Category: Blog

Last week, Phonak announced their brand new Infinio range of hearing aids. This was a major announcement in the world of hearing technology and Phonak’s biggest release to date.

Whilst these hearing aids won’t be launched until the end of the month, we’ve got everything you need to know in terms of designs, technology and how they can change your listening experience forever.

Phonak Infinio models

There are four models included in the Phonak Infinio family of hearing aids:

Audéo Infinio

Their rechargeable receiver-in-canal style is essentially designed for versatility, being suitable for a range of different hearing losses and is loaded with plenty of new features which we’ll discuss later.

Virto R Infinio

The Virto R Infinio is Phonak’s first-ever rechargeable in-the-ear hearing aid. They support directional microphones and, of all the in-the-ear hearing aids out there, these win the award for the coolest looking.

Audéo Infinio CROS

Finally, Phonak have a new Audeo Infinio CROS, specifically designed for those with unilateral hearing loss who need a CROS or BiCROS setup. With this new CROS system, Phonak’s attention has been on battery life with a 30% improvement, overcoming all the issues they’ve had with their previous CROS and BiCROS systems.

Audéo Infinio Sphere

The Audéo Infinio Sphere is a whole new level of hearing aid, bringing game-changing technology to the Infinio family that we’ve never seen before. That’s not just in terms of hearing but also speech understanding, especially in the presence of background noise which we’ll cover in-depth later in this blog.

Phonak Infinio designs

Let’s take a look at the new designs of the Infinio family, and how they compare to some of Phonak’s other hearing aids.

Audéo Infinio, Audéo Infinio Sphere & CROS

These hearing aids look pretty similar to Phonak’s previous model, the Audéo Lumity, specifically the Lumity Life. However, they are a little bit shorter.

You’ll notice the microphones have dual ports for both the front and rear-facing microphones, and there’s been a slight modification to the positioning of the rocker switch, sitting a little lower than its predecessor. This rocker switch can be used for changing your programs, volume, and answering phone calls.

Finally, they are fitted with a receiver wire which feeds energy and information to the speaker which sits inside your ear.

Virto R Infinio design

The brand new design of the Virto R Infinio sits inside the ear and houses a push button, twin microphones for directionality, charging contacts, and an LED in the centre.

It has all of the same features of the receiver-in-canal Infinio, meaning that there is no compromise on rechargeability, hearing in noise, tap control features, accelerometers, etc, as there often are with in-the-ear models of hearing aids.

If you’re interested in having the custom model made, firstly, an impression needs to be taken of your ear and sent across to Phonak headquarters to be made – this process normally takes around 2 weeks.

Customisation

As with previous Phonak receiver-in-canal hearing aids, the Infinios can also be customised to your ears and hearing loss by changing the tip on the end, and Phonak have a selection of medical-grade silicon tips to choose from, ranging from open, closed, or power domes.

Not only that, but one thing that’s often overlooked by audiologists is having a custom tip made for the end of your hearing aid. This can affect the clarity and sharpness coming from your hearing aid, it can affect how full and rich it sounds, how good it sounds when streaming from your phone, a Roger On system, or your TV, and most importantly how well your hearing aids will cope when you’re in background noise.

So the misconception that hearing aid tips are just about comfort is not true at all; it affects way more than the comfort of your hearing aids.

New features of Phonak Infinio hearing aids

Biometric calibration

Phonak boasts that these new hearing aids are custom-built using biometric calibration which minimises sound leakage and maximises sound quality, and it’s pretty awesome how they do it.

This biometric calibration process uses advanced imaging technology to create a detailed map of your ear, scanning the whole impression and predicting how sound bounces around before it hits the hearing aid microphone. This technically means that two people with identical hearing test results could have completely differently built hearing aids dictated by the shapes of their outer ears.

ERA Chip

Phonak have introduced a brand new ERA chip integrated into each of these hearing aids, and this brings with it four key developments.

APD 3.0

Firstly, we’re seeing the introduction of APD 3.0 which is a brand new audiological fitting model replacing APD 2.0, and it uses up-to-date research on providing the most appropriate amount of sound needed to compensate for your specific hearing loss per frequency – without it sounding unnatural or overwhelming in any way.

Phonak research states that 93% of those who have tried this hearing aid already in their research phase prefer it to the sound of other leading competitors.

Autosense 6.0

AutoSense uses sophisticated algorithms that continually analyse the acoustic environment around you and make real-time adjustments to optimise sound clarity and comfort.

Phonak have developed this even further in their Infinio by moving on to AutoSense 6.0 which enhances speech understanding by 16% and reduces listening effort by up to 45%, dynamically reducing background noise and making it easier for you to understand conversations without straining.

This means that you can rely more on your ears and far less on focusing on visual clues and contextual information, which means that you should ultimately be more relaxed and less tired when you’re listening. This should make the sound more natural, sharper and clearer, especially in noisy environments.

Phonak Auracast Bluetooth updates

Phonak is the only manufacturer that uses classic Bluetooth, allowing you to connect to any Bluetooth device and not just smartphones. Yet they’ve found a way to make themselves even more unique with four different developments.

Firstly, Infinio Universal compatibility means it connects with all Bluetooth-enabled devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This integration supports a wide range of audio codecs ensuring high-quality streaming regardless of the source and supports dual streaming too, allowing you to connect to multiple devices simultaneously which isn’t possible from any other manufacturer.

Secondly, the Infinio also offers hands-free calling, with the new chip ensuring instant connectivity so your hearing aids are ready to use immediately after start-up. Phonak states that this is the lowest latency they’ve ever been able to provide, meaning that there’s no noticeable delay when switching between different audio sources.

Thirdly, this new chip also allows for six times the transmission power of previous models, providing a far more stable, robust, and faster connection. This increased power ensures consistent audio quality and connectivity over longer distances so that you can enjoy uninterrupted streaming and phone calls even with the device in your bag, jacket, or just not on your person.

