New Oticon Real™ Hearing Aids Aim to Give Patients Access to All the Sounds of the Real World

oticon real hearing aids
HHTM
February 23, 2023

SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY — While ambient sounds add depth and richness, they can be challenging for hearing aid users. Traditional hearing aid technology has been slow to react, over-amplifying ambient sounds or using simple gain reduction for all sounds, including speech. The result? It’s harder to focus and more demanding to socialize.

Now, the new Oticon Real “gives access to the full spectrum of real-world sounds with exceptional detail and clarity while protecting against sudden disruptive sounds so users can stay comfortable and sharp in the real world. Details of all sounds are processed automatically and precisely for optimal sound output, significantly improving speech clarity and reducing listening effort in the presence of sudden sounds.”

“More than 7 out of 10 hearing aid users are challenged by disruptive sounds,* making it difficult to stay sharp and focused, especially when engaged in conversation. By protecting users from disruptive sounds, Oticon Real significantly reduces listening effort in the presence of sudden sounds so patients can stay comfortable and focused. Oticon Real represents the next step in BrainHearing™ technology, providing access to all relevant sounds with outstanding detail, clarity and balance.”

–Oticon President, Gary Rosenblum

Oticon Real: Using BrainHearing Technology

Since 2016, Oticon has pushed ahead with proprietary technology based on its “BrainHearing philosophy”. From the innovative open sound experience of Oticon Opn™ and the on-board Deep Neural Network of Oticon More™ to the new Oticon Real which gives access to the “full and open sound scene with fewer disruptions”.

Introducing RealSound Technology™

The RealSound Technology™ in Oticon Real is powered by the powerful new Polaris R™ platform which features new detectors for fast and precise processing of disruptive sounds and wind and handling noise.

An on-board Deep Neural Network (DNN) trained with 12 million real life sounds optimizes the way Oticon Real makes sounds more distinct, working seamlessly across varying listening environments. Two new innovations, SuddenSound Stabilizer and the Wind & Handling Stabilizer help Oticon Real take DNN-based sound processing to the next level.

Using the new detectors, SuddenSound Stabilizer monitors the sound environment and is designed to adapt the amplification to keep both soft and loud sudden sounds available, balanced and comfortable.

SuddenSound Stabilizer can handle more than 500,000 sudden sounds during a typical day, “instantly reducing and releasing gain as the sounds occur, without compromising comfort or access to speech. SuddenSound Stabilizer reduces listening effort by 22 percent in the presence of sudden sounds.”**

The new Wind & Handling Stabilizer protects against uncomfortable wind and handling noise.   Whether users are on the golf course, the beach or just walking from car to the office, wind can cause unpleasant sounds in a hearing aid. Handling sounds, such as hands, hair, glasses or a facemask touching the hearing aid microphones, can also create unpleasant sound.  Unlike traditional hearing aids that allow wind and handling noise to enter both microphones, Oticon Real is said to be able to select the microphone with the cleanest sound input, reducing disruptive sound from entering the system. Double-patented technology “detects and cleans up wind and handling noise 500 times per second.”

Connectivity with Bluetooth® Low Energy

Oticon Real features Bluetooth® Low Energy technology with an extensive range of connectivity options including hands-free calls on select iPhone® and iPad® devices*** and seamless connection to most Android devices†.

Oticon companion app for hearing aids

Oticon Companion App, the new all-in-one solution to give patients the support they need to easily control and personalize their hearing aids. Available on iOS and Android

The Oticon Companion app is the new, all-in-one solution that allows patients to easily control and personalize their hearing aids with features to find my hearing aid for lost devices, manage connected devices and receive remote counseling and programming from their hearing care professional when needed.

The Oticon Real family includes four styles (miniRITE R, miniRITE T, miniBTE R and miniBTE T), available in three performance levels and nine color options, including new olive green‡.  Convenient charger options and state-of the-art connectivity enable direct streaming, hands-free calls and more.

oticon real hearing aid colors

To learn more about the new Oticon Real visit Oticon.com.

* Gade, P., Brændgaard, M., Flocken, H., Preszcator, D., & Santurette, S. (2023). Wind & Handling Stabilizer – Evidence and user benefits. Oticon Whitepaper.

** Based on a 22% reduced mean pupil size as compared to the highest mean pupil size.

*** Hands-free communication is available with iPhone 11 or later running iOS 15.2 or later, and iPad running iPadOS® 15.2 or later.

†Android devices need to support Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) to allow direct streaming to Oticon Real.  Please visit oticon.com/support/compatibility or scan the QR code at oticon.com/solutions/bluetooth-hearing-aids to learn if the device is compatible with Oticon hearing aids.  Currently, Oticon does not offer two-way streaming for Android phones.

‡Olive green is only available for the miniRTE R.

 

Source: Oticon

Leave a Reply