Monthly Archives: February 2019

Are you ready to open up to the future?

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We are proud to demonstrate our strong commitment to you, our potential and current Ponto system users, and your hearing enjoyment both now and in the future. We do this by paying attention to your feedback on your hearing needs and preferences, and constantly seeking opportunities to better fulfill them. As a result, we regularly come up with new and exciting technological innovations designed to take your hearing experience to the next level.

One solution does not fit all

As you probably know, bone-anchored hearing systems (BAHS) are all different and no single solution works for every patient. For example, if you have a profound hearing loss, you would probably benefit most from a system that offers more power. And if you haven’t worn a BAHS secured to an implanted abutment, you might not be enjoying the full effects of aided hearing.

Even if you are satisfied with whatever device you’re currently wearing, it’s worth exploring all the options now available and making the most informed choice possible about your future hearing. Like all advanced technology, the “top of the line” features offered in BAHS manufactured only a year ago have probably been surpassed by current offerings — and certainly will be by whatever comes in the (near) future!

The Oticon Medical upgrade opportunity

We are offering all patients who purchase a new Ponto 3 family sound processor between March 1, 2019 and July 31, 2019 a one-time complimentary technology upgrade to the next generation of our sound processor as soon as it becomes available.*

UPDATE: THIS OFFER HAS EXPIRED.

Whether you’ve never worn a BAHS, previously worn another manufacturer’s system, or have an older model Ponto, we encourage you to contact our customer service department at 1-888-277-8014 to learn more about your options.

*NOTE: Offer only available to users in the U.S. and Canada.

Ponto 3 Superpower donation in honor of beloved hearing advocate provides recipient with the joy of hearing

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Last month we partnered with Ear Community, a charitable nonprofit devoted to helping children and adults born with Microtia and Atresia, to donate a Ponto 3 Superpower hearing device in honor of Denise “Dee” Marie Inman. Dee, who had bilateral hearing loss stemming from the side effects of cancer treatments, was herself a recipient of a donated Ponto Power sound processor back in 2016 after her insurance provider denied coverage. As a member of Ear Community, Dee remained a staunch advocate for other individuals with hearing loss until she sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2018. Shortly thereafter, we contacted her husband Ken Inman and arranged to have a Ponto device donated in Dee’s honor.

A legacy of better hearing

Dee Inman and Eisen Witcher.

Ear Community helped identify the perfect recipient: Eisen Witcher, Ocean Rescue Chief Director for Brevard County Ocean Rescue Division, which ensures safe swimming and beach protection to residents and tourists. Witcher was born with grade 3 Microtia and Atresia of his left ear, yet like Dee was denied coverage for a bone conduction hearing device by his insurer. Fortunately, having been encouraged by his audiologist to apply for a donated device through Ear Community, he was chosen as the perfect recipient of Dee’s gift. Besides hearing loss and a mutual devotion to helping others in their communities, Witcher and Dee have something else in common — he also battled cancer and is now a three-year survivor.

In January 2019, Witcher was fitted with his new Ponto Superpower device at Space Coast Audiology Hearing and Balance. Witcher expressed his joy and appreciation, saying, “So this is new… I love it!” He also shared that his young son loves the stuffed monkey we gave him that wears its own Ponto device just like daddy.

A fitting memorial

Dee Inman and Ken Inman.

Ken said, “I am very honored about this donation in Dee’s name. I know this is something she would have really wanted. Thank you again for this honor. She left quite a legacy and will never be forgotten.”

We would like to thank Melissa Tumblin of the Ear Community organization for assisting in providing this donation in Dee’s memory. While we continue to mourn her loss, we are pleased that her legacy will live on through her good works and this life-changing gift to Eisen Witcher.

Click to visit Ear Community and learn more about their mission on behalf of individuals born with Microtia and Atresia.

Dee and Melissa Tumblin.

Eisen receives Ponto Superpower.

 

 

 

 

 

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Benefits of the Ponto System: Learn Faster, Remember More, Less Effort using Direct Sound Transmission and Higher Maximum Output

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Choosing a system and sound processor for you or your child’s individual hearing loss is an important decision that can impact everyday life in fundamental ways. Choosing the right system affects how quickly a child will learn as well as their ability to remember what they hear, while sound processor choice impacts the level of effort needed to understand speech.

Today, we’re excited to share three recent studies that measured the benefit of Direct Sound Transmission and maximum output on learning, remembering and listening effort with the Ponto Bone Anchored Hearing System.

Ponto Evidence #1: Learn Faster

In a recent study conducted by Dr. Andrea Pittman from The Pediatric Amplification Lab at Arizona State University, school-aged children (mean age 11) were fitted with the Power version of the Ponto Bone Anchored Hearing System on a softband and an abutment. These children were tasked with listening and learning six new words. The purpose of this study was to quantify the benefits that children receive from a surgically implanted device compared to wearing the device on a softband.

The results showed that on average, children learned new words 2.5 x faster using a system with Direct Sound Transmission compared to a solution with skin transmission. Direct Sound Transmission systems can provide an extra 10-20 dB of output in the mid to high-frequency range, which contains the most important sound information for speech understanding.

Ponto Evidence #2: Remember more

In a similar study conducted by Professor Thomas Lunner, a senior scientist and research manager at Eriksholm Research Centre in the Denmark, a memory and recall test was performed on participants (mean age 58) who wore the Power version of the Ponto on a softband and abutment. The participants were tasked with recalling specific words after listening to seven sentences.

The result was a 13% relative improvement in recall performance with Direct Sound Transmission vs. skin transmission. With Direct Sound Transmission fewer resources are needed to process sound, more resources and energy are focused remembering.

Ponto Evidence #3: Less effort

In order to measure listening effort objectively, participants were tasked with listening and repeating sentences while an eye-tracking camera monitored their pupil dilation, as a measure of listening effort. These participants (mean age 59) were given sound processors with different maximum outputs like the Ponto Pro, Ponto 3 and Ponto 3 SuperPower (P3SP).

The result was significantly less effort with the Ponto 3 SuperPower as indicated by reduced pupil dilation.

What this means for you, the user

Choosing a system and a sound processor has an impact beyond hearing and can affect everyday activities like learning, remembering and listening. With Direct Sound Transmission and a sound processor with higher maximum output more cognitive resources can be used for understanding, remembering and enjoying life.  

We believe in providing patients with the best possible sound quality which is why the Ponto Bone Anchored Hearing System uses Direct Sound Transmission with an abutment and the P3SP is the most powerful abutment-level bone anchored sound processor.

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Click the button if you want to learn more about our Ponto bone anchored hearing systems or arrange a trial.