Finally, Infinio is also Auracast-ready. Phonak have joined the likes of ReSound, Signia, and Oticon by including the latest version of LE audio into their new technology which is going to change your listening experience forever.

You’ll see an improvement in the Bluetooth capabilities with your phone when it comes to sound quality and battery consumption, and that’s whether you’re listening to phone calls, music, the radio, or podcasts all whilst keeping your phone in your pocket, which will give you a truly hands-free experience.

Where this technology will really take off is in any public venue that has a built-in Auracast transmitter. This new form of transmitter is specifically designed to work with newer LE audio technology and will send any signal to your hearing aids such as if you walk into a football stadium and want to hear the commentary, or when you walk into a train station and want to hear the train announcements, or even if you head to a museum tour and you want to hear the tour guide with perfect clarity and distinction.

Something worth noting, however, is that whilst this is built into the Infinio, it hasn’t yet been activated and that’s the same with any hearing aid manufacturer. It will be done in the future with a simple and free firmware update.

Build Quality Updates

Phonak have made what was their previous Life model their minimum standard now when it comes to robustness and water protection, which at the moment is only rivalled by Starkey with their Starkey Genesis AI hearing aids.

They have done this by adding microphone protection, sealing the seams with silicone, and coating the components with a Parylene coating. Then, they brutally tested this technology in the lab to ensure it does exactly what they’ve promised.

Everything you need to know about Audéo Infinio Sphere

As we mentioned earlier, the Audéo Infinio Sphere is undoubtedly the highlight of this announcement, so it’s worthy of its own section. This is the exciting bit, so let’s dive into what makes Audéo Infinio Sphere a game-changing hearing aid.

Phonak’s new AI

Phonak has had an offline form of AI built into their hearing aids in the form of machine learning. This has essentially been used to help the hearing aids understand the type of acoustic environment that you’re in and then adjust themselves accordingly.

However, they’ve now followed the likes of Oticon and Starkey and introduced a deep neural network, but they’ve taken it one step further. The Infinio Sphere is the world’s first hearing aid to be powered by a dedicated real-time AI chip for speech-from-noise separation, with the main focus of these hearing aids being a better understanding of speech in the presence of background noise.

Deep Neural Network

So, what does this deep neural network mean? Phonak boasts there are 4.5 million neural connections, and they’re trained with over 22 million sound samples so this Deep Sonic chip achieves an unparalleled improvement in signal-to-noise ratio by up to 10 dB.

Now, whilst 10 dB doesn’t sound like a huge number in relative terms, it is gigantic and essentially means that you’re three times more likely to be able to understand speech when you’re in noise compared to any other hearing aid manufacturer that’s out there.

Phonak’s Audiological Research Centre conducted comprehensive studies highlighting their effectiveness on speech clarity and in complex listening situations such as background noise. They reproduced a 36.8% increase in speech understanding and a significant reduction in listening effort.

On top of that, their clinical trials have also shown that users with moderate to severe hearing loss experienced 21% less fatigue and a 45% reduction in listening effort, and those that have also used a Roger On, these benefits are pronounced even further, enhancing speech understanding by 61%.

Of course, these are all brand-new releases so we’ll await feedback from our patients here at Harley Street Hearing before being able to provide an in-depth review.

If you’re interested in learning more about the new Phonak Infinio range, get in touch with us.

Reviewing Phonak’s Audéo Infinio, Virto Infinio R & Phonak Audéo Infino CROS Features

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing and the content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinions on all things to do with hearing health and hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can watch his video on the Phonak Infinio range of hearing aids below.

Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio Feature Review: The Best Hearing Aid of 2024!

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

• Phonak releases brand new Infinio hearing aids
• Best hearing aids available in the UK for 2024
• Best Bluetooth hearing aids in 2024

Hearing aid manufacturer, Phonak, has today (6th August 2024) released details of a brand new family of hearing aids – Phonak Infinio.

This marks Phonak’s biggest release to date, including a family of three hearing aids on their new Infinio platform and their new groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence hearing aid, Phonak Audéo Sphere™ Infinio.

What is Phonak’s Infinio platform?

Before taking a look at the hearing aids themselves, let’s take a look at the power behind this world-class technology.

This technology is powered by the new ultra-responsive Phonak ERA™ chip which revolutionises the standards for sound quality, power management, and connectivity to enhance listening experience.

The technology includes:

• Sound quality improvements due to the AI in AutoSense OS™ 6.0 automatic operating system and a newly optimised fitting algorithm. Phonak claims the following:
  • 93% user preference from the first fit compared to leading competitors
  • 45% reduction in listening effort
  • 21% reduction in fatigue
  • 61% improvement in speech understanding
• Industry-leading Bluetooth connectivity supports all Bluetooth-compatible devices, enabling uninterrupted hands-free calls and streaming across twice the distance.
• Enhanced durability: Built to withstand everyday challenges

Phonak Infinio hearing aid range

This exciting new technology from Phonak can be found in four of their brand-new releases.

Audéo R Infinio

Rechargeable Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) style hearing aid, designed for versatility and a range of different hearing losses.

Virto R Infinio

Phonak’s first-ever rechargeable In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aid, designed to support directional microphones to deliver exceptional sound quality and industry-leading connectivity.

Audéo Infinio CROS R

Designed for those with unilateral hearing loss who need a CROS or BiCROS setup, the Audéo Infinio CROS R has a much-improved battery life and works in combination with the Phonak Audéo.

Audéo Sphere Infinio

Undoubtedly the most exciting part of Phonak’s new releases is the announcement of their brand new Audéo Sphere Infinio hearing aid.

This is a Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aid with a unique dual-chip technology, ERA and DEEPSONIC, the world’s first hearing aid to be powered by a dedicated real-time AI chip for speech separation. The main focus of this is for a better understanding of speech in background noise, using machine learning to clearly separate the two and help users understand speech in noisy environments.

Find out more about the Audéo Sphere Infinio hearing aid below.

Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio Feature Review: The Best Hearing Aid of 2024!

