A REVOLUTION IN HEARING AIDS

STEREOPHONIC: Hearing loss cannot be cured, but Denmark’s Oticon, a manufacturer of hearing aids, is closer than ever before to recreating normal hearing with the development of Oticon Epoq

One of the world’s largest and most innovative manufacturers of hearing aids, Denmark’s Oticon, has developed a new product – Oticon Epoq – which could revolutionise everyday life for people with hearing impairment. Epoq is the world’s first hearing aid with built-in wireless broadband, which makes it possible to give users very realistic, stereophonic sound perception. Epoq also offers wireless connection to other electronic devices like mobile phones, music players and PCs.

“Until now, hearing aids have systematically focused on compensating hearing loss by amplifying sound and deadening noise,” says development director Jes Olsen at Oticon. “With our new hearing aid – Epoq – we have created a concept that focuses on the actual role of the hearing aid, which is to function as an interface between the user and the near and distant surroundings in all those situations encountered in everyday life.”

A completely new level
Epoq is based on a new and powerful system architecture – the most advanced in the world so far. Its development has involved more than 200 people, has lasted more than five years and has cost almost USD 100 million.

“We have raised the capacity of hearing aids to a completely new level,” says Jes Olsen. “We cannot cure hearing loss, but we have never before been so close to recreating normal hearing for the user. We also give the user perfect sound in both ears for mobile telephone use and listening to music.”

Doubled frequency range
In addition to the improvements achieved through wireless interplay between the two hearing devices and the further development of intelligent sound filters, there is another explanation as to why the sound quality in Epoq is so unique. Traditional hearing aids operate within a frequency range of 100-5,000 Hz. The frequency range in Epoq has been extended to 10,000 Hz, which makes it possible to vary the sound quality dramatically. The two small hearing devices, hidden behind the ears, send the sound through an ultra-thin wire into the auditory canal, and via the built-in broadband connection, the synchronisation creates stereophonic sound reproduction that exceeds all other hearing aids on the market.

Wireless transmission direct to the ear
“Bluetooth cannot be built directly into a hearing aid because of its size and power consumption. We have built our own wireless technology – EarStream – into the devices. Although our radio transmitter is only about a square millimetre in size, it can transmit at broadband speed and communicate with the small “streamer” which comes with Epoq. Via the streamer – an elegant iPod-like companion – Bluetooth units like mobile phones and MP3 players can be connected directly to the hearing aids. So you get the sound sent wirelessly directly into both ears,” says Jes Olsen.

Audiology research in Denmark is among the most advanced in the world, covering not only sound technology of the kind developed by companies like Bang & Olufsen, but also the development and production of hearing aids. Three Danish companies, Oticon, GN Resound and Widex, are among the six leading manufacturers of hearing aids worldwide. They jointly have a 50% share of the world market.

http://www.oticon.com