Author: pixelkicks

This blog post was last updated on 12/01/2024

New year, new hearing technology. Over recent years, we’ve seen many manufacturers releasing incredibly advanced and discreet hearing aids, and this year is no different so we’re here to share our top picks with you.

Here is our review of the best hearing aids available in the UK for 2024.

Hearing Aid Review index

• Oticon Real
• Starkey Genesis AI
• Resound Nexia *UK exclusive availability at Harley Street Hearing*
• Phonak Lumity
• Signia IX
• Widex Moment Sheer

Oticon Real

Building on the legacy of Oticon More, the latest edition to the Oticon hearing aid family has several unique features that stand out against other hearing aid manufacturers. The Oticon Real is available in various colours and three different technology levels; Real 1, Real 2 and Real 3, with Real 1 being the most technologically advanced.

The Oticon Real is available with a lithium-ion rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery option, both of which are visually similar and benefit from a telecoil system built in. The rechargeable battery option comes at a higher price, however you quickly reap the benefits of not needing to purchase batteries regularly.

Oticon Real hearing aid features

The new Oticon Real hearing aid family are packed full of features, two of which are exclusive to these hearing aids alone, and work seamlessly to support existing features, giving you an authentic hearing experience that is clearer than ever before.

Oticon’s deep neural network

One of Oticon’s standout features is its built-in deep neural network which tells the hearing aid how to react to sounds to offer clear, true-to-life hearing.

Oticon state they are the first manufacturer to use 12 million sound scenes recorded from real life to train the hearing aids’ deep neural network on how sounds should sound to the human brain. This helps the hearing aid accurately decide how to react to specific noises, focusing on delivering the sounds that you want to hear, whilst cancelling out the sounds you don’t.

The Oticon Real hearing aids have been designed with two new features that enhance this feature further; SuddenSound Stabilizer and Wind & Handling Stabilizer.

SuddenSound Stabilizer

The SuddenSound Stabilizer, which runs under the MoreSound Amplifier 2.0, provides dynamic and balanced amplification that reacts to the nature of the sound scene and adapts its resolution to bring you a natural listening experience without overwhelming you with environmental sounds.

SuddenSound Stabilizer is designed to detect both soft, loud and sudden sounds and control them so they’re audible without being uncomfortably loud, intrusive or unnatural.

Wind & Handling Stabilizer

The Wind & Handling Stabilizer feature, which runs alongside MoreSound Intelligence 2.0, makes following and engaging in conversation easier, especially whilst in noisy environments.

This intuitive feature scans your sound scene 500 times a second and organises and delivers the sound based on how the deep neural network determines is the clearest and most accurate to life. And, as the name suggests, the Wind & Handling Stabiliser feature also combats unwanted noise caused by wind sounds and from handling the device.

Bluetooth and intuitive mobile app

Bluetooth is built into many modern hearing aids, including the new Oticon Real hearing aids, and although this feature alone isn’t something that’s groundbreaking, their updated mobile app certainly is. With these new updates, the Oticon mobile app gives users greater control over their hearing aids and customises their experience to suit their needs.

If you’re unfamiliar with the benefits of Bluetooth hearing aids, they allow you to stream phone calls and entertainment such as music, radio and podcasts straight to your hearing aids, as well as adjust their settings using apps as previously mentioned.

Tinnitus SoundSupport

Oticon’s Tinnitus SoundSupport is a sound generator that seamlessly integrates into the day-to-day functions of your hearing aid. This program allows you to play various sounds, such as crashing ocean waves or white noise, to distract your attention away from tinnitus-related ringing.

Oticon Real features breakdown:

• 3 different technology levels
• Non-rechargeable and rechargeable lithium-ion battery options
• Telecoil system built-in
• Intelligent deep neural network for true-to-life sounds
• 2 new features; Wind & Handling Stabiliser and SuddenSound Stabiliser
• Built-in Bluetooth and mobile app
• Tinnitus SoundSupport technology

Starkey Genesis AI

Starkey released their Evolve AI family of hearing aids exactly three years ago now, and they’ve been drip-feeding us various models using the Evolve AI technology ever since then.

So, the big question is, is the new Genesis AI a big deal? There are occasions when hearing aid manufacturers bring out a new hearing aid and update an existing chip with a few additional benefits, and it’s safe to say that whilst this is a positive step in the right direction, it’s not always a huge leap in terms of technology. And this was the case with the Evolve AI’s.

However, this isn’t the case with the Genesis AI’s, which are brandishing a brand new chip, a brand new style, and a brand new app. But that’s not all. Starkey are boasting that it’s a whole new patient experience, and also a brand new fitting software for audiologists, which hasn’t happened from Starkey in a long time.

Starkey Genesis AI design features

This entirely new family of hearing aids from Starkey looks very different from their predecessors, including both receiver-in-canal and custom models. Based on some of their claims, it sounds like they’ve also supercharged them.

RIC RT

Their receiver-in-canal RT is rechargeable with the telecoil, and Starkey are boasting that it will be the longest-lasting rechargeable receiver-in-canal hearing aid on the market, holding up to 51 hours on a single charge.

mRIC R

This will be a smaller hearing aid which is also rechargeable, providing 41 hours on a single charge.

