Sonic Spotlight. The Acoustic Flexibility of Sonic BTEs and minibtes: A Size, Sound and Set-up for Every Patient

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Natalie Conley
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1 1 Sonic Spotlight Sonic Spotlight The Acoustic Flexibility of Sonic BTEs and minibtes: A Size, Sound and Set-up for Every Patient According to data from the Hearing Instruments Association (HIA), more than 63% of hearing aids purchased in the U.S. are either BTE or minibte devices 1. What s more, these devices rank among the highest in customer satisfaction 2. Why is that? Because today s hearing instrument wearers are younger and increasingly tech savvy, and minibtes are often selected as the easiest entry instrument for those with mild hearing loss. A 2011 Kochkin market survey reports that minibtes are tapping an entirely new hearing aid user segment 3. This group is affluent and still in the workforce. The findings go on to note that minibte wearers [have hearing loss] significantly lower than that of the traditional hearing aid user. As a result, they may require hearing aids to accommodate increasing needs over the years. Not only are Sonic products ideally positioned for the current popularity of minibtes, they also offer complete flexibility to meet growing hearing needs over time. With impressive acoustic options and best-in-class adaptive feedback cancellation systems, Sonic BTE and minibte models can be configured to improve even more patients lives with enhanced hearing.

2 2 Sonic Spotlight Sonic BTEs and minibtes: As Individual As the Patient Power Dome It s no surprise that every individual s hearing loss is different. Not only does a hearing instrument need to provide the appropriate amplification, a successful fitting needs to accommodate ear size, canal shape, even a patient s aesthetic preferences. Thin Tube Adapter Thin Tube 1.3 Dome, Small Vent Sonic products offer mix-and-match capabilities to please virtually every patient. By providing a range of Thin Tubes, Earmolds and Domes in various sizes, Sonic gives immense flexibility in fitting patients with diverse hearing losses. Earhook Thin Tube 0.9 Dome, Large Vent Tulip Dome Open Dome Option of Earhook or Thin Tube Once you ve selected the ideal technology level for a patient, Earhook and Thin Tube acoustic options allow further targeting of hearing needs and cosmetic preferences. The Earhook configuration connects to a Custom Mold and allows maximum output and fitting flexibility. Some patients don t need as much output as an Earhook allows. In addition, some patients may prefer the comfort and/or cosmetic appeal of a Thin Tube option. In these cases, Adapters allow BTEs and minibtes to connect to Thin Tubes and Domes or Custom Molds. The Adapter design allows the flexibility to switch from an Earhook or Thin Tube on the same BTE or minib- TE device. This is a great advantage as hearing needs change; it also lets patients stay with a familiar device type when they need to upgrade.

3 3 Sonic Spotlight Two Thin Tube Choices Unlike many hearing instruments that only provide a 0.9 mm Thin Tube option, Sonic gives the flexibility of two tubing diameters: industry-standard 0.9 mm and a larger 1.3 mm. The larger 1.3 mm Thin Tube allows more output to reach the ear canal due to its increased diameter. Figure 1 demonstrates the differences in output across frequencies for the Earhook compared to the two Sonic Thin Tube options. The 0.9 mm Thin Tube provides less output in mid and high frequencies. In comparison, the 1.3 mm Thin Tube performs as well as the Earhook up to 1000 Hz, plus it provides more output in the mid and high frequencies than the 0.9 mm Thin Tube. Output Level (db SPL) Frequency in Hertz (Hz) Earhook 65 db SPL* 1.3 mm 65 db SPL* 0.9 mm Figure 1: Differences in Output Across Frequencies for 3 Acoustic Options When to use each option Frequency Requirements Cosmetic Appearance Earhook Maximum output needed Traditional 1.3 mm Thin Tube For more significant high-frequency losses Very discreet 0.9 mm Thin Tube For high-frequency losses Most discreet Don t Forget Custom Molds Another thing to consider when it comes to acoustic flexibility is whether you re fitting a silicone Dome or a Custom Mold. Historically, instant fit Domes have been the popular choice for Thin Tube fittings. However, Custom Molds for these configurations shouldn t be ruled out too quickly. Earmolds are an excellent choice for patients with dexterity challenges. They are easy to grasp, and because of their custom design, they allow correct positioning within the ear canal every time. Custom Molds are also an excellent choice for patients with challenging bends in the ear canal where Domes may have difficulties staying properly seated. While Custom Molds can be fully occluded, they can also be vented to provide the comfort of an open fitting, giving you complete flexibility.

