• Exquisite speech understanding in noise
• The cognitive efforts necessary to understand speech are significantly reduced, leaving more mental energy to reflect, remember and respond
• Audio through wireless technology is improved for open fittings and enhanced with 3D listening
• New audiological concepts: Speech Guard, Spatial Sound 2.0 and Connect [+]
• New RISE II processing platform with twice the calculation power of RISE
• New very cosmetically attractive miniRITE style – 30% smaller than Epoq
• New Power CIC allowing users with severe hearing losses to be fitted with a very small custom solution
• Highly flexible RITE speaker solution covering mild to severe losses with the same instrument
• Two ranges: Oticon Agil and Oticon Agil Pro
• Most comprehensive style and fitting range launched in one brand: RITE/RITE Power, BTE/BTE Power, CIC/CIC Power and other custom styles and fitting options
• Fully ConnectLine-compatible

Three new audiological concepts in Oticon Agil are designed to preserve the natural characteristics of speech, while enriching the sound quality to enable the brain to use fewer of its resources for listening purposes. As a result, the end-user should have more residual energy for other important tasks such as full social interaction.Spatial Sound 2.0 maintains natural acoustic cues, which the brain needs to organise the sound environment. Speech Guard preserves the fine modulation and details of the signal even in environments where sound levels change rapidly or where audibility of soft sounds would be a challenge to conventional compression systems. Connect [+] enhances the perception of bass or low frequencies by adding depth and spatial quality, while the user listens to streamed music.

“With Oticon Agil, we have virtually improved all the advanced features already available in Oticon Epoq. Our almost three years of everyday experience with wireless audiology and connectivity has given us valuable insights enabling us to bring forward a significantly better hearing solution. For 

William Demant Holding, I expect Oticon Agil to be a important driver of growth and market share gains,” says Niels Jacobsen, President & CEO of William Demant Holding.

PurTone Hearing Centers of Arizona looks forward to offering the Oticon Agil line of hearing aid solutions to our loyal friends and patrons.

See full story at:

 http://www.demant.com/eprise/main/Demant/_Announcements/General/10-02-01_UK.pdf

“We learned about exciting new trends that are impacting hearing care now and will undoubtedly shape the technology, tools and knowledge that we will use to improve the future for people with hearing loss,” stated Mr. Maznio. 

Mr. Silva points to wireless connectivity as one trend that has immediate potential for Arizona.  “Today, many advanced technology hearing solutions feature Bluetooth wireless capabilities,” he explained.  “We can now offer a plug-and-play system that takes full advantage of the wireless potential of hearing instruments — enabling a simple, high fidelity connection to any TV or landline phone with sound streaming directly through the hearing instruments.  Users enjoy high quality audio-listening at their own preferred volume and without the delay experienced with off-the-shelf Bluetooth transmitters.”

PurTone Hearing Centers is one of the first hearing care practices in the U.S. to offer the new Oticon ConnectLine™ plug-and-play system which includes both a TV Adaptor and Phone Adaptor.  The small, modern adaptors fit discreetly into any home setting.

 “With the ConnectLine solutions, we open the door for more natural personal communication and more freedom for people with hearing loss,” said Mr. Silva.  “ConnectLine gives us an early look at how much the newest trends in hearing care will transform everyday experiences for people with hearing loss.”

For more information about hearing health and the new ConnectLine system, contact PurTone Hearing Centers at 1-888-614-4327 (HEAR) or visit http://www.ArizonaHears.com.

Somerset, NJ - Joe Frazier, Olympic and former World Heavy Weight Champion, isn’t about to let any thing slow him down – including hearing loss. The 65-year-old boxing icon recently upgraded his hearing solutions to Oticon Dual. The sleek, state-of-the-art hearing devices proved a good match for the busy boxing entrepreneur and charitable foundation founder, who continues to skillfully bob and weave his way through days full of community, business and social engagements.

