FM Wireless Technology
Open Fit/High Frequency Hearing Aids.....The Best thing invented since ICE CREAM!!
8 Reasons Open Fit Hearing Aids are Winning Greater Customer Satisfaction
To satisfy its owner, a hearing aid has to do many jobs well. It has to deliver high-fidelity sound, free of distortion. It must distinguish between what is noise and conversation. It must be cosmetically appealing. Plus, it must be comfortable to wear. Open-Fit hearing aids do all of these well. Here’s why:
1
Non-Occluding:
A frustrating problem with hearing aid users is occlusion, or the feeling of being stopped up. Open-Fit hearing aids overcome this problem by employing a breathable eartip.
2
Cosmetically Appealing:
These hearing instruments are a fraction of the size of traditional behind the ear hearing aids and their transmission tube is tiny. The result is s a cosmetically unnoticeable hearing instrument.
3
Comfortable:
These instruments are feather light, and the eartip is designed not to apply pressure to the ear canal; you quickly forget that you are wearing them.
4
Natural Sound:
One of the major concerns facing hearing aid wearers is the resonating “barrel effect” of hearing your own voice, and the overwhelming sound of chewing your food. Open fittings overcome this sensation through their unique tip design.
5
Instant Gratification:
With traditional hearing aids, there is a waiting period while custom products are manufactured. Open fitting can be taken home on the first visit. Your hearing professional will mold an ultra-thin transmission tube to the contour of your ear and program the instrument by computer to match your hearing loss.
6
Directional Microphone:
Today’s highest satisfaction ratings come from hearing aids with directional technology. Many of these tiny instruments have it.
7
Digital Sound Processing:
These instruments apply continuous digital processing to incoming sound, providing clean, distortion-free amplification.
8
Natural Ambient Sounds:
Open fitting allow environmental sounds to pass naturally through your ear canal, as if hearing aids are not being worn. The only sounds that are amplified are the soft sounds; loud sounds will not be over-amplified.
These devices may not be appropriate for everyone. Most are designed for mild to moderately severe high frequency hearing loss. Only your Audiologist can determine if you are a good candidate for an open fitting. Dr. Vowell fits the majority of her patients with high frequency hearing aids from a variety of manufacturers. Patients are overwhelmingly surprised and happy at how well this design improves their hearing without being obtrusive to their lifestyle!
Directional-Microphone Hearing Aid Technology
How Directional Hearing Aids Work
A major source for infrequent use and user dissatisfaction of hearing aids has been the inability to distinguish between wanted sounds-such as speech from a person talking directly to you – and the background or ambient noise which clutters up this ability to hone-in on the desired sound. This problem is multiplied when the user changes environments. For example, there are times when she/he wants to hear only the speech in one-to-one conversation; other times when walking down the street or listening to music, she/he needs to
hear all sounds in the environment for both safety and enjoyment reasons.
Researchers have identified the culprit to be the Omni-directional Microphone, which by design picks up sound from all directions. This discovery has given way to several technological advances based on changing the microphone configuration and controlling sound pickup. Now, those with hearing problems have bona fide solutions for better listening ability as they move from environment to environment.
Most of the major hearing aid manufacturers now have digital, directional microphone systems. These selectively amplify sounds coming from the front, while sounds coming form the sides or rear are amplified much less. In a noisy situation, if the user looks at the person they want to hear, the directional microphone can help them pick out the desired voice form the background noise. Directional microphones are available in both behind-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids, but they are not available (and could not work) in completely-in-the-canal hearing aids.
Look at the face of a directional in-the-ear hearing aid and you’ll see two small holes called sound ports. The front sound port is designed for listening in all types of environments. But in noisy environments, the rear sound port will pick up sounds coming from behind and the sides and the hearing aid will automatically reduce sound confusion and enhance the users listening ability from the front.
