hearing aid
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Eargo Neo is a hearing aid you might actually want to wear
Six years ago I faced a choice: Risk facial paralysis, or potentially lose some hearing in my left ear. I opted for the latter, and two surgeries later, my ability to hear high and mid frequencies on one side is notably diminished. I've tried several hearing aids since then, and while some have worked well, for a combination of reasons (my hearing's tolerable without, the batteries run out too fast, comfort and the stigma / general appearance) I rarely stick with them. Enter the Eargo Neo, a hearing aid that, judging by my list of reasons not to wear something, was pretty much made for people like me.
ReSound LiNX launches "Made for iPhone" hearing aid
Thanks to a love of loud music, my father wears a hearing aid. For similar reasons, I'm probably going to eventually need a hearing aid. While hearing aid technology has improved every year since they were first introduced in 1898, hearing aids can still be incredibly uncomfortable to use with cell phones. Adjusting and readjusting volume when you switch from phone to in-person conversation and being forced to remove and store your hearing aid to listen to media via headphones are just a few of the issues users face. But the ReSound LiNX is aiming to change that. ReSound LiNX is the world's first hearing aid made explicitly for iOS users. The compact system works as both a hearing aid and an audio streaming tool, opening previously impossible doors for hearing-impaired users. Using its streaming capabilities, ReSound wearers can have the audio from their iOS devices directly transmitted through their hearing aids. With normal hearing aids audio is picked up through the phone speaker by the hearing aid microphone, which can create feedback or distorted audio. ReSound transfers the audio directly through from your iOS device to your LiNX hearing aid, similar to a Bluetooth headset. The hearing aids can also stream music, podcasts, turn by turn driving directions, and other audio directly from your phone or Apple TV. Of course streaming via LiNX has other benefits. One of the common issues hearing aid wearers can face is sound levels that suddenly shift. Different rooms carry sound in different ways, leaving the hearing-impaired to either change hearing aid volume on the fly or settle for muddy sound. LiNX fixes this issue via its ReSound Smart app for customizing sound levels, down to how just how much treble or bass you experience. You can have presets for restaurants, concerts, your car, or anywhere else your heart desires. The simple touch controls are ideal for users who may be new to smartphones. ReSound is making some very big, and very exciting, promises with the LiNX. If you've ever watched loved ones struggle with the frustrations of modern hearing aids, the idea of LiNX is incredibly exciting. Currently no announcements have been made regarding pricing or availability. Head over the ReSound LiNX website to sign up to receive email updates as they become available. You can watch an educational video for the product below.
Daily Update for November 25, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Danish company collaborates with Apple on hearing aid tech
One reason why I love Apple is that the Cupertino company doesn't innovate just for the sake of innovation. It pushes the envelope on technology to make life better. An excellent example is this upcoming iPhone-compatible hearing aid from Denmarks's GN Store Nord. As reported by Reuters, this new hearing aid is a collaborative effort between Apple and GN, the world's fourth-largest hearing aid maker. Apple reportedly contacted hearing aid manufacturers last year, looking for one willing to use a 2.4GHz frequency to connect a hearing aid directly to an iPhone. GN was already working on this 2.4GHz technology, and the two companies paired up to bring a product to the market. The ReSound LiNX hearing aid will allow users to send music and other sound from their iPhone or iPod touch to their hearing aid. It's a direct connection, so the user does not have to wear a separate transmitter as an intermediary. Called the "first attempt to turn a hearing aid into more of a lifestyle product" by Morgan Stanley, the LiNX is expected to debut in early 2014.
