“The Open Ear technology is the closest thing to natural hearing I’ve experienced!” Jim Laemmli, Hometown Customer OPEN EAR Technology is the MOST REVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT in hearing care since the introduction of Digital Hearing Aids! First introduced in late 2003, OPEN EAR technology has created a seismic shift in the hearing care industry. We estimate that OPEN EAR instruments have gained over 25% market share, and with more and more OPEN EAR products available, prices are consistantly decreasing, making it more affordable NOW than ever. What is DIFFERENT about OPEN EAR Technology? Our customers report that OPEN EAR TECHNOLOGY provides a more crisp, clear, natural sound than their traditional hearing aids. The patented OPEN ear bud, combined with today’s advances to eliminate feedback and improve speech in noise, provide superior sound quality and overall performance. More natural sound with no occlusion or “barrel effect”. Traditional custom hearing aids plug or block the ear canal. Because the ear canal is blocked, sound must be processed through the hearing aid in order to be heard. The combination of the hearing aid blocking the ear canal and processing sounds through the hearing aid circuit (even those frequencies or sounds where you have normal hearing) causes many hearing aid users to complain that the hearing aid sounds “like they’re in a barrel”. Traditional custom aids can have other annoying effects: Many users complain of being able to hear themselves chewing while eating. One’s own voice usually sounds different with traditional custom aids, which requires the user to adapt to the new sound of their voice. OPEN EAR TECHNOLOGY virtually eliminates these side effects reported with many custom hearing aids. Discreet and virtually invisible The OPEN EAR mini-BTE sits behind your ear, but is small enough that it usually cannot be seen from the front or side, even for people with short hair styles. The miniature open ear bud sits deep in your ear canal and cannot be seen. The slim tube that connects the OPEN instrument and the ear bud is so small and clear that it is difficult to see. Lower maintenance miniature Behind-the-Ear (mini-BTE) style Because the hearing instrument sets behind your ear instead of in your ear, it is less prone to breaking down from ear wax and moisture. Most custom in the ear products can require ongoing maintenance for wax and moisture, especially the smallest Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC) hearing aids. High Frequency Fitting Range Never Before Possible Most people lose hearing in the higher frequencies first. High frequency hearing loss reduces your ability to hear speech in noise and to hear the higher frequency voices of women and children. Traditional hearing technology struggled with high frequency loss and often could not achieve a satisfactory outcome due to feedback. Feedback is the squealing sound produced when the microphones pick up the amplified sound from the hearing aid itself. Amplifying high frequencies is especially prone to creating feedback. In the past, many people with high frequency hearing loss simply were not able to be helped by hearing aids. Today’s advanced feedback management software cancels feedback before it occurs, enabling OPEN EAR Technology to effectively address high frequency hearing loss. How Does OPEN EAR Technology Work? The OPEN ear bud and today’s advanced digital circuits and software combine to deliver revolutionary performance improvements! OPEN Ear Bud The patented Open Ear Bud allows the instrument to amplify sounds in the exact frequencies where you have hearing loss, while still allowing sounds to pass through the Open Ear Bud naturally. This provides the crisp, clear, natural sound of OPEN EAR Technology. Advanced Technology Defeats Feedback to Make OPEN EAR Bud Possible A common approach to manage feedback is to reduce amplification in those frequencies that cause feedback. The drawback to this approach is that you need this amplification for ideal performance. Feedback management has traditionally sacrificed performance to reduce feedback. Open fittings’ biggest enemy is feedback. Because sound can travel freely between the receiver and the microphone with an open ear bud, feedback is a particular problem. Today’s advanced feedback management software cancels or eliminates feedback BEFORE it occurs without sacrificing performance. How Much Does Open Ear Technology Cost? When introduced, Open Ear Technology often cost over $4,000 per pair. We have a several Open Technology products to fit your needs and budget. Our sale pricing starts at $1,195 per instrument, which we believe is $300 - $1,000 below most competitor pricing for their open ear products. BACK TO ABOUT HEARING AIDS