Category Archives: Product Information

Oticon Medical introduces Ponto™ Instant, expanding non-surgical choice with the Instant SoundConnector

Oticon Medical today announces its new non-surgical portfolio, Ponto Instant, designed to broaden access to bone conduction hearing and offer more choice for users and hearing care professionals.

The Ponto Instant portfolio includes the Softband 5, Oticon Medical’s established and trusted non-surgical solution, and now expands with the launch of the new Instant SoundConnector, further strengthening its wearable offering for children and adults who prefer a non-surgical solution.

Instant SoundConnector: an alternative headwear option

The Instant SoundConnector is a small accessory that is fitted onto a hat or other headwear to hold the sound processor in place. It offers an additional non-surgical wearing option for specific occasions and individual style preferences. By allowing users to wear their sound processor with a favorite hat or headwear, The Instant

SoundConnector makes it easier to personalize the wearing experience.

For the best non-surgical experience without undergoing an implant procedure, the Softband 5 isthe recommended option. The Softband 5 can be fitted with a Ponto 5 Mini or Ponto 5 SuperPower. ThePonto 5 SuperPower (65 dB) is especially valuable during the trial period, where extra power helps to overcome skin attenuation and provide an experience closer to that of an implanted device. Instant SoundConnector strengthens the portfolio by adding a complementary option for users who want another way to wear their sound processor.

Supporting choice across the hearing journey

With the introduction of Ponto Instant, Oticon Medical continues its commitment to providing a complete portfolio of bone conduction hearing solutions that supports users throughout their hearing journey, from non-surgical wearables to implanted solutions.

“Ponto Instant brings together non-surgical solutions that give users and hearing care professionals greater choice across different needs and preferences,” said René Govaerts, President & General Manager, Oticon Medical. “With the Instant SoundConnector, we are continuing to build a portfolio that supports more individual wearing options.”

Ponto Instant marks another step in Oticon Medical’s mission to support users and hearing care professionals with flexible solutions that combine comfort, discretion and ease of use. Availability of the Instant SoundConnector is subject to regulatory approval in respective markets.

Media Contact:
Erik Lund
Marketing Director, Oticon Medical
E-mail: [email protected]
Mobile: +46 76 304 4482

Stronger Hearing Backed by Science

Sentio Study Results Published

A newly published clinical study in Otology & Neurotology confirms what many Sentio™ users already know: our newest bone conduction hearing system helps people hear more clearly and more comfortably than ever before. Conducted across six major European hospitals, the research highlights the meaningful impact of the Sentio System over the first six months after implantation. ¹

Key Takeaways

The Sentio System can help those with conductive hearing loss (CHL), mixed hearing loss (MHL), and single-sided deafness (SSD) hear more clearly by sending sound vibrations through bone instead of the ear canal.
Participants in the study showed major improvements in hearing ability and speech understanding, including in noisy listening conditions.
Surgery is fairly quick, with a fast recovery, and most participants reported little to no discomfort.
Over 90% of participants were highly satisfied with the Sentio System and most participants reportedly used their processor for the majority of their day on a regular basis.
Excellent safety outcomes with no serious device-related complications occurring.

If you’re living with conductive hearing loss (CHL), mixed hearing loss (MHL), or single-sided deafness (SSD), you know how challenging everyday listening can be. Traditional hearing aids aren’t always the best solution, especially when the middle ear isn’t functioning properly. That’s where bone conduction devices (BCDs) come in.

What Are Bone Conduction Devices?

BCDs work differently from traditional hearing aids. Instead of sound passing through the ear canal and middle ear, and then to the cochlea in the inner ear, BCDs capture the sound in the environment, amplify it, and turn it into vibrations that travel through the bones of the skull directly to the cochlea in the inner ear. This makes BCDs an excellent option for people who don’t benefit from traditional hearing aids.

BCDs come in two primary types: skin-drive systems, where vibrations pass through the skin, and direct-drive systems, where vibrations are delivered directly to the bone, without having to pass through the skin, enabling louder sound. The Sentio System uses an active transcutaneous direct-drive approach, combining the efficient sound transmission of a direct drive system with a discreet, under the skin implant. A small external sound processor attaches magnetically to the internal component, with the sound processor picking up sound and sending it to the implant. The sound processor and implant are the smallest available today.²

Initial Findings from the Sentio Study

In this study, researchers from multiple European hospitals followed 51 adults who received the implant and measured their hearing outcomes over the first six months. These participants will continue to be followed for up to 24 months, and these longer-term findings will also be published.

