New Hearing Aids

Unitron Hearing Aid Review by Gardner Audiology Unitron.com

Unitron was found in 1964 and has its international headquarters in Ontario, Canada. Unitron is part of the Sonova Group which includes Phonak, Advanced Bionics and Connect Hearing, placing it in the top six worldwide companies for hearing aid sales and production. Unitron is one of the fastest growing hearing aid companies in the world.

Notable about Unitron:

  • One of the few companies to offer a full line up of alerting systems for the home, including, but not limited to telephone, doorbell and smoke detectors, for the hearing impaired.
  • One of only two companies that offer a wireless option for the CROS and BiCROS hearing aid systems.
  • Offers a full line of hearing of hearing aids that are moisture resistant; however not waterproof.

Starkey Hearing Aid Model Review Starkey.com

Starkey is one of the top six companies in worldwide hearing aid production and sales. This innovative company was founded in 1967 by William Austin who is today well known for his efforts to bring world peace with free hearing clinics through the efforts of the nonprofit Starkey Hearing Foundation.

My staff and I are very experienced Starkey providers. They have partnered with Gardner Audiology to perform 3 hearing research field studies of their products. Here are the links to those studies….

I think these are the most notable features of Starkey hearing aids:

  • In my opinion Starkey hearing aids are the best choice for people who live in Florida because of their patented watertight casing that minimizes repair problems due to humidity and perspiration. They have over 50 U.S. patents on their 100% water resistant designs
  • All Starkey hearing aid models even the least expensive have the best feedback elimination in the industry. Nobody like a hearing aid that squeals and whistles so Starkey is a good choice especially for people who have severe hearing losses.
  • Starkey invests in continuous research and product development. Their hearing aid models are programmable to accept upgrades and improvements.
  • Starkey, an American company based out of Minneapolis, is the best supported hearing aid manufacturer in the U.S.

Starkey builds petite 100% water resistant behind the ear hearing aids and the smallest custom molded in the ear canal hearing aid. Starkey instruments are available through private businesses and they also build hearing aids for retail outlets such as Audibel.

RESOUND

Headquartered in Denmark, ReSound is part of the GN ReSound Group, one of the world’s largest providers of hearing instruments and diagnostic audiological instrumentation. The company dates back to 1943, with the ReSound Corporation being founded in 1984. ReSound has been responsible for many industry firsts. WDRC (Wide Dynamic Range Compression) broke new ground for sound processing. DFS (Digital Feedback Suppression) was the first system to effectively eliminate howling and sound distortion. Air was introduced in 2003, providing top sound quality without blocking the ear canal for the very first time. In 2008, ReSound launched dot, then the world’s smallest hearing aid followed by be, the first remote microphone hearing aid. ReSound currently has a leading remote mini-microphone that can wirelessly communicate voice directly to hearing aids, improving understanding in noisy situations.

ReSound partnered with Gardner Audiology to field test their Ziga hearing aid in 200.

Resound is known for it’s very small wireless Alera and Verso hearing aid models. They are capable of receiving FM transmissions from television and other devices.


Phonak Hearing aid Review by Gardner Audiology Phonak.com

Phonak is a Swiss company specializing in hearing aids and wireless. They are one of the six largest hearing aid manufactures in the world. The company traces its roots back to 1947. In 1995, Phonak launched AudioZoom, pioneering the multi-microphone technology. In 2006, Phonak started the global Hear the World initiative to raise awareness about the importance of hearing and the consequences of hearing loss. The initiative addresses the social and psychological effects of hearing loss, and provides information on prevention and solutions.

Phonak has been a strong force in creating solutions for pediatric hearing impairment and is well known for wireless FM that has been used in school systems for decades.

Phonak is a part of the Sonova Group that also includes Unitron hearing instruments and Advanced Bionic cochlear implants.

Oticon Hearing aid Review by Gardner Audiology OticonUSA.com

Oticon, Inc, one of the top ten worldwide companies in hearing aid sales and production, was founded in 1904 in Denmark by Hans Demant who was hoping to find help for his wife’s hearing loss. The company is still guided by Mr. Demant vision by the Oticon Hearing Foundation. Oticon’s US headquarters are in Somerset, NJ.
Oticon has a People First philosophy of “empower people to communicate freely, interact naturally and participate actively”. In addition to this, every year they honor individuals for their contributions to and advocacy for the hearing impaired.

Notable about Oticon

  • Offered one of the first 100% digital hearing aids.
  • One of the first companies to offer connectivity options to television or Bluetooth cellphones with their Streamer.
  • Offers an extensive product line from affordable entry level hearing aids to top of the line. Additionally, they offer an excellent power hearing aid line for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss.
  • Excellent pediatric program for loaners and a product line with extended warranties.

Widex Hearing Aid Review by Gardner Audiology WidexUSA.com

In 1956, Harold Spar and Henry Meltser, founders of Hal-Hen, a hearing aid accessories company, teamed up with two Danish families to form Widex, USA.

Notable about Widex

  • Is one of the few companies that offer a hearing aid with a tinnitus management solution, with their Zen product line.
  • Introduced the first digital hearing aid
  • Introduced the first digitally programmable hearing aid with remote control in 1988

Share:

Additional Resources

Latest Blog Post