Month: November 2023

Make Listening Safe Petition

WHO Make Listening Safe logo

 

Following the launch event at the beginning of November, the Make Listening Safe Campaign UK have released their first petition to the government. The current focus is managing noise exposure from headphones and this petition will raise awareness for the need to implement updated regulations around the sale of headphones.

The Make Listening Safe Campaign UK wants to ensure all headphones sold in the UK provide the users with information about their sound exposure to help reduce the incidence of avoidable hearing loss. Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services are proud to be supporters of the campaign.

Make Listening Safe Petition

If you are UK citizen, please follow the link and sign the petition here.

Make Listening Safe with Custom Earplugs

If you’re interested in custom-made hearing protection to protect your own, or a loved one’s, hearing from noise exposure see here.

About the Make Listening Safe Campaign

Avoidable hearing loss amongst those with ‘normal hearing’ is a rapidly growing global problem.

In 2015 The World Health Organisation (WHO) published a report which forecast that 1.1 billion people are at risk of experiencing permanent, avoidable hearing damage in their lifetime.  The WHO have revised their estimate of those at risk to 2.5 billion people by 2050, that’s 1 in 4 of the world’s population (read full article).  More worrying recent research shows a strong correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline.

MLSC launched in 2023 in the UK before being rolled out to the other 193 countries, which are members of the WHO, in 2024.

If you found this interesting please see some of our other articles here

Tinearity G1 Sound Generator comes to London

Tinnitus Sound Generator

Harley Street Hearing are delighted to be the only hearing clinic in London to supply Swedish manufacturer Duearity’s tinnitus sound generators ‘Tinearity G1’ to our patients.

What is Tinearity G1?

Tinearity G1 is a small sound generator that generates white noise directly into the ear via the skull, leaving the ear canal free and is used for treatment of tinnitus e.g. as the sound source within Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and partly as a masker to mask the tinnitus sound. The battery lasts up to 8 hours and Tinearity G1 comes with a charging plate and cable for easy charging.Tinearity White Noise

What is white noise?

White noise refers to sounds designed to mask other ambient noises in our surroundings. It proves effective in diminishing or eliminating undesired sounds and has demonstrated efficacy in addressing conditions such as tinnitus. Its benefits extend to improving sleep quality, reducing stress, alleviating pain, and enhancing concentration.

The use of low-level noise mitigates the impact of tinnitus, offering relief to individuals experiencing the condition. The sound stimulator works by encouraging the brain to interpret the tinnitus sounds as part of the natural background noise.

To be beneficial to your tinnitus treatment the recommended time to listen to white noise is 6-8 hours per day for 6–24 months.

What is Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)?

TRT is a treatment method for tinnitus and sound hypersensitivity (hyperacusis), employing sound stimulation to “unload” the brain and alleviate tinnitus symptoms. The goal of TRT is to minimise the disruption tinnitus causes in daily life by using white noise to reduce the contrast between sound and silence.

TRT incorporates sound stimulation, introducing broadband noise at a lower level, known as white noise. This is coupled with structured counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), where patients learn scientifically supported methods to manage their tinnitus. TRT aims to decrease negative reactions to sounds, such as irritation and discomfort.

Tinnitus Sound Generator

White Noise Exposure

Approximately 70-80 percent of individuals with tinnitus can benefit from TRT. Despite its proven efficacy, the treatment requires continuous exposure to sound stimulation and white noise for a period ranging from 6 to 24 months.

Some patients, however, discontinue treatment prematurely due to reported disturbances and discomfort caused by earphones delivering the noise. Tinearity G1 provides a solution, allowing individuals to enjoy white noise without ear canal irritation, enabling longer and more comfortable usage.

If you’d like to learn more about Tinearity G1 and TRT call us now on 020 7486 1053, or complete the form below, one of our hearing therapists will be delighted to see you for a consultation.

You can also visit here to find out more how Tinearity treats tinnitus.

Tinnitus Tinearity G1 Review

See Matthew Allsop’s independent review of Tinearity G1 tinnitus treatment, and why he’s so impressed with it, the impact it’s had on his tinnitus and how it works. Matthew is the Video Content Manager at Hearing Tracker.

Some more articles which may be of interest:

Hearing Health Tips

Best Hearing Aids of 2023

The Importance of a Hearing Test

What is Auditory Processing Disorder?

assisted learning for children with apd

For anyone experiencing increased difficulty hearing speech or sounds, hearing loss is often the first thought.

