Tag Archives: Sentio System

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)

Danica Loves Her New Sentio System

We would like to thank Casey J., Danica’s mother, for giving us permission to share Danica’s experience with her new Sentio™ System.

Our beautiful, funny, brave, smart as a whip, spunky, and sassy Danica was born with microtia and aural atresia. We later learned her microtia and atresia were part of a craniofacial condition called Hemifacial Microsomia, which for Danica, also affects her skull, right eye, soft palate, jaw, mouth and facial nerves. Due to these conditions, Danica has severe conductive hearing loss in her right ear. She also has mild-moderate loss in her left due to a history of ear infections and a perforated eardrum that never healed.

Danica has worn a bone achored hearing system (BAHS) since she was seven-months-old. First on a soft headband, and then she had surgery at six-years-old so she could wear it on an abutment. Just recently, she made the decision to be implanted with the new Oticon Medical Sentio System, which allows her to wear her bone conduction device on a magnet.

Danica loves how much lighter the processor is, how there’s little to no feedback at all…especially when her thick hair rubs against it. She loves how she can wear it under her hair and no one knows it’s there. She loves how she can wear her bulky headphones with the device and it doesn’t touch them (all the cool kids are wearing the bulky headphones apparently, LOL) and she loves how clear everything sounds!

Danica recently had an audiology follow-up to assess how well her Sentio is helping her and to make any adjustments. She’s so resilient, I often forget how hard of hearing she really is. Her Sentio is bringing her hearing loss up to a slight-mild loss, which is amazing considering her loss is so severe. The audiologist made a few adjustments, and we were on our way.

She is so happy with her decision to get the Sentio magnet implanted, and it makes my mama heart happy, too. Oh, and report cards came out today; she got five A’s and one B. She really has to work so hard. I told her she must be so proud of herself. We know we are.

Please join us in congratulating Danica on her new Sentio System! We also thank her and Casey for their ongoing support of the hard of hearing and microtia communities.

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].

Meet Allison: Audiologist and Sentio System Wearer

Allison Lenear, AuD, lost her hearing due to repeated ear drum perforations. After multiple ear infections rendered her hearing aid for one ear ineffective, she decided to try Oticon Medical’s Sentio™ System. Here she shares her experience from the unique perspective as both a hearing care professional and a patient.

Early Experience with Hearing Loss Led to Early Advocacy

My hearing loss is the result of chronic ear drum perforations left after many Pressure Equalization (PE) tube placements. At the age of 15, after four failed tympanoplasties (two on each side), I was fitted with binaural hearing aids by my audiologist. He asked, “Aren’t you tired at the end of the day?” which I thought was just a teenager thing!

My hearing aids helped me hear and understand better in class, be more confident when working my afterschool job, and improved my ability to hear whispers backstage as a stage manager in my high school’s theater department. It was at that time I decided I wanted to be the person to help other people in my position accept their hearing loss and feel confident advocating for themselves. When classmates or strangers asked, “What are those things behind your ears?” I was never offended or embarrassed; it was an excellent way to start educating people around me that hearing aids are not only for older adults.

Accepting the Need to Move Beyond Traditional Hearing Aids

I graduated with my Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Louisville in 2017 and started working as an audiologist at ENT of Athens, where I’d completed my fourth-year externship the previous year. I hadn’t had many ear infections as an adult, meaning there was no issue with traditional amplification. However, within the past two years, I started developing frequent bacterial and fungal infections, especially in the left ear. I wasn’t able to wear my hearing aid in that ear while being treated for the infection, making it difficult to hear and understand my patients. Each time I had an infection, it meant going about two weeks unaided on the affected side. It increased my stress, made the strain to hear and understand more difficult, and made me start avoiding things I love to do because it was so exhausting having to strain to hear. Because of this, I started thinking about a bone anchored solution.