Custom Genesis AI hearing aids

In true Starkey fashion, they’re also releasing a host of custom hearing aids. These range from the invisible-in-canal non-wireless, completely-in-canal non-wireless, in-the-canal or half-shell, and in-the-ear rechargeable for which Starkey are claiming another industry record for a rechargeable custom product with a battery life of 36 hours on a single charge.

Neuro Sound Technology

In the Genesis AI range, the new processor called the Starkey Neuro Processor is the smallest they have ever made, and it’s also the fastest – processing information four times faster than their previous technology. And it does so more efficiently, leaving more capacity to process speech and process any background noise around you.

This also feeds into what Starkey are calling their Neuro Sound Technology, which automatically adjusts the hearing aids over 80 million times per hour, which is more than 22,000 times per second, to provide optimal hearing for any listening situation.

They’ve also developed a more advanced compression system, with the aim of this being to reduce listening effort so rather than trying to find the sound you want to hear, the hearing aid should be able to clean up the signal in front of you and present you with a nice clean piece of information.

New Starkey app

Starkey has also announced that they will be launching a completely redesigned app to be far more intuitive for hearing aid users.

All of the great features from the Evolv AI are used as a foundation for this new technology, including various unique features such as their Edge Mode Plus which uses the deep neural network to prioritise clearer speech or listening comfort, or even their language translation which they’ve now boosted from 27 to 77 different languages. They’ve also kept their built-in 3D sensors for health and wellness tracking.

Further Starkey Genesis AI features

There are a whole host of other features accompanied by impressive numbers that work together to significantly enhance speech and suppress noise, resulting in a transparent and natural listening experience whether you’re in either noisy or quiet environments. These features are:

• 600 more transistors
• Five times more computational memory
• 10 times more non-volatile memory compared to the Evolv AI
• 10 times faster noise reduction

Starkey Genesis AI features breakdown:

• 4 different technology levels across 2 models
• Neuro Processor technology
• Enhanced Bluetooth connectivity
• Edge Mode Plus; an improvement on Edge Mode AI

ReSound Nexia

Danish hearing aid giants, ReSound, recently announced their next generation of premium hearing aids: the ReSound Nexia family. The range includes four brand new premium hearing aids, plus the beginning of an entirely new family of hearing aid accessories.

*** Harley Street Hearing are delighted to have Resound’s new Nexia range exclusively in the UK***

You can trial first with us call 020 7486 1053 or complete the form below.

Nexia hearing aid range

Initially, the new Nexia hearing aids are all available in a receiver-in-canal style, with the hearing aid itself sitting behind the ear and a thin wire running down into the ear canal.

The Nexia RIE 13 uses a size 13 disposable battery and has a built-in telecoil.

The Nexia RIE 312 uses a size 312 disposable battery and has no built-in telecoil.

Then we have the Nexia micro RIE which ReSound boasts is their smallest and most comfortable rechargeable hearing aid to date, coming in at 25% smaller than their standard receiver in canal hearing aids, with a single charge giving 30 hours of battery life per charge.

Then finally, ReSound have a brand new CROS system developed for anyone with single-sided deafness.

ReSound’s updated technology

With this new range, ReSound have caught up with their competition. For example, Phonak, Unitron, Starkey, and Signia have introduced accelerometers into their micro RIE hearing aids.

Accelerometers have been used in hearing aids for years now, firstly to identify if you’re either stationary or moving, adapting the direction of the microphones accordingly towards the most likely direction of speech, and then secondly, allowing you to answer phone calls with a double tap of your ears, similarly to a set of Apple AirPods.

The second new feature that ReSound have introduced into their hearing aid portfolio is a CROS system. This technology is specifically designed for somebody with an unaidable hearing loss on one side (no hearing at all), and either normal hearing or a hearing loss that requires a hearing aid in the other.

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

So, while accelerometers and CROS systems aren’t new technology, they are to ReSound so it’s great that they’ve closed the gap between themselves and the competition.

Nexia new hearing aid features

ReSound claim that they have developed their hearing aids for better speech understanding in background noise, which is all down to their signature combination of four microphone binaural beamforming and omnidirectional listening, providing you with a perfect balance of environmental sound and speech clarity.

Their research shows an improvement over and above their Omnia family of hearing aids when it comes to hearing in background noise.

Their second new feature installed in the Nexia hearing aids is called LE Audio, developed in readiness for Auracast installations to roll out. In the next few years, we’ll start to see Auracast broadcasted audio replace the century-old loop systems that are currently built into public venues and will allow for multiple hearing aid users to simultaneously connect to audio in public space, all with an improvement in sound quality and significantly lower battery consumption.

Finally, ReSound has also announced their brand new TV Streamer Plus. This TV accessory connects to your television and streams the TV audio utilising this Auracast technology directly to both of your hearing aids, reproducing the television sound taking into account your hearing loss. This all happens without disturbing the television for anybody else watching, so you shouldn’t struggle to watch your favourite TV show again.

Phonak Lumity

The Phonak Audéo Lumity hearing aid range is available in three different models; The Audéo Lumity R, which is rechargeable; the Audéo Lumity RT, which is rechargeable with a telecoil; and the Audéo Lumity RL, which is their Life version which is waterproof using the same technology as NASA use for their spacecraft and is also rechargeable. All of these models come in the Reciever-in-Canal (RIC) style of hearing aid, making them an ideal choice for those with dexterity limitations.