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing and the content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinions on all things to do with hearing health and hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can watch his video on the Audéo Sphere Infinio below.

Where to get Phonak Infinio hearing aids

Phonak’s latest releases will be available at Harley Street Hearing soon. Get in touch with us to find out more or book an appointment.

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

• Oticon Intent hearing aids review: The pros & cons
• Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids in 2024
• Best hearing aids available in the UK for 2024

The Oticon Intent is the newest hearing aid release from Oticon, and there are some solid reasons why you should buy it, but there are also an equal number of reasons why you shouldn’t.

It’s been three months since the release of the Oticon Intent, so not only do I have plenty of feedback from the patients that I’ve fitted with these hearing aids, but I’ve also been tirelessly scrolling through online forums such as Reddit, Hearing Tracker, and Facebook to bring together all of your experiences in one place.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the pros, the cons, and the unanswered questions, along with whether I feel they’re actually an improvement over and above the Oticon Real (Oticon’s previous hearing aid).

Sound quality

Overall, there is no question that Oticon’s achievement with this hearing aid is excellent. The clarity is the best that we’ve seen from Oticon to date, with up to 24 fitting bands to ensure flexibility for your audiologist when programming your hearing aids during real ear measurements. Oticon has also introduced an entirely new chip in this line of hearing aids called Sirius, with Oticon claiming that this means a 12 dB noise suppression, resulting in 35% more access to speech cues compared to the Oticon Real, up to 10% better sound quality, 13% more nuance, and 10% higher listening comfort.

We can put these improvements down to the introduction of their MoreSound Intelligence 3.0, which is a cluster of features aimed at sound quality. For example, their DNN 2.0, which is how Oticon has used offline artificial intelligence to train their hearing aids to adjust themselves to your specific environment. The Oticon Real had DNN version one, which was trained using 12 million different sound scenes, and the Intents use version two, which has had an uplift in the number of sound scenes that they’ve used to train this system, although the number hasn’t been specified.

Working with the DNN 2.0 is Oticon’s brand-new 4D sensor technology. Whilst Oticon are claiming that the Intents are the world’s first hearing aids with this feature, in reality, the likes of Phonak, Signia, Starkey, and now ReSound have all had motion sensors in their hearing aids, some of them being in there for a couple of generations.

The purpose of motion sensors in hearing aids is to measure your body and your head movement and direct the microphones accordingly, and patients are reporting that it works well. On the other hand, some are saying that to feel the benefit, it does take a little bit of exaggeration of head movements for those microphones to shift in the right direction.

As far as adaptability goes, Oticon are known for their seamless transition between quiet and noisy settings underneath their general setting, which is Oticon’s automatic program. This does require you to sit with your audiologist and have them tailored to you based on your specific needs. They don’t work like this out of the box, and a good audiologist will ask you the right questions to be able to program them to you the most effectively. What I will add to this though is that some would argue that the Phonak Lumity 90 allows for a greater degree of fine-tuning, and they’re in a similar price bracket, but I don’t personally think that this should be a dealbreaker if you’re looking into the Oticon Intents.

As far as clarity goes, in most cases, the feedback that I’m receiving from patients is an improvement in clarity, that’s both in quiet and noisy environments, but this isn’t with everybody, and some are reporting that there isn’t a significant enough of a change to warrant the extra expenditure.

Enhanced connectivity

For those who have had Oticon hearing aids in the past, you’ll know that their Bluetooth connectivity hasn’t been a strength. In fact, it’s safe to say that it’s been one of their biggest weaknesses.

So, the big question with regard to their Intents is what have they done to fix this? Low Energy Audio, i.e. or aka LE Audio. LE Audio is a low-energy form of Bluetooth designed specifically for streaming sound, and in summary, should technically result in less battery consumption and a higher quality of streaming from your phone. It isn’t just limited to phone streaming though, and when this tech is finally rolled out, transmitters will be installed in concert halls, at conferences, train stations, and lecture theatres, and the sound of the speaker will be sent directly to both of your hearing aids.

Oticon aren’t alone with this development, ReSound, Signia, and Jabra are all LE-ready, and over the next few years, we should see Auracast broadcasted audio replace the century-old loop systems built into public venues, which will allow for multiple streaming to hearing aid users who can simultaneously connect to audio in these public spaces. So, what’s the user feedback on Oticon’s new connectivity setup? Well, it’s mixed, so I’ll cover connectivity under both the pros and cons.

The pros

As far as the pros go, there is no question that there are fewer people having issues with their connectivity. Fewer people, but not all.

Patients are reporting that the Bluetooth range is greater than with their previous tech, but bear this in mind: you won’t all benefit from LE Audio just yet, as unless your phone is either the Google Pixel 7 or 8, the Samsung Galaxy S23, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, or Galaxy Z Flip 4, you won’t get the full audio benefit.

The cons

The Bluetooth connection on the Intents still isn’t as stable as it should be, and my big question to Oticon is, if other hearing aid manufacturers can get it right, why can’t you?

Building on that, it is pretty key for us to all have multiple tech devices in our lives nowadays, such as using a laptop, an iPad, or a smartphone. This is something else that Oticon still haven’t quite got right, the seamless connection between different devices.

At the moment, it’s all too clunky, and it doesn’t work well, and the only way that I’ve found to make it work seamlessly between devices is to turn the Bluetooth off on one, and then turn it on on the other, and vice versa when you want to switch over. Now, of course, this isn’t particularly convenient.

New controls

Oticon have developed their controls, which is another first for Oticon. So, one of the positive byproducts of having motion sensors built into hearing aids is that they can also be used to control your hearing aids. Instead of having to fiddle around and press the button on the back of them or to get your phone out, you can now utilise a tap control feature and pick up phone calls by simply double-tapping your ear, and you can do the same to hang up too.

The only slightly disappointing thing about this new feature is that Oticon have dipped their toe in the water, and I would have loved to have seen them fully submerged. If I compare the tap control feature to the likes of the Phonak Lumity family of hearing aids, theirs allows you to do a lot more. You can both start or stop phone calls, you can start or stop music too, and you can activate Siri or Google Assistant as well.

