To build the next generation of super power instruments, Oticon called upon the company’s considerable experience developing innovative solutions for power users and the extensive resources of the world renowned Eriksholm Research Centre. The result is the new Oticon Chili, an innovation in super power instruments that combines groundbreaking new approaches in audiology, connectivity and reliability. Much more than super-powered, Chili meets the particular needs of people with moderately-severe to profound hearing loss with advanced capabilities that are designed to empower users to interact more naturally and participate more actively in all that life has in store. Chili is engineered to improve intelligibility by enhancing audibility and the processing of speech in noise for those with more severe hearing loss.

“In developing Chili, we recognized early on that helping power users to hear speech better was not enough,” states Oticon President Peer Lauritsen. “Our goal for Chili was an ambitious one – to empower people with moderately-severe to profound hearing loss to live active, vital lives. The results of a dedicated, in-depth study of super power users, their families and friends and information from super power users who are routinely interviewed and tested by Oticon audiologists and researchers enabled us to identify their most important needs and desires. We looked beyond the need for amplification to better understand the real life challenges and the impact of severe hearing loss on personal connections and social interactions.”

A New Way to Solve a Well Known Challenge

The ability to understand speech is essential for a super power user. Helping users to not just distinguish but to make sense of the sounds – clear, undistorted speech – is the challenge addressed with Chili’s new Speech Guard. The unique amplification technique helps to maximize audibility and speech recognition without the jumble and distortion power users can encounter with even the most advanced hearing aids available today.

Speech Guard provides a clear signal, reducing the distortion to make it easier to follow conversations, even in more complex environments where noise or more voices are competing for attention. The addition of Oticon’s proprietary Dynamic Speech Enhancement rationale for super power users (DSEsp) provides the desired insertion gain and MPO and maintains optimum loudness levels for speech input across the relevant frequency range, making speech signals far more useful for users.

People with severe to profound hearing loss also have greater difficulty selecting and following a particular speaker. Chili’s Binaural Noise Management system automatically turns up speech on one side when the signal to noise ratio is significantly better, while attenuating noise on the opposite side to improve listening effort.

Connecting to Modern Communication Devices

Chili’s embedded wireless connectivity capabilities offer a unique and intuitive hearing solution that allows users to switch seamlessly between entertainment and communication devices using the Streamer remote control device. With the Streamer, Chili becomes a hands-free headset for mobile phones and MP3 players. With the addition of the ConnectLine system, users can channel sound directly from the TV, landline telephone or music player with just the touch of a button. Connect(+) adds Power Bass and Music Widening features for a richer, more open listening experience.

Style, Quality and Reliability to Count On

Chili combines attractive and discreet design with high performance and reliability. The new hearing instrument’s stylish, cosmetic design incorporates fast control features for instant muting, volume adjustment and program selection.

Engineered to the highest endurance specifications, Chili is designed inside and out with double protection against damage from moisture, sweat, dirt and shocks. The unique shock-absorbing construction of Chili’s electronic components prevents breakage should the hearing instruments be dropped or fall off the ear. The high-tech water repellent coating keeps out moisture and dirt, and the battery door is secured against water and sweat. Inside, Chili’s electronic parts are permanently sealed with a coating that repels water, moisture and dirt.

Tags: Atlanta Hearing Aid, Audiologist, Audiology, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Review, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, Oticon, Severe Hearing Loss

Posted in Hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Review, Hearing Aid Services, Hearing Damage, Hearing Device, Hearing Loss, Hearing Test, Latest News, Oticon, Severe Hearing Loss |

Dr. Maria Wynens recently participated in, and completed, the second annual Jackson County Brevet, a 100 mile bike ride.  The bike ride was to raise awareness and financial support for the Aplastic Anemia International Foundation, the world’s leading nonprofit health organization dedicated to supporting patients and families living with aplastic anemia.  Aplastic Anemia is a very rare and very deadly bone marrow disease.  The event for this year was well attended, with nearly 1,200 cyclists participating to help bring awareness and help raise money for the organization.