Frazier is the newest in a growing list of celebrities who are up-trading to Dual, a new high tech hearing device that offers a unique synergy of high performance technology and aesthetic appeal. Designed inside and out to deliver spatial sound and wireless connectivity in a sleek, small shell, Dual solves the “beauty or brains” dilemma that has long challenged hearing care professionals, and frustrated individuals with hearing loss looking for ideal solutions. For “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier, who pulls no punches, the bottom line has always been a hearing solution that delivers superior sound quality.

“When I work with the young boxing hopefuls, I need to be able to hold up my end of the conversation,” states Frazier. “The noise in the gym can create problems for me. Hearing clearly in social and business situations is also important to me. Dual’s excellent sound quality gives me the fighting edge I need.”

Oticon Vice President of Marketing Gordon Wilson met with Frazier in his adopted hometown of Philadelphia to talk about his experiences with Dual. “True to his reputation, Mr. Frazier is a person who doesn’t pull any punches,” states Wilson. “As an experienced hearing device user, he had very clear requirements for his upgraded hearing device but he also wanted style and a discreet look. Dual offers him the performance he needs and the stylish, modern design he wants.”

Known for his dapper appearance and personal charisma in and out of the ring, Frazier praises Dual for enabling him to zero in on the softer, high pitched voices of his female fans. “Hearing the ladies at social gatherings was a problem for me,” notes Frasier. “Now I can join in the conversations without struggling to understand what is being said.” Frasier plans to recommend Dual to his friends who can also use a hearing boost. “If you can’t hear, you can’t stay in the match,” he says.

Wilson noted that “Smokin’ Joe” is an excellent endorsement for Dual’s ability to deliver sound quality unmatched by any other hearing device. “At age 65, Mr. Frazier is a commanding figure who clearly wouldn’t be satisfied with any ‘light weight’ solution,” notes Wilson. “He expects a lot of himself and his hearing solutions need to measure up to the demands of his busy lifestyle.”

For more information about Oticon, visit http://www.oticonusa.com or the Oticon web channel on Audiology Online.  Oticon Dual is available through PurTone Hearing Aid Centers in Arizona.  Visit www.ArizonaHears.com to learn more or call 1-888-614-HEAR (4327).

A new system of innovative wireless connectivity solutions is enabling people with hearing loss to experience more natural personal communication and more freedom.

“When wireless connectivity was first introduced, people with hearing loss, for the first time, were able to stream sound directly from cell phones to their hearing devices — opening a world of easy communication that had previously been off limits for them,” states Edward Maznio of PurTone Hearing Centers in Phoenix, Arizona.  “But there were limitations when it came to steaming sound from TVs and existing landline phones.”

These limitations created a number of quality of life challenges for patients and their families.  “I had adult children who were concerned that a hearing impaired parent’s difficulty speaking on the phone made it impossible to check in on their health and safety during the day,” says Mr. Maznio. “I also found that a patient’s need to turn the volume of the television so loud that it drove others out of the room was a recurring source of frustration for many families.” 

Now, new Oticon ConnectLine™ enables a simple, high fidelity connection to any TV or landline phone. The new “plug and play” ConnectLine TV Adaptor and ConnectLine Phone Adaptor optimize the wireless connectivity potential of the popular Dual and Epoq hearing solutions.  With just the push of a button on the hearing instruments’ Streamer companion device, the ConnectLine system connects wirelessly and seamlessly to TV and landline phones.  Transitions between phone or TV functions are equally easy with just a touch of a button.

The small and attractive ConnectLine TV Adaptor connects to the audio output of any TV. It has a range of up to 30 feet and runs on its own power supply.  Users enjoy high quality audio streaming through their hearing instruments – listening at their own preferred volume and without the delay experienced with off-the-shelf Bluetooth transmitters.  There is no need to recharge the ConnectLine TV Adaptor and there are no additional gadgets or loop installations required.  After an initial pairing with the Streamer device, the ConnectLine connects automatically whenever the Streamer is activated.