Each Audéo Lumity model is available across all of Phonak’s technology levels; Essential, Standard, Advanced and Premium. As the technology levels advance, so do the number of features and level of automation.

New to the range is Phonak’s Audéo Lumity Slim hearing aid, which benefits from all the features listed here, but in a modern and sleek slim design.

Phonak Audéo Lumity hearing aid features

The latest Phonak Audéo Lumity hearing aids are built using the same computer chip as its predecessor, the Phonak Paradise, and because of this, the Audéo Lumity benefits from many of the same features as the Paradise but with a few additional advantages.

AutoSense

The Audéo Lumity hearing aid family benefits from improved background noise handling capabilities in comparison to the Paradise hearing aids in a number of unique ways. With the Audéo hearing aid comes the debut of Phonak’s AutoSense 5.0, an environmental classifier which scans the environment 700 times per second.

This intelligent feature automatically detects and changes your hearing aid settings to suit the sound scene. These settings can also be fine-tuned to your exact hearing needs by your audiologist, offering you a bespoke hearing experience unlike any other.

Once the hearing aid recognises the environment, it then chooses from 200 different setting combinations to optimise itself specifically for the environment you’re in at the time. Phonak states that with the new AutoSense 5.0 feature, both background noise handling and speech understanding is vastly improved.

StereoZoom

The other new function to feature on Phonak’s new Audéo Lumity hearing aids is StereoZoom 2.0, which is their directional beamforming setting. This smart feature is designed to focus the microphones of the hearing aids directly in front of the wearer in a noisy environment, allowing them to hear only the sounds they want to hear whilst cutting out those they don’t.

According to Phonak, the advantage of StereoZoom 2.0 over the original StereoZoom, is that it’s far more reactive to the environment around the wearer, providing greater awareness of environmental sounds, as well as the person in front of them.

SpeechSensor

The final new addition to debut with the Phonak Audéo Lumity hearing aids is the SpeechSensor feature. The SpeechSensor is a 360-degree speech detection algorithm that allows the wearer to hear more conversations that aren’t coming from the front.

Older hearing aids are designed to aggressively focus on conversations that are happening in front of the wearer, whereas an estimated 20% of conversations happen from the side or behind the wearer; this can lead to a bubble-like feeling during conversations. With SpeechSensor, this bubble effect has been addressed with an omnidirectional setting that detects conversation from any angle without needing to turn your head.

Further Phonak Audéo Lumity features

Phonak isn’t playing around when it comes to improving the wearer’s hearing experience with their hearing aids and has added some unique and helpful features:

• Built-in motion sensors detect the direction in which the wearer is walking and thus the direction of the hearing aid microphone.
• ActiveVent Receiver is a unique adaptive speaker that identifies when you’re in a noisy environment and isolates you from that sound and improves sound quality when listening to music.
• Traditional Bluetooth capabilities mean you can connect to phones, laptops or computers, and other Bluetooth devices; it even allows you to have hands-free phone calls.
• An overhauled mobile app that gives wearers greater control over their hearing aid settings, including creating custom programs and offering a hands-on approach to adjusting settings

Phonak Audéo Lumity features breakdown:

• 4 different technology levels across 3 models
• All models are rechargeable
• Telecoil and waterproof versions available
• Improved background noise-handling
• 3 new features; AutoSense 5.0, StereoZoom 2.0 and SpeechSensor
• Traditional Bluetooth to connect with any Bluetooth device
• myPhonak app for ultimate control

Signia IX

Signia have a history of designing hearing aids that are unique in their attempt to break the stereotypes associated with hearing aids, and the Signia IX range is no different. These unique features are available across four Signia IX models; the Pure Charge & Go IX, which is their rechargeable model; Pure Charge & Go T IX, which is their rechargeable model with a built-in telecoil; the Pure 312 IX, which is a disposable battery option; and the Styletto X, which we believe is the most stylish of the range.

The Pure Charge & Go hearing aid comes in five different technology levels; 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7IX which is the most advanced.

Signia IX hearing aid features

The new Signia IX hearing aids benefit from a wealth of game-changing features that make them stand out against their competitors, as well as improve on their predecessors.

Built-in dual processors & Augmented Focus

The main selling point of the Signia IX models is their dual processor technology. This allows the aids to process the sounds that are in focus, such as speech, whilst also focusing on the environmental sounds without processing too much acoustic information at the same time. Thanks to the dual processors, each signal is treated differently, with the speech receiving more linear amplification whilst unwanted noise is given greater levels of compression.

This is where the Augmented Focus comes in. With Augmented Focus, the hearing aids have the power to differentiate the sounds and control how these sounds are combined, prioritising the speed of each and creating a great contrast between speech and background noise.

The end result leads to clearer speech and higher levels of clarity within the details of speech whilst minimising background noise in situations such as groups, crowds or noisy listening environments.

Signia Assistant Artificial Intelligence

AI is all the rage right now, and Signia hasn’t fallen behind on this innovative new advancement in technology. With the Signia Assistant Artificial Intelligence features available on their app, you can type in any hearing issue you may be experiencing and it will respond with a list of potential solutions for you to choose from.

It will then analyse the parameters in your acoustic environment and will enhance the settings on the hearing aids to suit your requests. Ultimately, this means that with your feedback, the hearing aids are in a constant state of evolution and learning.