Over the years, I’ve tried pretty much any new hearing aid that came out from all six major manufacturers but always ended up coming back to Oticon. I knew that for any sort of bone anchored device, especially when choosing to surgically implant it, I wanted the incredible sound quality, dependability, and reliability that I had come to rely on. So, when the Sentio™ System received FDA approval in the US, I knew I wanted to make the leap. It took some time to get it approved through the hospital, but on July 3, 2025, I became the first recipient in Athens, GA to receive the Sentio, courtesy of my physician and friend, Dr. Jacline Phillips.

My only concern before surgery was that I would be the first transcutaneous bone anchored hearing system recipient in the facility I had the surgery in! I was confident in my surgeon, who had performed many bone anchored hearing surgeries (percutaneous and other manufacturers’ transcutaneous devices), but the surgical team in the operating room was unfamiliar with them. Luckily, between Dr. Phillips and our Oticon Medical Territory Manager, Dr. Dianna Tingle, everything went off without a hitch.

Undergoing the Sentio Procedure and Processor Fitting

Dr. Phillips mentioned how much easier the Sentio was to implant versus competitors’ products. My incision was much smaller than I anticipated and lined up almost exactly with where my current tympanoplasty scars were located (behind my ear).

Recovery was extremely easy. I had surgery on Thursday and went back to work on Monday. Would I recommend that for everyone? Absolutely not! The only unforeseen issue was that I wear glasses and do not have contacts. So, when I wore my headset to perform hearing evaluations, the arm of my glasses pressed against my beautifully stitched incision and caused some discomfort. I was able to utilize the free accessory included with the Sentio, the EduMic, and connect it to my hearing aid on the right side to be able to hear patients while they were in the test booth, which eliminated pressure from the headset. I continued using that system for about a week after my stitches were removed. Since that time, I have had no pain or discomfort around the surgical site—it is almost like it never happened.

The two weeks leading up to my surgery, I had a fungal infection in the left ear and was unable to wear my hearing aid. I patiently waited two-and-a-half weeks before fitting the Sentio 1 Mini processor [Note: see video snippet below taken during Allison’s fitting session]. Since I was the first to receive a Sentio in our practice, Dr. Phillips, my colleagues, the office manager, and even Dianna came for the fitting. My colleague, who I consider “my” audiologist, was out of the country for vacation and FaceTime’d into the appointment as well!

Feeling Confident with the Sentio 1 Mini

Not having worn any type of amplification for the two weeks leading up to surgery (and more than two weeks after), it was really emotional and an enormous relief to be able to hear from my left side again. Initially, the sound quality was a little different with just my Sentio on, but when I put my right hearing aid in (a pink Oticon REAL™ 1 miniRITE-T with sparkly, swirly ear mold, of course), the sound quality was essentially exactly what I was used to with binaural air conduction amplification. I was able to localize sounds and hear again!

The day after my fitting, I went on a walk with a friend, who is an audiologist, and her linguist husband through our neighborhood. She and I were walking side by side and when I realized that, even though her husband was walking behind us, I could still hear and understand what he was saying… it was unbelievable. I was also able to hear cars and bikes coming from behind, which had been a safety concern of mine in the past when walking alone. Sentio has given me the freedom and the confidence to feel safe walking alone outside. It is absolutely lifechanging.

I love Made for iPhone® (MFi) streaming! I do miss binaural streaming, which isn’t a possibility as far as I am aware, since I am wearing two different devices now (Sentio plus hearing aid). If I need/want binaural streaming, I switch to my headphones, no biggie.

I used to be so worried about infections and making sure my left ear was dry, on top of being annoyed at having something in the left ear. So, most of the time, I would take my hearing aids out when I got home from work. My sweet husband never complained, even if I was complaining that I couldn’t hear due to taking out my own hearing aids, ha-ha! Now, when I am home, the Sentio 1 Mini processor stays on and the hearing aid in my right ear doesn’t bother me, so I am more present and need him to repeat things much less frequently.

My colleagues, after having to deal with me for a solid month of infection and healing, were incredibly relieved when I was fit. An unintended benefit, since I am more aware, is that I am much less jumpy/startled less often by people outside my peripheral vision or behind me. One of my other physicians used to think it was a fun game to sneak up behind me and surprise me—but no more, Dr. Mixson! You have been defeated by the incredible Sentio technology!