ConnectLine Phone Adaptor turns any landline phone into a cordless Bluetooth phone.  The ConnectLine Phone Adaptor can be especially beneficial for seniors who want to continue using their current landline phone.  Users simply press the phone button on the Streamer to pick-up or end the call.  The ConnectLine Phone Adaptor does not interfere with the ability of other household members to use the landline phone as usual. 

“ConnectLine Adaptors deliver excellent sound quality and are easy to use.  There are no dropped connections and no need to pair again,” notes Edward Maznio.  “Because the adaptors work on their own power supply, there is no need to recharge.”

For more information about hearing health and the new ConnectLine system, contact PurTone Hearing Centers at 1-888-614-HEAR (4327) or visit www.ArizonaHears.com.

Cutting back on lattes, dining out and other discretionary spending can be smart choices that increase your ability to successfully weather today’s challenging economic climate.  But delaying an investment in your hearing health may have a negative impact on your quality of life now and in the future, states Edward Maznio of PurTone Hearing Centers in Phoenix, Arizona. And for half of the estimated 28 million Americans with hearing loss who are still in the work force, untreated hearing loss can have serious ramifications on productivity and success on the job.

“Diminished hearing can drastically affect an individual’s quality of life at home, in social situations and in the workplace,” explains Mr. Maznio.  “The effects can range from difficulty understanding people and conversations in noisy situations to a feeling of isolation and, in some cases, even to depression.”

In an era when quality hearing solutions abound, Edward Maznio says there is no reason to delay investing in hearing health.   “Today, there are hearing solutions that offer superior sound quality and attractive styles and features at price points designed to appeal to budget-conscious consumers,” states Mr. Maznio.  He points to Oticon Hit, a new line of modern, discreet and great sounding hearing solutions based on state-of-the-art technology. Hit offers a wide range of choices for new and experienced users looking for high quality entry-level hearing solutions.

Straightforward options, such as the new Hit line, which emphasize reliability, affordability and sound quality make choosing hearing health an easy and wise choice for anyone experiencing hearing difficulty.  “We know that people who choose hearing solutions customized to their unique hearing loss report better relationships with family and friends, higher self-esteem, improved mental health, and greater independence and security.  Certainly, a generous return on their investment by any standards,” state Mr. Maznio.

For more information about hearing health and the new Hit and Hit Pro hearing solutions, contact PurTone Hearing Aid Centers at 1-888-614-HEAR (4327) or visit www.ArizonaHears.com.  PurTone has offices in Chandler, Goodyear, Lake Havasu City, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, and Yuma, Arizona.

with Wireless Connectivity to Phones, Televisions, GPS Systems and More

Feeling “‘unconnected” with family, friends, colleagues and many essential conveniences of modern life such as cell phones and TVs is a concern voiced by many people who come to PurTone’s offices in Arizona seeking help.  “Even a mild hearing loss can make it challenging to distinguish speech and other sounds in the environment, so that it becomes difficult to understand what is going on,” explains Edward Maznio, President of PurTone Hearing Centers.  “The result is that people with untreated hearing loss often end up feeling flawed and isolated.”

Mr. Maznio says that a new advanced technology hearing aid solution can quickly remedy that situation.  PurTone is among the first hearing care practices in the U.S. certified to fit patients with Dual, a state-of-the-art hearing aid solution that can help to restore a more natural listening experience.

“Even before people come to appreciate the considerable benefits of Dual’s advanced technology, they are ‘wow-ed’ by its small, sleek design that fits discreetly and almost invisibly behind the ear,” says Edward Maznio.  “Many people who have resisted hearing aids in the past because outdated stigmas associated with hearing loss respond positively to Dual’s good looks and are relieved that it isn’t the big beige hearing aids they feared.” 

PurTone advises patients not to think that the new hearing solution’s light, comfortable fit make it a ‘lightweight’ when it comes to delivering a closer-to-natural listening experience.

