Sound Advice 2013 by Oticon, Inc.

ISSUE 10 VOL 1

Your Guide to Better Hearing MORE INSPIRING STORIES INSIDE:

“Can Do” Attitude and a Smile

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hat sounds make you happy? The laughter of children, your

favorite music, lively conversations with friends and family? Your sense of hearing is a vital link to your world — a source of pleasure, information and communication. Hearing loss is often a natural consequence of getting older. Our hearing begins to decline as early as our 30s and 40s. The National Institute of Health estimates that one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 75 and close to one-half of those older than 75 have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing problems can make you feel anxious, depressed, and left out. Family and friends may think you’re confused, uncaring, or difficult when you’re really just having trouble hearing. The extra effort needed to understand words and keep track of who is speaking can be mentally exhausting. If you’ve started to detect changes in your hearing, don’t wait. You can control the situation. And doing something to address your hearing health can change your life for the better. Seeking help from a qualified hearing care professional is the first step. Quality hearing care begins with a thorough hearing evaluation. Based on your results, you and your hearing care specialist can decide on the best hearing solution for you. While you can’t reverse hearing loss, you don’t have to resign yourself to living in a world of quieter, less distinct sounds. At Oticon, our goal is to provide you with the best hearing technology available so that

you can rediscover your hearing and reconnect with the important things around you. The newest Oticon hearing devices with their intelligent performance and wireless connectivity are so small and discreet, others will barely notice you’re wearing a hearing device. In this magazine, you will learn about a revolutionary new hearing device that is truly customized for you, your life and your world. Oticon Alta is the most advanced hearing device ever. It features stateof-the-art sound processing engineered exclusively for you and your unique hearing requirements. You’ll hear more because your personal hearing preferences are actually used by the powerful sound processing chip that’s at the heart of every Alta. Think of it as a micro-brain that works in harmony with your brain. You’ll differentiate sounds better and hear more, even as you move from one difficult hearing environment to another. With the addition of the sleek, wireless Streamer Pro, Alta allows you to connect wirelessly to cell phones, becoming a virtual hands-free headset. The Oticon ConnectLine system further expands that easy connectivity, streaming audio from television and landline phones directly to your Alta hearing instruments. This magazine is filled with articles and information about the exciting new world of innovative hearing solutions. We invite you to read on and learn more about hearing health, hearing solutions and the many people who have benefited from taking that important first step to better hearing.

Table of Contents

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Oticon — A World Leader In Hearing Care Since 1904 Read how it all got started.

Natural Sound In A Virtual World Oticon's Virtual Sound Environment.

Kristin Lee Inman “Can Do” Attitude and a Smile

Hearing And Hearing Loss How a hearing loss works.

Kurt Danielson Making the most of his leisure time with Alta

Carol & Arnie A Shared Life . . . One Personalized Solution

A Personal Hearing Profile The hearing assessment and audiogram.

Removing Communication Barriers In Everyday Life Connecting people and electronic devices, wirelessly and in style.

Check Your Hearing Do you suspect your hearing is not as good as it used to be?

Matt Beihl Rockin’ in the USA

Table of

Bent Philip How 61-year-old doctor Bent Philip is experiencing life with Alta...

The World Is A Noisy Place Get a boost in your hearing and give yourself an edge.

Symptoms Of A Hearing Loss How to know if it’s time to get your hearing evaluated.

Two Is Better Than One What you gain by wearing two hearing devices.

Crash Tests For Hearing Devices How much abuse can a hearing device really take?

Unlock the Power of Personalization As unique as you are.

Contents

Protect Your Hearing Noise-induced hearing loss. Find out why it happens — and how to avoid it.

Kent Lanclos Capitalizing on Better Hearing on the Job and at Home

Putting People First —All Over the Globe Oticon is a global company represented in more than 20 countries.

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Oticon since 1904

Camilla Demant

Oticon―A world leader in hearing care since 1904 When Hans Demant founded Oticon in the early 1900s, he had no long-term plan, nor any master strategy for conquering the world. His goal was simple and far closer to home: his wife Camilla had a hearing impairment and he dearly wanted to help. Hans and Camilla visited prominent doctors in both Vienna and Berlin in the hopes of finding a solution, but the consultations were fruitless. Neither surgery nor technology promised any improvement.

In Denmark it was well known that King Christian IX’s daughter Alexandra, Princess of Wales, had a hearing loss. When she became Queen of England in 1902 she used an Acousticon electrical hearing aid at the Coronation, and word about its benefits soon spread. Thanks to a friend in England, Hans Demant also heard about ‘the royal hearing aid’ and during the winter of 1903 he crossed the North Sea to bring one home for his wife. And it turned their lives around, not only personally but also professionally.

A company is born In Odense, in the west of Denmark, word continued to spread about the ‘royal hearing aid’. Friends and relatives of Hans and Camilla inquired whether it was possible to bring more of them to Denmark. Hearing problems were not new, but solutions for them most definitely were. In early 1904 Hans imported a few more instruments, and demand for them soon increased. Business became so good in fact, that Hans decided to contact 7

the American manufacturer — the General Acoustic Company in New York. On the 8th of June 1904 Hans Demant secured the sole agency for Acousticon hearing aids in Denmark, and a new company was born.

Changes in name — and direction Years later, when Hans passed away, his son William Demant took over the company, and business progressed as usual. But during the Second World War it became increasingly difficult to import hearing aids, so William began manufacturing them himself. When the war ended, William entered into an agreement with an American, Charles Lehmann, to establish a company that could purchase components for hearing aid production and ship them to Denmark. The US subsidiary was called the American Danish Oticon Corporation — a name also given to the Danish operation. There has been much speculation about the origin of the word ‘Oticon’ — but it is thought

that ‘Oti’ was taken from the Greek word for ‘Ear’ and ‘Con’ from the Latin word meaning ‘With’. William used Oticon as a product name for the first hearing aid ever to be designed and produced by his company in Denmark in 1946. And the word has been used as the company name ever since. Long-term dedication William Demant inherited his father’s determination to help people with hearing loss. This manifested itself not only in the company’s unwavering focus on the needs of the hearing device user, but also in its support of scientists and other organizations devoted to improving the quality of life for hearing device users and their families.

Oticon Timeline • 1904- 2013 1902- The Danish-born Crown Princess Alexandra wears a hearing aid for her coronation as Queen of England

Hans Demant's son William takes over the company upon his father's death

William and Ida Demant

After WWI, William begins to import incomplete devices with no wires or batteries and completes production on Danish soil.

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During WWII, William Demant is unable to import. He produces components in Denmark and manufactures the first Danish-made licensed hearing device.

Hans Demant’s factory in 1895 To help his wife Camilla with a hearing loss, Hans Demant wins a contract to begin distribution of the first hearing devices to Denmark.

The Danish-American Oticon Corporation is established, headquartered in Copenhagen

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Oticon since 1904 The Oticon Foundation — created in 1957 by William Demant and his wife, Ida Emilie — contributes to this process in many ways; first, by supporting initiatives involving hearing-impaired children and their families, and second, by educating the general public about hearing loss and encouraging people to actively seek the solutions they need. Today, the people of Oticon are just as determined as their predecessors to ensure that those solutions are among the best in the world.

Spurred by international developments, Oticon introduces the first ultra-discreet in-the-ear hearing device.

Oticon launches its first designer hearing device in 2006, Delta.

Oticon launches the first fully digital device, DigiFocus.

1965 ||||||||||||||||| 1977 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1991 | |||||||||||||||| 1996 |||||||||||||||| 2004 |||||||||||||| 2007 ||||||||||||| 2013 Oticon headquarters moves to a new location in Denmark and the company adapts new, revolutionary ways of working.

Oticon expands its global presence with Oticon Corp. opening in the US, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Scotland, Japan, Italy, New Zealand and France.