Extended battery life

Oticon’s new lithium-ion batteries require a 2-hour charge rather than the 3-hour charge from the Oticon Reals, and for that, you’ll get 20 hours of life from them, so ultimately they should last you for a full waking day. If, however, you need a boost for some reason, a 30-minute turbo charge will give you 8 hours of life.

However, the likes of Signia and Starkey will now run for 30-plus hours per charge, and this is mainly because just like with all lithium-ion batteries over some time the health of them begins to decline. So, to combat this, some hearing aid manufacturers are building in this extra capacity as a buffer so that in a year’s time when this battery life starts to deplete, they should still last you for a full waking day.

Oticon have thought about this in a slightly different way, and they’re hoping or claiming that with their improvement in battery technology, it should last for 20 hours now and continue to do so for more than 4 to 5 years. Of course, this isn’t something that I’ve been able to test, however, I’ve had no reports of any battery-related issues for those that I’ve fitted with the Oticon Intents so far.

Adaptability and comfort

The final positive before we come into the negatives is how versatile the Oticon Intents are when it comes to their suitability. They could be adapted to fit mild, moderate, severe, or profound hearing loss, and this can be done in three different ways. Firstly, by changing the power of the receiver – the fitting ranges for each receiver include a 60, 85, 100, or 105 dB power level. So, if your hearing loss falls within the shaded area, then the speaker is technically the most appropriate for your degree of hearing loss.

The second physical adjustment comes down to the tip on the end of your receiver. The way that a hearing aid is coupled to your ear can completely transform the way that that hearing aid will sound, and it could change that in a few different ways – from how much clarity it can provide, to how well you cope with background noise, and even how decent the streaming of music or phone call sounds when they’re coming from your phone. Oticon, similar to other hearing aid manufacturers, give you the choice between open domes, closed-vented domes, power domes, and custom moulds, so you have to make sure that you ask your audiologist which is the most appropriate for you.

Another development relates to the receivers themselves, which are a new self-calibrating design which Oticon are boasting has an accuracy of plus one or minus one dB, and this should result in 57% more accurate gain.

The new design of these wires is a lot better than their previous design. They have a different kink to those from the Oticon Reals, which means that they sit better in the valley over the tragus for some hearing aid users, and this can result in a far neater fit. The same goes for their 105 dB flex mould update, which used to sit quite proudly from the ear canal, and now they’re far neater and on par with the cosmetics that we see from other hearing aid manufacturers.

The negatives

This wouldn’t be a fair review if I didn’t also discuss the key areas that I think let the Oticon Intent down, so let’s take a look at some of the not-so-good features.

Batteries

In my opinion, there are two weaknesses around batteries that patients have been complaining about, and the same kind of complaints seem to have come up online as well.

Oticon have made the same mistake that Phonak did with their Lumity family of hearing aids a couple of years back and solely released it as a rechargeable hearing aid. Phonak realised the error of their ways and followed up with a disposable battery version, and I’m sure Oticon will do the same at some point in the near future. But for now, if you want an Oticon Intent, you don’t have the option of a disposable battery.

The other backward step in these hearing aids is that with the Oticon Real, it was possible to open up the battery door and switch out those lithium-ion batteries if there was an issue, rather than having to send the whole hearing aid back to Oticon. Now, with a turnaround time of up to two weeks for a repair, that’s a long time to be without your hearing aid, and previously Oticon was the only manufacturer that gave us the ability to be able to change those batteries on-site, and sadly, they’ve now taken it away.

Controls

This new tap control feature is a great addition, and although it isn’t as versatile as other hearing aid manufacturers, Oticon have caught up with the competition. The downside is that this has come at a cost, and the Oticon Reals had a rocker switch in the past, which were essentially two buttons on the back of each of your hearing aids, which were super easy to find and could be programmed with multiple different functions, such as volume control, a program button, or a mute function, etc.

Oticon have gone back to their old design from a few generations ago with the Open family of hearing aids that had a single push button. In my opinion, there are far more hearing aid users using program buttons than tap control features, and I think it’s a bit of an error to have dropped that rocker switch.

Streaming quality

As I’ve previously mentioned with LE Audio, we’re supposed to see a significant improvement in the sound quality of streaming if you’ve got one of those phones that I listed earlier. The thing is, I haven’t had anybody report an improvement, with or without any of those new phones.
Another thing to note is that the sound quality of streaming has been addressed with other hearing aid manufacturers, with the hearing aid fitting software allowing audiologists to go in and fine-tune the equaliser based on your individual feedback.

Oticon don’t have this option, and I would have thought that an update in their technology from a Bluetooth point of view would have been the perfect opportunity to do so. Instead, it’s possible to make the sound louder or softer and fuller or brighter.

Smart charger

It took about three years from when Oticon released their rechargeable hearing aids to when they brought out their original smart charger, which is a hearing aid charger that stores three days’ worth of battery life so that you can go away for a long weekend and not have to worry about having access to power.

Because Oticon don’t have a disposable battery version, I thought they would have ensured that this new release would cater to as many people as possible, especially those that travel a lot and may not want rechargeable hearing aids anyway. So if you’re keen on charging on the go, for now, you’re better sticking with older versions of Oticon technology or looking to one of the other hearing aid manufacturers that have all the tech to fulfil your needs.

It’s unclear as to whether Oticon intends to release a smart charger or a battery version of the Oticon Intent anytime soon, but I’m sure with your feedback and that of any audiologists out there, they’ll look at doing so, and I hope it’s in the near future.

Oticon Intent Hearing Aid Review: 5 Reasons to Buy it and 5 Reasons to Not!

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing and the content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinions on all things to do with hearing health and hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can watch his video on the Oticon Intent below.

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

• Why Phonak Lyric is the Best Invisible Hearing Aid of 2024
• Best Bluetooth hearing aids in 2024
• How do hearing aids work?