However, in cases where a hearing test indicates that the hearing is intact, and a build-up of ear wax isn’t the problem, we can look at the possibility of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).

Whilst some of the symptoms may appear the same, Auditory Processing Disorder is a condition of its own and it affects around 0.5 to 1% of the population.

This blog aims to provide a detailed overview of APD, exploring its potential causes, diagnosis and treatment methods.

Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory Processing Disorder, or APD for short, is a lesser-known condition that affects how speech and sounds are processed.

It’s a neurological condition that affects the brain’s ability to process auditory information effectively but unlike hearing loss, the ears are undamaged. Whilst the ears may detect sounds normally, the brain has difficulty interpreting and organising these sounds into meaningful information.

This means that an individual with APD may mishear words, have difficulty hearing with background noise and take longer to respond during communication whilst the brain processes what was said.

Auditory Processing Disorder can present a debilitating set of challenges related to speech and language development, learning, and overall communication. This can have a great impact on various aspects of life including social interactions, academic performance and emotional well-being.

assisted learning devices for auditory processing disorder

What causes Auditory Processing Disorder?

The exact causes of Auditory Processing Disorder are not fully understood, but research has shown possible links between various genetic, environmental, and developmental factors.

Some of these factors include recurrent ear infections during early childhood, complications during birth, or traumatic head injuries, which may increase the likelihood of developing APD.

Whilst the condition is typically associated with childhood development, research has shown that it can also manifest in adults and therefore affect anyone at any age. Similarly, it’s not conclusive how this happens but research indicates that it may be influenced by changes in cognitive function or ageing.

How to know if you have Auditory Processing Disorder

Identifying Auditory Processing Disorder can be challenging, especially as its symptoms can often overlap with other conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), hearing loss or learning disabilities.

However, some common signs and symptoms of APD include:

  1. Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments – It’s common for those with APD to struggle with filtering out background noise, making it difficult to focus on and understand spoken words.
  2. Poor listening skills – Struggling to pay attention during conversations and lectures or speeches is common for individuals with APD. This can lead to misunderstandings and reduced information retention.
  3. Trouble following verbal instructions – APD can make listening to and processing spoken instructions, especially in complex or lengthy sentences, a challenge.
  4. Language and communication barriers – Particularly in childhood, APD may contribute to delays in language development and those suffering may have trouble expressing themselves verbally, or struggle with reading and spelling.

assisted learning for children with apd

Testing for Auditory Processing Disorder

If you believe you are suffering from Auditory Processing Disorder, it’s important to get a diagnosis as early as possible.

As the symptoms may be similar to those of hearing loss, getting your hearing tested should be the first step taken. That being said, APD is often a misunderstood condition so it’s crucial that you seek the help of a professional that is experienced in this field to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition.

Harley Street Hearing’s clinical audiologists are highly experienced in testing for and treating Auditory Processing Disorder in both adults and children. We use a special battery of speech-processing tests that measure your active listening skills and can recommend the best treatment option to support you.

How to treat Auditory Processing Disorder

Currently, there is no ‘cure’ for APD, but management strategies can be implemented to address the specific needs and challenges of the individual and help them perform better in the listening environments where they struggle the most.

Some common management strategies include:

  • Hearing devices – Whilst hearing aids aren’t generally considered a primary treatment for APD, specialised hearing devices or remote microphones that reduce background noise and enhance the sound signal may help to improve their ability to process sounds.
  • Speech and listening exercises – Therapy and exercises can help to rework neural connections in the brain, improving communication skills and listening abilities.
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – This is a therapeutic approach that may be recommended to help individuals manage the emotional and social challenges associated with APD, helping to improve their self-confidence.

phonak lumity compatible accessories

Self-help strategies for APD

Whilst it’s essential to get your hearing assessed and get an accurate diagnosis for your individual struggles, getting an appointment to see a professional straight away may not always be feasible, although if you are in the London area at Harley Street Hearing we generally have appointments available within 48 hours.

In the meantime, there are strategies that can be implemented in order to help make communication and speech reception easier. Below are a few tips that might help you:

  • Avoid noisy environments – Try to find quieter locations to have conversations where possible. If you do find yourself in a noisy environment, try to stand with your back to the noise source to help block it out.
  • Face the conversation – When communicating with others, directly facing the person speaking to you will give you the best chance of following what they are saying.
  • Position yourself in good lighting – Try to have conversations in well-lit environments so that the other person’s face is fully visible for any lip-reading cues you may need.
  • Stand close – It’s advisable to stand or sit around 1 metre away from the person you are talking to and avoid having conversations across the room.
  • Be open – Always be honest with the person you’re conversing with about your communication struggles so that they are aware and can help by doing things such as avoiding covering their mouth and rephrasing any words you may not understand.