Oticon introduces "People First" as its slogan and is known across the world for its organizational structure, teamwork and view on employees. Oticon celebrates its centenary.

Oticon is stronger than ever. People First remains our promise, reflecting how insight forms the starting point of everything we do.

Oticon Alta

Oticon's Virtual Sound Environment is a unique laboratory with 29 loudspeakers designed to recreate the acoustics of different physical environments.

Natural Sound in a Virtual World For Oticon, helping people with hearing loss extends far beyond making words easier to hear. The goal is to capture ALL of life’s sounds and preserve every subtle detail. And what better way to verify this than through

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a Virtual Sound Environment.

Acoustics Engineer Pauli Minnaar

In the past, hearing aid manufacturers have invested a considerable effort in making speech easier to understand — and although speech is a big part of the equation, it’s not the only part. Other sounds have the power to tell us about the space we inhabit; where we are in relation to other objects, whether there are people nearby, and how far away they are. These ‘spatial cues’ have a major impact on how we perceive the world — and our ability to navigate through life. To investigate the spatial aspects of sound, Oticon performed tests in different locations — from cars, buses and railway stations to churches, cafés and

canteens. But realizing how much further they could get by recreating such scenarios in a more controlled environment, the company decided to build a Virtual Sound Environment.

Infinite acoustic possibilities At first glance, the 29 loudspeakers in this unique sound laboratory might look slightly retro, but what they create is totally futuristic. In the control room, sound engineers use sophisticated software to accurately recreate the acoustics of different physical environments. Describing the simulation process, Acoustics Engineer Pauli Minnaar

Natural Sound in a explains: “We start by creating a 3-dimensional model of a room in our computer. Then we decide what materials to use on the walls and floors i.e. whether they should absorb sound, like carpets, or reflect sounds, like hard surfaces do. We can also add sound sources such as kitchen appliances, electronic equipment — and people of course. We then calculate how the sound would spread to the various surfaces and eventually come back to a person sitting in the virtual room.” “Once we have found out how the sound will travel in this imaginary space, we can calculate the exact signals to play through each of the 29 loudspeakers in the setup,” Pauli continues. “When we then play these sounds for people sitting in the middle of the ‘Speaker Sphere’, they will feel as though they are actually sitting in the environment created in the computer. We can make a room sound big or small, wide or narrow; we can change the materials, add or remove sound sources, and create no end of virtual environments.”

Technology working for people The purpose of the sound simulator is to test how people with different types of hearing loss and hearing aids react in different listening situations. During tests, their hearing aids are connected to a computer that controls the way the instruments process the sound. Pauli describes how the tests work: “Our trial participants sit with a screen in front of them. When we play different sounds, they can choose setting A or setting B. It’s a bit like going to your optician and telling them which lens options help you see the most clearly. We can also test people’s ability to localize different sounds by asking them to compare various settings and select the one that makes it easier to accurately pinpoint a particular sound.”

trouble selecting what to focus on at parties, many hearing aid users find this extremely difficult. By creating a virtual cocktail party in the sound studio, Oticon’s engineers can ascertain which types of processing provide the most support. “With the right information, people should be able to use their natural ability to focus on what’s important and filter out the rest,” says Pauli.

Always on track Oticon’s investment in its Virtual Sound Environment — the only research facility of its kind in the industry — emphasizes the company’s continued commitment to base new designs on insights gained from working directly with hearing device users.

Virtual World

"With the right information, people should be able to use their natural ability to focus on what’s important and filter out the rest."

“We know how important it is for people to be able to respond naturally to events in their environment. That’s why we focus on capturing the whole picture rather than just bits and pieces. Now that we can explore more situations, refine our amplification strategies, and try out new concepts and document the results, we have an even better chance of providing the natural sound quality that people are longing to experience,” Pauli concludes.

Some of the most challenging environments for hearing aid users are larger gatherings such as parties. While people with normal hearing have no

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can Doâ&#x20AC;? Attitude and a Smile For 18-year-old Kristin Lee Inman, life is all about opening doors. Whether she is testing her abilities in the classroom, on the tennis court or at the concert hall, Kristin is determined to make the most of what she

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has to offer.

“Can Do” Attitude

hen Kristin heads to Creighton University this year, she plans to challenge her already impressive academic strengths with a goal to become a pediatric oncologist.

speak. At the resort where she held a summer job, Kristin regularly served up friendly advice on effective communication along with the menu selections.

Kristin takes that same approach to the many opportunities she’s been given as a person with moderately severe to severe sensory hearing loss. “I don’t see hearing loss as a limitation,” says Kristin. “In fact, it has opened doors for me to try new things and meet people I would have never had the opportunity to meet.”

Most importantly, Kristin shows that people with hearing loss can in fact “just do it.” Her “can do” attitude helped her to win top honors in the Student Category of the 2013 Oticon Focus on People Awards. Her audiologist nominated her for the national award, stating: “I can think of no better antidote to a newly diagnosed family’s fear and anxiety then to show them Kristin – sporting her sparkly ear molds and rockin’ her hearing aids!”

A top performer Kristin’s accomplishments are many. She ranked first in her graduating class, plays six instruments - bass clarinet, clarinet, violin, tenor sax, trumpet and piano - and was a top athlete on her school’s varsity tennis team. As a youth board member for the local United Way, she helps to decide how to allocate funds to deserving students and community youth-benefiting projects.

and a Smile

Just do it

You might expect Kristin to be frazzled with a workload like this but she meets each new opportunity to contribute with a ready smile and a warm, open spirit. And today, an upgrade to new Oticon Chili hearing instruments is helping her navigate her busy world with a bit more clarity and energy.

Kristin is happy to take center stage at school functions, not to perform on one of her many instruments, but to “sign” so that students with hearing difficulty can better follow the discussion. Her efforts have helped to bring an awareness of hearing loss front and center for all students. She has even taught her friends sign language, just enough to handle communication on noisy bus trips or at loud sporting events.

“Everything is so clear with my Chilis,” she says. “The sound is much more natural. And I can hear every voice.” This is a significant improvement over her previous power instruments that tended to amplify everything. “Instead of picking out voices as I can with Chili, my old instruments picked up the noise of the fan or even book pages turning,” she explains. “Basketball games were a nightmare. I couldn’t hear anything!”

On the tennis court, competitors receive a short lesson on the importance of speaking clearly and looking at a person as they

Kristin was pleasantly surprised at how easily she adapted to her new Chilis. There was no “adjustment period” similar

to what she experienced in her last switch to new instruments. With her active, on-the-go lifestyle, she also enjoys Chili’s easy connectivity. “I love my Streamer and the ability to connect so easily to my iPod and to answer my cell phone handsfree,” she says. “I have a ConnectLine Microphone that I use in situations where I need extra help to hear speakers such as in the classroom or at state band competition. I like that the microphone is so small and discreet and very easy for a teacher or speaker to just clip on and use.” At the Focus on People Awards ceremony, Kristin found it easy to chat with well-wishers even in the crowded luncheon setting. In her acceptance speech, she summed up her approach to living life to the fullest: “If there is one thing that I have learned from having hearing loss, it is that keeping a positive attitude will get you through just about anything. Negative attitudes just drain your energy anyway. A smile on your face makes everything a little brighter.”

Hearing and Hearing Loss The human ear is a precisely tuned system with a sensitivity and range that easily outperforms the most elaborate sound system ever manufactured. The ear contains many physiological mechanisms, and a breakdown or disruption in any of these can cause hearing difficulties. In general, there are two main

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types of hearing loss. Learn more about them here.

Conductive

Sensorineural

Hearing Loss

This type of hearing loss is a condition of the outer and/or middle ear. It occurs when sounds from the outside world cannot be transmitted normally through the ear canal and/or middle ear to the nerve cells of the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss can be temporary or long term. The most common causes of this hearing loss can be a buildup of wax in the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear space (common in children), perforated eardrums, or damaged or defective ossicles (middle ear bones).

