The past few decades have ushered in advances in directional hearing aid technologies, which have provided incremental improvements when listening to speech in noisy situations. Signia’s RealTime Conversation Enhancement using multi-stream architecture was developed to further extend the directional benefit to dynamic communication situations with multiple conversation partners. By Petri Korhonen, MSc, and Christopher Slugocki, PhD Although assistive hearing technologies have demonstrated speech-in-noise (SiN) benefits, listening in noise still poses a challenge for listeners with hearing loss ..read more

Summary: Starkey won three ConsumerAffairs 2024 Buyer’s Choice awards in the hearing aid category. Takeaways Starkey was recognized for providing exceptional customer satisfaction across key service and value categories, according to the company. The awards highlighted companies that garnered the highest rates of positive sentiments and rating, reflecting genuine satisfaction among purchasers.  ConsumerAffairs says the awards reflect verified reviews, offering authentic insights into consumer satisfaction. Starkey was awarded by ConsumerAffairs in three hearing aid categories for the re ..read more

Summary: Amplifon, parent company of Miracle-Ear, made the 2024 Leading Employers list globally, marking the first inclusion of an Italian multinational company. Takeaways: Amplifon achieved Leading Employer certification due to its strong corporate reputation, employee satisfaction, and comprehensive benefits, according to the company. The company employs over 20,300 people worldwide, providing a multicultural workplace with continuous training opportunities. Amplifon Americas serves customers through various brands, including Miracle-Ear, Amplifon Hearing Health Care, Amplifon Canada, and G ..read more

Figure 2. Adapted from: Barr-Hamilton RM the cupped hand as an aid to hearing.2 By Marshall Chasin I am sure that everyone has their favorite frequency. Many of my colleagues may favor 500 Hz, and others 4000 Hz. However, while these are important numbers, nothing comes even close to 1500 Hz. Pop singers have been enhancing 1500 Hz in their vocals for more than a decade. In videos and live performances, it is now common-place for singers to cup their hands around the microphone as if they were kissing it. This has several effects, the main one being a 6-8 dB enhancement of ..read more

Summary: Phonak’s newly FDA-cleared self-replacement option for the Phonak Lyric hearing aid allows experienced wearers to independently replace their devices, improving accessibility while reducing the need for office visits. Takeaways: The self-replacement device should reduce office visits by up to 50%, offering wearers greater convenience and fewer interruptions, Phonak says. This option provides flexibility for Lyric providers and ensures wearers have replacement devices on hand, reducing emergency calls and enabling uninterrupted hearing. The self-replacement option retains all the adva ..read more

Summary: The HEAR program is a text messaging service designed to support families of children with hearing loss through expert advice and community connection. Takeaways: The HEAR program delivers weekly text messages tailored to families of children with suspected or confirmed hearing loss, offering guidance and support directly to their phones. Messages sent through the program are crafted by a team of clinical experts and families with firsthand experience. The program aims to empower parents by providing essential information, connecting them with professional and peer support, and helpi ..read more

When thinking about ways to ensure your practice thrives and clients get the best hearing care possible, cybersecurity is probably not going to be at the top of the list, or even come to mind, for most hearing care professionals (HCPs). But that doesn’t mean it isn’t an important component of effective care. The U.S. government and major corporations need to do more to safeguard patient data and keep cyberattacks from shutting down healthcare facilities. A Major Incident In February, a cyberattack on medical claims processor Change Healthcare affected a large number of healthcare professionals ..read more

Summary: A national poll by ASHA reveals that a majority of adults with hearing, speech, or language disorders experience significant stigmas, including feelings of being outcast or judged as less intelligent. Takeaways: A significant proportion of adults with communication disorders feel stigmatized in various ways, impacting their social inclusion and self-esteem. These stigmas affect not only personal relationships but also everyday interactions and social participation, highlighting the need for greater societal accommodation and understanding. There is a strong need for better public edu ..read more

Once viewed with trepidation by hearing care professionals (HCPs) and clients, rechargeable hearing aids have become significantly more prevalent than devices that use disposable batteries. To delve into why and what current models have to offer, The Hearing Review asked experts from several hearing aid manufacturers to share their thoughts on the most important trends in rechargeable hearing aids, how these trends can benefit HCPs and their clients, and what product innovations we can expect to see in the future. Participating in this industry roundtable are Jennifer Groth, MA, senior princip ..read more

Summary: The ReSound Nexia hearing aid portfolio is now available to U.S. veterans at over 400 VA audiology clinics. Takeaways: ReSound Nexia offers improved speech understanding capabilities and includes a new wireless CROS/BiCROS solution developed for people with single-sided deafness. The portfolio supports Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast broadcast audio, enabling veterans to connect seamlessly to audio broadcasts in public spaces, enhancing accessibility and social participation. The Government Services ReSound Nexia portfolio includes RIE, Micro RIE, BTE, and custom-made models. GN ann ..read more