Audika is proud to introduce the new Oticon Own™ to its product range, the world’s first invisible-style hearing aid to include an onboard Deep Neural Network (DNN), offering life-changing technology for people requiring hearing support.
As the world’s third most-common health problem*, hearing loss is becoming more prevalent, with 1 in 4 people expected to be affected by it by 2050**. In a recent survey, more than half of New Zealanders surveyed reported some degree of hearing loss (53percent), yet only 1 in 4 of them intended on scheduling a hearing test.***
Audika’s National Sales & Operations Director, Tracy Kendall-Jones, says that this is partially due to the stigma around wearing hearing aids.
“Sadly, there’s still a stigma in New Zealand about wearing hearing aids. It’s important for people to realise how far technology has come – you can get hearing aids that are so discreet, they are almost invisible.”
Kendall-Jones explained that the Oticon Own hearing aid range is a testament to these advancements and provides people with the opportunity to choose what suits and works for them individually. The Oticon Own is the world’s first in the ear hearing aid with DNN technology embedded on the chip.**** The DNN was trained on 12 million real-life sounds to give your brain more of the information it needs to make sense of sound.
“By providing the brain with the full sound perspective, the hearing aid supports the brain’s natural way of organising sound. Oticon Own will help you navigate what you need to hear and reduce your listening effort in complex listening environments like restaurants or in meetings, so it’s easier for your brain to take on other tasks,” says Kendall-Jones.*****
Whakatāne builder, John Forrest, says that his invisible style-in-the-canal (IIC) hearing aids have helped him live a more active lifestyle.
“As a builder, they are a more practical solution for my line of work than many alternatives, being secure and discrete. The Audika Whakatāne team were wonderful in helping me choose the hearing aids that suited my lifestyle best.”
By having near-invisible, but highly advanced options available, enabling Kiwis to get the most out of the world around them, Kendall-Jones hopes more people will seek support for their hearing concerns, especially when it comes to their wellbeing.
“With the mental and emotional effects of hearing loss being linked to an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety, Audika is encouraging Kiwis to visit their nearest clinic if they are experiencing symptoms of hearing loss”, says Kendall-Jones.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to hearing aids – that’s why, if clients have a detected hearing loss, Audika will take the time to complete a full hearing assessment, discuss lifestyle preferences and recommend the hearing aid that will help each person achieve their best hearing potential.
To find out if the Oticon Own range is right for you, visit Audika.co.nz to find your nearest clinic or take Audika’s free online hearing test.
* World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss#tab=tab_1. ** World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2021-who-1-in-4-people-projected-to-have-hearing-problems-by-2050. *** The survey was conducted by the YouGov analysis institute. A total of 24,041 people aged 18+ across 14 countries were interviewed using CAWI methodology during the period of 2. – 28. December 2021, including 1,703 New Zealanders. **** DNN is only available in Oticon Own 1, 2 and 3. Effect and availability of features vary with hearing aid style and performance level. ***** Reduction in listening effort is measured with peak pupil dilation. Rumley et al. (2022). Oticon Own evidence. Oticon whitepaper. ^Free hearing checks are for adults over the age of 18.