“Dual helps people with hearing loss to hear better and understand more spoken words in any listening environment, even in challenging listening environments like restaurants and social gatherings,” he points out. “Two Dual hearing aids actually ‘talk’ to each other, simulating the way the brain naturally processes sounds coming from different directions.”   By operating as a virtual “sound compass,” Dual enables wearers to more easily identify who is talking, especially when voices or sounds come from different areas of the room.

The new hearing solution also allows easy use of both landline and cellular phones.  “Dual makes it possible to have a normal conversation on the phone – something that is difficult for people with hearing loss,” Mr. Maznio notes. Dual’s comfortable open fit design eliminates feedback and whistling and the annoying “plugged up” feeling many experience with traditional hearing aids.  Enjoying television once again as a group activity is another benefit of Dual.  “Now my patients can understand television audio from anywhere in the room at a volume that won’t disturb others,” he states.

With Dual, people with hearing loss also have the option of using a companion device called Streamer that enables Dual users to wirelessly connect to landline and cell phones, TV systems and other popular personal entertainment systems. “Patients simply press a button on the Streamer to receive phone calls in both ears — digitally processed to accommodate the user’s individual hearing loss,” points out Edward Maznio. 

The small and stylish Dual is available in 14 attractive colors from tasteful but bold fashion colors to shades that complement natural skin tones.  The Dual family of hearing aids can accommodate over 80 percent of hearing losses and a broad range of listening preferences and budgets.  For more information about hearing loss and the new Oticon Dual, contact PurTone Hearing Centers at 1-888-614-4327 or visit www.ArizonaHears.com.

For people who tune into the hit television series ER, it will come as no surprise that Emergency Room physicians need to hear and react quickly and accurately to nurses, medical technicians and other doctors when caring for sometimes critically ill patients.

Dr. Stanley Lobitz, a 47-year-old physician in private practice who also works part-time in a busy hospital Emergency Room, worried that a gradual hearing loss would cause him to miss important communication with staff and patients.

“In the emergency room, clear, concise communication is critical.” Dr. Lobitz explains. “When activity would heat up and I had to call out with time for medication or a physician update with a patient, I was always nervous that I was missing important information.”

Dr. Lobitz admits that he was “sloppy” with hearing protection around loud noises. “I had started wood working and I like loud concerts,” he notes. “But I procrastinated forever in treating my hearing loss until I was obviously hampered at work.” He was pleased with his first pair of hearing instruments but had difficulty adjusting to the in-the-canal models he selected. Eventually he switched to behind-the-ear hearing devices. He found that he couldn’t function as a doctor with two hearing instruments in place because they interfered with this stethoscope. Eventually, he began wearing one hearing device and using a high-end amplified stethoscope. “Needless to say, I had less than optimal acoustics with the stethoscope. I just couldn’t get good sound quality – because I usually wore just my left hearing instrument while I was working, it was like I was using just one ear.”

His “Ah-Ha!” moment occurred when his audiologist, recently returned from a professional conference in Denmark, introduced him to the new Oticon DELTA. “My audiologist, who had my recent audiogram and knew my specific hearing needs, sent his assistant over to my office with an already programmed DELTA for my right ear for me to ‘try’,” he said. “The hearing device was so new, my audiologist was able to bring only one back from his conference. I tried not to look disappointed because I only used my left hearing aid at work. But from the second his assistant put it on my ear, there was no way I was going to let her take it back! Now I wear two DELTAs all the time.”

Dr. Lobitz reports that the sound quality he experiences with DELTA is dramatically better than what he could achieve with his previous hearing devices. “They’re extremely comfortable and the sound quality is fabulous. I don’t even have to use my amplified stethoscope any more. My stethoscope can easily fit my ears right along with my DELTAs.”

“I used to joke with my audiologist that he could hang a toaster off the side of my head if it would give me good sound quality,” he adds. “My new hearing instruments have improved my lifestyle markedly and they’re so unobtrusive that people don’t even know I’m wearing them.”