The above strategies should offer some short-term improvements before you can get professional help. If you’re having difficulties with your hearing and communication and think you may be experiencing APD, get in touch with Harley Street Hearing for a consultation with one of our highly trained clinical audiologists.

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Make Listening Safe Campaign – UK Launch Event 

Harley Street Hearing’s Matthew Allsop (Partner), Fiona Butterworth (Clinical Lead for Musicians’ Services), and Matt Frost (Clinical Audiologist) attended the launch event for the UK Make Listening Safe Campaign, the pilot scheme for the global World Health Organisation Make Listening Safe initiative. 

The event was attended by numerous experts in the field, allowing like-minded individuals to discuss the ways in which we can better support the general population to encourage safe listening habits. 

Stephen Wheatley talked about the importance of the campaign, referencing research in 2015 by the World Health Organisation that suggested there were more than 1 billion people between 10 and 40 years old who are at risk of avoidable hearing loss due to noise exposure. A recent update forecasts that 2.5 billion of us will be affected by 2050, which is 1 in 4 of the world’s population.

You can watch Stephen Wheatley’s Sky interview from earlier the same day below.

 

Mark Laureyns and Amarilis Melendez Medina discussed their involvement from the World Health Organisation perspective and showed their excitement for how this UK-based initiative will expand to more global measures.  

Professor Stephen Dance, representing The UK Acoustics Network, provided intriguing insights on the potential impacts of hearing loss. He also demonstrated a hearing loss simulator, helping to educate the diverse audience on what a noise-induced high-frequency hearing loss might sound like. 

Dr Dalia Tsimpida from the University of Southampton, discussed her findings from several research perspectives and showed this insightful video designed to help people understand the importance of managing good hearing health hygiene. 

The event launched the first theme which will focus on managing noise exposure from headphones – a big task given how many people use them daily. Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services are excited to support the campaign – watch this space for more information as the campaign gains speed. 

You can read more about the Make Listening Safe Campaign here. 

If you’ve found this article interesting please see some others below:

Hearing Health Tips

London Theatre Hearing Guide

Why Musicians Should Protect Their Hearing

The Importance of a Hearing Test

Phonak Lumity hearing aid feature review

phonak lumity

Would you believe us if we said there are a total of 335 different Phonak Lumity hearing aids to choose from?

That can feel slightly overwhelming when it comes to finding the right fit for you, but fear not. Whether you’re just starting to explore the option of hearing aids and want to be armed with information before going to an audiology appointment, or perhaps you’ve already had your hearing tested and have been recommended Phonak Lumity hearing aids, by the end of this article, you should have a great understanding of which Phonak Lumity hearing aid is right for you.

Five different styles of Phonak Lumity hearing aids

Phonak has typically used the same names for their different styles of hearing aids:

  • Slim – their receiver-in-canal slimline hearing aid
  • CROS – their receiver-in-canal hearing aid designed to manage single-sided deafness
  • Audéo – their standard receiver-in-canal model
  • Naida– their power behind-the-ear hearing aid
  • Sky – their behind-the-ear paediatric hearing aids

phonak lumity hearing aid styles

Within each of these styles, there can be various models too. For example, while there’s only one version of both the Slim and CROS, there are three different Audéo Lumitys – including the Audéo Lumity R, the Audéo Lumity RT, and the Audéo Lumity RL. Within the Naida style, we have the Naida Lumity PR and the Naida Lumity UP. Finally, the Sky Lumity also has two different models, which are also named the PR and UP.

So, the big question is, what do these letters mean after the different hearing aid models? It’s all about rechargeability, CROS systems, telecoil, and waterproof ratings.

Rechargeability

Most of the hearing aids we’re discussing today are rechargeable, which means that for a 3-hour charge when you go to bed, you’ll get a full day of use the following day. From a rechargeability point of view, one of these hearing aids stands head and shoulders above the rest, which is the Lumity Life.

To maintain the highest possible waterproof rating out of all of the hearing aids discussed today, Phonak has removed its titanium charging contacts and instead installed an inductive charging system. This requires a completely different charger, which happens to a) be easier to remove the hearing aids from and b) also contains a standalone battery, storing up to three full days of charge within the charger itself. So, your hearing aids can be charged on the go without always needing to be plugged into the mains.