The results were overwhelmingly positive. The researchers found that the Sentio System provides powerful improvements in hearing ability, with participants experiencing an average of 32.8 dB improvement in hearing, which is a difference that has real-life impacts. The ability to understand speech also improved with the Sentio System. Excitingly, participants scored an average of 98% correct on speech-understanding tests in quiet. Even in the most noisy and challenging environments, the Sentio System was able to help participants understand speech better.

The Sentio System was also reported by participants to be comfortable and easy to use. Most participants wore their device for eight hours or more each day, and many participants reported a natural listening experience in their daily lives. The recovery after the short surgery was straightforward as well. Incisions healed quickly, discomfort was minimal, and participants were able to begin using their new hearing system shortly after.

In the six months following the surgery, there were no serious device-related complications, and while some minor issues, such as inflammation, occurred after the surgery, most of these occurrences were mild to moderate and most resolved quickly.

Summary

Big improvements in hearing

Participants had an average hearing improvement of 32.8 dB, a significant improvement that can have impactful real-life benefits.
Speech understanding in quiet listening conditions improved by an average of 52% with participants scoring an average of 98% accuracy on speech understanding when using their Sentio System.
When tested with background noise, speech understanding also improved with the Sentio System. On average, the Sentio System enabled participants to understand speech better when there was even more noise in the background (3 dB more noise in fact).

A simple and smooth surgery

On average, the surgical procedure took less than one hour.
By two weeks, the implant site was completely healed for all participants.
Most participants reported little or no pain following the placement of the Sentio implant.

There were no serious device-related complications, and adverse events were minor (e.g., temporary skin irritation or mild headaches) and improved over time.

High satisfaction and quality of life improvements

96% of participants reported improvements in their overall quality of life after receiving their Sentio System.
The majority of participants reported that the sound quality was natural-sounding.
The majority of participants used their sound processor for at least eight hours a day.
92% of participants reported being overall satisfied with their experience with the Sentio System.

The Sentio System: A Powerful Alternative

If traditional hearing aids haven’t worked, or you’ve been told they’re not an option, the Sentio System may offer a powerful alternative.

The results of this study align with what our mission has always been: to give people a clearer, more confident connection to the world around them all with freedom of choice. Backed by peer-reviewed clinical evidence, Sentio combines advanced hearing performance, comfort, and reliability, making it a strong choice for anyone seeking a modern, effective hearing solution. Now is the perfect time to speak with your audiologist or hearing care provider to see if the Sentio System is right for you.

References

Hol, Myrthe Karianne Sophie,; Aukema, Tjerk Winusa; Ubbink, Sander Wilhelmus Johannesa; Lindholm, Dennis; Holmberg, Marcus; Arndt, Susan; Wolf, Stefanie; Monksfield, Peter; Marwa, Mihalache; Lenarz, Thomase; Busch, Susane; Tysome, James; Asher, Abif; Kok, Hermang; Mylanus Emmanuel Antonius, Maria. A Prospective, Multicenter Clinical Investigation on the Safety and Performance of a New Active Transcutaneous Bone-Anchored Implant System. Otology & Neurotology ():10.1097/MAO.0000000000004706, November 17, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000004706

Sentio implant and sound processor physical features and comparison to other devices (Doc-00123204)

Traveling With Your Sentio System

In previous years, we have provided articles with travel tips for our Ponto™ System wearers. Now that it’s time for winter vacations, here are suggestions for traveling with your Sentio™ System, the active transcutaneous hearing system we introduced more than a year ago. We hope these tips will help you enjoy your time away from home with confidence!

Airline Travel with Sentio

If you are traveling by plane, make sure you inform TSA personnel that you are wearing an implantable hearing device. They will recommend whether you should remove your Sentio 1 Mini sound processor(s) at the security checkpoint, so follow their instructions. Don’t worry—it is safe to pass through the scanner.

Once on the airplane, you can enable Flight Mode during takeoff and landing to disable your Sentio’s Bluetooth®, if required by flight personnel. The sound processor itself will continue working, so you can hear your seatmate, flight attendants, and announcements.

Activate or deactivate Flight Mode by pressing either the front- or back-facing part of the Sentio’s double push button for seven seconds. After a few seconds, you will hear a jingle that indicates Mute mode. Keep pressing the button until a final jingle is heard, which confirms you have successfully activated/deactivated Flight Mode. Removing and reinserting the battery will also deactivate Flight Mode, with the same, short jingle confirming implementation.

Sentio Maintenance Throughout Your Trip

While you’re traveling, it is a good idea to keep your Sentio 1 Mini in its case whenever you aren’t using it. This protects it from dust, dirt, water, or other substances that could affect its performance.

You should be aware that the chemicals used in cosmetics may damage the processor. These include items commonly used during vacations, including the following:

Hairspray
Perfume
Aftershave cream or lotion
Suntan lotion or spray
Insect repellant

If you use any of the above, make sure you do so before putting on your Sentio processor and avoid the area around it as much as possible.