Another benefit to this tool is that any feedback you provide to the app is accessible by your audiologist, and they can remotely track the interactions that you have with the Signia AI Assistant. As a result, your audiology appointments have greater value and should, in theory, help you reach your optimal hearing settings quicker.

Tinnitus support & Signia Tinnitus Notch Therapy

For those with tinnitus, these hearing aids offer three distraction different strategies that are unique to Signia. Firstly, they have their static noise tinnitus therapy signals, in which you choose from five preset noise signals, with options to customise the sounds. Secondly, they have four different ocean wave therapy signals which are designed to mimic the sound of the sea. And then finally, they have the Signia Tinnitus Notch Therapy.

This method of tinnitus therapy is designed for those experiencing tonal tinnitus, which is commonly known for ringing, whistling, or buzzing within the ear. This approach is quite different from using a masking sound, and Signia claims that the concept behind Notch Therapy isn’t to drown out tinnitus like it is with masking but to teach the brain how to completely ignore it.

Signia IX features breakdown:

• 5 different technology levels across 4 models
• Rechargeable and telecoil versions available
• Dual processors for more intelligent sound awareness
• Augmented Focus for better sound contrast
• Signia Assistant Artificial Intelligence
• Tinnitus support, including Signia’s Tinnitus Notch Therapy

Widex Moment Sheer

The Widex Moment hearing aid family was initially released in 2020 and Widex have since been gradually adding to their Moment hearing aid range with hearing aids that boast unique features.

The Moment Sheer is available in three different Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) models across four technology levels; the RIC 10, which is the smallest of all the hearing aids mentioned in this review; the RIC 312 and the S RIC RD, which is their Sheer model.

The RIC 10 uses disposable size 10 batteries, and there is one drawback; this model as it doesn’t come with Bluetooth. However, if size is important for you, it’s still a worthy hearing aid to consider. The RIC 312 model uses disposable size 312 batteries, but with this model, you get the added benefit of built-in Bluetooth. Finally, the S RIC RD is rechargeable and features built-in Bluetooth.

Widex Moment Sheer hearing aid features

These small-but-mighty hearing aids are packed full of unique features and benefits, some of which we haven’t seen in other hearing aids mentioned so far in this review.

Widex PureSound

This program has been built with mild hearing loss in mind and uses Widex’s zero-delay technology which processes sounds between 8 to 20 times faster than other Widex hearing aids.

What this means for the wearer is clearer, higher quality sounds, improved speech understanding and more natural sound compared to other hearing aid technology currently available.

Intelligent AI technology

Widex has a unique way in which they utilise AI technology and understanding. With the Bluetooth compatible Moment Sheer hearing aids, using their smartphone app, you can adjust the settings to teach the hearing aids when to automatically adjust to specific preferences while in the appropriate environments.

With the aid wearer’s input, the hearing aid’s decision-making process becomes more in tune with the wearer’s preferences, giving greater listening comfort and subjective sound quality.

Fractal Zen Tone Therapy

Widex is well-known in the industry for its unique Fractal Zen Tone Therapy. This feature plays chime-like tones that can be used for relaxation and for making tinnitus less noticeable. This is individualised according to a user’s hearing loss and also takes background noise into account.

There are various tones to choose from, so the wearer can choose a tone that provides them with the best relief from tinnitus. If tinnitus is a bothersome issue, even without hearing loss, this form of therapy can make a significant difference.

Widex Moment Sheer features breakdown:

• 4 different technology levels across 3 models
• One of the smallest hearing aids on the market
• Rechargeable option available
• Intelligent AI technology using their app
• Built-in Bluetooth available
• Remote, professional hearing aid adjustments
• Fractal Zen Tone Therapy feature

Find your perfect hearing aid with Harley Street Hearing

We appreciate that understanding what you want, and more importantly, need from a hearing aid can be difficult – especially with so much choice on the market. That’s why our expert audiologists can help you choose your perfect hearing aid.

Book your hearing test and consultation where we can test your hearing capacity and create your bespoke hearing aid. If you’re interested in finding out when this and all new hearing technology is available in the UK contact us below or call 020 7486 1053.

Reviews on the best hearing aids for 2024

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing, and a 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 latest hearing aids for 2024 below.

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Are you guilty of ignoring your hearing concerns and neglecting to get your hearing tested? If so, you’re amongst a worryingly large percentage of the population who are also in this position.

In a recent survey, more than 60% of Londoners were found to have never had their hearing tested. This is despite the fact that 40% of them admitted to struggling with hearing conversations in busy areas, and an extra 42% revealed that they often have to ask people to speak louder or repeat themselves.

Some of the reasons behind not getting their hearing tested included not feeling like it was needed (39%), being too busy (16%) and because no one else they know gets their hearing checked (17%).

Despite hearing tests in London being highly accessible, these statistics raise huge concerns that more awareness and education about hearing loss needs to be raised, and we need to alleviate any worries surrounding the stigma of wearing hearing aids.

Interestingly, the study revealed that 34% of people polled could be persuaded by family and friends to get their hearing tested and almost a third (32%) said that if hearing health was to be talked about more publicly, it would encourage them to seek help.

At Harley Street Hearing, we’re passionate about ensuring that people are well-informed on how important it is to keep their hearing in check and make sure they know what treatment options are available should they need them. We have clinics in Harley Street, Golders Green and Swiss Cottage.