I have been pleasantly surprised by how well the processor stays firmly magnetized during walks outside in the southern heat, during Pilates, and in yoga—even when I am in crazy positions! I have only heard feedback once when in a yoga position where my arm was tucked right by my processor, but my friend next to me said she didn’t hear it at all.

I used to have a lot of anxiety and stress due to my frustration over being historically unable to understand speech in certain environments. In the short time we have been together, the Sentio System has been amazing. It makes me feel confident in those situations: being able to hear from which direction traffic noise is coming, my friends walking behind me, and in crowded restaurants—it has brought me a lot of peace. If I start to spiral at particular recommendations for Happy Hour, I must remind myself that I might not have been to that particular restaurant since I activated my Sentio, and so maybe I will do better this time. About 99 percent of the time, I am correct (some places just have terrible acoustics)!

Because the sound quality is quite different from my hearing aid, I used my audiology knowledge and figured out that, similar to cochlear implants, there may be some listening practice involved. Over a few weekends, when at home with my husband, I wore just my Sentio to let my brain adjust to the new sound. Since sound is being transmitted differently than I have experienced in the past, it’s just different! I waited two weeks after my initial fitting before making any adjustments to the settings, which is the same timeframe I request my hearing aid patients wait while trying to adjust to new sound. It has been one month (as of this writing) since my fitting and unsurprisingly, things now sound completely normal. Amazing what can happen when you follow your own advice!

NOTE: Since providing us with this user story, Dr. Lenear has joined Oticon Medical as a Clinical Specialist for New England.

Meet Today’s Oticon Medical | Robert Gulock

This series of posts introduces you to our current roster of Oticon Medical employees in the United States. As you know, we’ve been through a lot of changes over the past few years. We are pleased that so many wonderful new people have joined our team of dedicated employees!

Robert Gulock, General Manager and Vice President

Please join us in welcoming our new General Manager and Vice President of Sales, North America, Robert!

Background

Robert was excited join Oticon Medical as General Manager and Vice President of Sales for North America back in July of 2025. “For those of you who know and love her…I’m the “new Laura,” he said.

Robert’s career in healthcare spans more than 30 years, including leadership roles with Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific, and Advanced Bionics/Sonova. Much of that time was spent building hearing healthcare businesses across the US, Asia, and Latin America. He helped open the Chinese market for cochlear implants, scaled sales more than tenfold in Japan, and supported physicians and audiologists in 25 countries.

Customer service has always been at the heart of everything Robert does. Whether it was partnering with surgeons in Tokyo, training distributor teams in Brazil, or working side by side with US audiologists, he has spent decades ensuring that providers have what they need to deliver the best outcomes for their patients. That focus on service and partnership is something he’s delighted to carry forward at Oticon Medical.

Current Responsibilities

Robert said he “feels honored” to step into the role of General Manager and VP Sales, North America with Oticon Medical, a company rooted in innovation, purpose, and a deep commitment to improving lives through hearing health.

Throughout his career in medtech and commercial leadership, he has had the opportunity to help build and scale businesses that drive meaningful outcomes for patients. Oticon Medical’s unwavering focus on people, both in the technology we bring to market and in the teams that make it possible, convinced Robert to join the company.

He is looking forward to partnering with our talented teams across the US, Canada, and globally to expand access to our Ponto™ and Sentio™ bone anchored implant solutions, strengthen relationships with clinicians and healthcare systems, and advocate for patient choice. “The hearing healthcare space is evolving rapidly, and I believe Oticon Medical is uniquely positioned to lead with integrity, science, and heart,” Robert said.

