Enjoy life without limits.
Introducing Aquaris, the first Hearing aid you can wear to the pool, in the shower or out in the rain. Aquaris dares to go where no other Hearing Aid has gone before, and comes out unharmed, because it is not only water resistant, it is the first truly waterproof Hearing Aid.
Active sports people can benefit from Aquaris because perspiration cannot penetrate the instruments. If you work in a dusty or oily environment, don’t worry, the watertight casing repels dust, sand, grease and oil. The soft lacquer coating makes it feel like it has been stuck to your ear, but very active people can get the extra sports clip to hold it on in just about any situation.
Aquaris comes with all the latest ‘BestSound Technology’ on board, It can learn your preferences in different situations, music, conversation, noise etc, and has Speechfocus which can locate speech from whatever direction it is coming from and focus on it.
It comes with Siemens wireless system, TEK or MiniTEK transmitter, which will stream audio wirelessly to the Hearing Aids and the optional aquapack for holding your MP3 player or phone. This means that you can listen to your music while you are swimming.
Aquaris’ unique waterproof technology wasn’t created overnight, years of careful research and development went into Aquaris to make sure that water and dust don’t.
Waterproof
Sweat and dust resistant
Shockproof
Innovative
Aquaris will come in a range of colours, and will be available from your local Hearing Centre, soon.
We finally made it to the top of the search engine list on Google.
It was recently reported to me that Irishhearingaids.ie is top of the list on a search for Hearing aids in Google.ie
Right behind the paid advertisements and Wikipedia.
So now, the web reflects the reality, that when it comes to Hearing Aids in Ireland, we leave all the rest behind.
We take great pride in providing the best Hearing Instruments, the best back up service and the best technical support in Ireland.
If you would like to find out more about the range of instruments we offer,
If you would like to inquire about our repair services,
If you would like some advice about your current hearing Aid, (no matter where you got it)
or if you have any other questions about Hearing Aids, or hearing services in Ireland,
Please send us an Email: info@irishhearingaids.ie
High fidelity hearing protection and in-ear monitoring, hand-made and custom fitted.
Whether you are a performing musician, DJ, Sound engineer or simply somebody who loves their music, you’ll appreciate just how important your hearing is.
It is well documented that exposure to loud sounds can irreversibly damage your hearing, but by the time you’ve realised there is a problem you will be too late to do anything about it. Hearing damage cannot be treated, but it is very easy to prevent.
Protecting your hearing doesn’t have to mean blocking out sound, our level attenuators reduce all sounds equally. They let you hear
all the detail but at a safer level.
Conventional hearing protectors attenuate more high frequencies than lows, that means that everything sounds muffled. This might be OK if you are working with a chain-saw but not if you are making or listening to music.
Our custom made ER and HF filters reduce all sounds equally, so it’s just like turning the volume down without sacrificing any of the detail of what you want to hear. Being ‘Custom Made’ they are extremely comfortable, and you can wear them for hours at a time.
I wear mine to any gig I attend; I can hear everything beautifully without the buzzing in my ears later.
Our custom made, soft silicone, In-Ear monitors deliver exactly what you want to hear from your music player or mixing desk, at safe levels, because background noises are attenuated. 
Our ACS in-ear monitors are available in single, double, or triple speaker configurations. Whether you are on stage, in rehearsal, or on a plane, you won’t have to turn up the volume to hear every detail.
But don’t take our word for it, visit our website ww.acscustom.com/ie and read what some of the world’s most respected audio reviewers and engineers have to say about ACS monitors
Earlier use of Hearing Aids helps prevent auditory atrophy
There is a growing collection of detailed studies that demonstrate, clinically, that people with hearing loss have more success with hearing aids, when they act quickly. Why? Because when the hearing mechanism, and the complex neural pathways to the brain are deprived of sound, they weaken (or atrophy) making understanding more difficult when help is finally sought. This process is often referred to auditory deprivation.
The way to beat auditory deprivation is early intervention. As soon as you suspect you have a hearing difficulty, you should seek the help of a professional. Adapting to Hearing aids gets more difficult, the longer you leave it.
Most hearing loss creeps up on you unnoticed, until you begin to miss certain things that are said to you, or you turn the TV up a notch. And the strange thing is, that although your hearing has deteriorated, your tolerance for loud sounds has reduced
There have, in the past, been well founded beliefs that Hearing Aids were no good for mild hearing loss or noise induced hearing loss, because they had to block the ear in order to prevent feedback (whistling). Not only were the old analogue amplifiers poor in terms of sound reproduction and just making everything louder than everything else, but the hearing aids contributed to hearing loss by closing the ear off to natural sound.
There are new families of Hearing Aids that have been developed over recent years, called Open fit instruments. These digital instruments use a thin tube to deliver the necessary amplification where it is needed, and at the precise levels needed, while leaving the ear canal completely open.