While the processor is resistant to daily life situations (e.g., exposure to rain going from your car to someplace indoors), it is not waterproof, so don’t dive into a swimming pool or otherwise immerse it in water. Of course, accidents can happen. If your Sentio 1 Mini winds up getting wet, remove the battery lid, remove the battery and let it dry out. If you have a hearing aid dryer along, you can put it in that for a cycle.

Keep Your Sentio System Charged

One thing you definitely want to avoid is having your Sentio 1 Mini run out of charge while you’re traveling. Battery life varies depending on usage time, sound environment, how frequently you stream, and other factors. Make sure you bring enough spare Size 675 batteries along to keep your processor up and running for the length of your trip. They are small, so err on the side of packing more than you think you might need. Don’t forget the battery lid tool included with your Sentio System, so that you can easily open the battery door.

You will know it is time to replace the battery when you hear consecutive beeps repeated in moderate intervals, as follows:

Three alternate beeps indicate that the battery is running low
Four beeps in a descending tone indicate that the battery is running out completely

Another sign that the battery is running low is that Bluetooth will turn off and you will lose connection to your phone or other wireless accessories.

NOTE: If your hearing care professional turned on the optional LED indicator when programming your Sentio 1 Mini, this tiny light will blink orange repeatedly to notify you when your battery is running low.

Secure Your Sentio 1 Mini Processor

Since travelers tend to engage in more physical activities than usual, it is a good idea to attach a safety line to your Sentio 1 Mini processor. This reduces the risk of the processor being knocked off and damaged or lost. To attach the safety line, watch this helpful how-to video and follow these steps:

Pass the loop of the safety line through the attachment hole in the battery lid
Pass the loop through the attachment hole in the sound processor
Insert the sound processor through the loop of the safety line and tighten
Attach the safety line clip to your clothing

TIP: Make sure you don’t pull or tug on the safety line, as this could disconnect the processor.

In Case of Emergency

While of course we hope this situation never arises, medical emergencies sometimes happen during vacation travel. In the spirit of preparedness, we suggest you download and bring the MRI Security Card for the Sentio System. Fold it and keep it in your wallet, and/or make sure someone traveling with you knows where it is. You can also store the URL in your phone: MRI Security Card for Sentio System

We hope you found this information useful! If you ever have any questions or concerns about the care and maintenance of your Sentio System, please contact us at 888.277.8014 or [email protected].

Why Are My Batteries So Hard To Open?

Reese’s Law Takes Effect in the US

In 2025, a new law went into effect in the United States. Known as Reese’s Law, its intent is to protect individuals, particularly young children, from accidentally swallowing the small round batteries known as “button” or “coin” cell batteries. Since these batteries are normally used in hearing aids (including bone conduction hearing processors) this law affects many hearing device wearers, because it mandates that their packaging be tamper-resistant. Here is what you need to know about this new law and why you will now have to use different techniques to open your button cell battery packs.

Why this law was enacted

The story behind Reese’s Law is a tragedy. It was named for a toddler named Reese Hamsmith, who swallowed the button battery powering one of her toys in 2020. Sadly, she died after a month-long hospital stay. Her mother then founded Reese’s Purpose, which led to the passage of a bipartisan law to protect children from ingesting these tiny batteries. While the law passed in 2022, we are only now seeing widespread implementation, as it only applied to batteries imported after March 2024.

Thousands of cases involving children swallowing button batteries are reported annually in the United States. While some batteries are swallowed and passed without incident, far too many get stuck in children’s (or pets’) throats. In the case of lithium-ion batteries, saliva might cause an electrical current, resulting in a chemical reaction that severely burns the esophagus. Small children, who are at greatest risk, are often too young to express that they swallowed a battery. Because their symptoms typically present as coughing, drooling, or general discomfort, parents usually have no idea that a button battery is the source of their sudden illness.

Although Reese’s Law was based on a case of swallowing a lithium-ion battery, zinc-air batteries are also included. Although the risk to children and pets is somewhat different, zinc-air batteries still contain trace amounts of poisonous mercury that could potentially be lethal if swallowed. Also, the size of all button batteries poses a danger regardless, in that a child can stick one (or more) up their nose or swallow them easily, creating choking hazards. Therefore, all button batteries are included under the mandates, which includes a requirement to use tamper-resistant packaging.

Challenges presented by childproof battery packaging

The motives and logic behind stronger safeguards against children swallowing button batteries make sense. However, the new law presents undeniable challenges for many hearing device wearers, who depend on these small, round batteries to power their hearing aids or bone anchored hearing processors.