On a personal note, Robert was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan (“Go Blue!” and “Go Lions!”). He has had the incredible opportunity to live and work in Belgium (one year), Switzerland (five years), and Japan (23 years) throughout his career. He has been married to his wife, Grace, for 35 years. They have one daughter, who will be graduating from Johns Hopkins next year as the first doctor in their family. Robert now resides in Denver, Colorado and enjoys spending his free time in the mountains golfing in the spring and summer, fly fishing in the fall, and snowboarding in the winter.

Please join us in officially welcoming Robert to the team!

___________

Oticon Medical is available to assist you by phone during office hours of Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 7 pm ET. Please feel free to call (888) 277-8014 or you can send them a message anytime via email at [email protected].

Chicago Advocates Meeting 2025

A Special Weekend with Experienced and New User Advocates

On June 7-8, 2025 in Chicago, IL, Oticon Medical held a meeting for new bone anchored hearing system (BAHS) advocates–which, along with Ponto™ wearers, included Sentio™ wearers interested in joining our advocacy program for the first time

Attending staff included representatives from Marketing, Customer Service, Insurance Support Services, and Auditory Technical Support Services (ATS), along with one of our US territory managers and our Vice-President of Global Sales and Marketing. We were joined by Canada’s Senior Client Services and Administrative Specialist, as one of our new Ponto advocates is a Canadian citizen.

Seasoned advocate-Ambassadors Angela Sabal, Melissa Tumblin, and Katelyn Harkins joined us to provide additional coaching and support as the new advocates learned what it takes to be an advocate, including in-depth explorations of our products and technology.

The very full agenda covered the following topics:

Welcome and Company Overview
Audiology Insights: Ponto 5 Family and Sentio 1 Mini
Ponto and Sentio Procedures: Understanding the Differences
Clinical Data and Supporting Studies
Overview of Customer Service and ATS
Overview of Insurance Services Process
Taking Advocacy to the Next Level: Social Media, Meetups, Phone Support, and Testimonials

We also conducted a fun Jeopardy-style game with categories related to the topics covered above. Additionally, throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, we recorded nine new user stories—five with Sentio users, three with Ponto 5 users, and one including a pre-teen Ponto and a teen Sentio wearer together. All will be released once they are ready through our YouTube channel and elsewhere, so stay tuned!

After the educational portion of the day was finished, we took everyone into downtown Chicago for a little free time to explore.

This was followed by a deep-dish pizza dinner and speedboat ride, which included watching a spectacular fireworks display over Lake Michigan.

A Heartfelt Thanks from Our Event Organizer

Our Events and Advocacy Manager for the US and Canada, Brendalys Trinidad, sent the following thank you to our attendees after the event. Her eloquent tribute effectively sums up the feelings of all OM employees privileged to have participated in this very special weekend.

I must confess, usually after an event, I immediately send all attendees a follow-up email. This time, it took me longer. I will be super honest with you—I just couldn’t find the right thing to say. It felt like anything I wrote just was not good enough!

I can’t express how honored I feel to have met YOU! I’m just so lucky to have the opportunity to meet such amazing people and be a little tiny part of your journey in life. I absolutely love my job and the experiences it brings me.

Personally, seeing how social Ally has become, it makes me wonder how many more sounds she’s able to hear now that she’s been implanted [with the Sentio System]. Direct sound really makes a difference. It has been amazing to witness how many people Melissa and Angela have reached with their advocacy.

What incredible stories we heard about Sarah (Angela’s daughter) and my dearest friend, adorable Isla. By the simple act of love, their lives have taken an astonishing turn and opened so many more opportunities ahead.

It’s inspiring to learn how Wayne didn’t give up living in a world without sounds, and to know how much he loves hearing his kids and grandkids, and his beautiful bride, June!

How wonderful it was seeing how supportive the Jennison and McClellan families are with their kids, super-sweet Jamison and Danica.

Our dear Yvonne—age didn’t slow her down when it came to choosing what was best for her.

Loved meeting young Alex, a cool, handsome musician living life to the fullest.

Learning how brave and powerful Arcella has become—she’s living her best life! Meeting the beautiful and successful Madi, who didn’t just settle for her old hearing device. Getting to know an amazing leader and advocate, Emily. It was refreshing to see young, compassionate, and dedicated Karina, who has chosen a career caring for others with hearing loss. And of course there was Pamela, shining her shiniest!