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common form of hearing loss. It happens when some of the delicate hair cells inside the cochlea get damaged and are unable to transform the sound vibrations into electrical signals. Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by long-term exposure to loud sounds. But the primary reason is the natural process of aging.

Most conductive hearing losses can be medically or surgically treated. If the conductive hearing loss for some reason cannot be alleviated, hearing aids can do a lot to compensate for the loss of loudness.

Once sensorineural hearing loss sets in, the condition may continue to worsen and will in most cases be permanent. Typical symptoms are a loss of loudness, and difficulties in understanding speech. Fortunately, Oticon's advanced hearing technology can effectively treat sensorineural hearing loss.

Hearing and Hearing Loss

1. 6.

5. 4.

How Sounds Travel Through The Ear The anatomy of the ear is precisely shaped to capture sound waves and amplify them. When sound waves enter the subways of the ear they follow what might seem like a long and arduous path. But every ‘station’ has a precise function. This is how it works:

1. Sound waves are picked up by the outer ear, which is made up of the pinna and the ear canal.

2. Sound is channeled to the eardrum, which vibrates when the sound waves touch it.

3. The vibrations are picked up by three tiny bones known as

6. The movements of the hair cells are transformed into

electric impulses that travel along the auditory nerve to the brain itself.

7. The brain decodes and interprets the electronic impulses, turning a stream of speech sounds into separate, recognizable words.

the hammer, anvil and stirrup, which create a bridge from the eardrum to the inner ear.

4. The vibrations move on to the cochlea — a spiral-shaped capsule housing a system of liquid-filled tubes.

5. When the sound waves reach the liquid it begins to move, setting thousands of tiny hair cells in motion.

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Striking Just the Right Note with Alta

Kurt Danielson

Retired speech and hearing therapist Kurt Danielsen has more than 50 years’ experience with hearing instruments. Every time he gets a new hearing solution, he notices improvements in performance. He was especially pleased when he tried the new Oticon Alta. The premium technology hearing solution proved to be “in tune” with his active lifestyle.

Kurt is passionate about his music. He plays in two different musical groups each week and when he’s not performing, he’s busy practicing. “Apart from my family, music is my lifeblood. In a musical group, you need to be able to hit the right tones with the right emphasis at the right time,” Kurt explains. “Before I had my new hearing devices, my fellow musicians would often tell me that I was playing too loud or too soft, which made me feel rather foolish. Now I am able to keep up with the others and play better, which is just what we all needed.”

Benefit-wise, Kurt reports that Alta sounds far richer than his previous hearing devices. “I have a special program for music that captures a wider range of sounds especially high tones. Those higher tones also make speech easier to understand,” Kurt says. “When guests come to dinner I can follow the conversation, and that’s fantastic. I am able to hear those sitting next to me as well as those sitting across the table.”

Improved sound quality with less effort “Compared to Alta my old hearing aids sounded rather dull and heavy, but the combination of lower and higher sounds in Alta is very pleasant. I feel quite normal when talking to others, and I don’t have to use a lot of energy on listening,” Kurt says. He also found that the sound quality is as close to natural as he could have imagined. “I have become more open, trusting and confident about being around other people. I’m more outgoing and sociable.”

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Kurt enjoys spending time with friends and his large family and they have noticed a positive difference. “When they ask me

how I am able to hear and participate, I tell them that I’m wearing Oticon’s best hearing solution ever,” he says. “I can’t say that I hear everything but my friends and family are happy that I can hear more.” “Alta makes me feel like a better person - brighter, happier and more relaxed,” he adds. “It supports the good life I have, from the moment I get up until the moment I go to bed.” Oticon Alta Hearing Device

Hear more. Anywhere. Anytime.

Experience the all new Alta. The hearing device customized exclusively for you. Your life. Your world. Your day takes you from one difficult hearing situation to another. Alta is customized to give you optimal performance. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soundprocessing architecture is our most advanced ever. Think of it as a

Consult with your hearing care professional and try Alta today.

micro-brain that works in harmony with your brain. Your personal hearing preferences are used by the Alta chip so you can differentiate sounds and hear with more clarity. Yet for all its sophistication, each Alta hearing solution begins with talking, and listening. Consult with your hearing care professional today, and hear the difference a truly personalized hearing solution can make for you. 19

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A Shared

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A Shared Life . . . One Personalized Solution Recently retired from busy professional lives, Carol and Arnie Friedman are happily moving on to the next exciting phase of their lives. Spending quality time together is a priority for them. Travel tops their list of favorite shared experiences, followed by a dedication to staying healthy and fit with a wide range of high energy and fun activities. When difficulty hearing presented challenges to getting the most out of travel tours and trips to their favorite museums, the devoted duo decided to take action – together. Hearing challenges times two Arnie, who has worn hearing devices for the past three years, made the first move, setting up an appointment with his hearing care professional. “As technology improves, I want to know when there is something new on the market,” says Arnie. “What I had was good and good is ok, but why not go for better.” Arnie had noticed his ability to join in conversation was getting more difficult. “In social settings or in a restaurant, I’d find myself hanging half way across the table trying to get my ears closer to what the people were saying,” he explains. “My friends were beginning to view me as somebody who was cold and impersonal and that’s not what I wanted.”

Carol had been experiencing hearing challenges as well. “When I talked to friends on the phone, I would be forever saying ‘what’ or ‘could you repeat that’. And if we were out to dinner, sometimes I wasn’t even engaging in the conversation because I just wasn’t following what they were saying.” Carol’s concern was not so much focused on the reaction of her friends, but more on her own frustration. “It bothered me that there was a problem,” she emphasizes. At the same time, she resisted the thought that she might need hearing help. “I thought that was something that I would take care of when I was ‘older’,” she says. The couple also found they were enjoying their favorite travel adventures less as it became increasingly difficult to hear what their travel guides were saying. “I would be

flipping pages in the tour book as fast as I could trying to keep up with what we were going to see,” Arnie says.

Arnie leads the way Arnie’s, audiologist introduced him to Oticon Alta, a new premium technology hearing device that is customized to each individual’s personal hearing preferences. Alta features a powerful sound processing chip that enable users to differentiate sounds better and hear more, even as they move from one difficult hearing environment to another. Although he’s no newcomer to the hearing device fitting process, Arnie was impressed that this time it was a much more personalized process that involved listening to a variety of sound samples to

music from his various entertainment sources directly to his hearing instruments. “I have finally gotten on board with some of the more sophisticated technology, the iPod, the iPad, and the iPhone,” he says. “Syncing them with this little instrument is just marvelous.” Arnie also uses the ConnectLine TV Adaptor. Sound comes directly to his Altas at a volume that is comfortable to him and Carol can keep the volume in the room comfortable for her. Best of all, Arnie can get back to enjoying his travels. “Now I can just sit back and be part of the tour group and listen to what they’re saying. And that’s a big plus.” zero in on the ones that sound best to him. “It’s almost like trying different lenses at the ophthalmologist’s until you find the perfect one,” he explains. “And it’s the same thing with this. You’re adjusting the various sounds and background noises until you get the sound that’s just right for you.”

“I didn’t have to continually nudge my wife and whisper,

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‘what did they say’.

