Following on from the launch of the ReSound Verso 9 and 7 late last year GN ReSound have now released to the UK market a mid range offering to complement the premium and advanced levels of Verso 9 and Verso 7 respectively. Predictably named the Verso 5, it has a decent feature set and particularly if you like your wireless toys the Verso range is a good option to look at. We haven’t supplied any Verso as yet but we have had some good reports from other hearing aid audiologists and their clients who like the ReSound Verso as a product and are quite impressed with it.

The ReSound Verso 5, in common with its older brothers the 7 and 9 is based on the Range II chip. Here are some of the main features available in Verso 5;

The ReSound Verso range has now pretty effectively replaced the now ageing ReSound Alera range, although ReSound as a manufacturer have unusually kept the Alera range on the books alongside the Verso, which makes for a very crowded product range. Apparently this is because some of the national suppliers are keen to keep the Alera on the books and increase their margins. We can’t imagine a scenario where it would be advisable to purchase the Alera now instead of Verso unless you are replacing one of a pair lost or damaged, or you are buying at a VERY substantial discount.

GN ReSound Hearing Aids

Unitron Moxi Kiss is the latest hearing aid to be released by Unitron UK and is a nice development of the Unitron Moxi, offering most of the features the Moxi has but in a really sleek design and a new palette of colours with a luxurious finish. The Unitron Moxi Kiss oozes quality.

Unitron Moxi Kiss is built on the success of the Era platform and is available in 5 technology levels to suit all budgets and all needs. Available in the Unitron Moxi Kiss are the Era features such as SmartFocus and SpeechZone, Natural Sound Balance and Pinna effect, and a new tinnitus masker feature for those that are troubled by tinnitus.

The Unitron Moxi Kiss is fully wireless compatible, accessories compatible with the Moxi Kiss include the Unitron Remote Control, uDirect2, uTV2 and uMic.

For such a sleek hearing aid to be possible certain features have been dropped compared to the standard Unitron Moxi, the telecoil and program button have gone at the expense of the design aesthetics, but for most that will be a price worth paying.

Siemens Hearing Instruments have launched a brand new platform of hearing aid technology to improve on their Xcel range of hearing aids. Siemens Micon promises over double the number of instructions per second compared to its predecessor, an incredible 250 million a second! The Micon platform has a very wide bandwidth of 12kHz, 48 channels and 20 handles on the premium products (7mi), this is an impressive launch from Siemens who seem to have been working hard behind the scenes to produce a real contender to the marketplace.

As usual with Siemens, they have launched the upper half of the range in the new chipset, the majority of the lower end of the technology will be launched with the Micon technology later this year.

Siemens have taken the opportunity to utilise improvements in receiver design and a smaller chip to release a micro RIC called Ace which is absolutely tiny. The Micon Ace loses some wireless functionality in the pursuit of cosmetics, but for anyone wanting a VERY small RIC it really fits the bill. Also improvements in Siemens shell design promise more discreet ITE, ITC and CIC’s, along with a re-brand of the ‘in the ear models. In the Ear hearing aids from Siemens will no longer be branded as Motion ITE’s but as Insio.

At present Siemens have released to market the 7mi technology level (premium), the 5mi (advanced) and the some of the 3mi (mid range). In the autumn expect to see the rest of the range launched including 1mi technology level for the budget conscious.

So for a run down of the new range, at premium 7mi level we have Siemens Ace RIC, Pure RIC, Motion BTE, Aquaris BTE and Life Thin Tube. Insio to follow shortly.

At advanced 5mi level we have the same mix of products, and at 3mi mid range level we have Pure RIC, Aquaris BTE and Life thin tube.

More models will migrate across to the new technology later this year, towards the end of 2013 we expect to see the vast majority of Siemens hearing aids taking advantage of the better performing Micon technology.

So here are some of the highlights of the new Micon platform, not all features are available in all technology levels;

Automatic Classification – At 7mi level the Micon has 6 separate sound classifications in automatic mode, Quiet, Speech in Quiet, Noise, Speech in Noise, Music, Car. The Micon has a great new feeedback cancellation system, in the past it has been a bit of a weak area for Siemens hearing aids, but now they seem to have addressed the issue and it does not seem to be an issue at all.