This is great if you are someone who likes to go travelling when you may not have access to a power source. You can keep the hearing aids stored in the case, and they’ll be constantly charging. Both the Naida and Sky UP, however, are the only models which use a disposable 675 battery, and this only needs changing roughly once every one to two weeks.

CROS/BICROS

The Phonak CROS system is Phonak Lumity CROS/BICROS specifically designed for somebody with an unaidable hearing loss in one ear, i.e., no hearing at all, and either normal hearing or a hearing loss that requires a hearing aid in the other.

This receiver-in-canal style device is essentially a transmitter that detects any sound that arrives on your poorer hearing side and then wirelessly transmits the sound that reaches it to your better hearing ear, giving you access to the world of sound around you in 360°.

This kind of technology can make a huge difference when it comes to managing single-sided deafness. For example, if you’re a passenger in a car with your unaidable ear towards the driver, a cross-system would transmit their voice to a hearing aid in your better hearing ear, allowing you to hear them.

Now, not all of today’s hearing aids will work with the cros-system, so if you’re looking at wearing hearing aids to manage single-sided deafness, then you need to choose either the Audéo R or RT receiver-in-canal hearing aids or the Naida or Sky PR behind-the-ear hearing aids.

phonak lumity cros bicros

Telecoil

If you’re not completely familiar with a telecoil, you may, however, have seen this sign at various public venues such as the likes of a supermarket, lecture hall, church, or theatre.

telecoil

This shows that the venue has a built-in loop system to work with a telecoil built into various types of hearing aids. When configured, this setup allows you to wirelessly connect your hearing aids with a click of a button to a microphone set at a distance, and you should be able to hear the person speaking into that microphone just as if you were standing next to them. It will completely transform your ability to hear speech at a distance.

Now, of all the Lumity hearing aids discussed today, the Audéo RT, Naida UP, and Sky UP all have a built-in telecoil, which means that Phonak has provided a wide range of styles to choose from. So as long as you can forgo the waterproof version, having the telecoil built-in is an invaluable option.

Waterproofing

Whilst we’re on the subject of how waterproof and how robust the Lumity family of hearing aids is, every model that we’re covering today has a minimum standard of an IP68 rating. This means that they can technically be submerged in a metre and a half of water for 30 minutes, and they should still function afterwards.

The IP68 rating isn’t just reserved for hearing aids. You’ll find it built into a lot of the technology that you use daily, such as your phone. Unlike other manufacturers, the IP68 rating is the minimum standard that Phonak has set for their hearing aids. This means that they’ve set the bar even higher than that.

So if you’re someone who spends a lot of time in or near water, or perhaps you sweat a lot
when you’re doing exercise, or maybe you’re just concerned about the reliability of hearing aids, then there’s one hearing aid from today’s list which has been tested to its limits.

The letters in the Audeo Lumity RL stand for rechargeable and life, which Phonak boasts as being their “Life Proof” hearing aid. It’s their most robust hearing aid to date. With this model, they’ve added additional microphone protection, sealed the seams with silicone, coated the components with a Paraline coating (which is the same protection system that NASA uses on their spacecraft), and there’s a different charging system too.

With all of that done, they have brutally tested this technology in the lab to ensure that it does what they promise. This robustness testing includes a simulated sweat test, representing two workouts a week for a 5-year period, a seawater test, a saltwater test, a chlorinated water test (simulating two swims per week over a 5-year period), and finally freshwater testing, which is performed in a pressurised container testing down to a depth of 50 cm, 520 times.

So if you’re someone who’s had issues with either moisture or reliability in the past, then the Audeo Lumity Life may well be the right hearing aid for you from today’s list. But remember, this does come at a cost, and you’ll have to sacrifice both a telecoil and CROS compatibility.

Phonak Lumity colour options

Another thing that we’re spoiled for choice with is the different colours of the hearing aids, which vary depending on the style that you’re choosing.

The Slim is available in these four different colours.

phonak lumity slim colour options

All of the Audéos, so the R, RT, and L, including the CROS, are now available in 11 different colours, including some new, more vibrant colour options too.

phonak lumity audeo colour options

The Naida PR and UP are available in eight different colours, and then finally, whether you’re a child or not, you may well be interested in these incredible colours for the Sky family.

phonak lumity sky colour options

Which is the most suitable for your hearing loss?