Posted in Latest News |

Starkey Laboratories’ new AMP Personal Audio Amplifier is a tiny new invisible hearing aid designed “for people who aren’t ready for a hearing aid.”  The new hearing aid is an affordable, cosmetically appealing solution that does a good job correcting mild or moderate hearing loss. At a suggested retail price of $750 a piece, the Starkey AMP hearing aid is designed to make it simple for audiologists to send patients home with their first hearing aids after their first visit–without busting their budgets.

The tiny Starkey AMP hearing aid fits deep enough within the average ear canal to be virtually invisible, and is an entry-level solution for people just starting to have trouble with their hearing. Its programming software comes with four preset starting points to make it easy for audiologists to tune the four-channel device to meet the individual requirements of patients with the most common form of mild, mainly high-frequency hearing loss. And a one-size-fits-most design–with an innovative “elastomeric sleeve” that can be adjusted to different sizes of ear canals and that also promotes airflow to prevent occlusion–enables audiologists to do without ear mold impressions and fit an off-the-shelf product that the patient can start wearing the same day.

Tags: AMP, Atlanta Hearing Aid, Audiologist, Audiology, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Review, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, Invisible, Starkey

Posted in AMP, Hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Device, Hearing Loss, Invisible, Invisible Hearing Aid, Latest News, Starkey |

The new Aquaris waterproof hearing aids from Siemens Hearing Instruments have taken the recent industry trend toward more durable, water-resistant hearing aids to a whole new level. Siemens says the Aquaris hearing aids are fully waterproof to depths of three feet for up to 30 minutes.

The new hearing aids promise to eliminate the repair problems associated with sweat, dirt and humidity, in addition to expanding their functionality.  Siemens has even developed a sound-processing program that can be switched on while swimming to help the hearing aids adapt to the sound of water splashing and other acoustic challenges.

As with its other latest-generation hearing aids, Siemens equipped Aquaris with its BestSound Technology, which improves speech understanding, the wearer is able to make adjustments using Siemens “Tek” and “miniTek” remote operation, and the hearing aids link wirelessly with modern communication and entertainment electronic devices.

Tags: Atlanta Hearing Aid, Audiologist, Audiology, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Review, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, Hearing Test, Siemens

Posted in Hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Review, Hearing Aid Services, Hearing Damage, Hearing Device, Hearing Loss, Latest News, Siemens, Waterproof Hearing Aid |

You most likely know someone who has a hearing loss. Whether it affects a relative, child, friend or co-worker, or even yourself, hearing loss is a prevalent and often neglected concern. Hearing loss affects over 30 million Americans or 1 in every 10 people; in fact, it’s the second most common birth defect. Despite these staggering numbers and the fact that hearing aids could treat 95% of all hearing loss, Medicare and most insurance policies expressly exclude coverage, making treatment an expensive endeavor. The Hearing Aid Tax Credit is legislation drafted with these real concerns in mind. If enacted, it would provide a $500 tax credit per hearing aid available once every 5 years.

With an average cost of $1,800 including fitting and follow-up, hearing aid treatment can result in unexpectedly high costs for the average American. The tax credit would help millions of people seeking hearing aid treatment, as $500 can make the difference when deciding whether one can afford treatment. The tax credit has wide bi-partisan support, is supported by nearly every hearing health organization and advocacy group, and addresses a real and too often ignored healthcare need. Your support is needed, however, to let your Senators and Representative know that the Hearing Aid Tax Credit would make a real difference in your life. So please, contact your Congressmen and tell them how the Hearing Aid Tax Credit could help you.

Last Congress, the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax credit bill reached 130 cosponsors in the U.S. House and nine in the U.S. Senate. You can help to gain support for this initiative by visiting The Better Hearing Institute http://www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org/.  Here you can locate your member of Congress and send an editable form letter urging support for H.R. 1479, as well as contact information for your legislator.

Posted in Hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Cost, Hearing Device, Hearing Loss, Latest News, Tax Credit |

A study was published in June 17, 2008, in the Annals of Internal Medicine about the relationship of Diabetes and Hearing Loss.  According to the study “patients with diabetes are more than twice as likely as those without the disease to have hearing loss.  Overall, more than 40 percent of people with diabetes in the study had some degree of hearing loss.”

For years, physicians who treat people with diabetes have regularly ensured that their patients receive regular vision check-ups. This important study underscores the need for physicians now to encourage each of their patients to get their hearing checked as well. Both vision loss and hearing loss are associated with diabetes.

