Augmented hearing
A new category of hearing devices has emerged in recent times known as 'hearables'. They are basically 'smart' headphones, suited for people with normal hearing or mild hearing loss who aren't ready for a hearing aid.
They typically consist of:
There are a few such devices now on the market. One of the better products in this category are IQbuds, made by a company called Nuheara, based in Perth.
This minimally invasive system uses the body’s natural ability to conduct sound through bone conduction, with typical applications being for those with conductive hearing loss or single-sided deafness. The BAHA system consists of an external bone conduction processor, which clips onto an abutment anchored into the skull behind the ear.
The Bonebridge is the world's first active bone conduction implant system, with typical applications being for individuals with conductive or mixed hearing loss, as well as some cases of single-sided deafness. This device is manufactured by MEDEL, and there are no other mainstream devices of this type currently available. With the Bonebridge, sound waves are transmitted via bone conduction directly to the inner ear, where they are processed as natural sound, bypassing any obstruction in the middle ear. A Bonebridge system consists of two parts: an externally worn audio processor, which sits off the ear, and an internal bone conduction implant, which is fully contained under the skin.
The Vibrant Soundbridge is a unique middle ear implant system which has opened a world of new hearing possibilities for individuals who have not experienced an improvement with conventional hearing aids or cannot use them for medical reasons. This is often the case with permanent hearing loss after middle ear surgery or when hearing aids cannot be worn due to chronic ear canal inflammation (i.e. otitis external). The Vibrant Soundbridge can be an effective solution for cases of mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss, as well as for conductive or mixed hearing loss. The system consists of two parts: an externally worn audio processor, which sits off the ear, and an internal middle ear implant, which is fully contained under the skin.
A cochlear implant (CI) system helps to partially restore the sense of hearing for individuals typically with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss where conventional hearing aids no longer provide sufficient benefit. It works by bypassing non-functioning parts of the inner ear and providing electrical stimulation directly to nerve fibres in the cochlea. A CI system consists of two parts: an externally worn audio processor, which sits comfortably behind or off the ear, and an internal cochlear implant, which is fully contained under the skin.
Augmented hearing
A new category of hearing devices has emerged in recent times known as 'hearables'. They are basically 'smart' headphones, suited for people with normal hearing or mild hearing loss who aren't ready for a hearing aid.
They typically consist of:
There are a few such devices now on the market. One of the better products in this category are IQbuds, made by a company called Nuheara, based in Perth.
Bluetooth
These devices act as a Bluetooth headset to take hands-free phone calls via your smartphone. They employ high fidelity audio for music enjoyment, along with speech amplification and dynamic noise reduction to enhance your ability to converse with others, even in more challenging situations. They also offer the ability to customise your soundscape via an intelligent smartphone app.
Don't put up with the effects of hearing loss any longer - talk to one of our audiologists about a solution suitable for you.
