Software helps practitioners provide compelling counseling that reduces repeat visits
Minneapolis—April 6, 2006—Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world's leading hearing technology companies, today announced the introduction of its intuitive Inspire OS fitting software, part of a revolutionary new hearing system from Starkey that also includes its Destiny series of smart hearing aids and its nFusion technology. Inspire OS is the only fitting software available today that recreates a user's hearing environments within the hearing professional's office to ensure more precise, more accurate fittings and fewer return visits.
Inspire OS includes several features never before available with any fitting software—features that engage the user; allow for communication between the hearing aid and the software; provide immediate, real-time adjustments; and result in greater user satisfaction.
"Hearing professionals play a key role in how satisfied users are with their hearing aids. If these professionals can provide more accurate fittings tailored to users' real lives, those users will have better experiences with their hearing aids, fewer problems with how the hearing aids work in the real world, and, as a result, fewer return visits to the practitioner's office," said Jerry Ruzicka, president of Starkey Laboratories. "Inspire OS is the only fitting software available today that meets the needs of both practitioners and users."
Through Inspire OS' Surround Town, the practitioner's office is transformed into a virtual reality of everyday sights and sounds like those found in the user's home, car, or favorite restaurant. The user can even move within the scenario—from a quiet corner table to one by the piano, for example. In addition, sound intrusions common to each virtual environment, such as clattering dishes, blaring sirens, and whistling birds, are introduced so that proper and immediate adjustments can be made. With SoundView and Feature Validation, practitioners can view everything the user hears and how the hearing aid is responding the second it happens and again make proper and immediate adjustments if necessary. Inspire OS continues to work even after a user has left the practitioner's office. Data Logging can actually track how the hearing aids are performing over time and make adjustments tailored to the user's daily life routine.
Melody Martin of Martin Audiology Associates believes Inspire OS is the most important fitting software introduction of her career. "I've been an audiologist for 30 years, and this is without question the most complete fitting software I've seen," she said. "The software features are all-encompassing, incredibly intuitive, and beneficial not just to me but to my patients. This software is exactly what I need to better serve my patients and help return them to more normal hearing more quickly."
About Starkey Laboratories
Privately held Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development, and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey currently has more than 4,000 employees and facilities in 18 countries. Divisions operating under the Starkey Laboratories family of companies include Audibel, Micro-Tech, NuEar, Omni, Qualitone, and Starkey. For more information, visit www.starkey.com.