With his new Altas, Arnie is able to follow and participate more naturally in conversation. “I don’t have to continually nudge my wife and whisper, ‘what did they say’. That in itself is worth everything to me,” he says. “Being able to hear again in a normal fashion is extremely important. I am now back into the mainstream instead of standing on the sidelines.” Arnie is especially pleased that his new hearing devices adapt to the environment he is in. “It’s an improvement that is remarkable,” notes Arnie. “It seems that one hearing device is talking to the other hearing device and they both are in sync. It made going out a pleasure again. It just feels comfortable and very natural.” Music is a passion for Arnie. He reports that now he can enjoy music “and pick up almost every note.” In addition, he isn’t getting complaints from Carol because he’s cranking up the music. Arnie also purchased a new Streamer Pro with his Altas. The compact device, similar to a small MP3 player, allows him to stream

Carol makes her move When Arnie went for his hearing assessment, Carol decided to have her hearing checked too. She was surprised to learn that she had a hearing loss sufficient enough to benefit from hearing devices. Like Arnie, she wanted to go with the most advanced technology and chose Alta. As someone new to hearing devices, Carol also wanted to be sure that whatever she chose was a good fit with her sound preferences and lifestyle. And she admits, how it looked was all important. “I was amazed at how tiny it is,” she says. “You can’t even see it! That’s something that’s very exciting for someone in my age group. I can enhance my hearing and it isn’t visible to anyone else unless I flip back my hair and point it out!” “I loved that my audiologist was able to personalize the Altas to the sounds that were most appealing to me,” she adds. Carol says that although the audiologist made recommendations, she was totally involved in the Alta fitting process. “It’s sort of like selecting your own personal music. Everyone likes sounds at different levels and with different qualities and together, we found the sound that was right for me,” she notes. Carol was excited to head home and begin making phone calls to friends to test out her

A Shared

Life

new Altas. She found that on the phone and later at dinner with friends, she didn’t have to say “what” or “can you repeat that” once.

A Happy Ending “Now we can go out, we travel, we can do the things we did before and I don’t have to pester Carol with ‘what, what’, ‘what did you say’ or ‘what did she say’,” says Arnie. “Now we share the experience together and we’re benefiting from it jointly and that is terrific.” “Having hearing devices at this stage of our lives is a surprising benefit,” says Carol. “It has done nothing but enhance the activities that we do and make our time together that much more enjoyable.” To which Arnie adds an enthusiastic, “Agree definitely!”

“ It’s sort of like selecting your own personal music. Everyone likes sounds at different levels and with different qualities and together, we found the sound that was right for me.”

A Personal Hearing Profile A hearing assessment is fast and completely painless. When it’s over, your hearing abilities will be captured on paper, which is professionally referred to as an audiogram. When you think about hearing, what do you actually perceive?

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Perhaps the easiest way to imagine it is in terms of loudness. A person with normal hearing should be able to hear very quiet sounds, find it easy to hear mediumstrength sounds, and be able to tolerate very loud sounds.

Generally, sounds can be described as high-pitched or low-pitched, with various intensity levels. In speech, the soft consonant sounds like ‘t’, ‘s’ and ‘f’ are higher pitched than the strong vowel sounds like ‘a’, ‘e’ and ‘i’. And if you have difficulty differentiating between these sounds, you will have difficulty understanding what is being said. In which case it might be time to get your hearing tested. The hearing assessment and audiogram A standard hearing assessment is not at all traumatic. You sit in a comfortable sound booth, put on some headphones and listen to all sorts of pure tones, from the deep bass tones to the high, treble tones. You listen to them because most everyday environmental sounds and speech are situated in

this range of frequencies. And you confirm that you have heard each sound either by raising a hand or pressing a response button. The hearing care professional will then begin to decrease the volume of the sounds, to determine where it becomes difficult for you to hear. This boundary is called the hearing threshold. These levels are then recorded on a simple graph showing X’s and O’s, where X is your left ear and O is your right. For each ear it shows how loud a given tone needs to be in order for you to hear it. The next step is to evaluate how well you understand speech. You might be asked to listen to and repeat a series of two-syllable words, like ‘ice cream’, which are played at quieter intensity levels. This helps to determine your threshold for recognizing speech. The same is done with monosyllabic words, like ‘dog’. From these tests the hearing care professional can calculate a percentage of ‘word discrimination’ for each ear. If necessary, other tests can be performed to evaluate how well you can understand speech in difficult or noisy situations. At the end of the procedure it will be time to determine whether a hearing device is appropriate for you.

A Personal Hearing Profile

2 Types of Hearing Loss

Age-induced hearing loss

Noise-induced hearing loss

The most common type of hearing loss is called presbycusis, or age-induced hearing loss. This is caused by a gradual deterioration of hair cells, which is part of the normal aging process. The degree to which hair cell loss occurs varies from one individual to another. Some people experience a significant loss of sensory cells at the age of 50, while others only have a negligible loss even at the age of 80. Hearing problems associated with presbycusis can be significantly reduced with the right hearing device.

Another, less common type of hearing loss is noise induced, arising from an acoustic trauma or from exposure to excessive noise for extended periods of time. This causes damage to both the inner and outer hair cells of the cochlea. People with noise-induced hearing loss typically have difficulty hearing high frequency sounds, but hear quite well in the low frequencies. Oticon hearing devices are ideal solutions for noise-induced hearing loss.

Sounds above the lines are not audible Sounds below the lines are audible

Right ear Left ear

zv j m d b ol a n r ng ei u

f s th

Your Audiogram

ch sh

An audiogram is the product of a hearing assessment. More precisely, it is a graphical representation on paper, showing the specific pitches (frequencies) and loudness (intensity) levels that a person can hear with each ear.

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Removing Communication Barriers in

Everyday Life

Removing Communication

Barriers IN

EVERYDAY

LIFE

Streamer Pro

Phone Adaptor

TV Adaptor

Microphone

Hearing device users will be the first to agree that in certain situations — such as watching the TV, talking on a landline phone or chatting on a cell phone — even the best hearing devices need a helping hand. Oticon’s ConnectLine™ system is designed to remove technical barriers and poor sound quality by sending the sound directly to people’s ears.

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Why TV's can be

challenging Michael Porsbo, Product Manager for ConnectLine at Oticon, explains why situations such as watching TV can be problematic for hearing device users. “This is partly because you’re sitting some distance away and the sound from the TV is being interrupted by other sounds in the room, and partly because, if the volume is turned up too loud, you will annoy your family and friends.” “The best way to overcome these problems is to send the sound straight from the TV to your hearing instruments. Now that we have wireless technology we can do this very effectively, with very good sound quality.” How the ConnectLine TV Adaptor helps The ConnectLine TV Adaptor is a neat little box that can be connected to any TV set. “As soon as you turn on the TV this adaptor will very conveniently send the sound straight

to your hearing devices via a small neckworn control device called the Streamer Pro,” explains Michael. “The Oticon Streamer Pro is a very clever invention,” Michael continues. “As well as acting as an advanced wireless remote control for Oticon’s advanced hearing devices, the Streamer Pro connects you to your TV, landline or cell phone or any other electronic device from where you want to pick up sound. As soon as you press the TV or Phone button on the Streamer Pro, your hearing devices will be ready to receive the incoming sound — just like a wireless headphone. The great thing about ConnectLine is that because it is a fully integrated system, you can relax and enjoy your favorite TV show, knowing that if somebody calls you on either your cell or landline phone, you will automatically be alerted with a ringtone, and you can pick up the phone call directly in your hearing devices. This makes the system extremely safe and convenient to use.” Why phones can be problematic Another major problem for hearing device users is talking on the phone. Those with

mild hearing loss try to cope by removing their hearing device altogether. But people with more severe losses — who have to keep their hearing devices in — try to hold the phone away from their ear to avoid causing whistling sounds. Once more, the best way to avoid problems and poor sound quality is to pick up the caller’s voice with the Oticon Streamer Pro and send it wirelessly and directly to both hearing devices — loud and clear. How the ConnectLine Phone Adaptor helps “The ConnectLine Phone adaptor sits next to your landline phone, ready to pick up calls,” says Michael. ”When you press the phone button on the Streamer Pro to accept the call, the adaptor sends the caller’s voice straight to your hearing devices. And because the Streamer Pro has a built-in microphone, you can talk on the phone from anywhere within a 33 yard radius of your home phone without even having to get up. It’s hands and hassle free”. Where cell phones are concerned, if a phone has Bluetooth wireless capability

Removing Communication Barriers in

it can be used with the Streamer Pro to get phone calls sent straight to both ears. “Once you press the Phone button, your hearing devices will turn into a hands-free headset and the Streamer Pro will act as a microphone for your voice, so you can just leave your phone in your pocket while talking,” Michael adds. When one-on-one conversations need a boost There are listening environments that make it almost impossible for people with hearing loss to carry on one-onone conversations. For example, when you are driving in a car, face-to-face communication is not an option. Everyone is facing the same direction, eliminating the possibility of lip and facial expression reading. Other noisy environments such as social gatherings or restaurants also reduce the likelihood that quiet, intimate conversation between two people can be understood and enjoyed.