Dr. Lobitz encounters a number of people in his family practice who are reluctant to consider hearing solutions. “I’m fairly open with them about my hearing loss,” Dr. Lobitz explains. “They get up really close, stare at me and still can’t believe I’m wearing hearing devices.”

His new hearing devices have gotten him back into conversations he was missing. “I hear much better in crowds and in restaurants. My friends notice that I’m less detached during group conversations. Before if they wanted to include me in the conversation, they’d have to ‘aim’ at me and even then, I was missing parts of what was being said. I like the natural sound quality I have now. My DELTAs help me in the frequencies when I need help but let other natural sounds come in.”

Another advantage Dr. Lobitz noticed with his new DELTAs occurred on a recent amusement park trip with his daughter. “Before, when I was active and being jostled around, I was never quite sure my hearing instruments wouldn’t fall out. My DELTAs were very secure – even some of the wild rides by daughter managed to get me on!”

“I have a friend who is a family doctor and after I got my new hearing instruments, he asked it he could borrow my amplified stethoscope because he was having trouble hearing with his hearing devices on. I told him that before he spent money on a new high-end stethoscope he should try DELTAs. The next day, he went to his audiologist, left the office with them on and has been delighted with how well they are working for him.”

Dr. Lobitz notes that it took him some time to get used to his first pair of hearing instruments. ”The DELTAs have been much better right out of the gate. There has been next to nothing that bothered me about them. The sound quality is more open and natural and that was very easy to get used to. They changed my life. I encourage everyone whose hearing loss is affecting their quality of life to see their audiologist and give them a try.”

Stanley Lobitz, MD

Family Practice & Emergency Medicine

Kingston, Pennsylvania

24 Years Practicing Medicine

Reprinted from www.oticonusa.com.

Take Sound to a New Dimension for People with Hearing Loss

“Most people don’t realize that we hear in three-dimensions,” stated Edward Maznio of PurTone Hearing Centers in Phoenix.  “The ability to hear in 3-D allows us to identify where sounds are coming from when someone calls to us or the direction of an approaching car.”  The ability to localize sound is possible because two ears communicating with each other send a single message to that the brain that enable the brain to “see” where a sound is coming from.

Until now, people with hearing loss who rely on traditional hearing aids were at a significant disadvantage when it came localizing sound.  “Traditional hearing aids process sound independently.  The right ear hears sound from the right side, the left ear from the left side and each independently sends sound information to the brain,” explains Edward Maznio.  “How accurately the brain is able to ‘see’ the location of the sounds is dependent on the quality of information it receives from each hearing device.”  The result is often difficulty understanding conversation or localizing where a sound is coming from, especially in noisy situations like restaurants and social gatherings — a frustration that motivates many people to seek help from a hearing care professional. 

A new hearing aid system, called Oticon Epoq, is changing the way sound is processed through hearing instruments. Epoq’s breakthrough wireless digital technology enables two hearing aids for the first time to work together to process sound, similar to the way the brain receives input from two ears to deliver the best sound picture.  According to Mr. Maznio, this real-time wireless connectivity with voices and other sounds in the immediate listening environment provides accurate, three-dimensional auditory information that enhances users’ awareness of where sounds are coming from.  This spatial awareness is essential to better hearing in all environments, but especially those with surrounding conversations going on, such as in crowds or restaurants.

“Two Epoq hearing aids ’talk’ to each other, working as a single system and sending the brain information that it can more accurately interpret,” explains Edward Maznio.  ”The result is a richly dimensionalized sound that is clearer and more comfortable.”

Added Benefits

Epoq’s wireless connectivity also enables people with hearing loss, for the first time, to experience easy access to the world of electronically transmitted sounds from Bluetooth-enabled phones and other popular electronic devices such as MP3 players and computers.  With the addition of Epoq’s sleek companion device called a Streamer, Epoq becomes the equivalent of a hands-free intelligent headset without having to attach bulky devices or wires to the hearing instrument.