4 4 Sonic Spotlight Domes in Five Variations For patients who prefer a Dome or whose dexterity or ear geometry does not require a Custom Mold, Sonic BTEs and minibtes can be fit with five different Domes, each offering a different range of benefits. Open Dome: The most traditional Dome, the Open Dome is where open fit hearing aids get their name. These Domes fit in the ear allowing natural low frequencies to pass through into the canal. Open Domes are great solutions for patients with little or no loss in the lower-frequency range. Tulip Dome: Another classic Dome, the Tulip Dome is a semi-occluding Dome that works well for patients with large ear canals. Because it is semi-occluding, it allows for more amplification of low-frequency sound. Dome, Large Vent: The Large Vent Dome features a center hole in which sound is funneled through the ear canal and two smaller holes on either side. These allow some escape of sound pressure and reduce the occlusion effect. The Large Vent Dome mimics the acoustics of an Earmold with a 2 mm vent. Dome, Small Vent: Similarly, the Small Vent Dome also has a center hole for sound delivery, but just one vent to address occlusion. Its performance compares to an Earmold with a 1 mm vent. Power Dome: Also called a double dome, the Power Dome is a fully-occluding dome that provides the most delivery of amplified sound across all frequencies. It does so at the expense of creating a fully-occluded hearing experience. In addition to the wide variety of acoustic flexibility these five styles make possible, Domes give an instantfit solution for patients. There is no need for taking impressions and waiting for custom manufacturing; Domes allow a patient to be fit and leave with a hearing solution on the spot. Dome Style Characteristics Acoustics Comparable To Open Ear canal remains mostly open 4 mm Earmold vent Tulip Semi-occluded 3 mm Earmold vent Dome, Large Vent Occluded, 2 vents 2 mm Earmold vent Dome, Small Vent Occluded, 1 vent 1 mm Earmold vent Power Dome Fully-occluded No vent

5 Sonic Spotlight Sized Just Right The final step not to be overlooked in a successful fitting is the ability to make the hearing instrument conform to the patient s ears.

very large. Acoustic Component Thin Tube 0.9mm Thin Tube 1.

5 5 Sonic Spotlight Sized Just Right The final step not to be overlooked in a successful fitting is the ability to make the hearing instrument conform to the patient s ears. This ability is inherent with Custom Molds, but both Thin Tubes and Domes for Sonic BTEs and minibtes also come in a range of sizes that will fit patients with differing ear canals from very small to very large. Acoustic Component Thin Tube 0.9mm Thin Tube 1.3mm Open Dome Tulip Dome Dome, Large Vent Dome, Small Vent Power Dome Sizes Available 0, 1, 2, 3 lengths 0, 1, 2, 3 lengths 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm 12 mm 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm Precision Adjustments with EXPRESSfit In keeping with the Sonic commitment to Simplicity, the EXPRESSfit fitting software makes the flexibility of BTE and minibte configurations come together with ease. The fitting system will automatically suggest the correct acoustic options based on the patient s hearing loss. It is intuitive and easily selectable, ensuring you meet your patient s needs.

6 6 Sonic Spotlight Sonic Is Fit to Satisfy With its tremendous flexibility in acoustic options, Sonic brings even greater appeal to both the BTE and minibte markets. From development to release, Sonic is committed to providing great features with great benefits in attractive hearing instruments. Learn more about how Sonic products are helping to improve life through enhanced hearing. Contact your Sonic representative or visit References 1 Rogin, C. (2009). Top Ten Reasons for Hearing Aid Delight. AudiologyOnline, Recorded Course Kochkin, S. (1996). Customer Satisfaction & Subjective Benefit with High Performance Hearing Aids. The Hearing Review, Vol.3, No.12, pp Kochkin, S. (2011). MarkeTrakVIII: Mini-BTEs tap new market, users more satisfied. The Hearing Journal, Vol. 64 (3), pp Sonic Innovations, Inc Cottontail Lane Somerset, NJ USA Sonic AG Morgenstrasse 131B 3018 Bern, Switzerland

Sonic Spotlight. Binaural Coordination: Making the Connection

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