Feature

Artificial Intelligence (AI) allows Oticon hearing instruments to apply multidimensional, intelligent solutions to complex problems. AI utilises parallel processing to evaluate the incoming signal and apply the optimum combination of settings, based on actual outcomes rather than assumptions.

Benefit
With AI, users can enjoy a signal that is optimised for comfort and speech intelligibility, based on the actual sound environment.

Feature
'Automatics' refers to the management of features such as Directionality and Noise Reduction. Shifts in directional modes or noise management state are implemented when intelligibility and/or listening comfort can be improved without sacrificing audibility of important speech cues based on the sound environment.

Benefit
Children will experience a smooth transition between various directional modes or states of noise management.

Feature

A wide bandwidth (e.g. 8-10 kHz) provides greater access to importantspeech cues such as /s/ and /z/, and also to inter-aural level-difference cues that aid localisation.

Benefit

The greater access to speech cues supports the development of speech and language in young children.

Feature
Wireless communication between the hearing intruments coordinates volume control adjustments and program changes in a bilateral fitting.

Benefit

This makes the instrument easier to use and more pleasant to wear.

Feature

The signal reaching each hearing instrument is constantly analysed. When features such as directionality and noise reduction are synchronised between hearing instruments additional improvements in intelligibility or listening comfort can be obtained.

Benefit

The potential for disruption of localisation and speech understanding due to asymmetric hearing instrument settings is minimised. Sound quality is more natural.

Feature
When compression is implemented independently in each hearing instrument, important binaural cues such as inter-aural level differences can be reduced. Binaural processing allows the hearing instruments to communicate at a high rate of speech and implement compression binaurally.

Benefit

Access to natural cues, such as inter-aural level differences, help for speech understanding in complex listening environments.

Feature
Hearing instruments equipped with datalogging can collect information regarding how much time a child spends in various sound environments, how often automatic features have been implemented, and daily usage patterns.

Benefit
This data can be viewed graphically in the form of an “Envirogram” through the fitting software. This data can provide valuable feedback for counselling purposes and for fine-tuning the fitting.

Feature

DFC can prevent feedback arising from slow and gradual changes in the feedback path, e.g., a growing ear canal or eamold shift during daily activities. In addition, feedback arising from abrupt changes in the acoustical environment, e.g., parents hugging their child or holding a phone to the ear can be eliminated.

Benefit
Feedback is eliminated with minimum gain reduction and distortion. This ensures consistent audibility throughout the day as well as good sound quality.

Feature
There are three modes of directionality: Surround (Omnidirectional), Split, and Full Directionality. With Split Directionality, the hearing instrument remains in an omnidirectional mode in the low frequencies, directional in the mid-high frequencies.

The Split directionality mode is generally used in moderate levels of background noise and helps ensure good sound quality, good audibility of low frequency sounds arriving from the front, and improved listening comfort in windy environments. As the level of noise increases, a full directional response (directionality at all frequencies) can provide additional improvements in speech intelligibility.

Benefit
Directional benefit can be obtained in lower levels of noise without sacrificing low frequency audibility or sound quality. For high level noise environments, additional benefit can be obtained when full directionality is implemented.

Feature
When directionality is implemented automatically, the hearing instrument will shift between an omnidirectional response and a directional response. If the directional response is adaptive in nature, the sensitivity (polar) pattern can change depending on the location of the primary noise source(s). With single band adaptive directionality, the chosen sensitivity pattern is implemented at all frequencies. With multi-band adaptive directionality, different sensitivity patterns can be implemented simultaneously in four separate frequency bands.

Benefit

By reducing competing noise sources that arrive from the sides and back, directionality helps to improve the SNR, making it easier for children to understand speech in challenging listening situations.

Feature
When automatic directionality is implemented, the hearing instrument automatically shifts between omnidirectional and directional settings depending on the environment.

Benefit

By reducing competing noise sources that arrive from the sides and back, directionality helps to improve the SNR, making it easier for children to understand speech in challenging listening situations.

Feature
When directionality is implemented automatically, the hearing instrument will shift between an omnidirectional response and a directional response. If the directional response is fixed in nature, the sensitivity (polar) pattern of
the microphone does not change.

Feature

This DSL fitting rationale was developed at the University of Western Ontario and is supported by years of research and clinical experience. DSL v5.0 is the most recent version and is the most widely used prescription when fitting children.

Benefit

DSL focuses on making speech audible and comfortable in order to maximize the potential for speech, language, and communication skill development in children.

Feature
The fully integrated wireless technology used in Epoq creates a Body Area Network around the head and torso of the user. Devices within this “bubble” can communicate at a high rate of speed with minimal power consumption. Functionally, this technology allows the hearing instruments to rapidly share information so binaural processing can be implemented. Communication with other devices, such as Streamer, is also possible.

Benefit

Users are presented with a more natural signal and can have wireless access to various audio devices through Streamer.

Feature
In basic terms, an FM system consists of a microphone, transmitter and receiver. A target signal, such as a teacher’s voice, can be sent directly to the listener using FM radio waves. FM is a proven technology for environments such as a classroom where distance and background noise can reduce the effectiveness of hearing instruments alone. Dedicated and universal FM receivers can be attached to most hearing instruments or the FM signal can be received through induction or DAI.

Benefit

By effectively reducing the distance between the teacher and student or between parent and child, FM systems can provide a substantial increase in SNR and dramatic improvements in speech understanding.

Feature
This light indicates that the hearing device or FM system is ON, the battery is functioning in BTEs and that the FM system is set to the right channel. Additional functionality may include flashing for Power-up, preferred VC level and program selection.

Benefit

This light lets parents, teachers and other caregivers know that the child is receiving consistent amplification.

Feature
Oticon’s modulation-based noise management system uses a speechweighted approach where channel specific gain reduction is implemented only when important speech cues will not be lost. The goal is to provide increased listening comfort without sacrificing intelligibility.

Benefit
Improves listening comfort in noise without removing the speech cues that the child needs to hear.

Feature
Spatial Sound is a global term that refers to the combined benefit the user receives by combining the binaural processes outlined above (e.g., coordinated automatics, coordinated compression) and extended bandwidth. Spatial sound is available in certain Safari, Epoq and Dual models.

Benefit

Spatial Sound provides the user with a more natural soundscape. Localisation becomes easier and the listener has a better sense of the spatial relationship between the target signal and competing sounds. This helps to improve speech understanding in complex environments.

Feature
As an optional accessory for Epoq and Dual devices, the Streamer uses Bluetooth and EarStream technologies to provide wireless connection to communication and audio devices. At the push of a button, children have a hands-free connection between their hearing instruments and Bluetooth enabled phones and mp3 players. Bluetooth adapters or hardwired connections can be used with non-Bluetooth devices.

Benefit

Streamer helps level the playing field by allowing children with hearing loss to connect to the same types of gadgets as their normal hearing peers.

Feature
TriState noise management takes more traditional modulation based analysis to a higher level. By using synchrony detection, the system is able to look for speech patterns across channels. Functionally, the result is greater preservation of speech cues in greater levels of background noise. Three overall states are employed. 1) Speech only (no gain reductions applied), 2) Speech in noise (gain reduction only in channels dominated by noise), 3) Noise only (slightly more aggressive noise reduction since comfort, not intelligibility, is the greater issue).

Benefit

When children are listening to speech in noise, speech intelligibility is never compromised. Conversely, if only noise is present, listening comfort is ensured, no matter how loud the listening environment.