Why a total solution makes good sense Perhaps the greatest benefit of the ConnectLine system is the fact that it is a complete system. “You can of course get different brands of assistive devices for different purposes, but then you might be worried that if you’re listening to the TV you won’t hear the phone ringing. You also might experience varying degrees of sound quality or even interference. But with the ConnectLine system everything is compatible. You can even use it for PCs and personal stereos,” says Michael. When people are watching the TV and a call comes in, the system lets them know immediately. “You will hear the phone ringing in your hearing devices, and see

Everyday Life

the Phone button flash on your Streamer Pro,” explains Michael. “When you push the button to take the call, the system automatically mutes the TV. Then when you press the button to end the call, the TV sound automatically comes back. It doesn’t get any easier than that.” “The greatest thing about ConnectLine is that it puts people with hearing loss on an equal footing with everyone else,” Michael continues. “At Oticon we believe that great hearing care isn’t just about great hearing devices. It’s about creating total solutions that can help people get the very best out of their hearing in more everyday situations than ever.”

Why the ConnectLine Microphone helps Oticon ConnectLine Microphone is a discreet clip-on microphone that is worn by your companion and connects wirelessly to the Streamer Pro, allowing you to hear the other person’s voice directly through your hearing instruments. You can listen more clearly to a friend, colleague or family member in challenging environments. “At long last you will be able to enjoy clear one-to-one communication in crowded or noisy places, like restaurants, cars or just outside on a windy day!,” says Michael. “All you have to do is give your chosen speaker the ConnectLine Microphone, and then everything he or she says is channeled straight into your hearing instruments. Communication is dramatically improved, and you find yourself able to participate more actively in many situations that before may have seemed impossible.”

Check Your Hearing

Yes 1. Do people seem to mumble or speak in a softer voice than they used to? 2. Do you feel tired or irritable after a long conversation? 3. Do you sometimes miss key words in a sentence, or frequently need to ask people to repeat themselves?

Do you suspect that your hearing is not as good as it used to be? The following questions will allow you to make a quick assessment:

4. When you are in a group, or in a crowded restaurant, is it difficult for you to follow the conversation? 5. When you are together with other people, does background noise bother you? 6. Do you often need to turn up the volume on your TV or radio? 7. Do you find it difficult to hear the doorbell or the telephone ring? 8. Do you find it difficult to hear water boiling when you are in the kitchen? 9. Is carrying on a telephone conversation difficult? 10. Do you find it difficult to pinpoint where an object is (e.g. an alarm clock or a telephone) from the noise it makes?

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11. Has someone close to you mentioned that you might have a problem with your hearing?

How did you do? Your answers to these questions only provide an early indication of whether your hearing is impaired or not. If you have answered yes to one or more of the questions you should contact your hearing care professional and ask for a thorough hearing evaluation. Answering yes many times doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily mean that you have a severe condition. You have to visit a hearing care professional to find out the exact nature of your hearing loss and get a proper diagnosis. Within one hour he or she will be able to evaluate your situation and recommend the appropriate course of action.

Give yourself the gift of more natural hearIng for 14 days. Risk-free.

Experience the Ultimate: The all new Alta. Alta is the ultra high-performance hearing instrument that is customized specifically for you. Altaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sound-processing architecture is our most advanced ever. Think of it as a micro-brain that works in harmony with

Contact your hearing care professional and try Alta and about 14 days risk-free.

your brain. Your personal sound preferences are actually used by the Alta chip so you can differentiate sounds and hear with more clarity. Even in difficult hearing situations.Yet for all its sophistication, each Alta hearing solution begins with talking, and listening. Consult with your hearing care professional today, and hear the difference a truly personalized hearing solution can make for you. 31

Rockin’ in the USA

Like rockers Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, Matt is New Jersey-born and proud of his home state. Matt has also experienced hearing loss since age 4 and has worn hearing instruments to help him keep time with his busy life and his music.

When audiences across the US

The 26-year-old professional drummer has never let hearing challenges slow him down. In school, he played in concert, jazz and marching bands as well as in the orchestra. At age 13, he began playing in a rock band with friends “just for fun” and found his passion. Since then, Matt has performed with over 30 bands with names like The Survival Instinct and Lyken 21, and recently returned from a national tour with the band Dead Fish Handshake.

rock to drummer Matt Biehl, they have no clue that this Jersey Boy is counting on more than his band mates to keep time with the

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music.

As he builds his professional career, Matt constantly strives to upgrade his drumming skills. “I really enjoy being out there playing on stage, just giving people the show of their lives,” he says. Keeping his hearing technology as up-to-date as possible is also important for Matt to ensure that he can quickly integrate his drumming with the needs and styles of a variety of bands. He recently upgraded to the new Oticon Alta. “With my previous hearing devices, it was difficult to pick out certain sounds and focus on music as a whole,” he says. “Now I can pick out notes and can easily understand where the band is going so I can play my parts better. Our live show is just amazing now that I am able to hear everything so much better.”

Rockin’

Matt spends a good deal of his time in noisy environments, either playing at clubs with large crowds or rehearsing with one of the bands. “Alta allows me to separate the loud noises so I can speak to people one-on-one,” he explains. “Not only does Alta cut down on surrounding noise but it enables me to zoom in on the person who is speaking. I’m able to have one-on-one conversations without having to say ‘what’ constantly.”

thanking people for coming and making sure they’ll remember us and come back to see us again.”

As someone who travels to performance venues across the US, Matt appreciates that he can carry on conversations while in a car. “I used to find road noises very distracting,” he says. ‘I’d always have to have people turn off the radio so I could try to hear what they were saying. Now I can keep up with the conversation, even when it’s coming at me from different directions.”

He also uses the Streamer Pro to enjoy music throughout the day from his iPhone. “I store my music on my iPhone,” he explains. “I can listen to music for hours and hours and I can pick out notes that I was never able to hear before.”

Matt often socializes with fans who come to hear the group perform. He used to try to keep a low profile in between sets and after shows because he didn’t want to get into situations where he couldn’t keep up. “Now when I play a gig, I’m much more confident jumping into the conversation,” Matt notes. “I don’t worry about being embarrassed by feedback which was an issue before. Now I can just focus on

Matt makes good use of his Streamer Pro, staying in touch with friends and family with regular cell phone calls. “I no longer have to put my cell phone on speaker to hear the caller – something I did before that gave me no privacy,” he says. “Now I can talk hands free and the sound comes into my hearing devices crystal clear.”

in the USA

Matt rates his satisfaction with his new Altas – on the job and off – as extremely high. “My Altas are a very personal fit to the way I like to hear and to my lifestyle,” says Matt. “The hearing technology in Alta has progressed so far from where it was with my previous hearing aids, and thanks to that, I am able to progress with my life and my career better than ever before!”

With his Streamer Pro, Matt can stream music from the soundboard during concerts. This is not something most people would find useful,” he says. “But being able to connect my Altas and Streamer Pro to the soundboard allows me to hear the music tracks we play behind us and helps me keep the band in sync with the music.”

