Siemens Hearing Instruments’ innovative device for people with an active life positively profiled in use by marathon runner.
See Hear, BBC Two’s flagship magazine show for people that are deaf or hard of hearing in the UK, has recently put Siemens’ Aquaris™ through its paces in a technology special. Explaining the digital device’s unique waterproof, dustproof and shockproof properties was Jamie Flanagan, an ultramarathon runner from Scotland.
Filmed on location in Edinburgh, See Hear followed Jamie through an average day starting at an early morning gym session, during his working day and then into his evening running training. The programme covered how he lost his hearing, and how his confidence and active lifestyle has been improved since being fitted with the Aquaris.
Jamie Flanagan completed his first marathon in 2009 and he now runs 100 miles and trains almost 20 hours a week. He is currently training for the 2013 Ocean Floor Race, 160 miles in extreme dust and heat conditions across the Sahara Desert. He discussed that before finding a durable digital hearing instrument he used to train without wearing one.
“When I signed up for the Ocean Floor Race I was concerned about not being able to use a hearing device - I wouldn’t be able to hear around me or converse with medics at the checkpoints, which for safety is very important. I searched the Internet for a device that was digital, waterproof, dustproof and could withstand what the race would throw at it - I found one option,” stated Jamie.
Aquaris will aid Jamie Flanagan as he prepares for the biggest challenge of his life, a 160 mile desert run.
During his outside training in the glorious Scottish scenery Jamie discussed how the hearing device was suited to his active lifestyle, as well as making him feel safer and more sociable. Before he could not hear cars coming when running roadside, plus he avoided making eye contact with people he passed. Now, he feels safer on the roads and it has given him more confidence to chat to other people in marathons, swimming or even in the sauna.
“We are thrilled the Aquaris has gained the recognition it deserves from such a respected deaf community television programme,” states Wendy Davies, National Sales and Audiology Manager at Siemens Hearing Instruments. “This innovative device has allowed Jamie Flanagan to take part in the kinds of high endurance activities that standard hearing instruments sometimes have to be removed for, making him safer and more confident. We hope that this TV feature encourages more hearing impaired people to take part in sports now that technology is available to keep pace with them.”
Previously a musician, Jamie suffered from Wegener’s granulomatosis, an auto-immune disease that left him with mild to moderate hearing loss.
The See Hear programme featuring Jamie Flanagan can be viewed via BBC iPlayer, https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01nw6lx/See_Hear_Series_32_Episode_21/
About Siemens Hearing Instruments
Siemens Hearing Instruments Ltd (Crawley, West Sussex) - www.siemens.co.uk/hearing - provides a comprehensive range of digital hearing instruments and software, patient management systems and audiology equipment to the National Health Service, independent retail dispensers and national chains in the UK. It is the UK operation of Siemens Audiologische Technik (S.A.T.), based in Erlangen, Germany. Part of the Siemens Medical Group, S.A.T. has been at the forefront of audiological innovation for over 125 years and is the world’s market leader in the design and manufacture of audiological products. For more information about Siemens, visit the Siemens Expo Page on AudiologyOnline.
