Products
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids can help you re-establish connections to the world. They are made to selectively increase the volume of the sounds you want to hear. They can make soft sounds audible, while at the same time making moderate or loud sounds comfortable. Hearing aids are designed to provide relief in both noisy and quiet situations. Wearing hearing aids can put you at ease during conversations and make you less likely to have to ask others to repeat themselves.
How Hearing Aids Work
Every electrical hearing aid has three parts; a microphone, an amplifier and a receiver.
The Microphone - This collects the sound and converts it into electrical impulses. These reproduce the rise and fall of pitch of the sound (high or low) and the intensity (loudness measured in decibels).
The Amplifier - This modulates the electrical impulses, makes sounds louder or quieter. It can have an integrated circuit with up to 30 transistors or a combination of circuits. The digital aid uses the efficient micro-chip.
The Receiver - It converts the amplified signal into sounds and feeds them into the ear.
Hearing aids get their power from tiny batteries.
Hearing Aid Technology can be divided into two different categories:
Analog Hearing Aids – This conventional technology amplifies all sounds equally. Your Audiologist sets the amplification level, though it can be adjusted later. Loud sounds may require you to manually turn down the volume on your hearing aid. This type of technology is best for people who do their communicating in relatively quiet situations. Basic analog is the least expensive technology. Analog hearing aids are slowly being phased out. Some companies make only digital hearing aids.
Digital Hearing Aids – With this type of technology, a computer chip converts incoming sound into digital code, then analyze and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss and listening needs. The signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears. The result is sound that’s more finely tuned to your hearing loss. Digital hearing aids are available in all styles and the price you pay will depend on the features you choose. More advanced digital signal processing capabilities tend to translate into higher cost. If price is a concern, let your Audiologist know and choose the best combination of features in your price range.
Hearing Aid Accessories
Directional Microphones – Helps you focus on sounds coming in front of you by reducing sounds coming from the side and behind you. This technology improves your ability to hearing when you’re in an environment with a lot of background noise. The latest directional microphone systems automatically adapt and reduce multiple noise sources around you. This system now includes the use of three microphones.
Telephone adapters – This technology, also referred to as telecoils, makes it easier to hear when talking on the telephone. Flipping a switch directs your hearing aid to eliminate sounds from the environment and pick up sounds from the telephone only. Keep in mind this feature only works with telephones that are hearing aid compatible.
Speech and Noise Management – This technology allows for special listening programs to be set that offer personalized sound processing for specific listening needs such as listening to music.
Feedback Cancellation - Continually analyzes incoming signals and adjusts seamlessly and instantaneously to minimize feedback (whistling) Also, maintains excellent sound quality
Multiple Listening Programs - Adjusts the way sound is processed to adapt to specific listening situations including listening on the telephone or to music.
Wireless Technology - Highly advanced instruments use wireless technology to literally communicate with each other when wearing two hearing instruments (binaural amplification). Sound processing is synchronized for optimized sound quality. Wearers can use one control to operate both instruments No hearing aid can solve every hearing problem or restore normal hearing, but they are designed to provide amplification so that you can hear and understand better.
A Design for Every Lifestyle
Micro-CIC™
Completely-in-the-Canal
Fit deeply inside your ear canal. Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC) hearing instruments are the smallest, custom-designed hearing instruments. Hidden in the shadow of your ear canal, they fit deep inside your ear and are virtually invisible.
Siemens Micro-CIC™ is the smallest CIC available today.
CIC hearing instruments are created to fit your unique ear shape. Due to their small size, CIC hearing instruments don’t usually have any manual controls, so all features and functions are programmed to perform automatically – making them easy to use and comfortable to wear.
CICs are aesthetically pleasing, and can help a variety of hearing losses. Your Hearing Care Professional can help you decide what type and style hearing instrument is best for you and your hearing needs.
Benefits at a glance:
- • Almost invisible when worn
- • Custom designed to fit your unique ear size and shape
- • Completely automatic.
ITC
In-the-CanalSmall enough to fit almost entirely in your ear canal. In-the-Canal (ITC) hearing instruments are custom-designed to fit almost entirely in the ear canal. Less visible than In-the-Ear models, ITCs take up only about one quarter of the concha – the indented, bowl-like outer portion of your ear. ITC hearing instruments are created specifically to fit your unique ear size and shape. They may have manual controls for volume and special listening programs, or these features may function automatically – giving you the option of how much or how little you control your instrument.
ITCs may be appropriate for a variety of hearing losses. Your Hearing Care Professional can help you decide what type and style hearing instrument is best for you and your hearing needs.
Benefits at a glance:
- • Small and discrete model
- • Custom designed to fit your unique ear size and shape
- • Automatic or manual controls
- • Available in a range of colors to match hair and skin tones
ITE
In-the-EarMade to fit within the external ear. In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing instruments are custom made to fit within the concha – the indented, bowl-like outer portion of your ear. ITEs are the most widely recommended hearing instrument style for adults because of their design and control options. Custom hearing instruments are not usually recommended for children since their ears are continually growing.