Frequency Compression is an option, unlike Phonak’s SoundRecover, Siemens only activate their frequency compression as a general rule with steeply dropping high frequency losses and it can pull the frequencies across to the low end more aggressively than other manufacturers.

With previous Siemens technology tinnitus management was buolt in, but only on Life models, now tinnitus management is available through the whole Micon range.

A telecoil is now available in the Siemens Pure 312 Micon, and water and dust resistance across the range of BTE’s and RIC’s is a very impressive IP67 which means they are extremely resistant to dust and moisture. The Aquaris Micon models are even better with dust and moisture resistance, with an IP score of IP68.

Phonak have launched some new products to replace the RIC and super power hearing aids in their range. The Audeo Q is based on the Quest chip replaces the Audeo S Smart and Audeo S Mini, the Naida Q, also based on the new Quest chip replaces the Naida S.

So firstly the Phonak Audeo Q – available in a new range of colours and three distinct models. The Audeo Q-10 model is a direct replacement for the Audeo S Mini, with a size 10 battery and in common with the Mini having the wireless functionality stripped out in favour of a (slightly) smaller frame. Personally we can’t see the point in the Q-10 as the absence of wireless when the smaller frame is barely noticeable makes it a bad choice we think. A much wiser choice is the Q-312 version, with a 312 battery and full wireless capabilities. Also available, a new model in the Audeo range of hearing aids is the Q-312T, slightly larger version of a Q-312 with a telecoil built in, certainly a useful extra feature worth having for some.

Phonak have at the same time released details of a new set of receiver wires, with improvements in shaping for comfort and retention, also the power wires are slimmed down drastically from the older bulkier versions. As you would expect from Phonak, thoughtfully, the new wires are forward and backward compatible. Why other manufacturers don’t try harder to do this and make life simpler we don’t know!

Phonak Audeo Q is available in four technology levels, Q90, Q70 and Q50 to match the Virto and Bolero range, and also an entry level Q30.

The Phonak Audeo Q range has a built in Tinnitus Balance Noise System that is available right through the range.

An interesting development is that the Phonak Audeo Q RIC is supplied with a lifetime of free receiver wires. (well, lifetime of the product anyway!).

Phonak Naida Q is replacing the Naida S range of super power BTE and RIC hearing aids. Like its predecessor the Naida Q is water and dust resistant and has all the features you see on the Virto and Bolero Q range transferred right across the the Naida Q. Like the Audeo Q, the Naida Q is available in four technology levels including the entry level model. So the range consists of Naida Q90, Q70, Q50 and Q30.

Starkey Laboratories have released some new models to their range of hearing aids. Their 3 Series is currently available only in BTE format, but Starkey are likely to release the 3 Series in ITE format in April. Until then, Starkey ITE’s will continue to be supplied in the older Wi Series technology.

The new models released are a mini BTE 3 Series with an impressive 65dB of gain, they have expanded their Xino range of mini RIC hearing aids to incorporate a wireless version at three technology levels, 110, 90 and 70 and with a 312 battery, and also the Xino Tinnitus which is aimed at addressing those with hearing loss and tinnitus, and also those with tinnitus only.

In the 3 Series Starkey have made some subtle changes. The sweep switch has gone, replaced by a more tactile solution. the program button is discreet and can be configured as a volume adjuster, a program selector, or both.

Receiver wires in the RIC products are re-designed too as a 6 pin snap fit as opposed to the fiddly and convoluted older RIC wires. Double (power) domes are a new addition to the RIC products too, previously the choice has been only open or closed domes.

Direct Audio Input shoes are available for 3 Series BTE’s for those that want to make use of FM systems too.

Starkey wireless hearing aids can take advantage of the new Surflink Mobile, a fantastic little device which, although at first glance might seem a tad expensive compared to other streaming devices on the market, works fantastically well and actually pretty much does the job of most wireless hearing aid accessories combined.

It can be used as a remote microphone, as a mobile streamer, as a media streamer, a remote control, and because all the latest Starkey products from the Wi through to the new 3 Series are wireless compatible, it just works seamlessly and directly with the hearing aids, no pairing dramas, just high quality audio.

Widex UK have this week launched a new range of hearing aid technology called Dream.