Hearing aid manufacturers achieve this in different ways. In some models a computer chip measures the sound at each of the two sounds ports continuously and determines which to amplify and which to reduce or suppress. In other models the acoustic modification is achieved at the microphone sound ports. With this method the rear sound port is acoustically out-of-phase with the front sound port, and the hearing aid electronically suppresses the sounds coming from the rear and the side. Both methods achieve the same result.
Directional technology can be compare to the use of blinders on a race horse to minimize distractions; while the horse is aware of it s surroundings, it is less distracted by them.
Some directional hearing aid models are preprogrammed by the hearing professional so the instrument will switch from omni-directional to directional automatically depending on environmental sounds. With other models the directional microphones may be turned on-or-off manually by the wearer for best listening.
A directional microphone system may not be for everyone. For a consumer with minimal hearing loss, or those who spend most of their time at home, omni-directional hearing aids may be fine. But for those who need amplification in the workplace or in social settings, the ability to have a more sophisticated hearing aid with directional capabilities is crucial.
Citizens who have problems hearing require optimum conditions to perform well on speech-intelligibility tasks. Directional microphone systems offer the possibility of improving the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio even when speech and noise are similar, thus improving understanding. And when speech and noise come from sources that are spatially separated, directional hearing aids do their best work.
For those with more profound hearing loss, the “directional hearing array,” a group of microphones worn as a necklace, may help with hearing conversation even more. This system works in tandem with a conventional hearing aid. Sound signals from the front of the user are picked up by microphones on the necklace, and that sound can be “heard” by the hearing aid.
Some with minor hearing loss, may find little difference between directional microphone technology and standard hearing aids. Others, with more profound hearing loss, may find the directional hearing array system more advantageous. Ask you hearing professional or a demonstrations of these technologies to determine what helps your specific hearing.
FM Systems
A remarkable improvement to the performance of your hearing instruments
Master difficult hearing situations around the clock
Even with latest-generation hearing instruments, speech intelligibility can be severely impaired in difficult listening situations. But the Phonak FM system restores the instrument user’s ability to effortlessly engage in a conversation even in noisy surroundings.
The advantage in difficult hearing situations:
•
With a mobile wireless microphone, the speaker’s voice is picked up directly at the source and transmitted to the hearing instruments as an FM signal. This optimizes hearing quality.
Lead discussion - understand everything and everyone better
For most hearing instrument users, it is difficult to simultaneously understand everyone during a discussion and an even greater challenge to act as a moderator. Instruments equipped with the Phonak FM system allow active participation in group discussions.
The advantage in discussion settings:
•
The user can understand more easily because the mobile microphone is positioned near the speaker to assure optimized speech intelligibility.
Communicate more easily in noisy surroundings
It is often hard to understand speech in crowded settings. For hearing instrument users, this can become troublesome in situations where even people with normal hearing can no longer communicate without difficulty. The Phonak FM makes it easy to focus on one or several speakers.
The advantage in noisy surroundings:
•
The mobile microphone fades out annoying background noise; this significantly increases the audibility and intelligibility of individual voices.
Watch TV while conversing or telephoning
For TV viewers, the Phonak FM system combines several advantages: it eliminates the need to turn up the volume and at the same time allows them to engage in a conversation, hear the phone ring, and clearly understand the caller’s voice.
The advantage in watching TV and using the phone:
•
Superb sound quality based on FM signal transmission plus a unique automatic source selection feature that mutes the TV’s sound when the telephone rings.
Hearing instruments are transformed into communication systems
Hearing instruments pick up speech with built-in microphones. As the distance to the speaker increases, speech intelligibility becomes a problem for instrument users. This often leads to situations in which they cannot understand enough to actively participate in a discussion.
The Phonak FM system upgrades hearing instruments into powerful communication systems. A mobile wireless microphone that picks up voices and instantly transmits the signal to the miniaturized FM receivers at the hearing instruments substantially enhances hearing comfort.