All of you provide reassurance that cute baby Paxton will be able to become anything he wants to—no limits.

Thanks to the love and advocacy of his parents, Paxton will do amazing things!

How can I only say thank you? It’s just not enough.

I hope you all left the weekend feeling inspired and hopeful that, together, we can continue to grow our community and open up the world of sounds to many more people!

On behalf of Oticon Medical and myself, we are committed to supporting you as a wearer of our technology. We look forward to supporting your advocacy and finding ways to educate others about solutions like the Ponto and Sentio Systems.

Our entire Oticon Medical family thanks everyone who helped make our latest New Advocates Weekend such a success! Remember: Our stories connect us!

Want to learn more about becoming an Oticon Medical hearing advocate? Please contact Brendalys directly at [email protected].

My Sentio Story | Arcella Latimore

Arcella Latimore lost the hearing in her left ear due to a rare condition that affected her eardrum. After years of experiencing embarrassing misunderstandings and frustration with her traditional hearing aid, she learned about Oticon Medical’s new Sentio™ System and decided with her hearing care professional that it was the right solution for her. The following is her experience, and we thank her for allowing us to share it!

My hearing journey started with this annoying thumping in my left ear. The doctor diagnosed it as an eustachian tube disorder and told me there was nothing they could do to cure it; I could only manage the discomfort. Seven years later, I went to another doctor and told him that I didn’t want to sound crazy, but it felt like my eardrum was moving. He actually listened to me and began doing several tests. He verified that it really was moving, and believed it was Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTS). Once confirmed, he told me my options, which were either do nothing or surgery. With surgery, I ran the risk of white noise developing as a side effect. I decided that would be better than the thumping. It did happen, and also the hearing in my left ear was affected. When I plug my right ear to hear with my left, people sound like Minnie Mouse talking underwater.

I was not ready to accept I was losing my hearing, especially being in my early forties. I was still young, dating and having a social life. Yet, all I did was isolate myself because I was embarrassed to go out and not really be able to hear people. When I forced myself to go with friends, I would laugh with the group while not really knowing what I was laughing at. I was constantly acting like I heard people, but it would be awkward if they asked me a question and instead of answering, I just laughed. They would stare at me wondering why I was laughing at a serious question.

I had to finally admit that I was experiencing hearing loss, but I didn’t want a hearing aid. I convinced myself that it wasn’t really that bad. But I was isolating again, and my friends noticed. I finally went back to the doctor to get a hearing test and found out I had a significant hearing loss— around 76 percent. I decided to get traditional hearing aids, but although I wore them for a few years, they only made my hearing loss manageable, not optimal. I realized I was mishearing words or combinations of words that sounded like something else.

Once again, I convinced myself that it wasn’t bad…until I was at work one day and the supervisor asked me something. I thought they said, “Do you want another assignment?” and I very confidently answered their question but quickly realized by their reaction that was not what they’d asked me. They repeated what they’d said, which was, “Do you want another sandwich?” I embarrassedly said, “No thank you,” and walked away thinking it was time to get another hearing aid.

I went to Kaiser to update my hearing test since my last one had been two or three years ago. I told the doctor how I was mishearing words on top of not hearing well overall. The test results showed that my word recognition had gone down to 96 percent. The audiologist suggested the Sentio™ System, which she believed would improve my word recognition and overall hearing. When she mentioned surgery, all I could think was that it would be a big investment in my hearing journey. Going into my skull and implanting a device that would subsequently allow another piece to be magnetically attached to my head…wow!

However, I immediately remembered the embarrassing moment at work and knew that I never wanted to go through that again. I was further convinced because my insurance considered it surgical, so I only had to pay a small amount out of pocket. For the cost of lunch at work, I would be able to make my life so much better and enjoy my friends and family again without any awkward moments that I had to apologize for profusely later.