The biggest issue for adults is the change in packaging. All button-sized batteries are required to be contained in approved packaging according to the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). This packaging is tested to ensure that 85 percent (or more) of children cannot reasonably open it unassisted within a five-minute span and that 80 percent (or more) cannot open it even after receiving instructions from an adult on how to open it.

This tamper-proof packaging is also tested to make sure an adult can open it with “relative ease”. However, this assumption is based on the average, able-bodied adult. It does not take into consideration dexterity, vision, or cognitive challenges that often affect older adults or individuals with conditions that impede coordination, strength, or sight.

Guidance for opening tamper-resistant battery packaging

Here are the steps for safely cutting the new tamper-resistant packaging to access your batteries:

Get a pair of scissors
Place the battery package on a flat, stable surface. This will help you avoid accidentally damaging the batteries, cutting yourself, or dropping and losing batteries, once freed of their packaging
Be careful to only cut where indicated either on the package itself or in these instructions, and not directly over the battery(ies)
For a single battery, cut the top off the package to just above the plastic blister containing the battery
Peel cardboard backing away from the back
Tap the battery out onto the flat surface
For a multipack of batteries, cut between the individual compartments until the battery you want to access can be removed as described above

Our friends at HearingLife have put together a short video demonstrating how to cut into the new childproof packaging so as not to damage the batteries. You can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si6aKj-1doQ.

Getting batteries for your Oticon Medical bone anchored hearing system

Oticon Medical stocks batteries suitable for all our available hearing processors. In the United States, you can contact our Customer Service team to order batteries at 888.277.8014 (M-F 8am-7pm ET) or you can place an order anytime via [email protected]. Here is a list of our current processors and the battery each requires (note: all batteries are zinc-air):

Ponto 4: Size 312
Ponto 5 Mini: Size 312
Ponto 5 SuperPower: Size 675 P
Sentio 1 Mini: Size 675

The Holidays are for Hearing

With the winter holidays beginning this week, we wanted to re-run this helpful post on how to make sure everyone feels included this season. Enjoy and please share!

Families are gathering. Holidays plans are made. You are heading out on a road trip to see the grandkids. The house is bustling with the sounds of the holidays. Children are laughing, and the dinner conversations are lively. It’s time to join with your family around a festive holiday table to celebrate the season and the start of a new year.

For people with hearing loss, these joyous moments can also bring a host of challenges. A noisy dinner conversation can leave a person with hearing loss feeling tired from the effort they have to spend to understand the message. The dinner table is noisy and voices sound muffled from a distance. Important conversations are missed. These challenges can cause isolation and exhaustion for someone with hearing loss.

Oticon Medical has focused on these challenging situations to present patients with device programming and accessory options that improve communication and quality of life. Our accessories, paired with good communication practices, can positively impact interactions with users of our product portfolio. Here are some communication strategies that we can all practice throughout the holidays that will help make communication easier and the season more enjoyable for people with hearing loss.

How to talk to someone with hearing loss

Face the person. Ensure that the person with hearing loss can see everyone’s face. The visual cues will help the person understand the words they didn’t catch.
Minimize background noise. Turn off the TV and reduce the volume of surrounding music or television to make communication easier.
Make sure the room is well-lit. A well-lit environment can make it easier for the person with hearing loss to see facial expressions, body language, and gestures from across a room.
Get their attention first. Get an individual’s attention by saying their name first or gently tapping their arm, and then convey your message to increase the chance that it will be heard and understood.
Speak slowly and clearly. Annunciate your words and take your time.
Rephrase, don’t repeat. If something isn’t heard the first time, try rephrasing it. Instead of repeating the same sentence louder, try saying it a different way.
Don’t speak from another room. Minimizing distance will maximize the chance that your message will be heard and understood.
Speak at a normal volume. Shouting during conservation can distort the signal for the person with hearing loss and so, rather than making it easier for a hard of hearing person to understand you, it often has the opposite effect.

Useful tools for communication success

Oticon Medical’s BrainHearing™ philosophy reminds us that we hear with our brains, not just our ears. Our Ponto™ devices are equipped with special noise reduction options that operate with this philosophy in mind. The Ponto family is compatible with a variety of accessories that have streaming capabilities to help people with hearing loss communicate successfully in difficult listening environments. Let’s look at a few scenarios where Ponto users can use these tools to make communication easier in challenging situations during the holidays.