Speech intelligibility is always optimized even if the distance between the speaker and the hearing instrument increases, because the microphone overcomes distance by radio transmission. For this reason, Phonak FM system users often understand better than people without a hearing loss.
,
Greater quality of life thanks to the Phonak FM system
The Phonak FM system dramatically improves communication ability because speech understanding no longer requires full concentration. The instrument user can participate actively again in everyday social settings and experiences a significant enhancement of the quality of life.
Your hearingcare p, rofessional kno, ws more about the Phonak FM system. He/she can provide objective advice and will be happy to demonstrate how it helps you master difficult hearing situations.
In many situations: understand better than people with normal hearing
A hearing instrument that has been transformed into a highly effective communication system with a Phonak FM product offers maximized speech intelligibility. The voice signal is transmitted wirelessly from the source to a tiny receiver connected to the hearing instrument.
Global standard
The Phonak FM system is globally recognized as the standard FM solution for hearing instruments. All major instrument manufacturers offer products that are compatible with the Phonak FM system.
Two versions of the miniaturized FM receiver are available:
•
One version is an FM receiver that simply plugs into the hearing instrument. This solution is available for all Phonak behind-the- ear hearing instruments and for the behind-the-ear instruments from most leading manufacturers.
•
The second version is an FM receiver that is integrated into the hearing instrument (Phonak Claro behind-the-ear instruments only).
The advantages of, the Phonak FM system at a glance
•
Actively participate in discussions again.
•
Communicate in noisy surroundings.
•
Relax when hearing over a distance.
•
With the television at a normal volume, converse and hear the telephone ring.
•
Hear your conversation partner crisply and clearly.
The HELPcard
Providing Unordinary Financing Options
Life is too important to miss even one special word. Deferred interest financing is available.
Nothing Is Quite So Lonely As a Silent World
Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to hear. It’s almost like the world is going on around you without you being a part of it. Your hearing aid specialist understands. Our goal is to make sure that you have every opportunity to be involved in life, not just watching from the sidelines. In addition to providing the best hearing aids, we have taken your care one step further, by becoming associated with The HELPcard to take care of your financial needs.
The HELPcare card allows you to make small monthly payments and even offers 0% interest through their Deferred Interest Options.
You Have So Much to Offer
If you are like many seniors, you may think that your chance to make a difference has passed. Not so! Did you know that Moses returned to Egypt to free his people when he was 80 years old? Anna Mary Robertson Moses (Grandma Moses) first began to paint for her own pleasure while in her late 70’s. People who have experience and wisdom should be shaping our world. Advertising agencies and Hollywood can only tell the world what is important if you let them. Unfortunately, it is difficult to make you mark in the world when you can’t hear what is going on. Your hearing specialist knows that living should be about quality of life, not about your finances. Apply for The HELPcard today. Approval only takes a few minutes and there is no annual fee for the card.
Life Is Too Important To Miss Even One Special Word
You don’t have to miss life. Financing is available through The HELPcard. The HELPcard allows clients to make small monthly payments and even offers a NO INTREST option. A minimum monthly payment is required and the balance must be paid in full in order for you to take advantage of deferred interest. If you can’t completely pay off the balance in a short period of time, easy to budget monthly payments are also available.
Patients have found that financing is easy when they choose the option of deferred interest.
Don’t Miss One More Moment!
Cardholder Repayment Schedule
To determine a consumer’s approximate monthly payment, multiply the highest balance by 3.25%. Balances of $769 and below will automatically require a monthly payment of $2, 5.
You may use the following approximate payment list to estimate monthly payments:
Balance
Payment
$1,000
$33
$1,500
$49
$2,000
$65
$2,500
$82
$3,000
$98
$3,500
$114
$4,000
$130
$4,500
$147
$5,000
$163
$5,500
$179
*Payment total rounded up to nearest dollar amount.
