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Every spring, Hearing Health staffers don product spotter hats and head off to the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) convention. And each year the technological wizardry of new products astounds while the swelling attendance impresses. This year's event proved no exception when in April we joined a record 7,500 students, audiologists and other hearing healthcare professionals for the 13th annual event, held in San Diego.
Before trotting out the trends, services and products we found noteworthy, we are happy to report that hearing-impaired consumers appear to be garnering more attention, and more empathy, at this confab — plus very high-profile representation. At a packed opening session, the keynote address was given by Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services, who shared his frustrations about a sudden hearing loss in his right (“Republican”) ear that occurred about four years ago and persists today.
Thompson rarely speaks publicly about his condition and had not planned to do so at AAA. However, he tossed aside his prepared remarks and spoke movingly and at length about his life, loss and gratitude for his audiologist in particular and the profession in general.
The former Wisconsin governor, known as a maverick thinker who gets things done, also shared his plans and promises to bring an innovative spirit to his massive department. Among them: encouraging the designation of audiologists as gatekeepers to hearing services, which bodes well for consumers in terms of ease of access and reimbursement issues.
Next at the podium was none other than Huey Lewis (sans fellow members of his band The News), delivering not his famous rock and roll hits but a “motivational address.” His saga of seeking help for sudden hearing loss and infrequent but debilitating vertigo recounted a torturous path familiar to many hearing-impaired people. It led him to seek treatment by physicians, a chiropractor and acupuncturist, extensive testing including an MRI, etc., until his wife suggested ... an audiologist!
Huey's remarks drew laughter and knowing nods from the assembly plus something more familiar to the singing star. Raucous cheers and applause greeted his closing report, “My hearing has improved and it must be because I agreed to speak to you!”
Breathless conventioneers then headed off to the business at hand: catching up on research; tweaking clinical skills and collecting business tips at a veritable smorgasbord of courses; learning about new products in the humongous exhibit hall; and, oh yes, having fun.
As we dove into the throng, we soon learned of a striking entry on the international fashion scene. Our cover documents this high tech development, showing a model on a Paris catwalk while wearing a hearing system from Phonak. Equipped with a Claro digital hearing instrument with FM technology, she is listening to commands from choreographer Naoki Takizawa during the showing of Issey Miyakethe's Autumn/Winter 2001 collection. Who would have thought that hearing technology would someday merge with high fashion?
Now on with the show.
Telephones
TelCom takes us back to the Jetsons, compliments of Phonak. After plugging phone and TV input cords into the back of the wireless transmitter, hearing aid wearers switch to FM mode to hear programs or phone conversations loud and clear without background noise. There's even an automatic override for when the phone rings while you are watching TV. Pick up the phone and the TV fades into the background until the conversation ends. www.phonak.com, 800-777-7326.
CD900 models from Audex cover all the fronts on phone encounters of the worst kind for people with hearing loss. Along with earlier styles of the powerful cordless phone, the new AS has: 28 dB gain, t-coil compatibility and neckloop or CI jacks. On top of that, it has an answering machine capable of playing amplified messages back through external speakers, neckloop or headphones. 800-237-0716 V, 800-283-3974 Fax.
LowSAR antenna for digital cellular phones from WestPoint Wireless makes it possible for many hearing aid wearers to hold their phones right next to their ear without buzzing or feedback. Designed to fit Nokia 5100-6100 phone series. www.westpointwireless/lowsar, 800-326-5659.
HATIS, newly improved, lives up to its name “The Missing LinkTM.” When plugged into a phone or stereo, electronic signals travel straight to the HATIS earpiece (situated near the user's hearing aid). The signals are then transmitted to the t-coil, allowing the aid to amplify sound without distortion. New optional headset with mic offers hands-free calling. www.hatis.com, 777-843-2763.
Infant Screening
As the number of states mandating newborn screening grows, professionals find themselves in what for many is an entirely new arena. Well-attended workshops on infant screening explored current testing technology as well as existing guidelines for referral and follow-up. In the exhibit hall: a new product and an exemplary program.
AUDIOScreener™, new from Everest Biomedical Instruments Co., tests both evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR), a dual ability unique among hearing screeners. The handheld unit offers key diagnostic features free of hookups to a PC. This ultra-portability cuts setup time and effort while decreasing test costs. www.everest-co.com, 866-662-8346 toll free.
Pediatrix Newborn Hearing Screening, established in 1994 by the largest neonatology group in the country, operates 88 programs nationwide and tests around 170,000 babies per year. The program's staff, data management and follow-up tracking prevent moms and babies from “getting lost” during the crucial early stages of intervention. Interested hospitals and community and advocacy groups can learn more by calling 800-243-3839, ext. 5158.
