Salt Lake City, April 6, 2006 — Today at the American Academy of Audiology National Convention and Exposition, Sonic Innovations, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNCI) announced the introduction of Ion, its latest breakthrough in hearing aid design. Ion is an open-ear hearing aid primarily targeted for the first time hearing aid wearer, who currently represents 40% of the purchasers of hearing aids in the United States. Smallest in class, yet powerful enough to fit a wide range of high-frequency hearing loss, Ion is a unique product offering that the company believes is unmatched in the market place.
"Ion delivers exceptional performance in a small discreet hearing aid," said Sam Westover, President and CEO of Sonic Innovations. "We believe Ion will be the premier open-ear product offered by hearing care professionals to their hearing impaired patients worldwide."
Open behind-the-ear (BTE) digital products are the latest advancement in hearing aids. Currently, BTE digital hearing aids represent the fastest growing segment of hearing aid products sold in the United States, with 42% growth year-to-year. The electronic components of the open BTE product are housed in a small case that hides behind the ear. A thin, clear tube directs sound into the ear canal where a soft dome holds the tube in place. This product offers an appealing option to hearing impaired individuals who have not previously pursued amplification because they are discreet in appearance, comfortable to wear, and described as more natural sounding than conventional hearing aids. "We believe that Ion's superior cosmetics, comfort and clarity will allow Sonic Innovations to take a leadership position in the rapidly expanding open-ear segment of the hearing aid market," said Westover.
Ion is the result of extensive research with hearing care professionals and hearing impaired consumers and delivers on Sonic Innovations' commitment to develop and release the latest hearing aid technologies in a cosmetically appealing solution. "The immediate response from hearing impaired consumers in our study was very impressive, stated Richard Harris, Ph.D., Professor at Brigham Young University, "so impressive that I have started wearing the Ion product myself."
Sonic Innovations is a leading producer of advanced digital hearing aids and auditory testing equipment. With products and services designed to provide the highest levels of satisfaction for hearing impaired individuals and hearing care professionals, Sonic Innovations believes it sets a new standard in hearing healthcare. For more information, please visit our website at www.sonici.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under securities laws, including statements concerning the features, performance and market acceptance of the Ion product and the expectation that Sonic Innovations will take a leadership position in the open-ear segment of the hearing aid market. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from those described herein depending on a number of factors, including the features of our hearing aids and those of competitors, competitive performance, and the demand for and market acceptance of Ion and competing products. Please see "Factors That May Affect Future Performance" included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ion is a trademark of Sonic Innovations, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
For more information on Ion visit www.sonici.com/products/consumer/ion/index.php.