Prescription for Better Hearing

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Bent from Dk

“One day I saw my daughter crying and she said ‘Daddy doesn’t talk to me‘,” Bent remembers. “It made such an impact on me that ever since that comment 20 years ago, I have worn hearing devices from morning ‘til night.”

Bent

ent Philip got his first hearing aids in high school. He didn’t wear them at all. He felt that sounds became too loud and came too fast, and the instruments made embarrassing noises. In medical school and later as a practicing physician, he had to wear his hearing devices full time to be able to function. But the moment he got home, he would take them out. “One day I saw my daughter crying and she said ‘Daddy doesn’t talk to me‘,” he remembers. “It made such an impact on me that ever since that comment 20 years ago, I have worn hearing devices from morning ‘til night.”

anymore. Even when the restaurant is busy and people are chatting behind me, I am better able to hear what is being said. This has been a real improvement.” The Streamer Pro advantage For years one of Bent’s greatest challenges was talking on the phone, but these problems disappeared when Oticon first introduced the Streamer, a small device that connects Oticon hearing instruments to cell phones and other communication and entertainment devices. This was a quantum

Philip

leap for Bent because it sent the signal directly to both of his hearing devices. “The new Streamer Pro is yet another step in the right direction,” says Bent. “I like the design, the easy-to-use buttons and the external microphone is super.” Previously, when Bent had to call in to the hospital to check on patients or respond to a call, he was anxious that he would have difficulty understanding the conversations. “My heart would be in my mouth,” he says. “Now I am completely relaxed. I think the Streamer Pro is the best thing to happen since hearing devices were invented!”

More detailed sound, less whistling Bent’s transition to his new Alta hearing devices took very little time. One thing he quickly discovered was an improved ability to hear high-pitched sounds. “Suddenly I could hear things like the kettle, my computer and the printer,” he says. “I wasn’t sure whether the higher tones would be an advantage, but once I got used to them, I realized that the sound quality was fuller and more detailed.” Bent’s previous hearing aids would often make whistling sounds – annoying feedback that bothered him and the people who happened to be around him. “I would often experience feedback when talking to my wife or sharing lunch,” he says. “It would also happen when I was working on my vintage car, which is a hobby of mine. With Alta I can relax - and so can the people around me - because feedback is no longer an issue.” Bent has also experienced improvements in his ability to hear conversation in noisy situations. “Before when we went out to dine, we had to use a microphone or write messages in a notebook,” he explains. “Thankfully, we don’t have to do that

The

World is a

Noisy Place Get a boost in your hearing and give

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yourself an Edge Up

The World is a Noisy Place

he world is getting busier, more crowded and noisier. Understanding conversations, especially in the presence of noise, is more difficult than ever. Combine that fact with a lifetime of exposure to loud music, and noisy working environments and you have a recipe for difficult speech understanding. A boost in your existing hearing ability can do wonders to improve your speech understanding and will make a positive and immediate difference in your life. If a person has waited a long time before getting help for their hearing, the immediate boost in their hearing may make some sounds seem uncomfortably loud. Luckily the plasticity of the human brain is remarkable and before long it will learn to focus on the sounds which are most important and filter out other noises.

Train your brain

Hearing in noise

Hearing is a very complex system that starts in the outer ear, where sound is captured, and ends in the brain where all the information is stored, decoded, and transformed into something we can understand. With hearing devices, the brain registers so many new sounds that the initial adjustment period can be quite tiring. It’s a bit like training a muscle that hasn’t been used for a long time. But what a difference it makes when you finally regain that lost strength!

Hearing in noise can be difficult, even for people who don’t have a hearing loss. Conversations in a restaurant, talking at a basketball game or even trying to hear while the water is running is difficult for anybody. It’s useful to have a few tricks up one’s sleeve when encountering such situations!

When you first get new Oticon hearing devices, it doesn’t take long before they can be worn comfortably all day. Just as a personal trainer would offer guidance during fitness sessions, a hearing care professional can be of similar assistance during consultations. They can offer good advice when it comes to people’s expectations and experiences. They can also put new hearing device users in touch with others who have dealt with similar situations. There’s a whole community of experienced users out there! Help from the professionals Hearing care professionals are highly qualified at guiding people through the adjustment process. With hearing devices, listening becomes much easier most of the time. However, noisy environments can still present a challenge. During follow-up appointments, hearing care professionals can provide practical recommendations about how to cope in difficult listening situations. They can also make adjustments to the hearing device settings if necessary.

There are some easy ways to deal with the most common noisy situations. It is a good idea to avoid standing near a noise source (radio, TV). It’s also a good idea to avoid communicating from separate rooms; face to face contact makes talking much easier. Finally, keep in mind that listening in noise is even more difficult when you are tired. Practice makes perfect And last, but not least, practice makes perfect! Hearing devices pick up many sounds — some wanted, some unwanted. Separating the noise from the conversation can be tricky at first, but as each day passes, focusing becomes easier. Two good exercises are to practice talking with a friend outdoors and practice following a conversation in a moderately busy restaurant. With practice, tangible improvements can be achieved within weeks. There are lots of benefits — easier communication with friends and family, increased self confidence, and more energy to enjoy the good things in life. Even family and friends will notice the difference!

Fine Tuning During the fitting process, the more information that a person can give their hearing care provider regarding their experiences, the better the results. This information makes an excellent starting point for follow-up visits, in which the hearing care professional will review the current progress and fine tune the hearing device to meet that individual’s needs, if necessary. 37

Landline Phone

The New ConnectLine

Conversations with family and friends are clear and easy with your landline (analog/ PSTN) phone and Phone Adaptor 2.0.

Cell Phone

Hands-free phone calls on-the-go by pairing Streamer Pro with a cell phone—the hearing instruments become a wireless headset.

TV Adaptor Phone Adaptor

Streamer Pro

Listen at your own preferred volume while others listen at theirs.

Microphone

Music

Enjoy your favorite music streamed directly into your hearing devices.

Computer Hear better when participating in video chats or while watching streaming video or podcasts.

Microphone

Understand more when a discreet wireless microphone is worn by the person you’re speaking with.

Connect with a world of entertainment, information and ideas. ConnectlLine is a series of devices that transform Oticon hearing devices into personal wireless headsets. Now phone conversations, TV, your favorite

New

Don’t let hearing loss interfere with business.

New

Teleloop

music, computer and mobile video chats, podcasts, live performances and

Enjoy easy access to loop systems in theaters, lecture halls, religious services and homes.

presentations can be streamed directly into your hearing devices. Imagine being able to walk out of the room while you’re watching TV or listening to the radio, and not miss out. There’s even a mini-microphone thats about the size of a tie clip. Put it on a friend or family member’s collar and you can enjoy what they’re saying in a noisy spot like an outdoor café. ConnectLine is designed to connect you with ease. Ask your hearing care professional to show you how.

For more information contact your hearing care professional.

Office Phone

New

Tap into clearsounding FM listening systems in lecture halls and classrooms.

Symptoms of a Hearing Loss

fa o s m o t p Sym s hearing los

If you or someone you know is experiencing one or more of the following issues, then it’s time to consider getting your hearing evaluated:

 People seem to be mumbling.

 You find it hard to hear clearly on the telephone.

 You have to strain to hear when someone talks or whispers.

 You have difficulties hearing at the theater, cinema, or

 You have difficulties hearing someone call from behind or from another room.  You need to watch a speaker’s lips more closely to follow the conversation.  Following a conversation is difficult in meetings, at church, or in lectures.  You have to turn up the volume on the TV or radio.

other entertainment venues.  It’s hard to hear in noisy environments like a restaurant or a car.  You tend to limit your social activities because it’s difficult to hear and communicate.  Family, friends, or colleagues mention that they often have to repeat themselves.

