SOMERSET, NJ May 1 -- Oticon Real™, a new family of hearing aids with BrainHearing™ technology, is now available through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Oticon Real represents the next step in BrainHearing™ technology, providing access to the full spectrum of real-world sounds with exceptional detail and clarity. New technologies balance sudden disruptive sounds and clean up wind and handling noise while significantly reducing listening effort, so veterans can be comfortable and stay sharp in the real world.
“Oticon continues to power innovative technology with meaningful benefits for veterans with hearing loss,” says Mike Marcinek, Vice President, General Manager, Government Services and Pediatrics. “Traditional hearing aid technology relies extensively on directionality, which focuses on one speaker and suppresses surrounding sounds. Oticon Real provides access to the full, open sound scene while increasing protection from disruptive sounds that challenge more than 7 out of 10 hearing aid users*. With Oticon Real, veterans can stay sharp and focused, especially when engaged in conversation.”
A Real Sound Solution
Oticon Real is powered by the new Polaris R™ platform which features new detectors for fast and precise processing of disruptive sounds and wind and handling noise. An on-board Deep Neural Network (DNN) trained with 12 million real life sound scenes optimizes the way Oticon Real makes sounds more distinct, working seamlessly across varying listening environments. Two new innovations, SuddenSound Stabilizer and the Wind & Handling Stabilizer, help Oticon Real take DNN-based sound processing to the next level.
Using the new detectors, SuddenSound Stabilizer monitors the sound environment and adapts amplification to keep both soft and loud sudden sounds available, balanced, and comfortable. SuddenSound Stabilizer can handle more than 500,000 sudden sounds during a typical day, instantly reducing and releasing gain as the sounds occur, without compromising comfort or access to speech. SuddenSound Stabilizer reduces listening effort by 22 percent in the presence of sudden sounds.**
The new Wind & Handling Stabilizer protects against uncomfortable wind and handling noise. Whether users are on the golf course, the beach or just walking from the car to the office, wind can cause unpleasant sounds in a hearing aid. Handling sounds, such as hands, hair, glasses, or a facemask touching the hearing aid microphones also creates unpleasant sound. Unlike traditional hearing aids that allow wind and handling noise to enter both microphones, Oticon Real selects the microphone with the cleanest sound input, reducing disruptive sound from entering the system. Double-patented technology detects and cleans up wind and handling noise 500 times per second.
Real Connectivity
Oticon Real features Bluetooth® Low Energy technology with an extensive range of connectivity options, including hands-free calls on select iPhone® and iPad® devices*** and direct streaming from select Android devices†.
The Oticon Companion app is the new, all-in-one solution that allows veterans to easily control and personalize their hearing aids with features to find my hearing aid for lost devices, manage connected devices and receive remote counseling and programming from their hearing care professional when needed.
The Oticon Real family includes four styles (miniRITE R, miniRITE T, miniBTE R and miniBTE T) and nine color options, including new olive green‡. Convenient charger options and state-of the-art connectivity enable direct streaming, hands-free calls and more.
For additional information about Oticon Real and Oticon’s entire portfolio of products and accessories available in VA audiology clinics from coast to coast, visit oticon.com/veterans.
* Gade, P., Brændgaard, M., Flocken, H., Preszcator, D., & Santurette, S. (2023). Wind & Handling Stabilizer – Evidence and user benefits. Oticon Whitepaper.
** Based on a 22% reduced mean pupil size as compared to the highest mean pupil size.
*** Hands-free communication is available with iPhone 11 or later running iOS 15.2 or later, and iPad running iPadOS® 15.2 or later.
†Android devices need to support Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) to allow direct streaming to Oticon Real. Please visit oticon.com/support/compatibility or scan the QR code at oticon.com/solutions/bluetooth-hearing-aids to learn if the device is compatible with Oticon hearing aids. Currently, Oticon does not offer two-way streaming for Android phones.
‡Olive green is only available for the miniRITE R.