Road trips

A Ponto 5 Mini user and his wife have loaded up the RV for a holiday road trip to see their grandkids. For these two people, a conversation in the car is challenging because of road noise and the lack of visual cues as they face the road. The Ponto user can use the ConnectClip to give themselves a big advantage in this situation and allow for an enjoyable road trip full of conversation. The Ponto user’s wife can clip the ConnectClip that is paired to her husband’s Ponto 5 Mini to her lapel about 6 inches from her mouth. She presses and holds the multi-function button for a few seconds until the lights turn purple and green. This action sends her voice on a wireless journey direct to her husband’s Ponto 5 Mini, allowing for effortless conversation between the two, reducing background noise, and minimizing the effects of distance on their ability to communicate.

Watching a movie

Oticon Medical’s TV Adapter 3.0 is compatible with the entire Ponto product family. You can pair a TV Adapter to your Ponto 3 SuperPower using your Oticon Medical Streamer or to Ponto 4 or 5 Mini directly. This allows you to stream audio directly from your television to your device. You can use your streamer or the Oticon ON™ app to control the volume of the television while your family continues to listen at a level that’s comfortable for them.

Adjustments from afar

You are having difficulty hearing in noise on your holiday vacation, but it isn’t convenient for you to visit your audiologist for programming in person. What can you do? Ponto 5 Mini users can now use RemoteCare to arrange a quick telehealth appointment with their audiologist. During a scheduled RemoteCare visit, an audiologist can log into a private portal which allows them to make the adjustments that their patient needs. The program changes are uploaded to the patient’s device using Oticon’s RemoteCare app and the new settings can be used by the Ponto 5 Mini user right away. This groundbreaking technology opens a new frontier for Ponto patients.

Family dinner

Oticon Medical has developed OpenSound Navigator™ as a method of noise reduction for those energetic conversations around your holiday dinner table. In this situation, you want to hear the conversation, regardless of its direction. OpenSound Navigator will seamlessly adjust to your environment and reduces the effort it takes to hear. Talk to your audiologist about creating a program in your Ponto 4 or 5 Mini device that utilizes OpenSound Navigator and hear the difference at the holiday dinner table this year. Additionally, you can hand a paired ConnectClip to a relative across the table and their voice can be streamed directly from up to 65 feet away.

Online resources

Oticon Medical is here to support you while you are on the go this holiday season. For product support, videos on how to pair accessories, or in-depth information about the different solutions available to you, visit Wireless Connectivity.

Should you need help from an Oticon Medical audiologist during the holiday season, please contact our Auditory Technical Services support team during the hours of 8 AM and 8 PM, Eastern time at 888-277-8014 or by email at [email protected].

Oticon Medical wishes you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season!

About the Author

Courtney Smith, M.A., CCC-A, is the Clinical Trainer at Oticon Medical, having just joined the team in October of 2021. She practiced audiology in both medical and private practice settings in Las Vegas, NV. She has experience working with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and bone anchored solutions for adults and pediatrics. She completed her training at the University of Iowa in 2003.

Tips and Tricks for Maintaining Your Softband 5

If you or a loved one uses the Softband 5 with a Ponto™ device, here are some handy tips and tricks to make sure you get the most out of your softband experience!

1. Keep It Clean

Regularly inspect and clean the connector plate to keep it free of dust and particles. You can use a soft, dry cloth or lukewarm water with mild detergent for the Softband 5 connector plate.

Regularly inspect and clean the sound processor coupling as well. You can use a soft, dry cloth or a dry, soft-bristled toothbrush to keep the coupling free of dust and particles.

2. Minimize Handling

Keep the sound processor attached to the softband and only remove it when necessary, such as for battery changes.

3. Replace Worn Connector Pads

Check the connector pads regularly and replace them if they appear worn or damaged. The wearing time may vary depending on exercise, environment, and hair and skin characteristics. Make sure to remove the old connector pad completely before attaching a new one.

4. Check Fit and Functionality

Parents or caregivers should always verify that the softband is correctly attached and positioned, and that the sound processor is functioning properly before use. The softband should fit snugly around the head, allowing enough space to slip two fingers between the band and the head.

5. Monitor Elasticity

Replace the softband if it has lost its elasticity to ensure a secure and comfortable fit.

6. Properly Attach Your Processor

When attaching your processor to your Softband 5 connector plate, gently rock the processor back and forth to secure it onto the connector. Avoid pushing or pulling the processor straight on or off.

If you have any questions or need further assistance with your Softband 5, please don’t hesitate to contact your audiology professional or Oticon Medical Auditory Technical Support Services!

Bone Anchored Hearing Systems: When Hearing Aids Aren’t Enough

A Message for Veterans with Hearing Loss

Many veterans experience hearing loss due to physical trauma endured while on duty. Many of these losses may be treatable with traditional hearing aids. However, some forms of hearing loss—typically involving damage to the outer ear, ear canal, or other physical components—may not be. Yet many vets are unaware that they have options beyond regular hearing aids, such as bone anchored hearing systems (BAHS).