The doctor came to visit me before my procedure and asked if I had any questions. I said, “No. Just do a good job.” The surgery went very smoothly, and I had a nurse hold my hand the entire time. I felt very comfortable from beginning to end. My recovery went very well. The aftercare instructions were easy to follow. The left side of my head was a little swollen, but that eventually went away. I was given good aftercare instructions.

I went to my scheduled follow-up appointment, and the doctor said I was healing well and quickly, to the point I was able to get my Sentio 1 Mini processor earlier than expected. I chose black to blend well with my natural hair color. Because of the color and size, people don’t even see or notice it.

I was planning to visit my family three weeks after the Sentio surgery but was concerned about flying so soon afterwards. I was told flying would not have an impact. The clinic even provided me with a card stating I had the Sentio implant in case I set off alarms at TSA screening points. I was able to go through the airport without incident and flew with zero discomfort in my left ear.

I really like being able to use my iPhone® for wireless streaming directly into my Sentio and making volume/voice adjustments. At work, I am able to hear better in meetings with the wireless streaming. I do not miss important information, such as action items for me or my staff. I can hear everything, even quiet conversations in other cubicles. It’s amazing because I was never able to hear like this with my old hearing aids.

Sentio has improved my social life because I am no longer isolating. When I laugh it is because I really hear a joke or conversation clearly. I’m not being embarrassed by mishearing words or needing to ask someone to repeat themselves. I enjoy my time with family and friends so much more than before.

Also, Sentio has allowed me to accept that I have a disability and recognize that I have to navigate the world differently than others. This does not make me less of a person; it helps me participate more in the world around me. I appreciate my life more than before because I am more active and engaged with the people I love, and I get to experience the fun of making new friends. No more isolation and retreating from the world. Life is good!

Each person’s reasons for deciding to get the Sentio System are sacred and personal. The decision can’t be taken lightly; you must measure the costs vs. benefits. What is your quality of life? Are you fully engaged in it? If the answer is no, then Sentio will help you participate in life again and you should seriously consider it. Even if you answer yes, Sentio can take your engagement in life to another level.

I’m sharing my Sentio journey in the hope of encouraging those who have experienced similar struggles and feelings. I am an example of what life can look like on the other side. I would tell anyone considering it that it is very much worth it in the end.

Wondering whether a bone anchored hearing system in general or the Sentio System specifically might be the right choice to treat your hearing loss? Use these helpful resources, provided courtesy of Oticon Medical:

BAHS Journey: https://bahsjourney.com/candidate/
The Sentio System: https://sentio.oticonmedical.com/us

My Sentio Story | Lee Rothman

Lee Rothman used to wear a regular hearing aid. However, after he lost most of his hearing in one ear due to Covid-19, it no longer did the job. After looking into alternatives, Lee discovered the new Sentio™ System and learned how this bone conduction treatment could improve his hearing. The following is his story and we thank him for allowing us to share it!

My hearing loss began with an episode that was diagnosed as Meniere’s Disease back in 2013. It caused a loss of the frequencies above 2000hz. Over a period of several years, I had an intermittent loss of my hearing in my right ear that would typically return to some degree (minus the higher frequencies) after less than a week. I lived with that loss until I retired and moved to Idaho.

I had a hearing exam there where they informed me a quality hearing aid could restore that loss of the higher frequencies I was missing. I was an audiophile for nearly 50 years and a musician since the age of 10 with perfect pitch. So, I was fitted with a hearing aid. I was astounded by the higher frequencies I was then able to hear again that I’d missed for so long.

In October of 2023 I had another episode of hearing loss, which was accompanied by severe vertigo that landed me in the hospital. I’d used some antibiotic ear drops that apparently triggered the vertigo. It passed quickly and two days later my hearing returned—of course minus the higher frequencies.

Fast-forward to April of 2024. I had Covid for the fourth time in four years and it was asymptomatic. But once again in June of 2024, I got it again, which was noted by two days of headaches. I then experienced nearly complete hearing loss.