Siemens' waterproof Aquaris hearing aid means rain doesn't need to stop play, we go ears on
Being deaf or hearing impaired may present technological challenges, especially if you are fond of the great outdoors and all the weather-related perils that come with it. Siemens knows this and developed the Aquaris hearing aid, the only one to receive an IP68 rating for continuous submersion underwater (to three feet). It's also dust- and shock-proof, if you're further up the extreme activity lifestyle ladder. It's not just about keeping the elements out, it's also got Bluetooth, meaning wearers can listen to music on smartphones and other devices while underwater. The device itself is what you might imagine a hearing aid to look like, if it was given the sports treatment, which makes it attractive to younger folk, and those of an active disposition. Most importantly, it works impressively well, which was amply shown by the demonstration we were given with the device permanently submerged in water at the booth, streaming its audio to another device. The waterproof functionality doesn't come at the expense of the sound, either, with the Aquaris sporting high-definition sound with 48 channels with high frequency resolution and a 12 kHz frequency range. Given the nature of the device, you'll need to speak with your physician or ENT / otolaryngologist if this sounds like something for you. Available now. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Sean Cooper contributed to this report.
Apple seeks patent for hearing aids that deliver speech at an even keel
Although they're called hearing aids, they can sometimes be as much of a hindrance as a help. Catch an unfamiliar accent and the attention might be on just parsing the words, let alone moving the conversation forward. Apple is applying for a patent on a technique that would take the guesswork out of listening by smoothing out all the quirks. The proposed idea would convert speech to text and back, using the switch to remove any unusual pronunciation or too-quick talking before it reaches the listener's ear. Not surprisingly for a company that makes phones and tablets, the hearing aid wouldn't always have to do the heavy lifting, either: iOS devices could handle some of the on-the-fly conversion, and pre-recorded speech could receive advance treatment to speed up the process. We don't know if Apple plans to use its learning in any kind of shipping product, although it's undoubtedly been interested in the category before -- and its ambitions of having iPhone-optimized hearing aids could well get a lift from technology that promises real understanding, not just a boost in volume.
Pair of Apple patent applications set the stage for hearing aid-based social network
If ever there were a purgatory for ideas, it'd be the USPTO's patent application database. That land of legal limbo plays host to a multitude of tech entries both bizarre and straightforward, much of which will never see the light of day. So, it's with a keen eye for the curious that we've stumbled upon this pair of filings submitted by Apple back in January of 2011 outlining a new social network specifically for hearing aids. Yes, you read that right, but its function isn't actually as obvious as you'd imagine. According to the claims, hearing aids worn by at least two users will work in tandem with a personal computing device to identify user identities, establish a communication link and then swap profiles -- not a list of likes and dislikes, but dynamic audio settings. It appears users will be able to update the sound processing on their respective devices to adjust for ambient noise and hone in on a specific sources. So, basically, it's the Cupertino version of Superhuman hearing. It certainly lends a whole new meaning to, "Can you hear me now?" Eh?
Accelerometer mic could change the way we look at cochlear implants
Hearing aids aren't the most discreet cybernetic creations, because the need for a clog-free microphone means that they generally need an external component. Engineers at the University of Utah and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland aim to change everything with a much smaller mic that uses an accelerometer to detect sound vibrations -- so it requires no opening and can be inserted right into the ear. The only exterior hardware is the charger -- worn exclusively at night. Clinical trials in living humans begin approximately three years from now, and if you're looking forward to using this new device, removal of the incus (or anvil bone) in the middle-ear must first take place to optimize effectiveness of the new implant. We never said it'd be pretty.
Panasonic unveils new line of Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids
Hearing aids aren't the sexiest gadgets on Earth, but Panasonic has done some interesting stuff with its R1-W series of in-ear audio-boosters. For one, they come packing Bluetooth for directly tethering to a mobile or landline phone using the Hearing Hub and have an add-on audio transmitter than can beam content from a TV or other source directly to the aids. The Hearing Hub also has a voice memo feature so that wearers can take notes for themselves and play them back in an easy to hear format. All that and it manages a pretty impressive 300 hours on a single set of batteries. Check out the complete PR after the break.
Trouble hearing? Advanced Bionics' waterproof implant is paddling your way
If you're one of the 200,000 deaf people who've received cochlear implants, then here's an upgrade worth considering: the Neptune from Advanced Bionics claims to be "the world's first and only swimmable, waterproof sound processor," and it's just received certification for the US and Canada. Read on for more details in the full press release and soon you could be bantering while you bathe.
