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The information in this brochure is subject to change without prior notice. © 2014 Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. All rights reserved. Hearing instruments help many people hear better, but no hearing instrument can solve every hearing problem nor restore normal hearing. Global Siemens Headquarters Siemens AG Wittelsbacherplatz 2 80333 Muenchen Germany Global Siemens Healthcare Headquarters Siemens AG Healthcare Sector Henkestrasse 127 91052 Erlangen Phone: +49 9131 84-0 Germany usa.siemens.com/healthcare usa.siemens.com/hearing Legal Manufacturer & Local Contact Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. 10 Constitution Avenue Piscataway, NJ 08855-1397 usa.siemens.com/hearing Global Business Unit Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Gebbertstrasse 125 DE-91058 Erlangen Germany Phone: +49 9131 308-0 Read the QR code with the QR code reader on your smart phone usa.siemens.com/hearing SH201450 8/14 1.0 22B771 10K SHI/15118-14 Live life to the fullest. Enjoy better hearing. Hearing enriches your life. The ear – catching every detail. The ear is like a net, catching many different types of sound: Low tones like a tuba or a car engine, high tones like a flute or birdsong, and every nuance in between – even the emotion of a whispered “I love you.” Outer ear Middle ear Pinna Malleus Incus Inner ear Auditory nerve Ear canal Our hearing is able to give us so much: It can make us laugh and fall in love, give us answers, save our lives and help us interact with the world. From the moment we’re born, our ears receive words, warnings and wonders, and constantly give us the information we need to learn, understand, communicate, and react. But, best of all, they grant us our favorite moments in life: A child’s first words, the rustle of leaves, laughter at a family gathering, whispers from a friend. Cochlea Stapes Tympanic membrane (eardrum) Outer ear: This part of the ear picks up sound and directs it to the eardrum via the ear canal. Middle ear: The sound makes the eardrum vibrate and is amplified by the ossicles, three tiny bones called the Malleus, Incus and Stapes. Inner ear: The cochlea converts movements of the ossicles into electrical signals. The auditory nerve transmits the signals to the brain. Our hearing enables such precious connections in our lives – that’s why it’s so important that we protect it in every way we can. 2 3 Sound affects our hearing. When hearing starts to fade away … In recent years, significantly more people from every age group have noticed that their hearing is starting to decline. As shown below, noise can cause cumulative damage to your hearing. In the beginning, you may not notice your hearing loss because it happens gradually over many years. DECIBEL CHART 140 dB 125 dB 4 Gunshot, jet engine at takeoff Immediate risk to hearing Air raid siren, firecracker Pain threshold, immediate risk of hearing damage 120 dB Rock concert, sandblasting 115 dB Baby’s cry, jet ski 110 dB Snowmobile (from driver’s seat) 105 dB Jackhammer, helicopter 100 dB Chain saw, stereo headphones Many times, those around you realize it before you do when you increasingly ask them to repeat themselves or don’t respond the way you used to. But at some point, you begin to notice that you have to put effort into what used to come naturally: Listening. Risk of hearing damage in 7 minutes Risk of hearing damage in 15 minutes Risk of hearing damage in 30 minutes Risk of hearing damage in 1 hour Risk of hearing damage in 2 hours 95 dB Motorcycle, power saw 90 dB Lawn mower, truck traffic 85 dB 70 dB 60 dB 40 dB Threshold for risk of hearing damage Risk of hearing damage in 4 hours The light part of this graphic visualizes the sounds that people with hearing impairments have difficulty understanding, such as birdsong and certain sounds of human speech. Risk of hearing damage in 8 hours Busy traffic, vacuum cleaner Conversation, dishwasher Quiet room Source: American Academy of Audiology dB SPL is a measurement of sound pressure level in decibels 5 Why does the world suddenly sound so dull? Hearing aids: Little helpers – big relief. Actual size in cm 4 3 2 1 No two cases of hearing loss are the same, but most people with a hearing impairment have difficulty distinguishing soft tones and high pitched sounds like whispers, children’s voices or birdsong. Speech understanding also suffers: As shown in the graphic before, many vital speech sounds are soft and high, they are what those with hearing loss often miss – causing a lack of speech clarity. Sometimes hearing loss is accompanied by tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. Fortunately, there are management options that provide relief today: Many hearing aids, which compensate for hearing loss, can also reduce the annoyance of tinnitus. 6 0 Motion Insio Pure Today’s hearing aids are tiny, high-tech instruments – a far cry from the large, clumsy-looking beige nuggets of the past. They‘re programmed to give us our very own customized sound experience by amplifying exactly the sounds that we‘ve been missing. They also highlight speech to let us focus on conversations and distinguish them from background noise. And today’s technology virtually eliminates the whistling feedback that older hearing aids used to make. All this in a stylish design that’s amazingly comfortable, exceptionally discreet, and surprisingly shock, dirt, and waterresistant. 