Revisiting Implant Technology
Middle ear implants are going gangbusters now. Last year, Symphonix Devices, Inc., received FDA approval for its Vibrant® Soundbridge™. The device was showcased during this year's event both in the exhibit area and in the workshops. This strong presence underscored the belief that audiologists are key to introducing MEI technology as a viable alternative to people with mild/moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. Symphonix also highlighted a digital upgrade to the Soundbridge's audio processor which enables improved clarity, particularly in noisy situations. www.symphonix.com, 800-833-7733.
Soundtec, Inc.'s Direct™ System is expected to receive FDA approval this summer. With surgeon training underway, national availability is projected for late this year. www.soundtecinc.com, 800-793-9587.
The Envoy™ System from St. Croix Medical received FDA clearance for feasibility trials earlier this year. The first totally implantable prototype, Envoy replaces one of the middle ear bones with transducers to augment vibrations caused when sound waves move the eardrum. Openings exist for trial participants. Criteria are available at www.stcroixmedical.com or 763-574-0570.
Meanwhile the evolution of cochlear implants continues. Cochlear Corporation has announced that its Nucleus 24 Contour received a 2001 Medical Design Excellence Award, an honor bestowed on breakthroughs in medical device design, engineering and manufacturing. Contour is the first implant approved by the FDA for infants as young as 12 months and for adults with more residual hearing. www.cochlear.com, 800-523-5798.
CII Bionic Ear™ System from Advanced Bionics is billed as a leap into the future because it delivers more sound information (up to 1,000,000 times per second) through 31 distinct channels. Based on clinical findings, the company claims that the Bionic Ear delivers full broadband sound, and its processor, available in CII BTE or pager-style platinum model, provides the highest fidelity on the market. www.bionicear.com, 800-678-2575.
While already in use in Europe, Med-El's Combi 40+ is currently in FDA trials. It represents the next generation of cochlear implants from the Austrian company that is an up-and-comer in North American markets and a leader in number of implants in much of Europe. First to launch a BTE processor, Med-El now offers the advanced version Tempo+, with added comfort and flexibility through straight and curved configurations. www.medel.com, 919-572-2222.
Hearing Instruments
Last year's buzz was about disposable or instant fit hearing aids. Popular terms this year are value, versatility and power. A look at the names and claims:
Songbird Disposable Hearing Aids remain the only true throwaways. The soft tip is available in a second, smaller version, and the case now comes in flesh tone or transparent to blend with a wider range of skin tones. Distribution has grown to 2,500 dispensers in the U.S. and 250 in Canada. www.songbirdhearing.com, 609-409-4500.
Aspire from Siemens is a new entry in the instant fit arena. Only the Aspire's soft tips, placed on in-stock right and left ear models, are designed to be disposable. www.siemens-hearing.com, 732-562-6600
Oticon has gone robotic! Their Ergo is the first hearing instrument to be assembled robotically. The outcome: more “affordable” through cuts in labor costs, apparently without compromising reliability. On the market in Europe much of last year, Ergo's track record leads some German dispensers to call it “unkaputbar,” a humorous take on unbreakable. This digitally programmable aid is available in BTE, in a
range of colors, as well as ITE styles. www.oticonus.com.
Bravo! Widex has introduced a 100 percent digital value-priced aid that sports fewer user controls than the company's other models. “Completely automatic” (after a special processor is programmed with “your needs” by the dispenser) and available in a full range of sizes. www.widex.com, 800-221-0188.
Among the more versatile products we spotted, AMICO is truly an eye-catcher. The fashionable eyeglasses from Coselgi also double as bone conduction hearing aids suitable for medium-to-severe mixed or conductive losses. Amplifier, noise filter, telecoil and all are housed in the frame arms, making for a comfortable and easy aid to wear — and nothing in the ear. Coselgi, an Italian company breaking into the American market, also has a full line of aids. www.coselgi.com, 011-39-06-912-0222.
Canta7 from GNReSound offers “3D Digital” hearing. www.gnresound.com, 800-248-4327 U.S., 888-737-6863 Can.
Sensation is Rexton's solution for a programmable analog instrument that utilizes new fitting software to increase flexibility and “optimize all senses.” www.rexton.com, 800-876-1141.
Diva, another new Widex instrument, promises high definition hearing. The most sophisticated among the manufacturer's 100 percent digital Senso line, it has 15 channels and 15 bands, offering “enhanced precision.” www.widex.com, 800-221-0188.
