Brooks Hearing & Speech Clinic
Paris, TX (903) 737-8800          Sulphur Springs, TX (903) 438-1600

First Hearing Instruments that “Talk” to Each Other Take Sound to a New Dimension for People with Hearing Loss

“Most people don’t realize that we hear in three-dimensions,” stated (practitioner) of (practice) in (location).  “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 (practitioner).  “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 device, 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 (practitioner), 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 devices ’talk’ to each other, working as a single system and sending the brain information that it can more accurately interpret,” explains (practitioner).  ”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 (xx) and white.