MANUFACTURERS NEWS

Audifon adds Axia DEBARY, FL—Axia is the new premium line of Audifon (http://www.audifon.com) products for today's hearing needs. According to the manufacturer, Axia offers optimum listening comfort, easy handling, an intelligent digital sound processor, and customer-focused features, including: adaptive directional microphones, adaptive feedback cancellation, adaptive noise-reduction analyses, four programs to provide customization for individual needs and preferences, automatic telephone detection, and data logging. Available in custom and BTE models, Axia is suitable for any hearing loss. It is programmable with Audifit fitting software 4.3.0, which offers an intuitive and easy-to-use platform for a full line of programmable hearing systems. Axia is also suitable for MySound!, Audifon's advanced fitting tool that simulates realistic sound worlds. Circle 166 on Reader Service Card FDA okays device for vertigo PORTLAND, OR—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Vesticon Corp's (http://www.vesticon.com) new Omniax device for marketing in the United States. According to Vesticon, this is the first device approved by the FDA to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of balance disorders and vertigo, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). An estimated 15 million Americans suffer from balance problems and vertigo, many to a debilitating degree. A recent start-up company, Vesticon is in talks with several multi-national medical device companies about distribution. “We believe that the FDA action is significant to achieving our mission of helping physicians and their patients achieve victory over vertigo,” said Cathryn Epley, president and CEO. The Omniax includes a software-guided patient positioning system (see photo) using infrared goggles to assist physicians in analyzing abnormal patterns of eye movement. Vesticon hopes to begin shipping the Omniax this fall. Circle 167 on Reader Service Card Laser therapy for tinnitus SACRAMENTO, CA—HearingMed, Inc. (www.hearingmed.com), a provider of hearing health services, is hosting an FDA clinical trial in Sacramento exploring the use of laser therapy to moderate or eliminate the symptoms of tinnitus. The trial is sponsored by Erchonia Medical, a provider of low-level medical lasers. “We feel that this cutting edge technology may offer a real therapeutic alternative to those who suffer from this chronic and often severe condition,” said Mark Moore, president of HearingMed. Headquartered in Roseville, CA, HearingMed is a network of hearing healthcare providers. Circle 168 on Reader Service Card Open-fit aids pass noise test ST. LOUIS—A study conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that open-fit hearing aids with directional microphones worked well in a noisy Chicago restaurant environment, perhaps the most challenging test for a hearing aid. The study, published in the June issue of the International Journal of Audiology, was funded by Vivatone, Although the clatter in which the subjects were tested came from a restaurant in Chicago, the testing took place in St. Louis in the clinic of Michael Valente, PhD, director of the Division of Adult Audiology in the Department of Otolaryngology at the School of Medicine. Valente reported, “We found that the open-fit aids with directional microphones on average gave wearers a 20% improvement in speech intelligibility in the restaurant setting compared to not having a hearing aid or wearing an open-fit aid without a directional microphone.” Circle 169 on Reader Service Card Couple wins Beltone award MONTEREY, CA—Beltone presented its President's Cup Award to Daniel Fletcher, BC-HIS, and Jean Fletcher at its 2008 National Meeting held here this summer. The President's Cup, Beltone's highest honor, has been awarded annually since 1958 to hearing care practitioners who demonstrate exceptional patient care, community involvement, and professional business practices. Daniel and Jean Fletcher have worked with Beltone for 20 year and have been full-time business owners since 2001. They now have five full-time offices, two part-time offices, and serve more than 20 senior homes in Michigan and Ohio.FigureCircle 170 on Reader Service Card 100,000 MDs offer CareCredit COSTA MESA, CA—Marking a milestone, CareCredit® (www.carecredit.com), North America's largest patient payment program, signed up its 100,000th practice recently. These include audiologists, ophthalmologists, cosmetic surgeons, veterinarians, dentists, and other healthcare providers. Circle 171 on Reader Service Card A digital personal communicator GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN—Bellman & Symfon has introduced Bellman Audio Maxi (www.bellman.com/Maxi), which it describes as “the first digital personal communicator.” The Maxi employs digital technology to clarify speech and reduce background noise and feedback for the user. The manufacturer says that Maxi “guarantees hours of comfortable and noise-free listening.”FigureSince many people suffer also from visual, cognitive, and dexterity problems, Maxi is designed with simplicity and usability in mind. All common functions can be accessed at the push of a button and there are no complicated menus to get lost in. Maxi was recently rated first by Britain's Royal National Institute for the Deaf. Maxi, which is priced similarly to analog models, is available from the distributors in the U.S. and in Canada. Circle 172 on Reader Service Card Custom earpieces for RIC aidsFigureCOLORADO SPRINGS, CO—Westone Laboratories, Inc. (Westone.com) has introduced custom-fit earpieces designed specifically for use with Siemens receiver-in-canal (RIC) instruments. Custom fit earpieces are designed for patients who would benefit from more available gain and better retention with an RIC instrument. Westone's style #87 earpiece fits securely to the RIC receiver and incorporates the Siemens C-Guard wax protection system. Available in acrylic and silicone, the style #87 can be ordered with or without a removal line. The earpieces are available directly through Westone, and practices with a Siemens account can order electronically through mySiemens.com. After navigating to the Westone Order Form, they should select “RIC Custom Molds.” Circle 165 on Reader Service Card

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