If you served your country, you may qualify to receive coverage from the government for a BAHS. Read on to learn more about this advanced treatment and whether it might be the solution you need.

Types of Hearing Loss Commonly Experienced by Veterans

More than 1.3 million US veterans receive disability compensation for hearing loss. Considering how frequently military personnel are exposed to extremely loud sounds for extended periods, including explosions, weapons fire, military air-and-seacrafts, and more, it is no surprise that so many experience noise-induced hearing damage, aka sensorineural hearing loss. This form of hearing loss is most often treated with traditional, air conduction hearing aids—the removable devices worn either in the ear or behind the ear.

However, hearing losses related to physical injuries typically require an alternative treatment that utilizes bone conduction to improve hearing ability. Known as conductive hearing losses, these may result from the loss of the pinna (outer ear), damage or loss of the ear canal, or similar injuries. Those with single-sided deafness—whether due to sensorineural or conductive hearing loss—may also experience better results from bone conduction.

Bone Anchored Hearing Systems Aid Certain Service-Related Hearing Losses

As mentioned above, bone anchored hearing treatment utilizes bone conduction to improve hearing ability. While regular hearing aids go in or on the ear to receive, amplify, and clarify sound, BAHS are worn on small, implanted posts called abutments near the ear. Bone conduction may be a viable option if your cochlea (inner ear) is still intact and functional.

A processor that receives sound is snapped onto the abutment a few weeks following implantation. This device transmits sound via unnoticeable vibrations through your skull bone, bypassing the damaged or missing portions of your ear, directly into the cochlea. The sound is then sent to your brain for normal processing as comprehensible speech, music, or other sounds.

Next Steps for Vets Interested in Bone Conduction

If you think your hearing loss might be treatable with a BAHS, your first step should be to contact your local Veterans Administration and schedule an appointment with an audiology professional. Depending on your past service, you might qualify for free or reduced-cost hearing healthcare, including diagnosis and treatment. You may also qualify for monthly disability compensation payments, tax-free. Please note that if you don’t live near a VA hearing clinic or the wait is extensive, you might be able to utilize VA Community Care to see a local hearing healthcare provider.

To find out which benefits you qualify for, please contact your local VA medical center representative.

Oticon Medical Ponto System for Veterans

Oticon Medical offers bone anchored hearing solutions that are used by wearers all over the world to help them overcome hearing loss at home, work, and in social situations. For more information on our minimally invasive Ponto™ surgery for implantation of an abutment and our most current technology, the Ponto 5 family of hearing processors, please visit our website.

Beyond Hearing: Making Connections

While 98 percent of wearers note an increased quality of life with their Ponto™ device alone¹, there are many different accessories that can make your Ponto experience even better! In this article, we’ll discuss some amazing devices that can connect directly with your Ponto processor as well as some other assistive listening technologies to further improve your life.

Ponto 5 Family Accessories

Made for iPhone

The Ponto 5 Family is Made for iPhone®. This means that these processors can connect directly with iPhone devices to stream music, videos, phone calls and more. Once your Ponto is paired to your phone, there’s no need to do anything else—any sound from your phone will automatically stream to your Ponto device.

Here are a few more features you should know about:

The Triple Click: Depending on the model of iPhone, a triple-click on either the Home button, or the right-side power button (if your phone doesn’t have a Home button) can be used to access volume control, program changes, and live listen.
Live Listen: This is a feature accessible through the settings on your phone, or it can be accessed through a quick triple-click of the Home button or side power button (depending on iPhone model). It serves as a remote microphone; in other words, sound enters your phone, no matter where it is, and that sound is streamed to your processor. This can be useful in noisy environments. Simply pass the phone to the individual you’d like to speak to and have them speak into the microphone on your phone. Their voice will stream directly to your Ponto bypassing any noise in the environment.

Companion App

Get the most out of the Ponto 4 and Ponto 5 family with the easy-to-use Oticon Companion app. Compatible with your smartphone, tablet, or Apple Watch®, you can enjoy more control, support, and independence anywhere. While these processors are Made for iPhone, even Android™ users can access this app and pair their devices to access the following features:

Just slide or tap your screen to easily adjust your volume, change programs, connect to accessories, and more—conveniently and discreetly.
You get simple in-app tips, news, and notifications for support when you need it. Even find your Ponto devices with “Find my hearing aids,” if you misplace them.
You can use SpeechBooster to reduce background noise in complex listening environments, which helps you focus during conversations.
Access RemoteCare to get personal care at your convenience, including remote counseling appointments and adjustments from your hearing care professional. Speak to your hearing care provider to see if they offer remote care services.

