Sonic: A new beginning

Sonic Innovations has recently released a new product called the Flip. The Flip is a Receiver in the Ear(RITE) hearing instrument that represents the first new development from Sonic (the name they now prefer) in years. Last year Sonic was purchased by industry giant William Demant and that gave the American company a huge boost in its development and research, allowing Sonic to continue to grow and thrive with new competitive technology. William Demant is the Danish parent company of Oticon, a leader in hearing instrument technology. Sonic has been able to use the existing technology from Oticon and put their own touches and technology to develop a unique and advanced product in the Flip.
One of the features that is unique is the fact that the Flip uses a size 13 battery and predicts over 225 hours of battery life! This is huge for people who like the RITE style but find it difficult to handle and change smaller batteries very often. It also saves some money in the long run. Because it is slightly larger, it is easier for people with dexterity issues to handle. It is still nearly invisible because it hides behind the ear even though it is larger than others. Another cool feature is the rotary volume wheel. This is one of those "old school" features that never should have gone away in the first place. Flip offers optional wireless connectivity to cell phones, tv's, mp3's, etc. via its Soundgate streamer.
Sonic has always been known for their industry-leading noise reduction and they have made that even better! So far my patients have loved them and have adapted to them very quickly.

More new stuff coming soon

One of the developments in the last few years has been further miniaturization of hearing instruments. When the lyric came out a few years ago, it brought attention to the fact that there are a lot of people who want an "invisible" hearing solution. The problem with the Lyric is that, because it is not a custom made instrument and fits deep into the ear canal, it does not fit most people. It is also a very expensive long term solution that many cannot afford. The Lyric is also an analog processor that does not utilize the many advantages of having a much smarter digital processor.
Companies like Starkey came out with an IIC(invisible in canal) solution that is custom made and utilizes all of the new digital technology, making it more comfortable and better sounding, especially in background noise. Siemens and Phonak also came out with a mini CIC that is very discreet but not as deep fitting as the Starkey. This year a couple more companies have developed an "invisible" hearing instrument. Oticon and Unitron will be introducing their new products at the AAA convention in Boston later this month. Traditionally, these "invisible" devices have only been available in the top tiers of technology, but Unitron is making it available in all technology levels, making it more accessible to those who can't afford or don't need the upper level technology. Look for other manufacturers to also make theirs available in more affordable technology levels.

New products coming soon

A couple of blogs ago I promised to discuss some new products that have been released recently or will be soon. At the Starkey Hearing Innovation Expo in January we were allowed a sneak peak at some exciting new developments.
One of the coolest things was the wireless cic (completely in canal) that allows wireless streaming from a television directly to the hearing devices with nothing else to wear. One could be watching tv with the sound turned down while getting a customised audio signal directly into their ear canals. You can switch back and forth with a remote control.
Starkey also plans to come out soon with their mobile phone solution, which will be the first to not require any accessory to use. I think that will be popular as people do not want to wear anything extra if they don't have to.
With the Annual American Academy of Audiology Convention coming up, there will be lot more to come. Stay tuned.

the sounds of Maui part 2

There were many other beautiful sounds in Maui besides the waves crashing to shore. I sometimes wish we could compile sound albums just like we do photo albums. Thanks to my iPhone, it is easy to take a short video that captures both!
The sound of seagulls and other birds can be missed by many people with hearing loss. Many people remark on how they enjoy the bird noise after they start to use hearing instruments. Bird-watching is much more enjoyable If we can associate and recognize a sound with images of the birds. Some hearing instrument companies have a feature that can move higher frequency sounds over into lower frequency regions, so now people with high frequency hearing loss can hear and enjoy the sounds of even the softest birdsong.
The sound of whales communicating has been recorded and observed for many years. Some of the snorkelers I talked with reported hearing the whales singing while they were underwater! Since phonak and siemens have come out with waterproof hearing instruments, I plan to go back to Maui someday soon to see if I can hear the whales better with hearing instruments! Sounds like a good excuse for a return trip to our great state; Hawaii.

The sounds of Maui

Last week I had the pleasure of going to Maui for a hearing aid business summit. My wife came along and we extended the trip so we could spend Valentines Day in Hawaii. Now that's what I call mixing business with pleasure!
Hawaii is known for its beautiful sunsets and views and this past week did not disappoint. They are spectacular.
I closely paid attention to the sounds of Maui as well. Being a Hearing Health Professional, I try to imagine what it is like for people who can't hear these sounds. What sounds am I referring to?
The sound of waves gently crashing to shore is so peaceful and relaxing. One day as my wife and I were walking along the beach, we passed a jogger who was wearing headphones. My wife said "why would anyone want to block out the sounds of nature?"
It occurred to me that the jogger, like many of us, has taken for granted the power and beauty of sounds from our natural world.
In treating hearing loss, we are mainly concerned with optimizing speech, but we also need to realize that nature provides us with some of the greatest sounds we could imagine and should be appreciated just as much.

My experience at the Hearing Innovation Expo

In early January of this year I was fortunate enough to attend the Hearing Innovation Expo in Las Vegas. It was hosted by Starkey Hearing. They are the last of the big American Hearing Aid companies and are located in Minnesota. The owner of Starkey is Bill Austin. His Starkey Foundation has given thousands of hearing aids to the less fortunate all around the world. This foundation has allowed Mr. Austin to accumulate quite an impressive list of friends and some of them flew half way around the globe to speak to our group. Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic spoke and it was fascinating to hear his vision of space travel and deep ocean exploration, the two most mysterious and unexplored areas of our known universe. The closing night of the expo featured Bill Clinton. His foundation has accomplished some tremendous things such as lowering the price of aids drugs in third world countries. He and Bill Austin seem to share similar visions and have the ability to reach out and affect things on a global level.
Next time I will discuss some of the amazing products we learned about! 

My first blog

Hello everyone this is my first blog. My name is Matt Michaels and I am an Audiologist at Arcade Hearing Aid Center and American Hearing and Balance. These are both local family businesses located in beautiful Southern California. My Mother Patricia Michaels became a Hearing Aid Specialist over 25 years ago and purchased Arcade Hearing Aid Center in Santa Monica. I became an Audiologist in 1995 after training at the House Clinic and VA West Los Angeles. My brother , Keith Michaels, is also an Audiologist. Together, we have 7 Hearing Clinics and we love what we do! My plan for this blog space is to give you helpful advise and tips to help you understand what it takes to survive and thrive no matter what level of hearing impairment you or a family member/friend may have. I will try my best to make it interesting and easy to follow. It may contain some interesting facts or just me sharing an experience I have had. Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy and welcome to Hear here and everywhere! Matt