There’s a paradigm shift taking place in hearing devices, joining the latest in communication technology to the user’s listening experience. And then … factors in the effort listening can take.

This evolution comes at a time when the importance of hearing – how it connects us to each other, our community, and our world –is better understood.  Often hearing is taken for granted until it is noticeably gone. Hearing is the sense that helps us build and maintain relationships. It’s also critically important to learning and development.

Hearing, simply put, can revolutionize a person’s life.

otocon-opn-2Your inner ear serves as an important pathway to the brain – it’s your body’s sole balance center and also sends crucial signals to the brain that provide hearing.  It’s no surprise our brains work at incredible speeds. But it’s a challenge for those with hearing devices to take in all the sounds, and let the brain process as conversation keeps moving along. It’s like there’s always some level of catch up that can be daunting and tiresome.

Now there’s a hearing device that can keep up. So to begin this paradigm shift with us, begin by tossing out what you think about traditional hearing devices.

Today we’ll take a fresh new look at a new generation of hearing device that is here –now. There are substantial improvements. How so?  By offering much more, and with greater customization than ever before.  And as doctors of audiology, we’re excited to introduce this new generation of precise solutions to our patients.

Oticon Opn™ ‘is designed to process all the layers of sounds around you exceptionally fast, without delays and with less stress on your brain. It’s powered by the Velox™ platform, which is specifically designed for hearing devices. Additionally, Opn uses BrainHearing™ technology that processes the speech signal so it’s presented to the brain as clearly and accurately as possible in complex listening situations. The device features a tiny chip that has the capability and speed needed to manage multiple sound sources, analyzing and processing sound data 50 times faster than before.

So why do we call this ‘effortless hearing’?

Because it makes it easier for people with hearing loss to communicate and stay socially active, with less listening effort and more ability to remember what’s being said.

Opn can help the brain actually understand speech patterns better. That allows our patients to focus on what they desire, exceptionally fast, without delay and with less stress on the brain. It adjusts and balances all the sounds around them not just the ones directly in front.  It scans the environment 100 times per second to analyze and balance every sound individually, and separates speech from noise to help focus on what’s important.

We’ve evolved beyond the days when devices pushed the main sound to the front and background sounds were suppressed. Instead, this new ‘open sounds’ experience means sounds are more accessible and can be separated, avoiding a disturbing, confusing tangle to sort out.

otocon-opn-3Imagine the ease of focusing on conversation while staying attentive to people and things in the immediate surroundings. Plus having the ability to quickly switch focus with ease. We can all think of times when lack of clarity –missing words in a conversation or sorting out noises around us – put our brain on overload. In fact, many patients say their biggest challenge is trying to follow conversation in a noisy place. With Opn, ‘effortless hearing’ takes fewer tasks to hear and concentrate. Ultimately, users can take in more conversation and – faster.

Using a well-recognized measure of stress on the brain, Oticon reports Opn users experienced 20% less listening effort when trying to understand speech. Additional studies show that Oticon Opn users are able to remember 20% more of what is said. Testing also shows that Opn substantially increases speech understanding, one of the most important parameters for users.

As part of this paradigm shift, Opn is the first-ever hearing aid-type device connected to the Internet. Using state-of-the-art enhancements known as TwinLink™ communication technology, Opn features two (twin) wireless communication system solutions. First, it offers high quality sound for better listening in all environments. Second, it allows users to stream wireless communication directly to devices of their choice such as smartphones, computers, and TVs. Internet connectivity is also available using a specialized web service that automates select enabled devices used in everyday life, such as door bells. Opn connects with just a tap of the fingertips, streaming audio directly to the hearing device.

We’re delighted to now offer the Oticon Opn at our Institute.  Our highly-qualified doctors of audiology look forward to answering your questions and discussing how Opn may be the right solution for you or a loved one.

We hope you enjoy this short introductory video.