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Two Is Better Than One... Two hearing devices are always better than one — not because they make sounds twice as loud, but because they provide a more natural perception of sound.

Imagine listening to your favorite program on the stereo. It has two amplifiers and two speakers, to give music and speech a natural depth. If only one amplifier and speaker are working, the sounds become shallow and flat. This is how people who only wear one hearing device, but should be wearing two, may also perceive sound. And that puts them at a disadvantage.

Firstly, their ability to localize sounds is compromised. This is because the brain needs input from both ears to find out where sounds are coming from. Imagine being on a busy street. If a car is approaching from the right and the driver honks his horn, the sound will reach your right ear a fraction of a second before it reaches your left ear. And it will arrive

Two is Better Than One

Hearing Ability Ratings As the graph indicates, the noisier it gets, the harder it becomes to hear. With only one hearing device people can run into real difficulty, but notice the difference in performance that two instruments can make! Ability ratings leap in the direction of normal hearing.

One Speaker QUIET ROOM

Television Group Conversation Car

Store NOISY ENVIRONMENT

Monaural 1 hearing device

Normal Hearing

Oticon Alta Hearing Devices

Binaural 2 hearing devices

Restaurant Street Party

Hearing Ability

Ideal

Two hearing devices can also make sounds more enjoyable and more comfortable to listen to. It becomes less of a strain to hear, and sounds have the kind of clarity and depth that provide a sense of space and volume.

with a certain power and intensity. Your brain immediately processes this information and tells you exactly what you need to know: where the car is coming from and at what distance. Enjoy the details Another area that demands good hearing in both ears is when you are in a noisy environment, trying to focus on a conversation. It could be at a party, for instance, where everyone is talking and people are constantly moving around. Once again, the brain needs input from both ears in order to separate the uninteresting, background sounds from the more amusing speech sounds in the foreground. With

two hearing devices you have a much better chance of hearing and understanding what is being said. Perhaps one of the most important reasons to wear two hearing instruments is that they reduce the risk of a condition known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;auditory deprivationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This is when the brain gradually loses some of its ability to process information from the unaided ear because of a continued lack of sound stimulation. A deprived ear will become more and more lazy, so it is important not to wait too long.

strain to hear, and sounds have the kind of clarity and depth that provide a sense of space and volume. In other words, you get more out of the sounds in the world around you.

Two hearing devices can also make sounds more enjoyable and more comfortable to listen to. It becomes less of a 41

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Standing Up

Standing Up to Everyday Life If you are going to invest in hearing instruments, it makes good sense to choose well-made devices that you can count on to perform to perfection, day in and day out. Oticon hearing instruments are designed to do just that. Every time the company introduces a new solution, hundreds of hours have been invested in design, choice of materials, construction and testing – all to ensure top quality, performance and reliability that will stand up to a variety of everyday situations and conditions. Enduring the environment A special series of chambers are used to simulate environmental wear and tear. These extreme test conditions accelerate the processes that naturally occur when hearing instruments are worn and used. They help Oticon specialists to identify and address any potential weakness so that product reliability can be ensured for years of use.

For example, hearing instruments are exposed to high humidity and extreme temperatures, from -40C to +85 C – to simulate conditions in various climates. Tests also look at what happens when instruments are exposed to extreme swings in temperature and to the effects of products such a hair spray and sun screens. One hot climate chamber even exposes hearing instruments to cycles of fine salt mist that help to stimulate the long term effects of sweat.

to Everday Life

You can wear your Oticon hearing devices without worrying about the weather or participation in outdoor activities. They’re designed to withstand these everyday activities.

Resisting Water and Dust Oticon BTE- and RITE-style instruments use intelligent mechanical design that includes barriers to prevent water, dust and debris from getting inside the instruments. While not waterproof, key components are nanocoated to repel water.

Absorbing hard knocks Hearing devices often get accidentally dropped – an event that both the internal and external components must be able to survive.

All of these factors are reasons why Oticon hearing devices perform so well in tests for water- and dust-resistance that include immersion in one meter of water for 30 minutes and eight hours of exposure in a chamber with circulating talcum powder.

To simulate the effect of being dropped on the floor, the hearing device is attached to a tiny suction pad and stuck from different angles. The speed of each blow corresponds to the hearing instrument striking the floor at different angles. Other tests ensure a robust hearing device that can withstand everyday use. Battery doors are opened and closed and push buttons and volume wheels are pushed - with each step repeated over 25,000 times. Painted surfaces and markings are wear tested by sliding a robot finger over the surface up to 25,000 times.

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Unlock The Power of Personalization

Unlock the Power of Personalization We all have our own preferences when it comes to how we like to hear. It’s personal, and it has to do with the way the individual brain “hears.” In fact, the way you hear is shaped by many things, starting with the unique physiology of your ear. Hearing is also shaped by life experiences, lifestyle, and your individual physical and mental makeup.

Alta works smarter so you don’t have to work harder at hearing. Premium features work like a shield to protect the clarity of speech — even in noisy background environments — and allow you to hear in 3-D so you can follow conversations that come from different directions in a room.

This uniqueness becomes especially important when you are coping with hearing loss. Ordinary hearing aids assume that the same settings will work for everyone. This is one of the reasons why mail order hearing aids are so unsatisfying. Some hearing instruments offer a few adjustments that can tailor amplification based on your audiogram. But they can only go so far. Speech may sound “tinny” or mechanical at times and you may have trouble distinguishing speech from background noise or locating the source of sound in a room.

And every Alta hearing device has the ability to automatically focus its high performance speakers on the conversation that’s right in front of you, and to adjust as you turn from one conversation to another.

As unique as you are A new breakthrough device overcomes these limitations. New Oticon Alta factors in more of your personal hearing preferences so you can hear more. The powerful sound processing chip that’s at the heart of every Alta hearing device works in harmony with your brain. Think of it as a micro-brain. You’ll differentiate sounds better and hear more, even as you move from one difficult hearing environment to another.

Shaped to your life Advanced new technology is only part of the Alta story. Through a new, more individualized hearing evaluation process, your hearing care professional can actually program your unique hearing ability, lifestyle and speech preferences into Alta’s sound processing chip, down to an incredible level of detail. This information tells Alta how to react automatically to the different hearing situations you encounter in the course of a day. Whether it’s a conversation in a car, lunch with friends, a football game, concert, TV show or business meeting, or just quiet time at home, Alta knows how you want it handled. Alta makes it easier for you to organize, select and follow the sounds you want

to hear. And Alta’s settings can always be adjusted, at the same high level of detail, by your hearing care professional as your needs change. A personal fit

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Because Alta is truly customized just for you, your life and your world, you can choose from a variety of designs, colors and custom styles that suit your lifestyle and hearing abilities. Every Alta is extremely

INIUM WIRELESS

small and discreet, so others will barely notice you’re wearing a hearing device. Your unique hearing profile is part of what makes your life as personal as your fingerprint. With Oticon’s new Alta hearing instrument, you can now experience a level of hearing performance that’s tuned to your life at a richer level of detail — so you can hear more — anywhere and anytime.

Unlock The Power of Personalization

Altaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advanced technology makes hearing and understanding easier:

Speech Guard E works like a shield to preserve the clarity of natural speech, even in noisy environments.

Spatial Sound Premium allows you to hear in 3D to follow conversations that come from different directions.

Free Focus automatically focuses Altaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directional microphones on the conversation in front of you, without changing sound quality.

ConnectLine adds wireless Bluetooth connectivity for an easy direct link to a wide variety of sound sources from cell and landline phones to TV and other entertainment devices.

Protect your hearing! Noise-induced hearing loss is the only kind of hearing loss we have the power to prevent. Find out why it happens — and how to avoid it. Noise-induced hearing loss happens because excessive noise damages some of the hearing mechanisms in the inner ear. Loud sounds begin their journey from some source — like a gun, an explosion, or music from super-powerful loudspeakers — and they travel through the air, funnel through the ear opening and begin wreaking havoc.

