SOMERSET, NJ, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ - Oticon Eqoq, the world’s first “stereophonic” hearing instrument, addresses the two most common listening challenges for people with hearing loss: Delivering sound in “stereo” to create a natural sense of where sounds are coming from and enabling cell phone use without the distortion or interference that make cell phone communication difficult or impossible for people who wear hearing aids.
Built-in wireless connectivity is at the core of Epoq’s breakthrough technology. When two Epoqs hearing devices are worn, they communicate with each other using high speed wireless broadband technology. This real-time connectivity with voices and other sounds in the immediate listening environment provides accurate, stereophonic 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.
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 cell 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.
“With Epoq, we finally have a hearing instrument that goes beyond compensation for hearing loss to become a true high tech communications device,” said Peer Lauritsen, President of Oticon, Inc.
Real-Time Synchronicity - in Stereo
Traditional hearing instruments operate independently of each other - the left ear processing sounds from the left side and the right ear processing sounds from the right side. The result can be an unnatural listening experience - the audio equivalent of tunnel vision. When two Epoq hearing instruments are worn, surrounding sounds coming in to each instrument are combined and processed in real time through a central processor. This stereophonic processing takes into account the way in which the brain relies on input from two ears to deliver a more natural hearing experience.
Wireless Connectivity to Cell Phones and More
Epoq provides a new and previously unavailable hearing solution to the problems of using hearing aids with cell phones. Earlier options such as removing one hearing aid or holding the cell phone at an awkward angle, combined with the distractions caused by background noise, often made cell phone use impossible for people with hearing loss. The Streamer, a small, wearable companion device, converts Bluetooth signals from cell phones, personal computers, Ipods and other popular electronic devices into an electromagnetic bit stream that is received directly by the hearing instruments. This seamless connectivity is fully digital and uninterrupted from the Bluetooth source device to the hearing instruments, providing comfortable and noise-free sound quality. Once the Streamer is paired to a Bluetooth compatible cell phone, the user simply presses a button on the Streamer to receive phone calls in both ears through the hearing instruments.
About Oticon: Oticon is one of the most innovative hearing aid manufacturers on the market. With more than 100 years of experience, Oticon has spearheaded a number of technological breakthroughs which have made a significant difference for people with hearing loss. Oticon is the only hearing aid manufacturer with its own psycho acoustic research center, ensuring that the needs of hearing aid users are always put first when developing new solutions. For more information about the new Epoq, visit www.oticonusa.com.
Oticon
CONTACT: Sara Coulter, Tag Team Global, Office: (201) 447-5531, Mobile:(201) 819-1403, Fax: (201) 632-4853, scoulter@tagteamglobal.com