ITE hearing instruments are made to fit your unique ear shape. Because of their size, ITEs can have many features and options that make wearing hearing instruments more comfortable and user-friendly. They may have controls for manual adjustment of volume or special listening program, or these features many function automatically – giving you the option of how much or how little you control your instrument.
Of the custom instruments, ITEs can help the widest variety of hearing loss. Your Hearing Care Professional can help you decide what type and style hearing instrument is best for you and your hearing needs.
Benefits at a glance:
- • Most widely recommended custom instrument
- • Custom-designed fit to your unique ear size and shape
- • Automatic or manual controls
- • Available in a range of shades to match skin tone
BTE Behind-the-Ear
Fit snugly behind the ear and are attached to a custom earpierce. Behind-the-Ear (BTE) hearing instruments fit comfortably and snuggly behind your ear. BTEs are attached to a custom earpiece molded to the shape of your outer ear. They are the most versatile hearing instruments, with models that can aid people with all types of hearing loss – from mild to severely profound. For children, BTEs are most often recommended since the earpiece can be easily changed to accommodate their growing ears, and can be connected external devices, which can assist them in the classroom.
BTEs can be connected to other sound sources such as televisions and infrared listening systems. Infrared listening systems can be helpful in public gatherings and for children in school. Volume control and other listening adjustments can be made manually or determined automatically by your BTEs, offering you the most control over your own hearing instruments. Your Hearing Care Professional can help you decide what type and style hearing instrument is best for you and your hearing needs.
Benefits at a glance:
- • Most versatile to address all types of hearing loss from mild to severely profound
- • Capable of being attached to external sound sources
- • Automatic or manual controls
- • Available in a range of fun, fashion colors as well as those to match hair or skin tone
Open Ear SolutionUltra-thin tubing is virtually invisible. Open Fit Behind-the-Ear Unlike BTEs which utilize a custom molded earpiece, Open Ear BTEs are small, sleek hearing instruments that attach to ultra-thin, almost invisible tubing and soft, comfortable tips that are inserted into your ears. A common complaint of hearing instrument wearers is the feeling of their ears being plugged up. This is known as occlusion and is caused by the earmold or custom instruments being placed into the ear. By utilizing special tubing and tips, Open Ear BTEs dramatically reduce occlusion by creating a more comfortable listening experience.
Open Fit BTEs do not require ear impressions, and therefore you may be able to be tested and fit in one appointment. The flexible tips are available in various sizes for you and your Hearing Care Professional to choose from, ensuring optimal comfort. Since Open Ear BTEs have no visible controls, they function automatically and are easy to wear and use. Your Hearing Care Professional can help you decide what type and style hearing instrument is best for you and your hearing needs.
Benefits at a glance:
- • Small, ergonomic design
- • Reduces occlusion
- • Automatic controls
The chart below shows the levels of
Siemens state-of-the-art technology and the products available.
Life is style. Life is freedom. Life is full.
Siemens Life is the
perfect fit for your world. It delivers impeccable sound quality from a small,
elegant instrument – bringing you incredible performance in an open fitting. Its
fully automated technology means less manual adjustments. Siemens Life is for
those with mild to moderate hearing loss, who won’t compromise their style.
Style
Whatever your style, there’s a Life that will fit right in. Express your
individuality with an exclusive selection of 16 Life colors and patterns for a
chic, contemporary look. Or if you prefer a more subtle look, opt for colors
that match your hair or skin tone. The choice is yours. Not ready for a
long-term commitment? No problem. Your Audiologist or Hearing Care Professional
can easily change the color anytime should you change your mind.
Instant Fit
Even first-time wearers will be at ease with Life. It’s an instant fit so you
can start hearing better in just one office visit. Best of all, Life’s open fit
design reduces or eliminates the “occlusion effect” – the unpleasant plugged-up
feeling some people experience with traditional instruments. With its small
size, ultra-thin tubing and three performance levels, Life is the perfect choice
for a wide variety of style-conscious wearers.
Connections
Anywhere, Anytime Access to Technology
True stereo sound, delivered right to your ears. Available with Life 700, 500
and 300, our Tek® wireless enhancement system streams sound from wearers’ mobile
phones, telephones, MP3 players, televisions, and other audio sources directly
to their Life instruments. Equipped with Siemens Bluetooth® wireless technology,
the Tek Connect remote ensures the most effective streaming functionality
available without distortion or audible delay. It also gives wearers direct, one
touch access to listening programs as well as volume and treble controls. Tek —
it is all wearers need to enjoy a listening experience that’s completely in
sync.
Be yourself. Be on the go. Be in Motion.
An afternoon with
friends. Time in the garden. An evening at home with a favorite movie. Whatever
you love to do, you’re too busy enjoying life to let a hearing loss get in your
way. That’s why we developed Siemens Motion™. It’s an easy, comfortable solution
you can put on and forget about. With all the technology you need to stay
connected to your world, Siemens Motion won’t slow you down.
