Many Pilots Could Benefit

by ANN Correspondent Dave Slosson

From my experience, nothing irritates busy controllers more than having to repeat themselves... especially at the Class B airports that have a large volume of traffic. We generally grump off-mike about paying better attention up there, but it could very well be a hearing problem.

No, I'm not going to promote headsets over speakers, or any particular brand of headset. I'm talking about the hearing capabilities of pilots, especially those that have been around aviation for some time. Aircraft pilots and mechanics are subjected to noise levels well above the normal population, and have a high risk of hearing loss.

Dr. Mary Porath, product manager and audiologist representing Oticon, a hearing aid company, talked with me about their two revolutionary hearing solutions.

Delta is their new design that combines a small triangular behind-the-ear piece holding the electronics to a very tiny tube that goes into the ear canal, attached to an open-style receiver. The result is very difficult to detect, even with a side view of the head. The triangular piece comes in a variety of colors (shown below.)

Thanks to having the receiver in your ear, the sound is more natural and not distorted in any way, and normal sounds are also heard as the ear canal is not plugged as with traditional aids. The Delta comes in three varieties improving speech from 4000 Hz to 8000 Hz. The Delta has the most advanced directional system available, reducing up to three noise sources and helps tremendously in noisy environments. With up to 8 channels available to program, superior bandwidth, and automatic adaptation, it's no wonder the acceptance rate of first-time users who try them is almost double regular hearing aids.

For those that want connectivity even with hearing aids, the new Epoq design is for you. These aids are also receiver-in-the-ear, but they communicate with each other. If you adjust one aid by turning down the volume, the other turns itself down, too. If you change one aid to a different program, the other aid also makes the change.

With four programs available, up to 10,000 Hz adjustment, and the capability of having volume control, these aids give binaural sound. Think surround sound via both receivers and connected transmitters. You'll also have interaural loudness differences for spatial sound, a much more natural sound presentation. The units are Bluetooth-capable as well, which gives one the ability to pair it with a Bluetooth landline phone, Bluetooth capable cell phones or other electronics.

To get Bluetooth capability, you must wear a streamer, kind of like a necklace. The electronics in the streamer send the sound to the aids after receiving it from the Bluetooth devices. You can also buy a Sennheiser 820S transmitter/receiver combo that connects to the TV and transmits the volume via FM radio to a receiver connected to the streamer. You can hear the TV at a volume you're comfortable with, and still hear the voices of those around you just as clear as if the TV were off. Conversation during a TV show will be restored instead of the yelling sessions or constant muting and unmuting of the TV sound.

Only a qualified audiologist, after testing your hearing loss and questioning you about your normal routine, can select the proper hearing aids for your specific needs. Please forget the stigma of wearing hearing aids, and do it for your family if not yourself.

If my mom didn't have hearing aids, we'd have lost the ability to communicate with her by voice years ago. If my in-laws had hearing aids, we wouldn't have to listen to them shout at each other and have the TV blaring to watch a show. Get your hearing checked out as soon as you suspect a loss, as the longer you go without aids, the more difficult it is to adjust to the loss of sound capability, and the more sound capability you will not be able to recover. Eliminate the grumpy controller today!

As far as we can remember, this is the first time a hearing aid company came to Oshkosh. With all the radial engines and jets, it's no wonder many of us have hearing difficulties. The ladies at booth 5057 in Hangar E are not directly selling any hearing aids, only showing off the new designs. Pick up your free sample and register for a free pair of Deltas soon!

FMI: www.oticonusa.com