Why hearing tests are important

Many people aren’t aware of how hearing loss affects overall quality of life. Once your ability to hear starts to diminish, so does your confidence and ability to participate in everyday activities and conversations.

The Specsavers study revealed that 12% have avoided social gatherings due to their hearing challenges. Whilst this may not seem like a large percentage in the grand scheme of things, it’s huge. For so many people to be worried about socialising due to hearing loss is sad and unnecessary considering there is help out there.

The impact that this can have on a person’s well-being is astronomical. Avoiding social situations can lead to social isolation, and over time possible feelings of depression and anxiety. Booking in for a hearing test can help to avoid these types of situations, as with the correct diagnosis a suitable treatment can be provided to help boost the individual’s quality of life.

Hearing aids really do work. Those polled who had already received treatment for their hearing loss said they’d rediscovered some of their favourite sounds including nature sounds (23%), TV and radio (30%), and music (26%).

So, why are so many people unwilling to get their hearing tested? When individuals are reluctant to undergo a hearing test, we often find that this is rooted from a fear of the diagnosis they may receive, alongside the stigma associated with wearing hearing aids and the social perceptions that come with that.”

Stigmas around hearing loss

It’s no secret that even in 2024, many people still believe that there is a stigma attached to having hearing loss and wearing hearing aids. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Incredible advancements in hearing technology mean that hearing aids aren’t what they used to be. Where they used to be unsightly, uncomfortable and bulky, they are now sleek and stylish with thousands of different styles and colour options available.

Not only do modern hearing aids look better, but they work better too. Packed with lots of incredible features they can be connected to your phone via Bluetooth, come with rechargeable batteries and offer specific features tailored to your individual needs such as background noise reduction technology.

For those who feel extremely uncomfortable at the thought of wearing hearing aids, there are even invisible options which are so discreet nobody would even notice you’re wearing them.

When it comes to wearing hearing aids, the pros massively outweigh any cons. With the correct device adjusted to your hearing needs, they can provide a drastic improvement in your ability to hear which can have a profound impact on your overall quality of life.

Book a hearing test

If you believe you’re struggling with a decline in your hearing, we urge you to book a hearing test as soon as possible. Undiagnosed hearing loss worsens over time and the damage is irreversible. However, with early detection, you can get fitted with the perfect hearing aid to prevent any further strain or damage to the ear.

Harley Street Hearing is London’s largest independent hearing clinic. We have a team of highly experienced clinical audiologists offering in-depth and accurate hearing tests followed by impartial, tailored advice.

Fill in the form below to book an appointment or get in touch with us on 020 7486 1053 to find out more.

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Hearing is a fundamental sense that we can often take for granted but it has a substantial impact on our quality of life. If our ability to hear gets impaired this can cause huge complications which can be even more detrimental in children. If a child has hearing loss, it can affect their overall development and abilities to develop language, speech and social skills.

As a parent, it can be incredibly difficult to receive the diagnosis that your child has a hearing loss, but with correct care and treatment the impact that it has on their development and quality of life can be drastically reduced.

In this blog, we’ll provide you with all of the information you need to know about hearing loss in children and shed some light on the advancements in treatment options that are available.

Causes of hearing loss in children

Hearing loss can occur at any time during our lives and some risk factors are present from before birth, which can increase the likelihood of a child being born with hearing difficulties. However, there are also external factors that can contribute to the onset of hearing impairment.

Some of the most common factors include:

1. Genetic factors: Hereditary factors can play a huge role, and as much as 50-60% of hearing loss in babies is due to genetic causes. Children born to parents with a history of hearing impairment are at an increased risk due to gene mutations, and others may be born with hearing loss due to the presence of other conditions such as Down’s syndrome or Usher syndrome.
2. Congenital factors: Some babies are born with hearing loss due to maternal infections like rubella or cytomegalovirus, or complications during birth such as low birth weight or premature birth.
3. Ear infections: If a child has recurrent or severe ear infections this can lead to hearing loss due to damage over time. Some children may have chronic otitis media, a chronic inflammation of the middle ear and mastoid cavity which causes a perforation of the eardrum.
4. Noise exposure: Prolonged exposure to loud noises whether environmental or due to activities such as listening to music at high volumes can contribute to hearing loss in children.
5. Trauma: Any severe head injuries that required a hospital stay or traumas to the ear can put children at risk of hearing loss.

Signs of hearing loss in children

Unlike adults, children can struggle to communicate their hearing difficulties, but some telltale signs can indicate hearing loss in children depending on their age. These include:

Signs in babies

• Appears to hear some sounds but not others
• Doesn’t startle at loud noises
• Doesn’t turn to the direction of sounds after 6 months
• Doesn’t say single words such as ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ by the time they turn 1 year old
• You only get their attention when they see you, but not when you call their name

Signs in children

• Talks too loudly
• Speech is delayed or not clear
• Often grumpy, tired, frustrated or overactive
• Struggles with reading, spelling and phonics
• Has difficulty hearing in background noise
• Has the TV at a high volume
• Doesn’t respond when called to
• Often misunderstands what is being said
• Often appear inattentive or as if they’re daydreaming

Recognising these common symptoms is crucial for any parent or primary caregiver, as early detection and diagnosis are crucial to receiving the correct treatment and preventing the hearing loss from worsening.