I went to a specialist nearby and he put me on the usual steroid dosage recommended for such events. It did nothing and my hearing loss continued. It was terrible, as I couldn’t hear the TV or my wife well with just the one ear. Having just one operative ear, it became obvious the handicaps it brings. My guitar sounded weak. I could no longer listen to music in my recording studio with headphones or speakers and hear the right channel. I was devastated.

I was referred to Dr. Wilkinson, a specialist in this area of hearing loss. He began with some steroid injections. After the second dose, we felt it wasn’t going to work. He gave me some brochures he’d just received from Oticon Medical regarding a new, FDA-approved type of bone conduction implant that was the next-generation of Ponto™ technologies. I examined it and did a lot of online research into it.

My regular doctor, who I discussed this with as well, happened to own a recently purchased pair of bone conduction stereo headphones. He let me try them and I was shocked that I could hear music in my right ear again. So, my next appointment with Dr. Wilkinson, I said I’d like to move forward with the Sentio offering. He got me on a waiting list, as the nearby hospital was awaiting their approval for the procedure to be done there.

I previously used a traditional hearing aid, mostly to add the lost higher frequencies back into my right ear. The sensorineural hearing loss I had after a Covid attack took a lot more than just the higher frequencies from my hearing. It not only took down the level of what I could hear, but virtually everything above 800hz was gone altogether.

I had no real concerns about the surgery. I’d watched a sample surgery done on YouTube and it looked very simple and straightforward. It went as expected. Quick and painless. Recovery went exactly as stated—three weeks until the application of the external processer and adjustments were made.

I immediately noticed I could hear higher frequencies, far beyond even my good ear. Literally air movement of a heating fan. The audiologist moved away from me speaking all the way to the other end of the room and I heard every word he spoke easily, even with my good ear plugged.

I don’t notice vast differences between the various modes really. I had the audiologist make an adjustment to the Music setting, so when I played my guitar, I didn’t get an annoying warble kind of character when a string was plucked. I was told it was from a noise reduction algorithm that needed to be turned off in the software he set up.

I tested out the Sentio on a high-end music system and noted that I now do hear the full right channel music information that was not there before. At times, I suppose my brain can fool me into thinking it’s hearing a distinct right channel and not just the information being sent to my good left ear alone. I suspect, in time, my brain may get used to it and I won’t feel like my right-side information isn’t actually there on my right side.

Bluetooth® streaming was too low, so the audiologist turned it up with the ConnectClip and then it was very good indeed. I can now hold my cellphone to my right ear area and have a perfect conversation without issues. The clarity is all there. I no longer struggle to hear the TV, as it now picks up the right speaker info, so I can still hear it from a distance. Conversations are a piece of cake.

You may find it funny but when I use the ConnectClip and place it on a table in front of the stereo TV’s external speaker system, I can blend a little bit of the speaker system output with streaming and get flawless clarity mixed with the nice, rich sound of the speakers. I even noted a bit of a 3-D effect, hearing things in a phantom center channel. Pretty interesting and very enjoyable.

The size is simply superb and you can’t ask for more. I don’t even notice it. So far nobody else has either. It weighs virtually nothing and I don’t even know that it’s physically there. I pay no attention to the fact that the Sentio is on me and so far nobody even notices it. When I point it out to folks, they think it is so cool—had no idea it existed.

When I’m in my office at work or having a meeting online, it works flawlessly. I have shaken my head repeatedly and it doesn’t move at all. While I visit a local restaurant, I hear the TV, conversation, and more. It’s great. It is as close to normal hearing as one can imagine. Unlike a typical hearing aid, you literally forget it’s there and it becomes a part of you and how you function. When you remove the Sentio processor, it becomes so much more obvious how vast a change it makes in your hearing quality.

BAHS Journey: https://bahsjourney.com/candidate/
The Sentio System: https://sentio.oticonmedical.com/us

Bone Anchored Hearing Systems (BAHS) Blog

Resources, Advice and Stories from Bone Anchored Hearing System Users