The ‘Life’ range from Siemens is probably the best of these instruments. Independent studies have shown that the Siemens Life instruments have the best Feedback cancellation system on the market today. Take a look at the brochure on our Thin Tube products page.
http://www.irishhearingaids.ie/products/thin-tube-instruments
Trying one of these instruments could not be easier, Freephone 1800 301335 to arrange an appointment at your local Siemens approved Hearing Centre
Introducing ‘iMini’
Individually crafted, Advanced hearing technology in its tiniest form.
The magnificent new iMini is the smallest Hearing instrument available in Ireland today. It fits snugly and entirely within your ear canal, almost invisible from outside with no external component.
Each iMini is as unique as the person who wears it. Its miniature components are individually crafted for optimal fit and comfort.
To make sure iMini stays confidential, it is equipped with the ultra-fast FeedbackStopper from Siemens BestSound™ Technology. It acts within milliseconds to prevent acoustic feedback before it starts – even in the most critical situations. Unobtrusive at all times, you can be confident that iMini won’t make a sound – except the ones they want to hear. Optimally located deep in the ear canal, iMini uses the natural shape of the ear to transmit sound to the microphone, supporting excellent directional hearing. Ideally suited to wearers with mild to moderate hearing loss, it ensures a clear, comfortable hearing experience – essential for appreciating the finer things in life.
Sensitive enough to pick up a whispered compliment, compact enough for utmost privacy, iMini is truly the best of both worlds. It gives your style conscious customers true confidence in their hearing and appearance. This tiny device is the ideal solution for hesitant first-time wearers and experienced users alike
.
iMini 701
Description
• Smallest possible individual custom instrument
• Appropriate for mild to moderate hearing losses
• Highly flexible, 16 channel digital signal processing and programming
Audiological features with BestSound Technology
• Extended frequency range
• FeedbackStopper
• SoundBrillianceTM
• 16 channel AGC-I and 16 channel AGC-O system with 4 handles
• Speech and Noise Management
• SoundSmoothingTM transient noise reduction
• eWindScreenTM, wind noise reduction system
For more information on the smallest Hearing instruments available today freephone 1800301355
Good news for insured workers and those on a contributory pension, The Dept of Social protection have announced on their website, under the provisions of Budget 2011, Treatments benifits, that: Hearing Aid grants payable under this scheme will be fully maintained.
Details of the grants and assistance available towards the purchase of Hearing Aids can be found here:
As I mentioned in a previous Blog item,Shouting never helps
The two most common types of Hearing impairment in Ireland are Presbycusis (age related hearing loss) and Noise induced hearing loss. Both of these types of hearing loss affect the higher frequencies worse than the low frequencies. The result is poor speech understanding because most of the intelligent parts of speech are in the higher frequencies.
The vowel sounds are in the lower frequencies, but these contain very little clues to speech understanding.
Try to read these two lines, I have used slash/ to separate words. You should try to vocalise them.
I _/I/wa_ /_ o /w_i _e /o__y /_owe__/, You/ wou__ /_o_ /u__e___a__. But,
_f/ _ /w_s/t_/wr_t_/_nl_ /c_ns_n_nts/, y__/w__ld/ _nd_rst_nd/m_r_
(If I was to write only vowels, you would not understand. But If I was to write only consonants, you would understand more)
When you raise your voice, the volume level of the vowel sounds increases, but the consonants, sibilants and fricatives remain at the same level.
If somebody does not understand you, don’t just repeat the same thing, try to say it differently:
Have you got the time? What? Do you know what the time is?
If the person has not understood you, try to rephrase and speak clearly. Louder is usually no help.
If you are in regular contact with somebody who has a hearing impairment, don’t shout, don’t mumble, take the fag out of your mouth, face the person, speak clearly and not too fast, check that they are following you. People often give up too easily; pretend they understand then get left behind. Don’t let that happen, too many slip through the cracks.
But the biggest favour you can do for them is to help them get a hearing test, and try a discreet digital hearing aid. These are not your grandparent’s hearing aids; they only made everything louder and were often left in the drawer.
Among most of the people I know with Hearing Aids, (and that is quite a lot) the biggest regret is that they did not go for them years earlier. Don’t put it on the long finger; contact your local professional, or Email info@irishhearingaids.ie or freephone 1800301335
Ever noticed that complaints are shouted at you, but compliments are whispered?
What do you mean it’s broke!!! :-(
Oh, you fixed it? Well done. :-)
Imagine what it’s like for someone with a hearing impairment? They only catch the louder things said to them, it must seem to some that they are being given out to all the time.
And the sad fact is, they are not aware that they are missing out on the quieter speech sounds, they may just think that something has been mumbled. (I will explain, in a later blog entry, why shouting at somebody with a hearing impairment seldom helps them understand better)
If you have normal hearing, stick your fingers in your ears, and if you manage to get a really good seal, you will experience around 30dB of attenuation, or to put it very roughly, a 30% hearing impairment. Most people, who gradually develop a 30% hearing loss, are convinced that their hearing is Ok, people just mumble more than they used to. This is because the hearing loss has been a gradual process over a long time
Just try to imagine what they are missing out on? You with your fingers in your ears are probably hearing more than they are. But they (and their loved ones) are suffering unnecessarily. Do you ever find yourself shouting? Are the neighbours complaining that the TV and Radio are too loud?