Each style of hearing aid also has its very own fitting range, which is the degree of hearing loss that it’s capable of dealing with. Press play on the video below to find out more about the suitability of each device:

Which one uses ActiveVent?

ActiveVent is a feature unique to Phonak’s receiver-in-canal styles of hearing aids. It’s compatible with both Slim, Audéo R, RT, and then the Life models.

ActiveVent is a specific type of receiver with a built-in moving piston that changes its position depending on your listening environment, and it can either divert more or less sound naturally down your ear canal or, on the contrary, via the hearing aids. This, in turn, will change a few different things, such as:

  • how well you hear in noise
  • how your own voice sounds
  • how clearly you hear
  • how music sounds when it’s being streamed from your phone

There are both positives and negatives to having your ear canals either open or closed, and depending on your hearing loss, sometimes it’s beneficial to have a hearing aid that can do both on different occasions, which until ActiveVent was released, wasn’t possible. For example, in a quiet environment, you may well want the vent to be open, allowing natural sound in and out, giving you a nice, natural feeling connecting you with your environment. Yet when in noise, it’s better to have your ears completely closed so that all of the sound that you hear is via your hearing aids, having been cleaned of background noise. And the same thing goes for music and streaming.

So when you’re streaming from your phone, the ActiveVent would close, both blocking sound in and also blocking sound out, which would enhance music further still, giving you greater fullness, richness, and depth with any sound being streamed from your phone.

Bluetooth compatibility

All of the Phonak Lumity hearing aids have classic Bluetooth built-in, no matter what the style, and they can be paired with your phone, and not just an Android or iPhone device, but in fact, any Bluetooth device whatsoever.

In fact, you can pair with up to eight Bluetooth devices at one time, with two of them being able to be connected simultaneously. This means that you can stream phone calls, music, and the radio or podcasts directly to both of your ears. Plus, there’s even an app called the MyPhonak app, which allows you to make manual adjustments to the settings on your hearing aids. Not only that, but if you can’t make it to the clinic one day, your audiologist can dial into your hearing aids via your phone and make adjustments while you’re sat in the comfort of your own home. Pretty clever, eh?

Technology levels

So that pretty much covers all of the feature differences between the various styles of Phonak Lumity hearing aids. Yet, what it doesn’t cover are all of the features built into the different technology levels too. Each style is available in different technology levels too, which are represented by the number that you can see after the style of the hearing aid.

So, all Lumity hearing aids are available as either a 90, 70, 50, or 30, with the 90 being Phonak’s premium technology, the 70 the advanced, the 50 is the standard technology level, and then the 30 is Phonak’s essential technology level.

Building on that, let’s explain how these different technology levels affect your ability to hear. Every hearing aid manufacturer tends to do something, and this isn’t just limited to Phonak: they create the best possible hearing aids they can with the technology and the research and development that’s available at that particular moment in time. Then, they’ll brand this as their premium hearing aid, which in this instance is the Lumity 90. There are various technology levels beneath that, with certain features stripped away. So, let’s cover which technology levels have which features.

AutoSense 5.0

This is Phonak’s artificial intelligence, machine learning feature that scans your environment 700 times per second and then calculates the most appropriate setting for your hearing aid to switch over to. With the premium technology level, the L90s will choose between the following different settings based on the environment it detects you’re in. Once the hearing aids have recognized the environment, they’ll then choose from over 200 different setting combinations in order to optimise your hearing in that situation.

You can see here that as the technology levels decrease, the options that the AutoSense setting is able to switch over to also decrease.

phonak lumity autosense 5.0

If you’re looking for the most appropriate technology level for you, you’ve got to think about not just your hearing test results but also your lifestyle. If you’re somebody who interacts with other people in varied environments, then the premium technology level may well be the most appropriate for you and your hearing loss.

Speech technology

Phonak’s Smart Speech technology is their built-in system designed to optimise hearing speech in all listening situations, from quietly spoken people to those in a noisy environment. The Lumity hearing aids have a few different impressive features that make this work.

Again, with the premium technology level, the L90s run all of these features, and we’ll show you which are stripped away depending on the technology you step down to.

First, we have their clever built-in Speech Sensor feature which will enhance your hearing in background noise and is designed to improve your hearing of conversations from the right, left, or behind you. Phonak states that while the majority of conversations generally come from in front of us, around 20% come from either the side or from behind. One downside of older directional microphone technology is that it can focus so aggressively in front of you that it may miss somebody speaking to you from other angles.