Harley Street Hearing is incredibly proud to announce that we are extending our services to two new hospitals in London.

Along with four full-service clinics in London, we provide audiology services in London’s most prestigious hospitals and medical centres. Recently, we have expanded these services to both Nuffield Health’s Highgate Hospital and The Phoenix Hospital Group’s One Hatfield Hospital.

This is alongside our existing support of Phoenix Hospital Group Harley Street, HCA Healthcare UK Outpatients & Diagnostics Centre in The Shard & Golders Green, and The Wellington Hospital.

Supporting ENT consultants

Our role within all hospitals mentioned is to provide on-demand diagnostic ENT support. If you would like to book an appointment to see an ENT consultant, please contact the hospitals directly – all contact details can be found on our clinic locations page.

If you are a medical professional and would like to refer a patient find out more here.

Book an appointment at Harley Street Hearing

We accept self referrals so for any of our audiology services such as hearing tests, ear wax removal and hearing aid consultations, please book an appointment at one of our clinics by calling 020 7486 1053 or filling out the contact form on this page.

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

• Can an ear infection lead to hearing loss?
• Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids in 2024
• Why Phonak Lyric is the best invisible hearing aid of 2024

Ear infections are a common issue that mostly affects children, but this doesn’t mean that adults are immune from them. In fact, adult ear infections may be more serious and pose greater health complications.

One of the common complications associated with ear infections is hearing loss. Whilst this isn’t something that necessarily will happen, it’s important to understand the connection between the two to effectively manage any ear infection-induced hearing loss and maintain good hearing health.

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about ear infections and hearing loss in both children and adults.

Do ear infections cause hearing loss?

In short: yes, ear infections can cause hearing loss. However, there are a few different things that can contribute to this including the type of ear infection and how serious it is.

Understanding the types of ear infections

The ear is made up of three parts – the external (outer ear), (middle ear), and internal (inner ear). Any part of the ear is susceptible to infection and each will pose their own symptoms and risk level of developing hearing loss as a consequence.

Outer ear infections and hearing loss

An outer ear infection (otitis externa) affects the canal portion of the outer ear and is usually caused by bacteria. It’s estimated that around 1 in 10 people will be affected by it at some point in their lives

It’s often referred to as swimmer’s ear as one of the main causes is the remnants of water in your ear which creates a moist environment for bacteria to grow. However, outer ear infections can also be caused by:

• Damage to the ear canal by using objects such as a cotton swab or finger to remove ear wax
• Excessive ear cleaning which results in not having enough ear wax to protect the lining of the canal
• Improperly fitting or unclean hearing aids or earplugs
• Hot and humid climates
• Allergies or sensitivities to certain products like hair care
• Chronic skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis

Outer ear infections will typically only affect one ear and can result in some hearing loss in this ear. However, this is usually temporary and will likely resolve once the ear infection has cleared.

Middle ear infections and hearing loss

An infection in the middle ear (otitis media) is most common in young children and can often be a result of something else such as a cold, throat infection or allergies.

Within the ear, we have Eustachian tubes which are thin tubes that connect the middle ear to the back of the throat. If an infection causes these tubes to swell, this blocks mucus from draining into the throat which leads to fluid being trapped behind the eardrum. This can then create a breeding ground for viruses or bacteria to grow.

Most hearing loss associated with middle ear infections is temporary and hearing will typically return to normal once the fluid drains and the infection clears. However, there may be some severe cases that can lead to permanent hearing loss if untreated.

Inner ear infections and hearing loss

Infections in the inner ear are less common but can have more serious consequences impacting hearing and balance, potentially leading to sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Inner ear infections can take two different forms:

• Labyrinthitis: This is an infection of the labyrinth, a complex system in the inner ear responsible for hearing and balance. Viral infections that cause colds, flu, and respiratory infections are typically the most common causes as they can spread to the inner ear. However, it can also be caused by a bacterial infection.
• Vestibular neuritis: This is an infection of the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain. This can cause prolonged vertigo but unlike labyrinthitis, is unlikely to cause hearing loss.

Typically, labyrinthitis will clear up in around 2-4 weeks but in severe cases, it may cause damage to the inner ear and blood vessels. This may cause temporary or permanent sensorineural hearing loss, depending on the severity of the infection and the extent of damage to the inner ear structures.

Hearing loss caused by labyrinthitis is more likely to be permanent if the infection is bacterial or if treatment is delayed. In these cases, the use of hearing aids may be required. However, it’s always recommended to seek treatment from your GP for inner ear infections as soon as possible to prevent reaching this stage.

Ear infections and hearing loss in adults vs children

As we mentioned earlier, ear infections are more common in children but adults can develop them, too.

Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections due to two key reasons:

• Children’s eustachian tubes are smaller, less developed and more horizontal than those in adults. This means they’re less effective at draining fluid, making them more susceptible to infection.
• Children’s immune systems are also still developing, making them more vulnerable to catching infections with more difficulty fighting them off.

As we get older, our eustachian tubes start to angle which helps to improve fluid control, and our immune systems develop over time making it easier to fight off potential infections.

If you develop an ear infection as an adult, you’ll likely be able to pinpoint some of the most common symptoms such as earache, muffled hearing, or a feeling of fullness in the ear. However, some signs to look out for that may indicate an ear infection in young children include:

• Poor sleep
• Tugging at or rubbing the ear
• Irritability or restlessness
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Crying when lying down

How long will hearing loss last after an ear infection?

Most ear infections get better on their own within 3 to 5 days and do not need any specific treatment, but a course of antibiotics may be prescribed by your GP if symptoms don’t subside during this time.

Usually, when the ear infection starts to clear your hearing will also return to normal but this could take a few weeks or more in certain cases. Post ear infection hearing loss is almost always temporary, but severe cases may lead to a perforated eardrum which can result in permanent loss of hearing if this perforation does not heal.

If you are concerned about your own or your child’s hearing following an ear infection, always visit an audiologist for a thorough assessment and advice on the best course of action to prevent any further damage.