Other Ponto Accessories

The accessories below are available through Oticon Medical and can be paired directly with your Ponto device. These accessories are compatible with Ponto 4 and 5 family processors:

ConnectClip: This small microphone is designed to send sound directly to your Ponto processor. It works to overcome distance and noise in places like restaurants, lecture halls, or even when hiking. This device can also be used to connect your Ponto with Android phones to allow for streaming phone calls, music, and more.
EduMic: Works as a remote microphone, but also does much more! With the EduMic, children gain access to FM systems in schools. The device also allows for telecoil use in places like theaters and museums. With the EduMic’s AC Jack mode, you can connect to just about any audio device and stream sound to your Ponto processor.
TV Adapter 3.0: Designed to connect your Ponto to your TV to help you hear without disturbing those around you. The sound from the TV will be sent directly into your processor and you can adjust the volume however you’d like. The TV will still work normally for your family to enjoy alongside you.
Remote Control: Want to keep things simple? The remote control allows you to change volume and program settings on your Ponto with just the touch of a button. No need to connect to your phone or the Companion app.

You can learn more about all our connectivity options, the Companion app, and how to pair your processor with your phone by downloading the “Getting Started with Ponto” trial guide here.

Other Assistive Technologies

Beyond wirelessly connected devices like the options outlined above, there are a diverse array of technologies that are specifically designed to cater to the needs of individuals who are hard of hearing or Deaf. These include things like captioned phones that provide real-time visual transcriptions of spoken conversations. Some of these phones also have expanded volume ranges for hard of hearing individuals.

Vibrating alarm clocks allow users to wake up through vibrations rather than traditional auditory alarms. Similarly, vibrating or lighted baby monitors alert parents to a baby’s cries.

Expanding further into the realm of safety, specialized fire alarms go beyond conventional auditory alerts by incorporating bright, attention-grabbing lights. These visual cues serve as a crucial lifeline for individuals who may not be able to rely on auditory signals during emergencies, reinforcing the importance of inclusivity in safety technology.

Doorbell systems have also been developed using similar technologies to provide lighted cues rather than sound when the doorbell is rung.

Moreover, assistive technology has extended its reach into the entertainment domain, with closed captioning becoming a standard feature on many digital platforms. Smart TVs and streaming services now offer customizable subtitles, allowing individuals to enjoy a wide range of content without missing out on crucial dialogue or narrative elements.

In the workplace, hearing device-compatible phones, loop systems, and speech-to-text applications have become integral tools for fostering effective communication. These devices contribute to creating inclusive environments, where individuals with hearing challenges can participate fully in professional settings.

The continuous evolution of these assistive technologies reflects a commitment to breaking down barriers and creating a more accessible world for everyone.

Making the Connection

Ponto processors, along with a vast variety of connectivity options, allow users to connect to their environment and the people around them. Speak to your hearing care provider to find out if Ponto or any of the aforementioned assistive technologies are right for you!

Lagerkvist H, Carvalho K, Holmberg M, Petersson U, Cremers C, Hultcrantz M. Ten years of experience with the Ponto bone-anchored hearing system—A systematic literature review. Clin Otolaryngol. 2020; 45: 667–680. https://doi.org/10.1111/coa.13556

Traveling with Your Ponto Bone Anchored Hearing System

Since we are in the midst of the busiest travel season of the year again, it seems like a good time to reshare this blog post. Even when not traveling, you might want to download the MRI Safety Security card just to have on hand, in case you ever find yourself in need of an MRI scan.

As the holiday season begins, so does the opportunity for travel. If you are traveling this season, here are a few things to consider if you have a Ponto™ bone anchored hearing system (BAHS).

Airport and TSA security

It is important to advise the TSA agent prior to going through the security or x-ray process that you have an implantable device. At this time, you may consider handing or showing them your MRI Safety Security card. If you don’t have a card or can’t find it, you can download the MRI Safety Card from our website. Cards are available there in different languages, along with other helpful informational materials. We recommend printing or saving the card to your phone prior to travel.

As you prepare for your trip, another great resource to check out is Oticon Medical’s Tips and Tricks section of the website. In this section you will find information and advice on everyday activities with your Ponto system.

Additional Ponto device and abutment safety considerations

The abutment is made from titanium and safe to go through the metal detector or x-ray machine. Since titanium is weakly magnetic, the security system’s alarm will most likely not go off. However, it is still a good idea and important to let the TSA agent know ahead of time about your Ponto and implant in the event that additional screening is necessary after your initial pass through the x-ray process.

As for your Ponto processor, since it does contain a magnet, this may set off an alarm. We always recommend that when exposed to medical-strength x-ray you remove your processor to prevent damage. However, TSA screenings have low dose x-ray exposure and are safe to move through. So, if you forget to take it off there is no harm, but you may set off the alarm as the Ponto processor contains metal.