This new Speech Sensor feature is designed to identify those conversations happening close by and then open up that beamformer to a more omnidirectional setting, allowing you to pick up that speech without necessarily needing to turn your head and face the person speaking to you. We all know that person in our lives who speaks incredibly softly, and even with normal hearing, it’s not easy to catch what they’re saying.

The Speech Enhancer feature very simply looks out for those softly spoken people and gives them the boost they need to bring them within your audible range.

So, of those two features, both the Speech Sensor and Speech Enhancer are only available in the L90 premium technology level.

Stereozoom 2.0

The next two features are built into both the L90 premium technology level and the L70 advanced technology level.

Starting with Stereo Zoom 2.0, this is Phonak’s directional microphone technology. Stereo Zoom 2.0 is very simply designed to focus the microphones of your hearing aids forward when you’re in a noisy environment, such as a restaurant for example.

This is all with the hope that you want to hear whatever you’re looking at. Phonak boasts that this should give you a better signal-to-noise ratio by up to 2.5 dB, resulting in a 16% better speech understanding compared to fixed directional settings of previous versions of their Stereo Zoom.

Secondly, with Dynamic Noise Cancellation, you have the ability to set the strength of the noise reduction settings in real-time based on your personal preferences. This is all done using the MyPhonak app, which means you can set this feature to your preference of comfort or audibility in a particularly challenging and noisy environment.

Motion Sensors

Phonak has included the motion sensors in the premium, advanced, and standard technology levels respectively: the L90s, L70s, and L50s.

It allows AutoSense 5.0 to calculate the direction that you most likely want to be hearing from. So in practice, if you’re sat down at a table, you’d normally want to hear the sound in front of you. However, if you think about it, as soon as you stand up and start walking away, you’d want to be able to hear the person by your side. The motion sensors help the hearing aids recognise this and adjust the directionality of the microphones accordingly.

This is all happening automatically, without you needing to make any adjustments to the settings.

Compatible accessories

Phonak has been great at recognising where hearing aid technology alone will struggle to overcome certain hearing challenges. As a result, they have a wide range of different accessories from the TV connector to their Roger range, which includes the Roger On Version 2, Table Mic 2, Touchscreen Mic, Roger Select, and Roger Neckloop.

phonak lumity compatible accessories

If you’re interested in more details on Phonak’s accessories, watch this video. You’ll be pleased to know that all of these accessories will work with all technology levels discussed today.

Tinnitus Balance Feature

If you’re one of the 10% or 25 million people in the US that suffers with tinnitus, then you may also benefit from Phonak’s Tinnitus Balance feature, which is also available across all technology levels. These are a selection of noises ranging from being tailored to your hearing loss to white noise and pink noise, which can be further adjusted to help you overcome your tinnitus.

So, as you can see, there are a wide range of options to choose from when it comes to the Phonak Lumity family of hearing aids, with various advantages to different styles and
different technology levels.

Phonak Lumity feature review

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing, and the content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinion on all new hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can view his video where he shares his opinions on the Phonak Lumity features below.

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Signia Silk Charge&Go IX Feature Review

Signia silk charge&go hearing aids

This may well surprise you. Until the release of the Signia Silk Charging Go IX, the only rechargeable hearing aids on the market were the ReSound Omnia and the Phonak Lumity Receiver in Canal hearing aid.

So if you wanted a more invisible option, then the only technology available used a disposable battery, and this needs changing roughly once a week.

The good news is that this is all about to change as Signia has just released the world’s first rechargeable CIC hearing aids, introducing the Signia Charge&Go IX.

Signia silk charge&go hearing aids

Signia Charge&Go IX technology & features

Now, rechargeability is one of the many unique features built into this incredibly small new technology from Signia.

Released this autumn, the Signia Silk IX has superseded the Signia Silk X, which is now 3 years old and long overdue for an update. So let’s look at the physical side of things and show you how they look in the ear. Then, we’ll take a good look at how clever the technology is that’s working inside these hearing aids.

This new family of hearing aids doesn’t look any different in shape and size to the previous model. We’re amazed that they’ve been able to make this new rechargeable version with the same physical specifications as the battery version, and for the battery to perform as well as it does. The only difference that you’ll spot between the two of them is that there’s no longer an openable battery door on the rechargeable version.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Signia Silks, they’re shaped in this torpedo way and ergonomically designed to mirror the shape of an average ear canal, measuring 50 mm long, 10 mm tall, and only 4 mm in diameter.