Managing post ear infection hearing loss

Following an ear infection with associated hearing loss, it’s highly recommended to make an appointment with your audiologist to monitor your hearing and ensure that any residual issues are addressed.

You may have a build up of ear wax which can be removed quickly and safely by microsuction.

A hearing test can provide an in-depth assessment of your hearing abilities and identify any potential problems. If you are found to have permanent hearing loss as a result of an ear infection, there are ways that this can be managed.

Harley Street Hearing offers private hearing tests and hearing tests for children in London. Our team of clinical audiologists can accurately diagnose any hearing issues and advise on a suitable treatment plan.

Hearing aids are the most effective solution for almost all cases of hearing loss, helping to restore some of your hearing ability. We work with all leading hearing aid manufacturers and can offer an extensive range of modern, discreet and stylish hearing aids tailored to your individual needs.

If an ear infection has also affected your balance, vestibular diagnostics could help. Our team of specialised clinicians offer vestibular assessments and work alongside specialist ENT consultants who provide diagnosis and treatment plans.

If you feel like you’re experiencing hearing loss, whether as a result of an ear infection or not, get in touch with us to book an appointment.

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

• How do hearing aids work?
• What is hearing loss?
• Best hearing aids available in the UK for 2024

Recently, Phonak revealed their tech updates for 2024 and within that, they announced something quite unexpected.

I knew that we were seeing an update to their Receiver-in-Canal and Behind-the-Ear hearing aids with the introduction of the Audéo Lumity 312, the Naída Lumity SP, the Sky Lumity M, plus the Sky Lumity SP, but what I wasn’t aware of was this: Phonak are also updating their Lyric Hearing Aid, which for some reason has gone under the radar.

Phonak’s Lyric is the world’s only truly invisible hearing aid, and there are genuinely no other hearing aids that rival it in terms of discretion, but that discretion does come at a cost.

In this blog, I’ll cover all the reasons that my patients love this hearing aid, including if it’s suitable for you and all the reasons that sometimes people don’t get along with it.

What is unique about the Phonak Lyric Hearing Aid?

The Phonak Lyric is in a category of hearing aid in itself as it’s the world’s only extended-wear hearing aid. Since its launch in 2007, there have been several iterations, all with very minor changes – some physical and some acoustic.

Firstly, we saw Lyric 1, which was revolutionary as the world of audiology hadn’t seen anything like it before. However, sadly, it only fitted in around 50% of the ears that it was tried in. In 2012, the Lyric went through a complete overhaul with its components being miniaturised, which positively increased the fit rate to around 75%.

Then in 2017, Phonak introduced Lyric 3 with adjustments to the compression ratios, a new lower power circuit, and a broader range of sizes ranging from XXS to XXL, further improving comfort and feedback issues. Finally, in 2020, Phonak released Lyric 4 with a redesign of the speaker protection system to improve their longevity and a reduction in the size of the module to improve comfort

What are the Phonak Lyric 2024 updates?

Lyric 4 is officially having an update in the summer of 2024, depending on where you are in the world.

Due to the nature of Lyric and how it works from a subscription point of view, if you’re already a Lyric user, you’ll be upgraded to your next version of Lyric at your next insertion at no extra cost. This is due to their brand-new membrane chip.

Key benefits of Lyric

There are five reasons why I’m a huge fan of Lyric:

1. Discretion:

Phonak Lyric is inserted into your ear canal using a microscope and a Phonak specialist insertion tool. Before this, two measurements need to be taken by a Lyric specialist. Firstly, the depth of your ear canal is measured using a silicone tool, which tells us how far down we need to insert your Lyric. The optimum depth is around 4mm from your eardrum, so it’s incredibly close to your eardrum. The second measurement looks at the width of your ear canal, dictating which of the seven Lyric sizes is the most appropriate for you and your ears.

If it’s too big, it may be uncomfortable, and if it’s too small, it may migrate, or you may hear feedback or whistling in your ears. In practice, we tend to do this with a dummy Lyric, starting off with the smallest size and then gradually increasing the size until we find the right fit for you. Once I find the correct depth and size of Lyric for you, I would then insert a live programmed device, which has been set up based on your hearing test results and the difficulties that you face on a daily basis. It sits 4mm from your eardrum, which makes it the first reason that Lyric is a great product—its discretion, as it really is the only hearing aid out there that’s truly invisible once inserted.

2. Convenience:

No matter the style of hearing aid you’ve been looking at, there is always some degree of maintenance needed to keep it working. However, Lyric has no batteries or filters to change, and the battery lasts a lengthy 2-3 months.

In that time, there’s nothing you need to do. It can be worn 24/7 with no maintenance required aside from visiting your audiologist to have the old one removed and the new one inserted every couple of months.

3. Comfort:

You may think having something sitting in your ear canal from your eardrum 24/7 would be uncomfortable, but it’s quite the opposite. After a week or so of wearing Lyric, the sensation of it being in your ear completely disappears.

Despite all the technology it packs in it’s small, light and incredibly comfortable. Building on that, if you’re doing any strenuous activities which may cause a moisture buildup, such as working out or doing any gardening, or if you’re travelling on a plane and experiencing a pressure equalisation, the foam seals allow for moisture and air to travel from within your ear canal to the outside world using Phonak’s open-cell technology.

It’s also coated with silicone which gives it some degree of resilience.

4. Sound quality:

These hearing aids are digitally programmable analogue devices, which has its pros and cons.

Being analogue means that it produces a very clean and natural sound with very little processing going on, meaning no digital manipulation of the sound whatsoever. As a result, I have a huge number of musicians wearing Lyric over and above any other digital hearing aid technology.

However, this also means that it doesn’t have the same degree of technology as a digital set of hearing aids, so you may be missing out on features such as Bluetooth, an active feedback manager, or even noise reduction settings. If your degree of hearing loss warrants any more specialist features, then Lyric may not be the right solution for you.