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Remember Quasimodo? Bells the size of Notre Dame would have most sensible people groping frantically for a pair of earplugs, but it’s not just the mega sounds that do the damage. Repeated exposure to loud sounds will do it too. When noise exceeds a certain level it begins to destroy the nerve endings in the inner ear. If this happens repeatedly, the nerve endings become damaged beyond repair, depriving you of your hearing, forever.

When does noise become dangerous? We all have different sensitivity levels. As a rule of thumb, the following situations put you in the danger zone: if you have to shout over background noise to make yourself heard; if the noise hurts your ears or makes them ring, or if you find it difficult to hear for several hours after hearing the noise. What damages our hearing is the intensity and duration of the sound. Sound is measured in decibels (dB), where 0 is the faintest sound the human ear can detect and where 180 would be the noise a rocket would make as it launches into space. In our daily lives, normal conversation would be at the 60 dB level, a lawn mower would be at 90 dB, a chain saw at 100 dB, a loud rock concert would be at 115 dB and a jet engine would be at 140 dB. Many experts believe that continued exposure to more than 85 decibels is asking for trouble. The longer you are exposed to a loud noise and the closer you are to it, the higher the risk is of damage. Noise damage at an early age Noise induced hearing loss isn’t just reserved for adults. Recent studies show an alarming increase in this condition in teenagers. Evidence suggests that loud rock music — plus music blasted directly

into the ears via earphones may be the primary culprits here. In extreme cases noise damage can cause ringing in the ears. Called tinnitus, this condition is caused by damage to the hearing nerve and it often becomes permanent. Many people in their fifties, who grew up with rock and roll, are feeling the effects of either noise induced hearing loss or tinnitus today. Fortunately, hearing aids are becoming more effective at addressing their special needs, and scientists may hopefully one day find some super-effective means by which to combat tinnitus. What can you do to avoid problems? The answer is easy: don’t overload your ears! And if you do, wear ear protectors — whether it’s earplugs or heavy-duty, full ear mufflers. Wear them if you are working in an excessively noisy environment. Wear them when using power tools or other noisy equipment. Wear them if you go hunting; when you ride a motorcycle or other noisy vehicles. Ear protectors are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and can even be custom made. Your local hearing care professional may be able to offer advice in this area.

Protect Your Hearing

Loudness Scale

dB 140

130

120

110

100

Different environmental situations produce different sound levels. When sounds are too loud or uncomfortable (above 100 dB), we perceive them as noise. 49

“I have a four-year-old daughter who is a little chatterbox, and being able to communicate effectively with her is so

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important to me.” —Kent Lanclos

Kent Lanclos

Capitalizing on Better Hearingâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;on the Job and at Home

“I’d seen pictures of what new behind-the-ear solutions looked like,” Kent says. “I could see that they were much smaller and that the performance was much improved from the old style hearing aids my grandmother wore. I also recognized that they’d be much easier for me to use.”

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Kent Lanclos knows his way around the halls of some pretty impressive buildings in our nation’s capital. In fact, for more than 15 years, he’s been meeting with individuals and groups who look for his input and guidance on issues that impact people and places across the country.

Kent, who has worn hearing instruments since his mid-20’s, often finds himself in meetings in rooms with high ceilings and hard surfaces, two factors that contribute to very poor acoustics. “It would be difficult to hear in many of the rooms, even if you had good hearing,” he says. “I would try to arrive early and place myself closer to the speaker to make sure that I could understand what was being said. But of course, if someone at another part of the table or room started talking, I couldn’t always hear them very well.”

When speaking from the podium following a presentation to large groups, Kent often had difficulty hearing questions from the audience. “I would have to leave the podium and go in to the audience to understand what question was being asked,” he says. Research & Recommendations “I knew the performance of my hearing devices just wasn’t what it should be,” Kent admits. “I also suspected that my hearing may have changed a bit too.” Before going in to meet with his audiologist, Kent searched online for information about the newest hearing technology. He zeroed in on new Oticon Alta. Kent was impressed that Alta featured Oticon’s most advanced sound processing and could be customized to each user’s personal sound preferences. Alta’s premium technology enables the hearing solution to work smarter so that users didn’t have to work harder at hearing. Kent also found the positive feedback of Alta users helpful in making his decision to consider Alta.

Kent’s audiologist agreed that Alta would enable Kent to hear more naturally and with more clarity, even in the challenging work environments that he frequently encountered. She also suggested that Kent consider a behind-the-ear style – a change from the in-the-ear hearing instruments that he had traditionally worn. “I’d seen pictures of what new behind-the-ear solutions looked like,” he says. “I could see that they were much smaller and that the performance was much improved from the old style hearing aids my grandmother wore. I also recognized that they’d be much easier for me to use.” Easy, no-risk trial Even with his advanced research and the many benefits Alta offered, Kent wanted to be sure his new instruments would fit seamlessly into his busy life. He was happy to find he could “test drive” his new Altas before making a decision to keep them. “The trial period was very important for me,” he explains. “Let’s face

Kent Lanclos

just been tremendous in making communication much easier for me.”

it, modern hearing devices offer wonderful technology but they are an investment. And before you commit to making that investment, you want to have confidence that they will address both your hearing and your lifestyle needs.”

The ConnectLine TV Adaptor enables Kent to connect wirelessly to the audio on his TV through the Streamer Pro. “I can set up an individualized listening environment so that it is comfortable for me to hear what’s being said on the TV and my family and friends can listen to the TV at a volume that is comfortable for them. And at the same time, we can have normal conversations with one another.”

“It took me roughly two weeks to make the decision. I got fitted, went and used them for a couple of weeks, went back to my audiologist, had a few changes made and at that point I knew that the Altas worked very well for me.” Confidence booster Kent reports that with his new Altas, he’s experienced a tremendous improvement in his ability to hear clearly and with less effort. “With the Altas, I can pretty much walk into the room and feel confident that I will be able to hear whoever is talking without much difficulty,” he says. Kent notes that he was always “fiddling” with his previous hearing devices. “I’d be changing the volume, doing this that and the other trying to make them work,” he says. “The Alta devices are very accommodating. They work very well in pretty much any environment. I can just put them on in the morning and go all day long and never think about them. I’ve been tremendously satisfied with them.” Kent is also finding that he is able to engage in the everyday give-and-take of office communications more easily. “I was starting to be a little reluctant to go and meet with other people in their offices because I thought that I would struggle to hear them,” he says. “Now, I just walk over and chat with co-workers when I need to. I have a lot more confidence that I’ll be able to communicate effectively.”

Sweet sounds closer to home Perhaps, the most rewarding improvements for Kent are those he experiences outside the office. “I have a four-year-old daughter who is a little chatterbox,” he explains. “And being able to communicate effectively with her is so important to me. Before, Willow would get a little frustrated because I wouldn’t hear her all the time. I wouldn’t respond because often I wasn’t sure what she was saying. I have a lot fewer issues with that nowadays. I can hear what’s she saying and understand and respond as she needs.”

Kent reports that he hasn’t had a chance to give his Altas a test run in noisy restaurants or crowded social gatherings- two settings that have created challenges for him in the past. That’s a “test” that will have to wait. The busy family man with a young daughter he calls “the pride and joy of my life” happily admits that for now, a trip to the playground with Willow is the socializing he enjoys most.

Kent’s wife has noticed a positive difference, too. “I don’t have to be right beside her to hear what she’s saying,” he says. “We can be in different parts of the house and she can say something and I can understand and respond appropriately.” Kent uses the Streamer Pro, a small device similar to an MP3 player that allows him to stream audio directly for his cell phone and other entertainment devices directly to his Altas. “When I want to take a call, I just hit a little button on the Streamer Pro and have a conversation with whomever is calling. It’s

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