Quite differently to other CIC hearing aids, these are ready-to-wear devices and therefore, they don’t require an impression to be taken of your ear by your audiologist. Instead, they have a semi-customisable design with interchangeable domes for the end to suit the shape and size of your ear canal. The dome selection isn’t something that you need to worry about as your audiologist would measure and select the most appropriate fitting for your anatomy and your hearing loss, with plenty of options to choose from.

It’s important to note that the tip on the end of a hearing aid isn’t solely designed for comfort. It plays an incredibly important role in the way that a hearing aid sounds, influencing factors such as the hearing aid’s clarity and its ability to cope with background noise, and it also has an impact on the way that your own voice sounds. Therefore, it’s incredibly important to get the correct setup for you.

Colour options

The devices themselves come with two different colours to choose from, with the bodies of the shell always being either red or blue for easy identification of which is the left or the right.
The outward-facing part, the faceplate, is available in either a mocha or a black matte surface. The majority of our patients at Harley Street Hearing prefer the black colour, as it looks like the shadow of the ear canal and just makes them that little bit more inconspicuous than trying to match your skin tone.

signia silk charge&go colours

Battery life & wireless charging abilities

With the Signia Charge&Go IX, a single 3-hour charge will give you 24 hours of life. So, each charge will last you for a full day. The case itself is neat and pocket-sized, and rather impressively, given its size, has a built-in battery which provides you with an additional 3 days’ worth of charge before it needs charging again.

This is particularly useful if you happen to go away for a long weekend somewhere and power isn’t easily accessible, say for example a camping trip for 3 days, then all you need is the case and you can charge on the go.

As these hearing aids are the gift that keeps on giving, in another world first, the case itself has Qi charging. This essentially means that you don’t need to plug it in to charge it but instead can place it on a wireless charging pad for inductive charging. Or, if you prefer, you can still use the USB-C port on the back of the case.

signia silk charge&go IX

A new world of hearing aid technology

As with all hearing aids, the Signia Silk IX isn’t suitable for all degrees of hearing loss. However, it does have a pretty broad fitting range, meaning that it’s designed for those with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. In some cases, it could be pushed to compensate for those with severe hearing loss in some of those higher frequencies.

In practical terms, that means that if your hearing loss falls within the shaded area on this image, then technically they could be suitable for you.

signia silk charge&go IX suitability chart

They’re available in three different technology levels: the 7IX, 5IX, and 3IX, with the former being the most advanced of the three. The more advanced the hearing aid, the greater the number of features and automation that you have access to.

The new IX chip runs all of the same features as the Silk’s predecessor, the X chip. However, along with a few key developments such as Signia’s Dynamic Soundscape Processing 3.0.

This feature integrates various processes within the IX chip for hearing aid optimisation based on your surrounding environment, analysing 192,000 data points per second relating to your specific situation, and then deciding on the most appropriate way for this hearing aid to react.

This feature, combined with Signia’s Ear-to-Ear Wireless 4.0 and their binaural one-mic directionality, means that these hearing aids are working together rather than as two individual units, which is quite unique to Signia.

For their in-the-ear hearing aids, this feature is beneficial for two different reasons:

  1. For identifying the direction of those speaking to you and focusing the microphones in the correct position.
  2. It employs their speech stabiliser feature which targets speech in a noisy environment and preserves the acoustic cues that are important for you to be able to follow and understand speech clarity and distinction. This can be helpful in a few situations such as dining in a restaurant, driving in a car or walking down a busy street.

Another feature unique to the Signia Silks is their wireless functionality. Now, we’ll preface this by saying that wireless functionalities are of course not exclusive to Signia. However, it is certainly a unique feature for hearing aids of this size and discretion.

This gives you access to the Signia app and the mini pocket remote control to make basic adjustments to the settings and also to access their tinnitus features, which is a nice feature.

signia silk charge&go IX wireless features

Signia’s tinnitus management features

When it comes to tinnitus management, Signia offers three different strategies against tinnitus, depending on what’s the most appropriate for you: static noise therapy, ocean wave therapy, and Signia’s unique Tinnitus Notch Therapy.

Both the static noise and ocean wave therapies are different types of noise to mask your tinnitus, all with different characteristics, and different frequency responses which means some of them are more likely to be effective than others in drowning out your tinnitus.

Finally, Signia’s Tinnitus Notch Therapy is specifically designed for those experiencing tonal tinnitus such as ringing, buzzing, or whistling. This approach is quite different from using a masking sound. Signia claims that the concept behind Notch therapy isn’t to drown out tinnitus but to teach the brain how to ignore it completely. Unlike both the ocean wave and static noise sound therapies, this method is presented at an inaudible level, so you won’t even be aware of the tinnitus sound therapy that you’re being exposed to – it’s pretty clever.

