Los Angeles and Australia -- October 17, 2005 -- Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd, a provider of advanced patented digital signal processing solutions for audio devices, today announced the signing of an exclusive multi-year license agreement with the House Ear Institute (HEI) to develop and commercialize its patented feedback cancellation technology for use in hearing aids and auditory implants. HEI's feedback cancellation algorithm is adaptive, which allows it to continuously sense the changing conditions in the ear that might produce feedback, and prevents these conditions from occurring.
The advantages for the hearing aid user are increased amplification without the risk of acoustic feedback and distortion in the hearing aid. The technology can also be used in middle ear implants and bone-anchored hearing aids, and may allow more comfortable open-air hearing aid fittings to be used without feedback.
As part of the licensing agreement, the House Ear Institute became a shareholder in Dynamic Hearing, and Sig Soli, Ph.D., the Institute's vice president of technology transfer, was appointed to the company's Scientific Advisory Committee.
"We are pleased to launch a technology partnership between our company and the House Ear Institute with the licensing of this excellent technology for hearing aid users, and we welcome Dr. Soli to our Scientific Advisory Committee," said Peter Blamey, Ph.D., CTO, Dynamic Hearing. "We look forward to bringing the HEI feedback canceller to customers via our AMIS Orela and Gennum Voyageur DSP platforms as part of our modular DSP software suite for hearing aids."
"The House Ear Institute is delighted to share the results of our research with Dynamic Hearing and the unique products and services they provide hearing aid users worldwide," said Sig Soli, Ph.D., vice president of technology transfer, HEI.
The feedback cancellation technology was developed and tested at the House Ear Institute over seven years, is patented in the U.S. and has international patents pending. The HEI research was made possible in part by a grant from the National
Institute's of Health (NIH Grant number R01 DC03825).
Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd, headquartered in Richmond, Australia, provides advanced patented digital signal processing solutions for audio devices as embedded software.
All technology developed by Dynamic Hearing is designed to enhance the experience of sound for hearing aid and device users in any listening environment, providing them with greater mobility and improved lifestyle. The company licenses its technology to international manufacturers of hearing aids, headsets and other communication devices, and has a high performance team of audiologists, scientists, software programmers and DSP engineers, led by a business and management team, focused on rapid product development scientific validation and sound commercial partnering. For more information on Dynamic Hearing, please visit the Web site
at:www.dynamichearing.com.au
The House Ear Institute (HEI) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing hearing science through research and education to improve quality of life. Established in 1946 by Howard P. House, M.D., as the Los Angeles Foundation of Otology, and later renamed for its founder, the House Ear Institute has been engaged in the scientific exploration of the auditory system from the ear canal to the cortex of the brain for nearly 60 years. HEI scientists continue to explore the developing ear and ear diseases at the cell and molecular level, as well as the complex ear-brain interaction. They are also working to improve hearing aids and auditory implants, diagnostics, clinical treatments and intervention methods. For information on the House Ear Institute, please call (213) 483-4431
or visit the Web site at www.hei.org.
