Interview with John Cariola, Au.D., Director of Product Management, Beltone
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Topic: Beltone True™ - Product Line Extension
John Cariola, AuD
SMAKA: This is Carolyn Smaka from AudiologyOnline, and I'm talking today with John Cariola from Beltone. John, good to talk to you again.
CARIOLA: Nice to talk to you also.
SMAKA: Last year we spoke about the introduction of Beltone True™ and I thought it would be good to get an update.
CARIOLA: Yes, it's been an exciting time here because we've just extended the product line offerings for the Beltone True. We've just released a new Mini-BTE, the 66DW. The "D" stands for directional microphones, and the "W" stands for wireless. It's our smallest, fully-featured Mini-BTE with a telecoil, direct audio input, and multiple programs. It's also a very flexible instrument in that it can be set up for standard tubing or you can modify it to make it an open thin-tube instrument by putting on a different adapter.
The other extension is the release of a custom product line within the Beltone True product family. The custom line includes the smallest CIC instrument all the way up to a full shell model. The custom line is available in three different technology levels: Beltone True 17, the Beltone True 9, and Beltone True 6. While we are still going to release more Beltone True products in the near future, the custom products and receiver-in-the-ear with wireless capability have filled in a few gaps in the Beltone True line, to enable it to meet the needs of most patients today. The line also includes the 78DW BTE instrument that also has wireless capability for fitting moderately-severe to severe hearing losses, so we've got a very full line to cover most hearing losses and lifestyles.
Beltone True, Model 66DW
SMAKA: Does the custom product line have wireless capability?
CARIOLA: Not in this first release of the custom products, but in the next couple of months there will be some custom True models with wireless functionality.
SMAKA: Can you review how your wireless system works?
CARIOLA: Our personal wireless network as we call it, includes the hearing instrument and accessories. Our accessories include the TV Link for connecting to a sound source like a TV, a Phone Link for connecting to Bluetooth-enabled phones, and a remote control. Each of these accessories sends a wireless signal directly to the hearing instrument, without a relay or intermediary device sending the signal to the ear. This is pretty amazing because now the patient doesn't have to wear anything else around their neck or in their pocket;just the hearing aids. That is the main difference between our wireless system and that of the other manufacturers.
We also have a wireless programming interface, Airlink. Just as with the wireless accessories, the Airlink sends the signal directly to the Beltone True instruments during the programming process, so the patient doesn't have to wear a relay device during programming. This makes it very convenient for both the audiologist and the patient in terms of being able to move around during the fitting process without being connected to cables.
The current Beltone True product line with the wireless functionality can be fit on people with mild up to moderately-severe to severe hearing losses. This is a perfect system for those who want to have the advantages of a better signal-to-noise ratio when watching TV.
The remote control allows the wearer to change the program or modify the volume for both ears or one ear. You can also turn on the TV Link from the remote control. There's a lot of functionality on the remote, and the patients really like it. It's funny how in our industry, we've seen remotes gain and wane in popularity over the years. This remote is particularly popular. It's our most popular wireless accessory, followed by the TV link.
SMAKA: In terms of consumer electronics, we're all used to carrying around accessories these days. If they provide needed functionality, we find a way to add it to our arsenal.
You mentioned that the 66DW has a T-coil, and you don't see a lot of Mini-BTEs with T-coils these days. They would be compatible with loops then, correct?
CARIOLA: Exactly. The wireless system also can be used in a church, or in a meeting room such as a nursing home's TV room using the TV link. We can have about 100 people connected to the TV Link device at one time. Or, you can use it with a loop system using the T-coil. It has direct audio input capabilities also.
SMAKA: One issue with some Mini-BTEs is wind noise. How does the 66DW deal with wind?
CARIOLA: The 66DW features an upgraded wind noise suppression algorithm that uses the directional microphones. This new algorithm looks at the input coming in to the both of the microphones, determines what is speech and what is noise, and from that point reduces wind noise. It's our most advanced wind noise reduction system that we've had to date and it's very effective.
We also have brought back the Tinnitus Breaker, our tinnitus masker, as an option in all the technology levels in any of the instruments.
SMAKA: Is that something that is available in the software, or does it have to be ordered separately?
CARIOLA: It is ordered separately on the custom products. And then we have separate BTE models with and without the Tinnitus Breaker.
SMAKA: So if you order the device with the Tinnitus Breaker, and then the person either completes their therapy or they end up not using it, is that something you just turn off?
CARIOLA: Yes, you could just have that feature disabled.
SMAKA: That's a lot of functionality in these instruments.
CARIOLA: Yes, and they're also getting smaller. The BTEs in the Beltone True line have decreased in size. A lot of the size differences are in the width of the instruments, or the thickness. The 66DW is very thin instrument, so it's comfortable to wear behind the ear.
SMAKA: What software version is needed to fit the new Beltone True product line extensions?
CARIOLA: The latest fitting software is SOLUS PRO 1.2. It was released with the newest products.
SMAKA: Thanks for keeping us up to speed on Beltone True, John.
CARIOLA: Thanks, Carolyn.
For more information, visit the Beltone web channel on AudiologyOnline.