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How Directional Hearing Aids Work
A major source for infrequent use and user dissatisfaction of hearing aids has been the inability to distinguish between wanted sounds-such as speech from a person talking directly to you – and the background or ambient noise which clutters up this ability to hone-in on the desired sound. This problem is multiplied when the user changes environments. For example, there are times when she/he wants to hear only the speech in one-to-one conversation; other times when walking down the street or listening to music, she/he needs to
hear all sounds in the environment for both safety and enjoyment reasons.
Researchers have identified the culprit to be the Omni-directional Microphone, which by design picks up sound from all directions. This discovery has given way to several technological advances based on changing the microphone configuration and controlling sound pickup. Now, those with hearing problems have bona fide solutions for better listening ability as they move from environment to environment.
Most of the major hearing aid manufacturers now have digital, directional microphone systems. These selectively amplify sounds coming from the front, while sounds coming form the sides or rear are amplified much less. In a noisy situation, if the user looks at the person they want to hear, the directional microphone can help them pick out the desired voice form the background noise. Directional microphones are available in both behind-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids, but they are not available (and could not work) in completely-in-the-canal hearing aids.
Look at the face of a directional in-the-ear hearing aid and you’ll see two small holes called sound ports. The front sound port is designed for listening in all types of environments. But in noisy environments, the rear sound port will pick up sounds coming from behind and the sides and the hearing aid will automatically reduce sound confusion and enhance the users listening ability from the front.
Hearing aid manufacturers achieve this in different ways. In some models a computer chip measures the sound at each of the two sounds ports continuously and determines which to amplify and which to reduce or suppress. In other models the acoustic modification is achieved at the microphone sound ports. With this method the rear sound port is acoustically out-of-phase with the front sound port, and the hearing aid electronically suppresses the sounds coming from the rear and the side. Both methods achieve the same result.
Directional technology can be compare to the use of blinders on a race horse to minimize distractions; while the horse is aware of it s surroundings, it is less distracted by them.
Some directional hearing aid models are preprogrammed by the hearing professional so the instrument will switch from omni-directional to directional automatically depending on environmental sounds. With other models the directional microphones may be turned on-or-off manually by the wearer for best listening.
A directional microphone system may not be for everyone. For a consumer with minimal hearing loss, or those who spend most of their time at home, omni-directional hearing aids may be fine. But for those who need amplification in the workplace or in social settings, the ability to have a more sophisticated hearing aid with directional capabilities is crucial.
Citizens who have problems hearing require optimum conditions to perform well on speech-intelligibility tasks. Directional microphone systems offer the possibility of improving the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio even when speech and noise are similar, thus improving understanding. And when speech and noise come from sources that are spatially separated, directional hearing aids do their best work.
For those with more profound hearing loss, the “directional hearing array,” a group of microphones worn as a necklace, may help with hearing conversation even more. This system works in tandem with a conventional hearing aid. Sound signals from the front of the user are picked up by microphones on the necklace, and that sound can be “heard” by the hearing aid.
Some with minor hearing loss, may find little difference between directional microphone technology and standard hearing aids. Others, with more profound hearing loss, may find the directional hearing array system more advantageous. Ask you hearing professional or a demonstrations of these technologies to determine what helps your specific hearing.
FM Systems
A remarkable improvement to the performance of your hearing instruments
Master difficult hearing situations around the clock
Even with latest-generation hearing instruments, speech intelligibility can be severely impaired in difficult listening situations. But the Phonak FM system restores the instrument user’s ability to effortlessly engage in a conversation even in noisy surroundings.
The advantage in difficult hearing situations:
•
With a mobile wireless microphone, the speaker’s voice is picked up directly at the source and transmitted to the hearing instruments as an FM signal. This optimizes hearing quality.
Lead discussion - understand everything and everyone better
For most hearing instrument users, it is difficult to simultaneously understand everyone during a discussion and an even greater challenge to act as a moderator. Instruments equipped with the Phonak FM system allow active participation in group discussions.