The only way to find out is to find an audiologist who provides Lyric, as it’s a specialist service. Harley Street Hearing is the original UK Lyric clinic and the number 1 Lyric clinic in Europe with locations across London and Greater Manchester. To find out more or book an appointment, get in touch with us.

5: Tinnitus management

Reason number five is that if you’re like me and you’re one of the 15% of the population that suffers from tinnitus, then you’ll agree with me when I say that the time I notice my tinnitus the most is that very moment that I climb into bed and the noise of the world has stopped, and there’s pure silence.

However, that’s not because all I can hear is this ringing. It just so happens that this is the moment that most hearing aid users will remove their hearing aids from their ears, meaning that the tinnitus masking which happens when you’re wearing your hearing aids will obviously stop.

Suitability for Phonak Lyric

As the Lyric is worn 24/7, you’ll spend no time without it in your ears, and it should continually mask your tinnitus 24 hours a day. Lyric is suitable for those with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss, and if your hearing loss falls within this shaded area, then it’s technically suitable for you.

When Phonak Lyric isn’t suitable

It’s also worth noting that there are a few factors that require medical approval before Lyric can be fitted, such as:

• If you suffer from uncontrolled diabetes,
• If you’re on blood-thinning medication
• If you have some form of immunodeficiency
• If you have any bleeding disorders
• If you have an implantable medical device
• If you’re under the age of 21

On top of that, there are also some other contraindications to wearing Lyric. For example if you’ve had any head or neck radiation therapy, or if you’ve got any active middle ear issues such as tympanic membrane perforations, cholesteatoma, or grommets.

Lifestyle considerations

Your lifestyle is also something to bear in mind when considering Lyric, as yes, it’s designed as a fit-and-forget hearing aid. However, there are a few occasions when you don’t want to be wearing it. If you regularly participate in these activities, Lyric might not be suitable for you.

Firstly, swimming. They’re treated to have some degree of water resistance; however, if you get them wet, they’re going to break. Some of my patients have custom-made earplugs so that they have a bit more freedom when they’re in the shower, when they bathe, or when they go swimming, but you still have to be careful.

If you’re a daily swimmer, I personally wouldn’t recommend that you wear Lyric due to the potential of a pressure buildup between Lyric and your eardrum. Phonak also recommends removing Lyric if you’re going scuba diving or skydiving to avoid barotrauma.

If you’re having an X-ray or a CT scan, your Lyric can technically stay in. However, it’s still worth mentioning it to the doctor, and if you have an MRI scan, it definitely needs to be removed due to its metal content.

Adjusting the Lyric

Aside from this hearing aid being programmed by your audiologist, it is also possible to change the mode that it’s in using the SoundLink, which comes with your Lyric. This allows you to change the volume, turn the Lyric on and off, or even enable the sleep mode, which is essentially an acoustic transparency mode somewhere between the hearing aid being switched off fully and being switched on.

Looking for the right hearing aid for you can be an absolute minefield, and there are tons of hearing aids out there claiming to be invisible. However, in my opinion, the Phonak Lyric is the only one that is truly invisible.

If you’re interested in seeing if the Phonak Lyric is suitable for you, get in touch with us for a risk-free Lyric hearing consultation and a no-obligation 30-day trial.

Phonak Lyric: 5 Reasons it’s the BEST Invisible Hearing Aid of 2024

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing and the content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinions on all things to do with hearing health and hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can watch his video on the Phonak Lyric below.

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

• Best Bluetooth hearing aids in 2024
• Best hearing aids available in the UK for 2024
• How do hearing aids work?

When it comes to choosing a hearing aid, you’ll find that Bluetooth is now pretty much an industry standard across most modern hearing aids.

The integration of Bluetooth technology in hearing aids gives you the ability to stream phone calls, music, radio or podcasts directly to both of your hearing aids. On top of that, every Bluetooth-enabled hearing aid has its own app, which allows you to manually adjust the settings of your hearing aid straight from your device.

However, it’s important to note that there are also different types of Bluetooth connectivity, which we’ll cover in this blog. Each type of Bluetooth has its own pros and cons based on the different protocols that are used, and each hearing aid has its own level of Bluetooth compatibility.

Let’s take a look at some of the best Bluetooth-compatible hearing aid models on the market for 2024.

Hearing aids with classic Bluetooth

Classic Bluetooth is what we would consider the more traditional platform that we all know and use across our devices. For the best hearing aid with classic Bluetooth, we’re looking at the Phonak Lumity range of hearing aids.

One of the key advantages of classic Bluetooth is that it can connect to any phone with Bluetooth streaming capabilities. This means it doesn’t matter if you’ve got an old or new smartphone or otherwise, or even a landline phone with a built-in Bluetooth function, you’ll already be set up and ready to go with Phonak Lumity.

Hearing aids with LE Audio

The next group of hearing aids use something called LE Audio. This is a low-energy form of Bluetooth and was the original way that hearing aids connected to the iPhone back in 2010.

Best hearing aids with LE Audio integrated:

• ReSound Nexia
• Oticon Real
• Signia IX
• Widex Moment
• Starkey Genesis AI

LE Audio works well, but there are some limitations. For example, there is no bidirectional Bluetooth for Android devices meaning that with iPhones, you can have completely hands-free phone calls. There are also some limitations on which phones will allow for LE Audio Bluetooth streaming.

Hearing aids with Auracast ready LE Audio

As we get more advanced with Bluetooth connectivity, this next group of hearing aids have the newest version of LE Audio which makes them Auracast-ready:

• ReSound Nexia
• Oticon Real
• Signia IX

Auracast is the future of connectivity which, once fully rolled out, will allow public venues to stream any sound with a higher quality and lower battery consumption than we’ve seen from any streaming technology in the past, directly to both of your hearing aids.

In the next few years, we’re likely to see Auracast broadcasted audio replacing the century-old hearing loop systems built into public venues which will allow for multiple hearing aid users to simultaneously connect to audio when they’re in public spaces.

What are the downsides of this? It’s only going to be as good as how many public venues have it installed, but at the moment it’s still in the development stage. Regardless, it’s great to see hearing aid manufacturers getting ready for the rollout of this Auracast transmission.