Based on the new platform, True ISP, unusually for Widex they have released the whole range all at once, and included a new entry level too. The previous range to the Widex Dream was the Widex Clear range, which was available as Clear 440, Clear 330 and Clear 220.

The new Widex Dream range is now available as Widex Dream 440, Dream 330, Dream 220 and the new Dream 110.

Widex have kept the same number of channels in the 440, 330 and 220 ie 15, 10 and 5 channels respectively, and the new Widex Dream 110 is a three channel instrument.

The Widex Dream is available in all form factors from ITC / CIC to Passion and Fusion. Widex Super and the Widex IIC remain unchanged.

Widex tell us the new Dream range benefits from far better battery drain and claim 20% longer battery life.

Notably Audibility Extender (Widex’s frequency transposition strategy) is available alongside all program structures as opposed to being a standalone program, and automatic acclimatisation is included too.

When I want to buy something the first thing I do is check out prices and customer reviews online, especially if it is a product I have little or no experience of.

I don’t think I am alone in doing that, but something that has occurred to me recently is that there is no easily available way to do the same thing when it comes to hearing aids.

Sure you have the manufacturers websites, but what you read there is very glossy marketing hyperbole and, regardless of manufacturer can often be taken with a pinch of salt.

Reading some of the manufacturers websites you would think some hearing aid technology is capable of offering super human hearing, the fact of the matter is that hearing aids can never be quite the same as natural hearing, and can only aspire to come reasonably close to that. The cat is out of the bag!

As an independent hearing aid supplier we at Digital Hearing Care can supply hearing aid technology from all the manufacturers available in the UK (unlike a lot of our competition) and are in a good position to be more objective than most when it comes to honestly appraising how good one hearing is in comparison to another, we have the experience that many others just don’t.

Having said all that, it’s impossible to be completely objective and wouldn’t it be nice to be able to browse a list of bona fide hearing aid reviews from real life hearing aid wearers from all over the UK, from a wide range of hearing aid manufacturers, private and NHS?

Our idea is simple, we want to post online genuine reviews from hearing aid wearers, unbiased, warts and all.

Through our sister site www.hearing-aid-batteries.org.uk we have been asking our customers who buy hearing aid accessories from us to submit an honest hearing aid review, how they have found the hearing aids they are currently wearing, the pros and cons, what they like and what they don’t like about them. It is early days yet but over time we hope to have a large library of unbiased hearing aid reviews that can be used for research.

As new reviews come in (and new hearing aids are released to market) we will add them to the website and over time the resource will become ever more comprehensive.

Hearing aid reviews are broken down by manufacturer and there is also a section on NHS hearing aids too. Hover your mouse over the ‘Reviews’ tab above and select the manufacturer from the list that drops down.

If you have a viewpoint on hearing aids that you are wearing at the moment and would like to contribute to the project we’d love to hear from you. Be sure to let us know the brand, model and type of hearing aids you are using, the good and bad aspects of your hearing aids, and be as candid as you can!

It looks like Oticon are releasing a new premium product shortly, based on what we have read on the Oticon international site the new product will be called Oticon Alta.

The Oticon Alta will be available in a full range of form factors, from BTE to RITE and miniRITE and some new re-designed ITE versions too. The BTE and RITE versions will have a range of subtle and some not so subtle colour shells to choose from.

Based on the brand new Inium platform, Oticon claim the Alta is a ‘game changing solution’ which aims to reduce listening effort.

Available with the Oticon Alta is a new souped up Streamer, the Oticon Streamer Pro. Details are sketchy at present and we are unsure if the Streamer Pro will be backwards compatible with older technology that has been superceded.

As information becomes available we will post here on the news blog.

Some of the standout features of the new Oticon Alta are as follows;

The 2012 survey by EuroTrak on the hearing aid market highlighted many interesting trends and some things that just don’t seem to change over the years.

One of the things the latest survey highlighted is the fact that hearing aid adoption is higher in the UK than any of the countries involved in the survey. This can be attributed in part to the fact that we have the good old NHS supplying hearing aids free on loan.

Here is the startling bit – we in the UK have the highest adoption rate of 41.1%, this means nearly 59% of people in the UK with a hearing loss that could benefit from the help hearing aids give just don’t!