Posted in Audiogram, Diabetes, Hearing, Hearing Damage, Hearing Loss, Hearing Test, Latest News |

One question I am frequently asked is  ”What do I do with my hearing aids when I go through airport security?”.

Here is the most up-to-date information regarding hearing aids from TSA. You can find more information at, www.tsa.gov.

• It is not necessary to remove hearing aids at security checkpoints.
• It is best if you wear your hearing device while going through the metal detector.
• According to Otolaryngologist and Otolaryngology surgeons, hearing devices such as hearing aids are not affected by X-ray inspection, the walk-through metal detector, or the hand-held metal detector.
• If the screening process is unclear to you, ask the Security Officer to write the information down.
• If you can read lips or are hard of hearing, ask the Security Officer to look directly at you and repeat the information slowly.
• If you need to communicate with the Security Officer, inform her/him of your disability and the way in which you can communicate. TSA Security Officers are trained to provide whatever assistance they can to persons with hearing disabilities.
• If you are concerned or uncomfortable with going through the walk-thorough metal detector, you can ask for a full body pat-down of your person and a visual and physical inspection of the exterior component while it remains on your body.

Happy Travels!

Posted in Hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Device, Latest News |

With Special Edition “Think Pink” Hearing Device, Dr. Wynens Supports Breast Cancer Research and Better Hearing

This October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month will celebrate 25 years of making a positive difference for women and their families in communities around the world.  Dr. Maria Wynens is proud to support this worthy cause in a way that will also make a positive difference for people with hearing loss in Atlanta.

Dr. Wynens is among a select group of U.S. hearing care practitioners to offer the new Oticon Agil “Think Pink,” a sleek, distinctively pink hearing device. During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Wynens will participate in the national “Pink with a Purpose” campaign to help raise funds for breast cancer research. Throughout October, leading hearing care manufacturer Oticon will donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of Agil “Think Pink” and all other Agil hearing devices to the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

New Agil is designed to enable people with hearing loss to minimize the cognitive energy expended in typical listening situations — without compromising sound quality and speech understanding. Agil preserves natural speech cues so less energy is needed to translate and interpret the meaning of sounds.

Agil takes much of the hard work out of organizing, selecting and following sounds so that people with hearing loss can stay engaged and active in everyday activities. “With the addition of the Streamer, a sleek companion device that resembles an MP3 player, Agil connects wirelessly to TVs, cell and landline phones and other popular communication devices.”

Special edition Agil “Think Pink” is available in tiny mini behind-the-ear device that is almost invisible on the ear.  Dr. Wynens notes that the Agil family of hearing instruments can accommodate approximately 80 percent of hearing losses.

Tags: Atlanta Hearing Aid, Audiologist, Audiology, Breast Cancer Research, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss

Posted in Agil, Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Research, Hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Device, Latest News, Oticon |

Tags: Hearing Aid, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, Hearing Test, Oticon, Oticon Agil

Posted in Hearing Aid, Latest News, Oticon |

According to a recent article in the Journal of American Medicine, more American adolescents may be suffering from early signs of hearing loss than previously estimated.

Researchers looking at hearing loss in people ages 12 to 19 found that when compared with data from the mid-1990s there has been a 30 percent increase in the development of minimal levels of hearing loss, and a 77 percent increase in more serious hearing problems – those where obvious communication difficulties can be observed. About one in 20 children experienced hearing loss in 1994, and that number jumped to about one in 5, or an estimated 6.5 million adolescents, by 2006.

“What we’re seeing is a big jump in the prevalence of hearing loss in a very short period of time, in less than one generation,” says Dr. Roland Eavey, an author on the study. “That means we’re on the front edge of an epidemic.”

Hearing loss is a serious problem that can lead to developmental delays for school-aged children. Even though the condition is common, getting to the root of the problem remains a challenge.

The authors of the JAMA article conclude that more studies are needed to determine the exact cause of the increase. “We see smoke,” Eavey explains. “We’re not sure where the fire is yet, but we know it’s not good for the woods to be burning.”

Tags: Hearing Loss, jama, Noise, Teenagers

Posted in Latest News |