Read more: What is Auracast? The Bluetooth technology revolutionising audio

Hearing aids with no Bluetooth connectivity

We mentioned at the start of this blog that most modern hearing aids have Bluetooth connectivity, but not all of them. The Widex Moment RIC 10 doesn’t have access to either Bluetooth or a telecoil feature.

There are plenty of options when it comes to connectivity so it’s hard to imagine a world without Bluetooth being built into hearing aids, but this is something to be aware of when choosing the right hearing aid for you.

Which Bluetooth hearing aid is best for you?

This may or may not come as a surprise, but the phone you have can directly impact the features you’ll get from your hearing aid, with iPhones being the most versatile.

As you’re doing your research, each hearing aid manufacturer has a compatibility list on their website that details which phones are compatible with their particular hearing aid. So, it’s worth checking that out or speaking to your audiologist to ensure you’ve got access to all of those features before choosing any particular hearing aid.

Of course, the best way to determine the right hearing aid for you is by working directly with an audiologist who can accurately diagnose your hearing loss and make recommendations accordingly.

Harley Street Hearing is London’s largest independent hearing clinic, with four locations across London. Our team of clinical audiologists can advise on the best hearing aid for you and as a completely independent audiology company, we can offer a wide range of hearing aids from all major UK manufacturers. Get in touch with us to book an appointment.

Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids 2024 Reviewed

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing and the content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinions on all things to do with hearing health and hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can watch his video on the best Bluetooth hearing aids for 2024 below.

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

• Best hearing aids available in the UK for 2024
• Comparing the best hearing aids for tinnitus 2024
• How do hearing aids work?

Harley Street Hearing are proud to be working with the cast of Magic Mike Live in London, to provide them with custom-made Musicians’ Hearing Protection.

Romy Cohen, Clinical Lead, recently headed to the Hippodrome Casino in London to take ear impressions of the Magic Mike Live cast.

See below for some images of the cast members having their ear moulds taken, ready to be turned into custom-fit musicians’ earplugs.

Protecting musicians’ hearing

Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services are passionate about education and strategies to manage the risks of exposure to loud sound within the music and entertainment industry. For the past 25 years, we are proud to have been providing many organisations within the sector including numerous West End musicals, the Royal Opera House and English National Opera to name but a few, with personalised advice and tailor-made solutions to protect their hearing on stage.

In partnership with Help Musicians, Musicians’ Union and the Institute Society of Musicians, we are also the providers for the nationwide Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme which gives all professional musicians in the UK affordable access to specialist hearing assessments and hearing protection. Click here to find out more.

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

• Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme: 8 years strong
• Why musicians should protect their hearing

Today, I’m sharing the incredible story of Opal Sandy, an 18-month-old in the UK who recently received gene therapy just before her first birthday. Now, six months on, she can hear without hearing aids.

This could be a beacon of hope for the 1.5 billion people across the world who are affected by hearing loss. So, let’s see what this means for you and your hearing.

Developments in hearing loss research

Perhaps you suffer from hearing loss yourself, or maybe you know somebody who’s recently been diagnosed with hearing loss. No matter how you’ve ended up here, there’s definitely no denying that hearing loss is a widespread issue affecting one in five people globally and for every 500 babies born, one of them will have some form of hearing loss.

Despite this, historically both research and funding for a cure have been pretty scarce. But, in recent years, there has definitely been a surge in attention and clinical trials, signalling a promising shift towards finding a solution. This is where the CHORD clinical trial comes in.

What is the CHORD clinical trial?

A team from the University of Cambridge and University College of London have completed the world’s first gene therapy trial aimed at restoring hearing. This treatment, named DB-OTO, developed by biotech leader Regeneron, was administered to 12-month-old Opal Sandy, offering a new horizon for those with a genetic form of hearing loss.

Opal and her older sister both share a mutation in the OTOF gene, which is thought to affect up to 20,000 people in the US and the EU5. This gene is crucial for the production of a protein called otoferlin, which is responsible for transmitting auditory signals from the ear to the brain. Without it, individuals may pass hearing tests but still experience something called auditory neuropathy, which is a condition that disrupts these signals.

Now, this CHORD trial involves a three-part process with children receiving varying doses of gene therapy. Opal underwent a 16-minute procedure under general anaesthetic where a modified harmless virus was infused within her cochlea, delivering a functional OTOF gene to the cells within her inner ear, replacing the faulty DNA and effectively enabling communication along her auditory pathway between the ear and the brain.

The awesome news is that early results from this trial are already exceeding expectations, with Opal’s hearing having significantly improved. This groundbreaking research paves the way for a new era of treating deafness. Opal is one of 18 children undergoing the trial, with more deaf children being recruited over a five-year period to measure the success of this treatment.

Professor Bance, an ear surgeon at the Trust and chief investigator for the trial, said that the initial results were better than he’d hoped and expected and that this has the potential to cure patients with this type of deafness. He also reported that this trial is just the beginning of gene therapies and marks a new era in the treatment of deafness.

The future of gene therapies in treating hearing loss

In my opinion, whilst it’s too early to say for certain, the hope is that gene therapies in the future could eventually replace hearing aids and other technologies, which will potentially be game changers in treating hearing loss.

At the moment, this cure is only possible for this very specific niche and particular type of hearing loss. Of course, when I start to think about the other advances that this may result in, I get incredibly excited about the thoughts of continued exploration in this field, and my hope is that this will expand to find a tinnitus cure too. For the moment, sadly, it’s still being trialled, but of course, I will be the first to let you know as soon as there are any further developments in this field.

Hearing loss cure that ACTUALLY works discovered…

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing and the content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinions on all things to do with hearing health and hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can watch his video on gene therapy for curing hearing loss below.

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

• What is Auracast? The Bluetooth technology revolutionising audio
• AI Headphones That Focus on a ‘Single Speaker’ in a Crowd
• How do hearing aids work?