Question
I'm interested in fitting a patient with a Hansaton AQ product for the rechargeable feature. What are my options in terms of programming technology and styles?
Answer
The AQ X-Mini is a sealed receiver in the canal (RIC). It has a small, very streamlined case. There are 3 technology levels and 8 color combinations. As far as gain goes, there are 3 receivers with 45, 55, and 65 dB peak gain in the coupler. You can expect more gain than that in the ear, so you can fit a wide variety and configurations of hearing loss.
Depending on your patient's lifestyle demands and budgetary constraints, you can go with the top-end, or "First Class," with 16 channels and 16 bands, and a very complete array of the entire top-end digital signal processing features that you need. The mid-level is "Business Class" with 12 channels and 12 bands. "Comfort Class" is the entry point with 8 channels and 8 bands. The price range adjusts accordingly, as you would expect.
Custom AQs are also available in a full-shell or a half-shell in the same three technology levels: First, Business, and Comfort Class. We do not make smaller models, however. The size of a battery dictates its capacity, and to date we have not found a small enough battery to fit into these models and also meet our design criteria for battery performance. The current custom instruments will get 20- to 30-hour of use per charge. We haven't yet found a smaller battery that will reliably provide 16-hours per charge, which is our minimum standard to go forward with a new design. In other words, we put a higher priority on performance than cosmetics.
That said, our custom products are unique. In typical custom aids, it is the shell that is custom-made. In the AQs the faceplates are also custom-made, each one sculpted to the contours of the ear. The finish on the faceplate truly blends into the ear. Cosmetically, there is no custom product that comes close. In the AQ system, we're giving you 20-30 hours per charge in the custom models, and 20 hours per charge in the AQ X-Mini RIC model.
Editor's Note: This Ask the Expert was taken from the Interview with Jerry Yanz published on August 22, 2011. Access the complete interview here.
Jerry Yanz's career in audiology has spanned several venues, including academia, the audiology clinic and the hearing aid industry. Since entering the hearing aid industry, he has engaged in product research and development, executive management and ongoing education of hearing professionals. Dr. Yanz has presented courses at many national and international conferences. He has a passion for exploring possibilities offered by new ideas and technologies and translating challenging technical concepts into a language that is understandable and beneficial to practitioners.
