Though hearing aids are extremely beneficial to an individual, wearing them is an option that most think twice about. This is usually because of the social stigma it carries with — it is not physically appealing.
Research has shown that women when compared to men are more conscious about wearing the aids. They feel it makes them stand out in the crowd and look different. The youth today has a feel that wearing hearing aids makes them look older or handicapped and leaves them with a thought — ‘Grandma wore a hearing aid, grandma was old, I’m not old so I can’t wear a hearing aid’ — such perceptions clouds their judgement about excepting the aids.
But thanks to the advancements in technology, the new hearing aids that were recently launched are tiny and stylish too. Oticon Intiga, the world’s smallest aids are available in vibrant colors that aims to overcome many of these problems. These aids are now available in Bangalore at Rajan’s speech and hearing centre. It holds great hope for the hearing impaired who keep postponing the use of the aids due to adjustment factors and social stigma concerns. The new Intiga addresses both.
Results of an international study conducted with first time users by researchers at two universities Towson University in Maryland, USA and The Hörzentrum in Oldenburg, Germany suggest that Oticon Intiga provided the first time users with immediate and obvious benefits. The study also showed that although it is widely accepted that people new to hearing devices usually take a longer time to accept hearing aids, participants in the international study immediately accepted new Intiga.
The participants in the two university studies reported experiencing immediate benefits in a variety of key performance areas including comfort in ear, comfort with loud sounds, one-on-one conversation in quiet and speech in noisy areas that resulted in immediate acceptance by the first time users. In addition, within the first week of the study, the majority of the participants indicated a determination
to wear their new hearing instruments long term.
It is estimated that only 20 per cent of people who could benefit from hearing instruments seek help, many often waiting up to ten years from the time they could benefit from hearing amplification. Among those who try hearing instruments for the first time, acceptance can be slow and rejection rates high.
Not surprising because of the way hearing solutions look and fell. These factors are important considerations. Top requirements voiced by new users in an Oticon study of 1,500 people experiencing hearing difficulty included a discreet look that doesn’t intimidate and a fit that is comfortable to wear throughout the day. Intiga’s ultra-small, organic shape hides well behind the ear and the almost invisible receiver wire and ergonomically shaped speaker ensure fitting comfort and retention throughout the day.
Bluetooth capabilities allow Intiga to connect wireless to cell phones, becoming a virtual hands-free headset in a miniature shell — making it the world’s smallest fully wireless hearing device. With addition of the Oticon ConnectLine system, audio from televisions and landline phones can be streamed directly to the hearing instruments. Oticon Intiga is suitable for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, more than 80 per cent of hearing losses with first time users. The new hearing solution is available at all specialty clinics of Rajan Speech and hearing.
Rajan speech and Hearing Centre has clinics across Residency Road, Koramangla, Indranagar and Malleshwaram.