It sounds incredible doesn’t it? If you can’t hear too well it impacts on all areas of your life, particularly socially. Why wouldn’t you try to fix your hearing as best you could if you had the chance?

When we look at the UK as a whole, around 4 in 5 of hearing aid wearers are using hearing aids supplied free on loan by the NHS, the remaining fifth are supplied privately.

Here are some reasons given why people who should be wearing hearing aids are not;

• Waiting lists – there is a substantial percentage of people waiting for NHS hearing aids at any one time, this obviously does not apply to privately supplied hearing aids where time from ordering to delivery and fitting is usually less than a fortnight.
• Client not feeling their hearing loss is severe enough to warrant wearing hearing aids, despite advice to the contrary.
• Waiting for the right time or a second opinion (in other words stalling for time, don’t want to wear hearing aids!).
• Cost – this applies only to privately supplied hearing aids.
• Cosmetics and vanity – this certainly applies to NHS hearing aids, although private hearing aids can be very discreet, invisible even in the right circumstances.

As a hearing professional I can’t be surprised by these findings, I encounter them every day, but it should be so different….

Here’s the thing, in work and in play, at home and socially, hearing aids can add so much to your life if you are hard of hearing, it’s crazy not to look seriously at addressing your hearing loss.

83% of hearing aid wearers in work state their hearing aids improve their job prospects. Hearing aid wearers with hearing loss are more likely to be promoted and have higher personal income than non hearing aid wearers with hearing loss.

Hearing aid wearers with hearing aid loss are also less likely to be depressed with a lower risk of dementia than hearing impaired non hearing aid wearers.

Let’s face it, if you have hearing loss, wearing hearing aids improves your social life, confidence and how well you interact generally with the world around you.

What’s the alternative? Cupping your hand to your ear and constantly saying ‘pardon’?

In the final part of our series of articles on the hearing aid market we are going to cover the national hearing aid suppliers, the biggest high street chains, and how they compare with what they offer to everything else available at this time.

Until the last few years the supply of hearing aids was mainly divided between a few large national suppliers and lots of smaller independent companies, either ‘one man bands’ or perhaps chains of a few branches.

Over the last five years or so things have changed quite dramatically, there have appeared a few highly competitive companies supplying cheaper products, not necessarily of the same quality as the best available privately purchased hearing aids, but these companies have make big inroads into the hearing aid supply chain, mainly at the expense of the larger established national chains, and also to a large degree with the smaller, less commercial independent suppliers.

At Digital Hearing Care we embrace these changes, the hearing aid industry had for a long time been staid, stuffy and overpriced.

The market is now far more dynamic and competition is very strong particularly with the advent of the internet helping customers to be far better informed about choices and prices.

We feel there is still plenty of room for change and that it will happen. As a successful local independent hearing aid supplier able to adapt to changing times we feel we are in a good position to move with the times, but that difficult times are ahead for most of the bigger companies, the established order if you like.

Some of these companies still seem to be living in a world that existed ten years ago and are STILL charging £5000-£8000 a pair of premium hearing aids, yes that really does still happen unbelievably, and with some of the biggest names in the high street. Some of these companies routinely charge over double our prices for exactly the same products!

Goodness knows how they get away with it or how they feel this can be justified, but carry on this way they do.

There are also national hearing aid suppliers out there who go to the other extreme and actually charge too little, often with sub-standard or superseded technology. We do wonder how they cover their costs, and how viable in the mid to long term their businesses are.

On our website we display the hearing aid prices of just about every current hearing aid available, we have lots of information to help you research the products, so much more than other companies make available. We have nothing to hide and are as open as it gets. We feel we stand up well to scrutiny.

So to wrap up this set of articles we looked first at how much you should pay for hearing aids, we then moved on to bargain basement hearing aids and then to hearing aid suppliers you could find and research via the internet, then finally the national high street suppliers.

Where do we think you should look towards when thinking of purchasing hearing aids? Us of course! We hope you might agree with our opinion based on what you have read in the articles but you have to make your own mind up about that….

We hope you have found this series of articles of interest. Why not follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or subscribe to our RSS blog feed, click the logos in the bottom right corner below to allow you to do this.