7 A perfect match. Modern hearing aids feature countless options for an ideal fit and improved quality of life. Behind-The-Ear (BTE) or Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing aids can be worn behind the ear for powerful sound and a comfortable fit. In-The-Ear (ITE) custom hearing aids are tailor-made to perfectly and discreetly fit in the ear canal. BTE hearing aids Why is hearing with both ears so important? Nature has a great reason for giving us two ears: Binaural hearing, or hearing with both ears, helps us localize where sounds come from, keeping us safe in situations such as crossing streets in busy traffic. ITE custom hearing aids Above and beyond that, today’s hearing aids are stylish and technologically versatile. Whether you’re looking for a sporty solution or a classy conversation assistant, with your Hearing Care Professional by your side, you’re sure to find the hearing aids that fit your needs. 8 Catching all the sound around: It not only allows us to perceive sounds louder and clearer even in noisy situations, it also helps us pick out the sounds that we want to listen to, and ignore all the others. This is why it’s good to have two hearing aids if both ears show signs of hearing loss. Siemens hearing aids with wireless technology, fitted to both ears, automatically “communicate” with each other. They are designed to work together as a single harmonious system to restore the benefits of binaural hearing as much as possible. 9 Customized sound with sophisticated technology. All hearing aids have the same basic elements: Every model includes a microphone, a computer chip and speakers. The more advanced the model, the more features it offers – and the more personalized the sound can become. Generally speaking, when hearing aids are more sophisticated, they can produce a more natural listening experience, making life easier and hearing more enjoyable in every situation. Good hearing is accessible Just as there are hearing aids for every ear and every preference, there are also hearing aids for every budget. And today’s technology and design have made hearing aids more durable than ever, so they last for years. Don’t forget to contact your health insurance company – many policies cover a considerable amount of the cost. 10 Addressing tinnitus. How a tinnitus therapy feature can provide relief. Sometimes hearing loss is accompanied by tinnitus, a constant noise or ringingin-the-ears that only the affected person can hear – fortunately, many tinnitus management strategies offer relief today. Often, simply using a hearing aid to amplify the sounds around you can effectively reduce the annoyance of tinnitus. For those cases where simple amplification isn’t enough, hearing aids with a tinnitus therapy feature can be a comforting companion. They emit a customized noise signal that distracts you from the unpleasant tone inside your ears – helping you to relax, focus, and set your mind at ease. Just like most Siemens hearing aids, Siemens Life™ and Insio® are equipped with a tinnitus therapy feature. 11 Your new hearing aids: Rediscovering the world of sound. Help is never far away: Your Hearing Care Professional. Most of us never had to learn to hear – we naturally discovered the world of sound before we were even born. Using hearing aids gives you the unique chance to rediscover your world and yourself. Hearing well again is also beneficial for your loved ones: Friends and family enjoy how easy it is to communicate with you again. Meeting them for a nice chat in a café or going to the movies or a concert becomes so much more comfortable – and you can enjoy sharing conversation, laughter and music together again. However, hearing everything again can feel strange at first – sometimes your rediscovered ability seems like a sonic superpower: The purr of your car’s engine suddenly sounds like a freight train. Or wine poured into a glass seems like a waterfall. But don’t worry; just like everything new, it takes some time to adjust. And when you are patient, you soon appreciate the advantages and greater quality of life your hearing aids offer. 12 Your Hearing Care Professional will be happy to give you a quick and painless hearing test and ear exam – without any obligation from you. Once they analyze the results, they can help you choose the solution that best fits your needs. Or they may refer you to a specialist, who may be able to help you further. Whatever your results, a Hearing Care Professional is the perfect partner to help you make your way back to a life filled with the sound of treasured moments. 13 Hearing solutions for children: Growing fond of life. It’s your turn! Time for some answers. If you’re curious to find out how well you’re hearing works, go through the checklist below. Some questions to assess your hearing YES NO Do the people around you seem to mumble and not speak clearly? Has anyone ever told you that they often have to repeat things for you? Is it hard for you to understand when someone talks to you from behind or the side? Bedtime stories, field trips, family gettogethers, school or daycare – children learn how to interact with the world during all they experience as a baby, a small child, and when they start school. Is it difficult for you to follow conversations in loud environments, for example in restaurants or shopping malls? These speech and communication skills, so vital for a bright future, require the ability to hear well. So if we suspect that our child has trouble hearing, it’s good to know that there are trained professionals and hearing aids for active kids and teens. Growing up with hearing loss has become so much easier. Advanced diagnostic and therapy options enable our children to lead rich, fulfilling lives. Has anyone ever asked you to turn down the volume of your television or radio? Do you tend to go out less because it is hard for you to follow other people’s conversations? Do you have difficulties understanding someone on the other end of your telephone? Do you have trouble recognizing the direction from which a car, for example, is approaching? If you have ticked “YES” three or more times, we recommend that you contact a Hearing Care Professional or ENT doctor. Whether Motion® aids in fun colors or the waterproof Aquaris™, Siemens offers a broad range of models especially for kids – go check them out at usa.siemens.com/kids 14 15