LONDON, October 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
New technology for people with hearing loss in the UK, allows them to hear and understand speech in high noise and over distance, by up to 62 per cent better than those with normal hearing in the same conditions, according to a recently published paper*.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141009/709656 )
In the paper, published in the American Journal of Audiology by Professor Linda Thibodeau at the University of Texas, a comparative speech recognition test is detailed between hearing aid users, using different wireless technologies and the new technology called Roger.
The measurements showed at noise levels of 65 decibels (dB) and higher, people with moderate to severe hearing loss using Roger performed better in the speech recognition test than those with normal hearing. At a noise level of 75 dB, those with hearing loss achieved 69 per cent accurate word recognition compared with only 7 per cent by people with normal hearing.
Roger by Phonak is a new digital wireless technology that uses cutting-edge wireless microphones to pick up the voice of the speaker and transmit it wirelessly to miniature ear-level receivers. Roger is hassle-free and automatically adapts its settings to the noise and speakers around.
Professor Linda Thibodeau says: "Our research with the new Roger technology compared to the current and past Phonak wireless FM systems yielded impressive benefits for adults and teens listening to speech in noise in real world situations. Particularly at high noise levels the use of Roger allowed significant speech recognition where it was previously impossible".
Innovative technology: The Roger Pen
Invented at the Phonak headquarters in Switzerland, a team of over 40 engineers and audiologists, worked together for more than seven years on this ground-breaking project. In addition to the performance, the group also worked on the design of the new technology which looks like a pen.
Martin Grieder, Group Vice President Phonak says: "We are extremely proud of this achievement and are keen to see the impact it will have on people's lives. Restoring people's hearing is our mission, and we strive to do more and do better for those with hearing loss. By giving people even an advantage over those with no hearing loss, we have made the impossible possible".
For more information on Phonak Roger, please visit: http://www.hearingadvisor.co.uk
* Professor Thibodeau, Linda, PhD (2014), Comparison of speech recognition with adaptive digital and FM wireless technology by listeners who use hearing aids, University of Texas, Dallas, USA, The American Journal of Audiology. Volume 23, 201-210, June 2014.
About Phonak
Headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak, a member of the Sonova Group, has developed, produced and globally distributed state-of-the-art hearing systems and wireless devices for more than 60 years. The combination of expertise in hearing technology, mastery in acoustics and strong cooperation with hearing care professionals allows Phonak to significantly improve people's hearing ability and speech understanding and therefore their quality of life.
Phonak offers a complete range of digital hearing instruments, along with complementary wireless communication systems. With a worldwide presence, Phonak drives innovation and sets new industry benchmarks regarding miniaturization and performance.
For more information, please visit http://www.phonak.com
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