Epoq is available in a range of discrete and comfortable styles.  The wearable Epoq Streamer which allows for effortless audio streaming from devices such as mobile phones, personal computers, and GPS systems, is available in black and white.

For information about hearing loss and the new Epoq, contact PurTone Hearing Aid Centers at 1-888-614-4327 or visit www.ArizonaHears.com.  Oticon can be visited at www.OticonUSA.com for more hearing aid options.

In the 10-plus years since digital hearing aids were introduced, hearing aid manufacturers have developed a wide array of enhancements to improve the sound quality, reliability and ease-of-use of their hearing solutions.  Until now, the benefits of these added features have been out of reach for many people because of budget considerations.  Edward Maznio of PurTone Hearing Aid Centers in Phoenix reports that owning a new, state-of-the-art hearing instrument that deliver high-end benefits is becoming a reality for more people than ever before.

“As a hearing care professional, my first goal is to help my patients get the best hearing solution for their individual hearing needs,” says Edward Maznio.  “Sometimes, patients assume budget considerations mean they have to settle for ‘stripped down’ hearing aids that won’t allow them to take advantage of the tremendous advances in sound quality and comfort.  They are always surprised – and pleased – when I tell them that a new wave of hearing aids from leading manufacturers now include high-end features that are affordable and available right now.”

Mr. Maznio points to the new multi-featured Oticon Go Pro, one of the most extensively featured hearing instruments in the affordable range.  Manufactured by Oticon, one of the world’s leading hearing aid manufacturers, Go Pro hearing instruments offer clear, digital sound quality, high reliability and ease of use at a price that makes the many benefits of digital technology an option for more people.  The 100 percent digital hearing aid is designed to make speech audible in both quiet and noisy situations, without sacrificing comfort. 

“My patients find Go Pro especially comfortable to wear,” notes Edward Maznio. “Go Pro’s advanced technology helps to preserve a more natural sound quality and reduce or eliminate annoying feedback.”

Go Pro is available in a range of colors and styles, from small in-the-ear models to discrete behind-the-ear models featuring an ultra thin tube.  For more information about hearing loss, contact PurTone Hearing Aid Centers at 1-888-614-HEAR (4327) or visit PurTone’s website at www.ArizonaHears.com.

“Every second person over the age of 50 experiences loss of speech clarity in noisy listening situations such as work, social gatherings and crowded restaurants,” Mr. Maznio states. “They may still hear well enough to get by in less demanding situations but more and more, they will find that they are understanding less of what is being said.”

A fear that hearing aids will make them look older and out of step with their active, busy lifestyle prevents many adults from taking advantage of the extra edge provided by hearing amplification. Now,  PurTone is offering a new groundbreaking hearing device with sleek lines, hot colors and brushed metallic surface that appears to have more in common with modern high-tech communication devices or fashion accessories than traditional hearing aids. Called Oticon Delta, this state-of-the-art digital hearing device combines eye-catching contemporary design with the most advanced hearing aid technology available today.

“This is not your grandfather’s hearing aid,” explains Mr. Maznio. “For the first time, I can offer patients a hearing device that meets the important image and style demands of people in the 50s and 60s and provides the needed boost in listening clarity for mild to moderate hearing loss.”

New Oticon Delta comes in seventeen different brushed metallic colour styles, ranging from “Cabernet Red” and “Artic Blue” to “Racing Green” and “Wildlife” that give this sleek and fashionable hearing device a new attitude for a new generation of hearing aid users.

Edward Maznio is hopeful that Delta’s innovative good looks will encourage adults experiencing early hearing loss to give hearing amplification another look. “With Delta, even the most image-conscious adults can easily stay active and in touch with their surroundings without having to worry about missing something. They can put Delta on when they need it and just forget about it,” Mr. Maznio states.

To see Oticon Delta for yourself and to learn more about hearing loss, contact Edward Maznio at PurTone Hearing Aid Centers, 1-888-614-HEAR (4327) or visit www.ArizonaHears.com for more information on Phoenix hearing aids.