AudioD has a rechargeable model, an industry exclusive, in all their lines — from basic analog all the way through the digital Captiva. www.audiodonline.com, 800-532-3984.
Sereniti tinnitus control instruments signal a new solution to tandem problems: hearing loss and tinnitus. This hot new technology from Siemens may also be used for tinnitus therapy in the presence of normal hearing. With the launch of Sereniti, Siemens becomes the first manufacturer to tackle tinnitus with digital technology.
Sereniti TCI integrates a noise generator within the instrument along with a choice of two programs and four noise types. The TCI C model adds a digital hearing aid. Designed to be used in conjunction with tinnitus retraining therapy, the TCI has already sparked interest in the research community. www.siemens-hearing.com, 800-333-9083.
And all of the following are powered up: Super 60D from Audina is a flexible soft ITE capable of addressing severe losses; Oticon offers the value-priced Power Ergo; and Prisma Super Power BTE from Siemens and Senso Super Power from Widex are digital aids for severe to profound losses.
Assistive Technology
Access 3 is the latest from Global Assistive Products. This easy-to-use, multi-purpose alerting device allows you to see, hear and feel the built-in alarm clock as well as the telephone and door knock. The AC powered Access is multi-functional -- also serving as a halogen reading lamp which folds up to be travel-ready! www.globalassistive.com, 954-784-0047.
TeachLogic, Inc., has launched a new infrared system, Sound Learning. Their new IR-2500 series utilizes a higher frequency than earlier infrared models, avoiding interference from florescent lights. Large omnidirectional emitters deliver 20 times the signal strength of traditional systems. Designed specifically for classrooms, computer labs and small auditoriums, it aims to fulfill the company's motto: The more children can hear, the better they can learn. www.teachlogic.com, 800-588-0018.
HITEC, continuing its search for innovative products, has added WorldView PC/TTY to its ever-expanding line of assistive technology. Worldview incorporates the latest TTY software into a laptop, desktop or network computer systems. Bringing TTY calls right to the monitor, whether at home or in the office, Worldview allows adjustment of fonts and colors for comfort and legibility. Best of all, for self-employed people or small businesses, the WordView PC/TTY qualifies for the IRS Disability Access Tax Credit. www.hiteconline.com, 800-288-8303.
Batteries
Energizer and Duracell wowed us with their new packaging. Both styles are set to reach the market this fall. The companies' extensive research has led to user-friendly designs that should make life easier for everybody who uses hearing aid batteries. www.energizer.com, www.duracell.com.
Rayovac introduced its ULTRA ProLine of hearing aid batteries amidst claims of lasting up to 30 percent longer than other brands (based on recent ANSI standard testing). www.rayovac.com, 800-356-7422.
Toshiba, making its premier appearance at AAA, announced design changes in zinc-zir batteries that boost power and add longevity. Especially suited for digital and high power aids.
Services
The Hearing Payment Plan from Elite Physician Services eases the financial pinch often associated with the purchase of hearing aids. Offering competitive interest rates and terms up to 60 months, this payment plan includes professional services, extended warranty, batteries and other extras. Easy application via phone, fax or online. www.elitedr.com, 877-354-8337 toll-free, or 423-296-8133.
HearingPlanet.com drew lots of interest. The “internet portal” for hearing-impaired people provides product info and actual purchase online of hearing instruments at “affordable” prices. Matches up its customers with the nearest hearing healthcare professional within a growing network for testing, impressions and fitting. www.hearingplanet.com, 800-866-6240.
Conventioneers flocked to the Beltone exhibit to listen to The Audio Verification Environment -- a virtual sound experience. Beltone dispensers, among others, use AVE to refine the fitting of new hearing aids. It can also help establish realistic expectations, preparing the newly hearing-aided person for the wonders and wrinkles of daily sound. Ask your hearing healthcare professional.
ComCare International, a worldwide “Christian ministry to hearing-impaired” people based in Illinois, caught our attention among the nonprofit groups -- partly because of the organization's mission and partly because of their development of a solar-powered hearing aid. Engineered to withstand dirt, immersion in water and severe impact, it is ideal for use in the less-developed countries where ComCare focuses its attention. Although the unit is body-worn, its reliance on a naturally renewable energy source is commendable. For information, to volunteer or donate, www.comcareinternational.org, 309-833-3727.
What a show! Thanks, San Diego. Thanks, AAA. Can't wait to see what we find during Convention 2002.
Stay tuned!
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