Lasers let deaf ears pick up what the sonic world is putting down
Not going to front: we've a soft spot in our heart for focused beams of light. We've seen 'em rid the world of its space junk and set the pace of human hearts, and now, they're taking a leading role in aural advancement. As improbable as it sounds, a research team from the University of Utah led by Richard Rabbitt has found that lasers may be able to give deaf people the ability to hear. Using a low-power infrared diode -- similar to those in laser-pointers tormenting cats the world over -- Professor Rabbitt found that exposing oyster toadfish hair cells (analogous to the cells found in humans' inner ears) to infrared light caused them to release neurotransmitters and activate adjacent neurons. This could lead to laser-based ear implants able to stimulate focused areas of cells with thousands of sound wavelengths, as opposed to today's electrode implants whose electrical current spreads through human tissue and limits the deliverable sonic range. Smaller, more efficient power supplies and light sources are needed before optical hearing aids become a reality, but if these newfangled lasers ever get their act together, we should be able to hear version two (and three) coming down the pike.
SoundBite dental hearing aid receives European approval
We've already seen the principle of bone conduction be applied to headphones, but Sonitus Medical is taking the idea to a whole new level with its SoundBite dental hearing aid, which has just received the necessary European CE Mark certification (it already has FDA approval). As you can probably surmise, the device is a hearing aid that's placed on your teeth, although it's not actually implanted or attached in any way -- it's simply custom fitted to the person's upper back teeth. The other part of the package is a more standard-type hearing aid unit that's worn behind the ear, which processes and wirelessly transmits to the device in your mouth. That's obviously not intended for cases when a simple hearing aid will do, but Sonitus says the system can help people who are "essentially deaf" in one ear regain their spatial hearing ability.
Etymotic EB1 and EB15 earplugs hands-on
Etymotic, a company we've seen here at CES and in the past, has developed a pair of earplugs that protect your hearing against things like loud explosions and gunfire. The EB1 and EB15 Electronic Blast PLG Earplugs, retailing for $449 and $499, respectively, are aimed toward buyers such as hunters, musicians and soldiers -- folks who are exposed to loud noises and need protection. The analog earpieces are powered by a 312 hearing-aid battery and will last three weeks. There's no on/off switch -- just a high and low gain control. High gain is used for environments that require an amplification and the opposite applies for low gain. In other words, if a soldier is out on the battlefield and needs to hear an enemy inside a house, he'd switch to high gain to generate a louder sound. The difference between the plugs is simple: the EB1 is for people who are going to be around one-off noises and the EB15 are for those who are going to be exposed to prolonged noises. We got a chance to test out the plugs on the loud show floor and we gotta say, the difference between high- and low-gain modes is easily recognizable and we feel like these earplugs will make superb head-hole protectors. Plenty of complicated graphs and numbers in the gallery below. %Gallery-113772%
Siemens pumps streaming audio to hearing aids with miniTek remote
See that tiny black box? It's a streaming audio hub, designed specifically for the hard of hearing who have Siemens earphones buried in their lobes. Connect special Tek transmitters to traditional TVs and stereos, or hook it up directly to a phone, audio player or PC over Bluetooth or 3.5mm jack, and the matchbox-sized, two-ounce remote will wirelessly stream stereo audio from two devices for up to five hours a time. (It's also apparently got an integrated coil for induction loop audio.) Just don't expect it to come cheap -- it's a medical product, you know. [Thanks, Klaus]
ReSound's Bluetooth-infused Alera hearing aid: finally, you can toss that Loud N' Clear
It ain't the first hearing aid to sport Bluetooth, but it's probably the first one to make you think seriously about tossing that Loud N' Clear you purchased in a haze at 3:30AM last year. Operating on the 2.4GHz frequency, the ReSound Alera (and the accompanying Unite wireless accessories) actually allow those who are hard of hearing to pipe in audio from TVs, stereos, cellphones and PCs without any funky cables or fancy setup procedures. Better still, there's no blockage of environmental noise, so folks can continue yelling speaking to their grandkids while Judge Judy tears someone's soul apart in their left ear canal. There's nary a mention of price (we're guessing that doesn't bode well for bargain shoppers), but there's certainly a demonstration vid hosted up after the break. Just make sure to jack the volume to 11, cool?
