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In a recent interview, Dr. Paul Dybala, President of Audiology Online, sat down to speak with Dr, Victor Bray, Chief Audiology Officer at Sonic Innovations, makers of quality hearing devices. Sonic Innovations is known industry-wide for it forward thinking designs so when this company introduces a new product line, its news.

Bray stated, At Sonic, when we talk about BTEs [behind-the-ear devices], there are three different sizes. There is the standard-size BTE, then a smaller version that we call the miniBTE, and then the smallest size that we call a microBTE. We consider the ion family of products microBTEs. They are very, very small, powered by 10A batteries.

It was about a year and half ago at AAA when we introduced the first ion hearing aid, which was our first open-fit BTE product. We had tremendous success with that product from the beginning.

So whats the big deal? Well, hearing aids come in a range of styles from completely-in-the-canal devices (called CIC units in the hearing health industry) to behind-the-ear models or BTEs. Heres the thing. In the past, most first-time hearing aid buyers opted for the CIC units. Invisible, right?

But there was a problem for some wearers of CICs. These devices plug into the ear canal, creating a stuffy head feeling. And your own voice sounds like its coming from the bottom of a well. Even so, many consumers chose CIC units for their discreet invisibility.

Now along comes Sonic Innovations with a new line of BTE models. These units make up the new and improved ion+ line. They present a discreet profile (unless someone is looking behind your ear, your ion is invisible and whats that guy looking behind your ear for, anyway?). In addition, these ion BTEs employ an open ear technology that delivers sound to the ear through an invisible plastic tube that rests at the edge of the ear canal.

The result? No stuffy head feeling. Your voice sound like your voice. And hearing is less processed and more natural thanks to the open ear fit. You hear naturally until you need a little volume gain. Only then does the ion seamlessly amp the volume.

How about durability? Do you work hard? Play hard? The entire product ion product line is made like machinery. Heavy duty, water-resistant and pure power.

So, if youre looking for discretion in your hearing device, but you still want wearing comfort, ball-peen hammer durability and a natural sound, take Dr. Brays recommendation and go with a small, open-ear device for the best look, the greatest degree of comfort and sound like you used to hear back in the day.

Sonic Innovations, along with the rest of the hearing health industry, are making great strides in this quality of life technology, so if youve noticed a little loss at the high end of your hearing range, stop by your audiologist for a screening.

You are really going to like what you hear.

Like what you’re reading? Visit HealthyHearing for a full featured article on Sonic Innovations: Super-Charged Ions