A modern digital Hearing instrument, such as the ‘Intellio’ range from Audina, can be worn entirely within the Ear canal. These discreet Hearing instruments have the capability of recognising speech sounds from within the background noise. While we cannot guarantee that they will like everything that is said to them, we will guarantee to help them hear more of it.
We think that there are more than 500,000 people in Ireland who would benefit from amplification, but have not yet done anything about it. In most cases, a quick demonstration of the benefits of modern digital amplification can easily be arranged
If you know somebody who is missing out on some of the conversation, asks you to repeat a lot, or even just turns the TV up too loud, encourage them to have a hearing test. You can contact us on 1800 301 335, email info@irishhearingaids.ie or contact your local Dispenser, for some free advice on what to do.
Three out of four people with hearing impairment have problems watching TV.
For a person with a hearing impairment, understanding speech while watching TV presents major problems, since the dialog is often mixed with music or drowned out by background noise. A recent German survey found that more than 75% of people with a hearing impairment, who responded, had experienced significant difficulties listening to TV. However, there is now an effective solution – and this also emerged from the survey – in the use of modern Hearing Aids such as the Siemens ‘Motion’ instruments. Wearers of these instruments receive the sound directly from the TV via a wireless connection to their Hearing Aids.
The results of a survey with about 2,000 Germans with a hearing impairment conducted by the Forsa Institute indicated that the TV especially is the source of major problems. 76% of them reported that they can hardly understand what is being said on TV. The study showed another important finding – what a great help modern hearing instruments can be toward solving this problem. In fact, after only a two-week wearing trial, about 75% of the respondents reported a significant improvement in how well they understood speech while watching TV.
Hearing instrument manufacturers are all too aware of the challenges for TV watchers. Therefore Siemens, the leading manufacturer in Germany, developed its “TEK” wireless enhancement system. It involves attaching a small transmitter directly to the TV set to transmit the sound to the TEK Connect remote control via Bluetooth and then directly from there to the hearing instrument. All this is accomplished wirelessly, in stereo, and with no time delay. It has the additional advantage that family members or other TV viewers without hearing aids can set the TV volume to their “normal” preferred level while the hearing instrument wearers simply adjust the volume arriving directly at their hearing instruments using their TEK Connect remote control.
TEK can be used with more than the TV – it can also be used together with the phone, computer, MP3 player, or any other audio device. When using the phone with TEK, the user with two hearing instruments would actually hear the phone conversation wirelessly in both ears, this is a big advantage. Siemens offers the TEK enhancement system in nearly all models of its current line of hearing instruments. This includes the ‘Motion’ range of instruments.
For more information on TEK, or any of our new Hearing Aids, please contact your local Dispenser or Freephone 1800 301 3355, or email us at info@irishhearingaids.ie
You can download the Siemens TEK brochure here
My name is Brian Coffey; I am the founder and Managing Director of Acoustic Technologies Ltd.
My intention with the new website, is to try to provide you with as much information as we can to help you make the right decisions about your hearing, and if you need a Hearing Aid, we have tried to take some of the mystery out of the process. The very fact that you have found this article means that you have already taken a big step forward, let us help you take the next step towards better hearing
As we state on the home page, we are the only Irish manufacturer of Hearing Aids.
Why should this matter to you?
Unfortunately, most Hearing Aids fitted in Ireland today, are distributed by Multi-National companies, who seem to think that Ireland is just another region of the UK, and they only have service facilities in the UK. This means that Hearing Aids can take as much as a month to get repaired, or serviced.
Before I came into the business 25 years ago, the vast majority of Hearing Instruments took 4-6 weeks to get repaired, they usually had to be sent to a factory in the UK, and people were left without the very instruments they had become so dependent on.
Hearing Aids are very reliable in themselves, and with proper care and attention, they will give good service over their lifetime, but they are working in a very hostile environment, your Ear, and are prone to blockages with Earwax.
You should make sure that any Hearing Aid you buy can be serviced in Ireland, Better still; make sure it carries the Guaranteed Irish Symbol.
All of our production team realise, that giving that little extra effort in the production of a custom made hearing aid, can make an enormous difference to the hearing, and therefore the quality of life of somebody with a hearing impairment. Every one of our custom made hearing aids is made as if they were for a family member. We know that when you are happy, you will tell others who need our services.
Since our foundation in 1995, we have been making the best ‘In-The-Ear’ Hearing Aids in the Industry. But we already know that! We need to let everybody else know it too, hence the website.
We have built very successful relationships with Hearing Professionals nationwide, so we decided to include our colleagues on our site. Find your local dispenser here.
I hope you like this new website, and find it useful.
It is a first step for us, and will no doubt evolve as time passes. Check back with us for news articles and information on new product ranges, such as the new TEK connect system
If you have any comment on our new site, if you think we are missing something, or if you have any questions, please let us know; send me an Email to info@irishhearingaids.ie . I would love to hear from you.
Best regards,
Brian.