If you choose to take off your Ponto processor, simply put it in a case with the battery door open and in a TSA container for the belt screening, as you do your other carry-on items. This is safe for the processor and will not cause damage.

Items to bring on a trip with your Ponto processor

When traveling with your Ponto, you want to make sure you have packed all your equipment and extra supplies. It is a good idea to bring extra batteries, your wireless accessories, and the appropriate cables for charging them. Consider charging your accessories the night or day before you leave to ensure you can use them while traveling.

It is also important to pack your Ponto Care Kit for cleaning the abutment. Daily care of the abutment site will help guarantee you can use your Ponto BAHS throughout your travels. Abutment cleaning is especially important if you are swimming. Remember, your Ponto processor is not waterproof! If you need a new dry aid kit or Ponto Care Kit, don’t worry; simply register with Oticon Medical Friends to order from the Online Store and have supplies sent directly to your home.

You can also have Ponto-related information at your fingertips by downloading the Oticon Medical Ponto Care™ App to your smartphone, so you can travel with ease and peace of mind. Remember to also store your audiologist’s or clinic’s office information in your phone or have it written in your care kit in case you have questions. You can also contact Oticon Medical Auditory Technical Services for any questions regarding your Ponto sound processor. We are available Monday – Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time.

Finally, if you are traveling somewhere very warm or cold, you should remember not to leave your Ponto sound processor, wireless accessories, or batteries out in extreme weather elements. For example, if you leave your Ponto sound processor on the car dashboard in extreme heat, it could damage the device. Also, if the batteries are left in extremely cold temperatures, they might freeze and have a shorter lifespan.

Oticon Medical wishes you and your loved ones a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season!

Here’s a quick checklist of the items we discussed. Enjoy your travels, wherever they may take you!

MRI safety/security card
Extra batteries
Carrying case
Wireless accessories
Charging cables for accessories
Ponto Care Kit
Your audiologist’s office contact information
Oticon Medical Contact Information: 888-277-8014 or [email protected]
Download our Oticon Medical Ponto Care App

Helpful site to review prior to travel:

Disabilities and Medical Conditions | Transportation Security Administration (tsa.gov)

(Choose External Medical Devices and/or the Implants/internal medical devices for more advice.)

About the author

Nicole Maxam, AuD, CCC-A serves as an Auditory Technical Specialist at Oticon Medical. She has been an audiologist for over 16 years with experience in implantable technologies.

Pastor Ross Feels Like Himself Again With Ponto 5 SuperPower

Ross Wiseman, pastor and avid hiker, struggled to engage with his congregation and enjoy his leisure time after losing his hearing in one ear suddenly. Treating his hearing loss with a Ponto™ bone anchored hearing system was a life-changing experience. Recently, Ross upgraded to the Ponto 5 SuperPower, and in this new testimonial video, shares how much he loves this next-gen technology.

The hair cells of my auditory nerves died over a weekend. Friday night, I felt like my ear was stuffed up. Didn’t feel sick at all. Saturday morning I was fine. Was coaching soccer later that day and it happened again. By evening I was fine. Sunday morning, I preached, went home, and took a nap. When I woke up, I couldn’t hear anymore. I thought maybe I was getting a cold or had an ear infection. I called the ENT. When that visit ended, he told me that I was permanently deaf in my left ear. They scheduled a CAT scan to see if I had a tumor. I did not; it was single-sided deafness (SSD) with no explanation.

For over 10 years I lived unaided and was miserable. I couldn’t hear my wife on dates when we would eat out, or when we hiked. She hikes in front of me and when she would speak it was useless to try and communicate. I struggled to enjoy watching tv with my kids or hear at events like ball games. Teaching would make me sick to my stomach as I had to turn my head back and forth to try and hear everyone at the table or in the room). I would often sit with others and just smile because I was lost by the conversations that were going around me. I never could tell what anyone was saying, so it created a disconnect.

When I got my first Ponto, we had our church’s tenth anniversary party. I had so many people come to me who had been with me before I went deaf and say it felt good to have their pastor back. I was out in the open talking to everyone rather than in a corner with one person talking. I was also smiling a lot because I was engaged. I didn’t realize that, during those noisy events, I used to zone out and my face showed it. My Ponto changed everything!

If your audiologist doesn’t use Oticon Medical devices, demand that they reach out to Oticon Medical or find an audiologist who will. I was my doctor’s first Ponto user and implant surgery. Oticon Medical was amazing in sending them a product representative, and when it was time, a surgical rep to explain minimally invasive Ponto surgery (MIPS). Now the majority of their patients who need a bone anchored option go with a Ponto.