How hearing loss affects a child’s development

Beyond affecting their ability to hear, a hearing impairment can have profound impacts on a child’s growth and development.

Hearing sounds and words is a vital aspect of helping children learn to communicate and understand. For a child with hearing loss, whether partial or complete, they can miss out on these sounds which can contribute to delays in certain aspects of their development such as:

• Speech and language development: Hearing loss can impede a child’s ability to develop language skills and can therefore create a communication barrier, affecting their social interactions and everyday life.
• Academic performance: Hearing loss may impair a child’s ability to perform to a high standard in school. They may face challenges in academic settings, particularly when it comes to following along during lessons or participating in group discussions.
• Social and emotional well-being: Communication difficulties can impact a child’s self-esteem as they recognise that they may be different from their friends and classmates. This can lead to social isolation and emotional struggles due to their inability to participate in activities or engage in conversations.
• Cognitive development: Auditory skills are crucial for performing various cognitive processes such as memory and problem-solving, so having a hearing impairment can affect their development in these areas.

What to do if your child suffers from hearing loss

If you suspect that your child may be suffering from hearing loss it’s important to act quickly as undiagnosed hearing loss can progress over time, leading to further complications.

A hearing test is the most effective way to diagnose if your child has a hearing loss and detect the type and severity of it to inform the most suitable treatment plan.

Paediatric hearing tests

Harley Street Hearing’s paediatric clinical audiologists offer private hearing tests for children aged 2 years* and above. All hearing tests are painless and offered in a comfortable setting, with the following types of tests available:

• Play audiometry (2-6 years old) – During this test, sounds will be played through headphones and the child will engage in a game each time they hear a sound. This allows us to detect if there may be a problem with sound transmission through the ear, or with the inner ear.
• Pure tone audiometry (5+ years) – Similar to an adult hearing test, the child will be presented with a range of sounds through headphones and asked to respond by pressing a button each time they hear the sound.
• Tympanometry – This is a quick and simple test that involves placing a soft rubber tip into the child’s ear and applying light pressure to test for any middle ear issues.

*Please note: Paediatric testing is carried out following referral by an ENT surgeon, no referral is required for 4 years +. 2-4 years olds can be seen at our clinic at North London Hearing in Golders Green by referral only. At our Harley Street clinics, we can see children from 4 years old. We can advise you on ENT surgeons who specialise in paediatrics.

Children’s hearing aids

Hearing aids are the most effective solution for managing hearing loss symptoms, and huge advancements in technology have led to incredible developments in children’s hearing aids.

Designed to be discreet, comfortable and highly effective, a wide range of manufacturers including Phonak, Oticon, Signia and more produce extensive ranges of child-friendly hearing aids in an array of fun colours and designs.

Children can greatly benefit from the use of hearing aids, whether their hearing loss is temporary or permanent. A hearing aid will work to amplify the everyday sounds and speech that they may be missing out on, enabling them to improve their communication skills and learning abilities.

Hearing loss will be different for each child, and a hearing aid must be tailored to their individual needs to ensure they’re getting the most suitable device.

As an independent hearing clinic, Harley Street Hearing can offer a wide selection of hearing aids from industry-leading manufacturers with many styles and colours to choose from. Through a hearing test with one of our paediatric clinical audiologists, we will be able to provide an accurate diagnosis of your child’s hearing loss and recommend the best hearing aid for them.

Assistive Listening Devices

For children with profound hearing loss, Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) may also be considered. They can be used with or without hearing aids, and work to separate sounds such as speech from background noise.

This can be particularly useful for children in classroom environments to help them better understand the lesson, by focusing in on what the teacher is saying without being distracted by conversations around them.

There are many different types of receivers and transmitters available, and different factors will be taken into account when deciding on the best ALD for your child.

Book a children’s hearing test

We understand how challenging it can be to learn that your child has a hearing loss, but our specially trained paediatric audiologists are here to support you and your child every step of the way.

We offer fast-track access to personalised hearing services for both children and teenagers, with unrivalled aftercare and guidance to support your child’s individual development. Our children’s hearing tests are available at various hearing clinics across London.

Click here to book a consultation or get in touch with us on 020 7486 1053 to find out more about how we can support you and your child.

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• What is hearing loss?
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Harley Street Hearing Partner, Matthew Allsop, not only has a passion for audiology and helping others but also a huge passion for skydiving.

He recently shared his love for the adrenaline-filled sport in this Hearing Tracker article, but he does have concerns for the safety of skydivers in the UK.

In this article, Matthew will cover the risks of hearing loss after skydiving and why hearing protection is essential yet often overlooked.

Skydiving safety measures

As you’re standing in the pen getting ready to jump, for your own safety British Skydiving enforces the following checks (which need to be signed off by another jumper before you can jump):

1. Legs straps
2. Hook knife
3. Small ring, middle ring, big ring, yellow thing
4. AAD on
5. Happy with your pull?
6. Helmet
7. Alti set to zero
8. Audible (if you’re a freefly hero)
9. Chest strap
10. Positive attitude (OK that’s only if I check you)

…and as a result, the safety record in the UK is exemplary, right?

However, there’s one critical safety check that isn’t made…

11. Hearing protection

Hearing risks associated with skydiving

Without protecting your ears, there’s the chance of developing permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, AND as a result (believe it or not): cognitive decline, social isolation, depression, and dementia.