Bone-anchored hearing aids filter out noise, finally ready for human implantation
Think those noise-canceling earbuds are hot stuff? Imagine if said technology was applied to an advanced type of implantable hearing aid, and you'll have an idea of exactly what Earthlings with severe hearing loss now have to look forward to. For years now, we've watched as cochlear implants became more effective in lab tests, and up until recently, we've had strict medical testing procedures to thank for the inability to actually get one. Now, one Colin Hughes will soon be amongst the first Australians to enjoy a "new bone-anchored hearing aid designed to adjust to noisy environments, quiet conversations and the varying rhythms and pitch of music." Due to a birth defect that left him with atypically narrow eustachian tubes, Colin was never able to take advantage of traditional hearing aids for any length of time, but now these $12,000 (per pair) devices are promising a new life for the 70-year old bloke. Our favorite feature? MP3 players can be directly (and discretely) attached, enabling old geezers to tune out old hags without them ever noticing.[Thanks, Mike]
SoundAMP hearing aid app for iPhone unleashed on our delicate ears
We've just caught wind of a new app for the iPhone / iPod touch... should you be either a little hard of hearing or a little nosy. SoundAMP works a lot like those Sonic Earz you see on the infomercials -- you run the app with your earbuds plugged in, and then sit back and enjoy listening to the sweet sounds of whatever's going on around you -- only louder. The app allows you to control volume and tone, and you can also replay the last 30 seconds of what you've been hearing -- in case you missed something particularly juicy. Now, personally, we put in the earbuds and crank up the tunes to shut out the outside world, but if this is your kind of thing -- it's available in the iTunes store right now for $9.99. [Warning: read link takes you to the iTunes store][Via CNET]
Oticon's ConnectLine hearing aid accessories stream your tunes right into your head
While we've seen plenty of prototype and conceptual aids that might some day revolutionize the lives of those struggling with hearing loss, it's rare that we see something real holding just as much potential. That's what we have here with the ConnectLine wireless streaming system from Oticon (no, gamers, not Otacon). We've seen the company tap into the Bluetooth craze before with aids that can be synced with mobile phones, and now it's taking that a step further, enabling them to be paired with a base station (pictured below) that can connect to your TV, stereo, or even a landline phone to send audio right into its compatible hearing aids. No word on cost, but just think: if ol' Snake had one of these Otacon might not have had to yell so much.[Via MedGadget]
Songbird intros $79 disposable flexfit hearing aid
Though not quite as inexpensive as the SolarAid, Songbird Hearing's $79 flexfit is still much, much cheaper than most professional hearing aids. Designed for spendthrifts dealing with "mild to moderate hearing loss," the flexfit is disposable in nature and requires no doctors visit for fitting. In fact, it can actually be ordered directly online (right now) or by phone and can be "easily adjusted to fit almost anyone without the need for a hearing exam." Also of note, the built-in battery is good for 400 hours of active use, which should last most infrequent users two to six months. Got all that, or were we typing too quietly?
Solar-powered hearing aids improve life in developing nations
The SolarAid really isn't much different than your average hearing aid in function -- it enables hearing-impaired individuals to get a better listen at the world around them. The difference, however, comes from its source of energy. Through a series of tragic and fortunate events, Howard Weinstein wound up in Africa with a goal in mind: to concoct a hearing aid that even the poorest of citizens could afford. Through a series of grants and help from hordes of deaf individuals that had no qualms holding a soldering iron, some 20,000 folks in 30 countries are currently using the solar-powered devices. Best of all, the mastermind isn't slowing down, as he's looking to expand the nonprofit into the Middle East, China and India in the not-too-distant future.[Via CrunchGear]
