer at Sun City from hearing “Fore!” when a small bag of golf balls, tees and hearing aids was stolen from a golf cart.”

Read it direct from the source here.

Q: It seems like every few months, a new hearing aid comes out – making the old ones obsolete. How can I make sure the hearing aids I purchase will last me a long time?

A: It’s true that the hearing industry has made huge advances during the past few years. Today’s hearing aids are A LOT better than those manufactured 5 years ago. But, you don’t have to worry about your hearing aids becoming obsolete. When I buy a computer, I know that some day that computer WILL become obsolete. One day, I’ll buy a new piece of software, and my computer simply won’t have the technology to run it. Hearing aids are different. When a new hearing device comes out, it won’t make your existing hearing devices any less effective, it just means you’ll have more options down the road.

Answered by Dr. Matt Perry, Au.D. – audiologist and owner of Harmony Hearing & Audiology, located in Festival at Bel Air, 5 Bel Air S Pkwy, Ste. 1411, Bel Air, MD 21015 – (410)569-5999

Q: I keep hearing about Bluetooth hearing aids. What exactly does a Bluetooth hearing aid do?

A: Bluetooth is a wireless technology used in various electronic products that has become very popular in wireless cell phones. When people talk about “Bluetooth hearing aids”, they’re probably referring to wireless hearing aids in general, of which some use Bluetooth, while others use other technologies, such as 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz technology.

A wireless hearing aid has the ability to communicate with other electronic devices or accessories. For example, many wireless hearing aids can be used as wireless headphones. Some can stream the sound from your television, across the room, directly into your ears. Some can be controlled using a remote control. And yes, some can communicate with your cellphone – taking the place of a typical Bluetooth earpiece. Wireless hearing aids have revolutionized the hearing industry by greatly improving communication in some traditionally, very difficult listening situations.

If you’d like to experience wireless hearing for yourself, give Cyndy a call at 410-569-5999, and ask for a free wireless hearing aid demonstration.

Answered by Dr. Matt Perry, Au.D. – audiologist and owner of Harmony Hearing & Audiology, located in Festival at Bel Air, 5 Bel Air S Pkwy, Ste. 1411, Bel Air, MD 21015 – (410)569-5999

Take a look at this interesting link from Men’s Health News talking about how hearing tests are The Most Neglected Health Test for Men and some significant health risks associated with untreated hearing loss.  Hopefully, this encourages everyone (including women!) to have their hearing tested!