Signia Silk Charge& Go IX CROS/BICROS

CROS or BICROS systems are designed for individuals with an unaidable hearing loss in one ear, i.e., no hearing at all and either normal hearing or a hearing loss that requires a hearing aid in the other.

A CROS system is essentially a transmitter that detects any sound that arrives on the poorer hearing side, and then it wirelessly transmits the sound to your better-hearing ear, giving you access to the world of sound in 360°. For example, if you’re sitting on a bus with your unaidable ear towards a friend, a CROS system would transmit their voice to a hearing aid in the better hearing ear, allowing you to be able to hear them clearly and comfortably.

The Silk wins another point here for not only being the only CIC CROS system that’s out there but also the world’s first rechargeable CIC CROS hearing aid.

What to know before buying

The Signia Silks have a lot of positive features, but in order to give a balanced review it’s important to share our thoughts on what’s missing from the devices.

There are three features that other hearing aids offer, which the Signia Silk IXs don’t which are worth considering before buying.

Let’s start with how they function in background noise. Signia utilizes its One Mic directionality technology and the Pinna effect, which is the part of the ear that gathers sound from in front and behind and determines what’s in front of you versus what’s behind you. Despite this, the Silks won’t cope as well as a receiver in canal BTE hearing aid which has multiple microphones built into it, which can help you identify whether you’re in background noise or not and the direction that sounds will be coming from. If background noise is one of your biggest challenges, then we would recommend looking at the Pure Charge&Go IX.

Secondly, yes, the Signia Silks do have wireless connectivity, but they don’t have Bluetooth built into them. So the discretion of the Silk IX does come at a cost. And again, if you’re interested in streaming phone calls or media, such as the radio, music, or podcasts to your hearing aids directly from your phone, then the Pure Charge&Go receiver in the ear canal version may be more appropriate for you.

The third thing that’s important to consider when looking at these hearing aids is that while it is a positive to be able to customise these hearing aids by changing the tips on the end rather than going through the process of having an impression taken of your ear as you would do with a conventional set of CIC hearing aids, at the same time, this also does mean in reality that they don’t fit quite as well as a custom-made set of hearing aids.

This is not an issue for the majority of ears. However, there are instances that we, as audiologists, may want to have things made in a very specific way for example, with venting to allow your ears to breathe and to prevent what we call the occlusion effect. And we don’t have that same degree of control as we would do with a hearing aid specifically tailored to the shape and size of your ear canals.

If you’re somebody with a hearing loss and you’re conscious of cosmetics, ask your audiologist for advice on whether these hearing aids are good for you. If you’d like to book a hearing consultation at Harley Street Hearing – London’s leading independent hearing clinic, please call 020 7486 1053 or complete the form below.

Signia Silk Charge&Go Review

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing, and the content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinion on all new hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can view his video where he shares his opinions on the Signia Silk Charge&Go below.

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British Academy of Audiology 19th Annual Conference

Harley Street Hearing clinical audiologist Matt Frost attended the British Academy of Audiology’s 19th annual conference, at the Coventry Building Society Arena, attended by 650 people from a wide spectrum of the audiology industry including audiologists, researchers and manufacturers.

British Academy of Audiology

The BAA aims to help its members develop their professional skills, provide a benchmark for quality and professional standards, and promote audiology as an autonomous profession. Conference plays a large part in the provision of continuing professional development for audiologists. A perfect channel for sharing best practice, guidance and knowledge.

Hearing Care Practitioners with Hearing Loss Research

Matt presented to over 100 attendees, reflecting on the findings of recent research looking at the experiences of hearing care professionals with hearing loss; for which Matt was a participant. Whilst still in it’s initial stages, the research aims to make recommendations for increasing accessibility and support for hearing care practitioners with hearing loss and/or deafness.

Matt said “It was an absolute pleasure to speak at the BAA. It was great to be able to share the initial analysis of a very exciting research project, as well as reflecting on my own lived experiences as a hearing care professional with hearing loss. The talk seems to have gone down very well and initial feedback has been positive and affirming. Thank you to all those who attended and took the time to speak to me during the day”.

If you have any issues with your hearing one of our highly qualified clinical audiologists will be delighted to help you. Don’t hesitate to contact us on 020 7486 1053 or complete the form below.

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