Easy does it.
Convenience. That’s why Siemens created Motion. Motion is fully automatic, so
even in complex listening environments there’s no need to change programs or
adjust volume settings. Designed for wearers with mild through severe hearing
loss, Motion is available in many styles and four performance levels to meet the
diverse needs of wearers. All Motion BTE models are rechargeable so you can say
‘goodbye’ to battery hassles.
Motion offers the most advanced programming to provide unparalleled hearing
performance. Equipped with the latest technology, easy and comfortable to wear,
and fully automatic for easy operation, Motion is a perfect reflection of
Siemens commitment to make every hearing solution as individual as the person
who wears it.
Connections.
Anywhere, Anytime Access to Technology.
Motion is perfect for wearers who enjoy watching TV or listening to music.
Motion 700, 500, and 300 models, including CIC configurations, are fully
compatible with Tek, our optional wireless enhancement system. Tek lets wearers
wirelessly connect to their favorite audio devices through a dedicated remote -
Tek Connect. They can stream audio from televisions, MP3 players, or other audio
sources directly to their Motion instruments in stereo with no audible delay.
With Tek Connect, they can even connects wirelessly to their Bluetooth® enabled
mobile phones.
Pure®
Subtlety
It hides, you shine. Designed for utmost discretion, Pure packs the most
advanced hearing technology into an almost invisible, ultra-small size.
Available in three performance levels and in the smallest possible rechargeable
RIC (Receiver-in-Canal) and CIC (Completely-in-Canal) configurations, Pure is
perfect for those who don’t want to be defined by their hearing loss.
Pure Individuality
It's tiny, but it's mighty. With the flexibility of three different power
levels, Pure has been perfectly engineered to give you exactly the strength you
need, whether your hearing loss is mild or moderately severe.
Pure is all about you. Available in an array of natural hair colors and skin
tones, Pure blends in perfectly, so you’re the one who stands out. With a choice
of configurations, program options, fits, and colors, Pure puts you in control.
Pure Connections
Anywhere, Anytime Access to Technology
True stereo sound, delivered right to your ears. Available with Pure 700, 500
and 300, our Tek® wireless enhancement system streams sound from wearers’ mobile
phones, telephones, MP3 players, televisions, and other audio sources directly
to their Pure instruments. Equipped with Siemens
Bluetooth®
wireless technology, the Tek Connect remote ensures the most effective streaming
functionality available without distortion or audible delay. It also gives
wearers direct, one touch access to listening programs as well as volume and
treble controls. Tek — it is all wearers need to enjoy a listening experience
that’s completely in sync.
Siemens Explorer®. Made for the magic of childhood.
The purr of a cat. The
crunch of grass beneath little feet. The soothing rhythm of a bedtime story.
Every sound teaches children something new about life. Let’s make sure they
enjoy every decibel of it.
Children with hearing loss have very different needs than adults. Children need
to hear different types of sounds in order to properly develop speech and
language skills. They have changing needs in social environments and classroom
settings. They also need hearing instruments that can withstand all the rigors
of their active lifestyles in a durable and safe design that’s easy to use and
fun to wear.
Siemens Explorer® is the only hearing instrument family that was designed
exclusively for children. Incorporating cutting-edge technology based on the
latest pediatric hearing research with time-tested features and design mean
Siemens Explorer is ready to meet all the demands of childhood, from birth to
adolescence.
The punch line of a
good joke. The right answer to an important question. The first few notes of
your favorite song. Sound adds meaning, emotion, and beauty to our lives. Every
decibel is a source of strength.
The Siemens Nitro® gives you back that power, and much more. It’s designed
especially for people with severe hearing loss. Nitro combines strength and
power with state-of-the art hearing technology in two performance levels to
accommodate a diverse group of wearers.
The power of connections Anywhere, Anytime Access to Technology.
Nitro is perfect for wearers who enjoy watching TV or listening to music. Nitro
700 and Nitro 300 BTE’s are fully compatible with Tek, our optional wireless
enhancement system. Tek lets wearers wirelessly connect to their favorite audio
devices through a dedicated remote - Tek Connect. They can stream audio from
televisions, MP3 players, or other audio sources directly to their Nitro
instruments in stereo with no audible delay. With Tek Connect, they can even
connect wirelessly to their
Bluetooth®
wireless technology enabled mobile phones.
References BUPA. 1996-2007. Retrieved October 25, 2007 from: http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/Mosby_factsheets/Hearing_Loss.html
Retrieved October 25, 2007 from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hearing-loss/DS00172Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 1998-2007.
Retrieved November 6, 2009 from: http://www.siemens-hearing.com
Siemens Hearing Instruments. 2009.
Retrieved October 25, 2007 from: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/
UCSF Medical Center. 2002-2007.