The advantage in discussion settings:
•
The user can understand more easily because the mobile microphone is positioned near the speaker to assure optimized speech intelligibility.
Communicate more easily in noisy surroundings
It is often hard to understand speech in crowded settings. For hearing instrument users, this can become troublesome in situations where even people with normal hearing can no longer communicate without difficulty. The Phonak FM makes it easy to focus on one or several speakers.
The advantage in noisy surroundings:
•
The mobile microphone fades out annoying background noise; this significantly increases the audibility and intelligibility of individual voices.
Watch TV while conversing or telephoning
For TV viewers, the Phonak FM system combines several advantages: it eliminates the need to turn up the volume and at the same time allows them to engage in a conversation, hear the phone ring, and clearly understand the caller’s voice.
The advantage in watching TV and using the phone:
•
Superb sound quality based on FM signal transmission plus a unique automatic source selection feature that mutes the TV’s sound when the telephone rings.
Hearing instruments are transformed into communication systems
Hearing instruments pick up speech with built-in microphones. As the distance to the speaker increases, speech intelligibility becomes a problem for instrument users. This often leads to situations in which they cannot understand enough to actively participate in a discussion.
The Phonak FM system upgrades hearing instruments into powerful communication systems. A mobile wireless microphone that picks up voices and instantly transmits the signal to the miniaturized FM receivers at the hearing instruments substantially enhances hearing comfort.
Speech intelligibility is always optimized even if the distance between the speaker and the hearing instrument increases, because the microphone overcomes distance by radio transmission. For this reason, Phonak FM system users often understand better than people without a hearing loss.
,
Greater quality of life thanks to the Phonak FM system
The Phonak FM system dramatically improves communication ability because speech understanding no longer requires full concentration. The instrument user can participate actively again in everyday social settings and experiences a significant enhancement of the quality of life.
Your hearingcare p, rofessional kno, ws more about the Phonak FM system. He/she can provide objective advice and will be happy to demonstrate how it helps you master difficult hearing situations.
In many situations: understand better than people with normal hearing
A hearing instrument that has been transformed into a highly effective communication system with a Phonak FM product offers maximized speech intelligibility. The voice signal is transmitted wirelessly from the source to a tiny receiver connected to the hearing instrument.
Global standard
The Phonak FM system is globally recognized as the standard FM solution for hearing instruments. All major instrument manufacturers offer products that are compatible with the Phonak FM system.
Two versions of the miniaturized FM receiver are available:
•
One version is an FM receiver that simply plugs into the hearing instrument. This solution is available for all Phonak behind-the- ear hearing instruments and for the behind-the-ear instruments from most leading manufacturers.
•
The second version is an FM receiver that is integrated into the hearing instrument (Phonak Claro behind-the-ear instruments only).
The advantages of, the Phonak FM system at a glance
•
Actively participate in discussions again.
•
Communicate in noisy surroundings.
•
Relax when hearing over a distance.
•
With the television at a normal volume, converse and hear the telephone ring.
•
Hear your conversation partner crisply and clearly.
The HELPcard
Providing Unordinary Financing Options
Life is too important to miss even one special word. Deferred interest financing is available.
Nothing Is Quite So Lonely As a Silent World
Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to hear. It’s almost like the world is going on around you without you being a part of it. Your hearing aid specialist understands. Our goal is to make sure that you have every opportunity to be involved in life, not just watching from the sidelines. In addition to providing the best hearing aids, we have taken your care one step further, by becoming associated with The HELPcard to take care of your financial needs.
The HELPcare card allows you to make small monthly payments and even offers 0% interest through their Deferred Interest Options.
You Have So Much to Offer
Are you interested in hearing instruments?
behind the ear. They can be employed for all degrees of hearing losses and are particularly beneficial for severe hearing losses and special requirements regarding hearing in difficult listening situations (FM systems etc.).