Recently I measured up to 105 dB in the plane on the way to altitude. Answer me this, why is the ‘Action level’ for noise exposure on the ground 80dB (meaning that hearing protection should be made available), yet nothing is enforced to protect skydivers’ ears when the levels can reach more than 25dB above this?

Due to the logarithmic scale that sound is measured, for every 3dB above the ‘action levels’, you can half the duration that you can be exposed to those levels before it will cause permanent damage to your hearing. In theory, this means that after around 2 minutes in a plane on the way to altitude you will exceed your daily ‘noise allowance’ and cause irreversible damage to your hearing.

Yes, there is an argument for ‘personal responsibility’. Those of you thinking “If people want to look after their ears they can do it themselves.” Yes, I get it, but there are another 9 checks outlined above that British Skydiving makes mandatory, so why not add another? There is ZERO education on hearing loss during skydiving training, so how should skydivers know about hearing protection and the dangers of noise exposure?

Working with those with hearing loss every day, I get to see the impact that it has. Let me tell you, it’s not pretty, and one of my missions is to protect the hearing of skydivers so they don’t end up sitting in my clinic room one day.

Matthew’s #hearforyears campaign

This is the beginning of my #hearforyears campaign. I’m pushing for the flight line check to include hearing protection before a jump and I’m reaching out to anyone at British Skydiving to lead the World on this and take our safety standards to the next level.

Get custom hearing protection

If you’re a keen skydiver or participate in any sport that may cause damage to your ears, investing in hearing protection is crucial. Custom hearing protection is superior to off-the-shelf products as they are moulded to the shape of your ear, therefore offering tailored protection.

Harley Street Hearing can offer custom hearing protection for any individual need. Concerns about your hearing? Get in touch with us to book an appointment.

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• What is hearing loss?
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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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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• Best hearing aids for background noise 2023
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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 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.

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.

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.

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’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.

Enjoy this article? You might be interested in some of our others:

• Best Hearing Aids for Background Noise 2023
• Signia’s IX Hearing Aids Excel in Speech Clarity
• Phonak Lumity NEW hearing aid models added to their platform

At Harley Street Hearing we prioritise ensuring that our patients are hearing to the very best of their abilities in all environments, especially public spaces.

For hearing aid users, improving their hearing in public spaces will often begin with making adjustments to the hearing aid to improve the quality of sound, alongside utilising good communication tactics. However, we recognise that in some cases, this might not be enough and further assistance may be required.

Hearing loop systems

You may have seen the hearing loop (also known as the telecoil) symbol in many public places which instructs customers that there is an assistive listening system available. In settings such as banks, supermarkets and places of worship, you’re required to own an assistive hearing device such as a hearing aid to be able to access the hearing loop for better quality sound.

However, in theatres and other performance spaces, there are ways for non-hearing aid users to benefit from the assistive listening devices during the performance (such as devices on loan with headphones, or the ability to connect your mobile to the system to use your own headphones).

We realise that this may not be common knowledge for everyone with hearing loss, so we have put together a comprehensive theatre hearing guide to share accessibility information on all London theatres.

Assistive listening devices in London Theatres

Due to the upgrade in technology since the hearing loop was first designed, we will be using the term assistive listening devices to allow us to include a whole variety of technology (and ensure we can include any changes we might see in the future) rather than focusing on the traditional hearing loop alone.

The set-up of the assistive listening devices can be slightly different for each theatre, so in our London Theatre Hearing Guide we’ve created a space where you can search through theatres to see what options are available, and how you should access it.

We hope that this resource can be used by our patients and anyone with hearing difficulties who wishes to attend performances in London theatres. From experience, we know that these systems are not always perfectly functional; the technology is often restricted by being retrofitted to listed buildings instead of being included in the initial design stages.

By ensuring you have the easiest access to the information in one place, we hope to highlight to theatres how important it is to have fully functioning equipment and are happy to collaborate with them to ensure everyone is appropriately catered for.

The exciting development and future roll-out of Auracast LE Audio (a design of new low-energy audio connectivity), should further enhance the quality of assistive listening devices for hearing aid users attending theatre performances.

If you have any feedback or updated information based on your experience at a London theatre, please do get in touch so we can update the details accordingly. Call 020 7486 1053 or complete the form below.

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If you’d like to understand more about what a telecoil is please see this video below, as explained by Matthew Allsop, Partner at Harley Street Hearing. Matthew is the content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinion on everything to do with hearing technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly-independent resource for hearing aid customers.

Ear wax is a natural substance that is produced by our ears in order to protect them from bacteria and germs, and keep them lubricated. It usually passes through the ear canal and falls out naturally, but this isn’t always the case for those who produce an excessive amount of ear wax.

If you’ve ever experienced a build-up of ear wax, you’ll know that it can lead to discomfort and sometimes hearing problems. Ear wax removal is the best solution for safely removing this build-up and alleviating these symptoms.

In this blog, we’ll provide a detailed insight into ear wax removal procedures and explain the do’s and don’ts of removing wax from the ear.

What can cause a build-up of ear wax?

Having excessive ear wax means that your ear is producing wax faster than your body can remove it.

There can be a number of different reasons why ear wax can build up, and a majority of the time this is down to the way your ears naturally function and is therefore typically unavoidable.

Some of the most common reasons for excessive ear wax are:

• The ears naturally generate a type of earwax that is firm or dry in consistency, making it less prone to easy passage through the ear canal.
• Having narrow or hairy ear canals which prevent the wax from moving through
• Ageing, which can lead to producing drier ear wax
• Certain health conditions and infectious diseases
• Objects repeatedly placed inside the ear, such as cotton buds

It’s worth noting that in some cases, there may also be no definitive cause for ear wax build-up. However, it’s easily resolved with ear wax removal.

Effective ear wax removal methods

Ear wax removal should always be performed by a qualified and experienced clinical audiologist. At Harley Street Hearing, there are two methods of ear wax removal which we perform on the basis that they are the safest and most effective, microsuction and irrigation.

Microsuction

Suitable for a majority of patients, microsuction is the most popular method of ear wax removal. The procedure is safe, gentle and effective when performed by a qualified audiologist.

During the procedure, a high-spec examination microscope with x20 magnifcation is used to provide full visibility of the ear canal and find the blockage. The ear wax can then safely be removed with the use of a gentle suction device.

Microsuction is a painless procedure, but should always be performed by fully qualified clinical audiologists.

Ear irrigation

In some cases, ear irrigation, also known as syringing, may be the preferred method of wax removal. Similarly to microsuction, this is a gentle and painless procedure that can successfully remove any excessive ear wax.

Using a specialised ear irrigation device, a controlled low-pressure flow of warm water is inserted into the ear to gently flush the wax out.

Ear Syringing

Ear syringing is an old-fashioned method of wax removal that is no longer considered to be best practice or safe. The modern alternative is electronic irrigation which uses a controlled, and variable, stream of water to gently dislodge and flush the wax out of the ear canal.

What not to do when you have a build-up of ear wax

When considering ear wax removal, it’s important to understand that not all methods are safe or effective. Attempting to remove ear wax at home or seeking the help of anyone who isn’t qualified to perform a procedure can be dangerous and lead to a series of complications.

Here are some things that you should avoid doing to prevent potential harm to your ears:

• Avoid using cotton buds: This is one of the biggest mistakes we often see people make. Cotton buds can be used to safely clean the outside of your ears, but should never be inserted into the ear canal. This can push the wax further inside, potentially damaging the eardrum or causing impaction.
• Don’t put sharp objects into the ear canal: Similarly, avoid inserting any at-home ear wax removal devices or sharp objects into the ear. Our ears are delicate and these types of objects can scratch the ear canal or puncture the eardrum – either of these injuries can lead to infection or further blockage.
• Never use ear candles: Despite a rise in popularity, ear candling isn’t an effective ear wax removal procedure, nor is it safe. They can pose risks such as burns, ear canal obstruction and even ruptured ear drums.
• Avoid excessive cleaning: Our ears are designed to clean themselves, and overcleaning them can disrupt their self-cleaning mechanisms. This can lead to dryness, irritation and even a higher rate of wax production.

Signs you might need ear wax removal

Ear wax build-up can sometimes produce no symptoms and go unnoticed, but there are some telltale signs and symptoms that you may need ear wax removal:

• Hearing problems: A gradual decrease in your hearing abilities or the feeling of having hearing loss, especially in one ear, can be a sign of ear wax blocking the canal.
• Earache: Pain or discomfort in the ear may be a result of wax pressing against the eardrum or causing inflammation.
• Tinnitus: Persistent ringing, buzzing or whistling sounds in the ear can sometimes be linked to ear wax build-up. However, there are also many other causes of tinnitus.
• Dizziness or vertigo: Excessive ear wax pressing against the eardrum or irritating the ear canal can lead to dizziness and balance issues.
• Pressure in the ear: Feelings of increased pressure within the ear can be a symptom of accumulation of wax.

If you’re experiencing any of the above problems or similar, we would highly recommend booking an ear wax removal appointment as soon as possible to prevent the problem from worsening. But you suspect that you may have an infection, please seek the advice of your GP.

What to expect at an ear wax removal appointment

It’s not uncommon to feel uneasy or anxious about your first ear wax removal appointment, but we can assure you that there’s nothing to worry about. Here at Harley Street Hearing, we make sure that all of our patients feel completely comfortable and at ease before the procedure begins.

Here are some of the steps you can expect to take at an ear wax removal appointment:

• Visual assessment: Your audiologist will start by visually inspecting the ear canal and eardrum using an otoscope to check for an ear wax build-up and determine the extent of it.
• Discussion: We will discuss your results and find out more about any previous medical history or symptoms to better understand your condition so we can tailor your treatment accordingly.
• Procedure: The recommended procedure, microsuction or irrigation, will be explained to you and we will proceed to carefully remove the wax.
• Aftercare: We will ensure you feel comfortable and aren’t experiencing any side effects before leaving the clinic, whilst also providing guidance on post-treatment care and preventative measures to avoid future wax build-up.

Book an ear wax removal appointment

Harley Street Hearing is London’s largest independent hearing clinic, offering effective and professional ear wax removal appointments at clinics across London.

To achieve the best results apply olive oil or softening drops a few times a day prior to your appointment. This makes it much easier to remove any hardened wax.

If you wear hearing aids please bring these along to your appointment and we can check and clean them for you.

We believe it’s best to err on the side of caution when it comes to your ears, so if you feel like you’re experiencing anything unusual or uncomfortable, get in touch with us to book an appointment.

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