Three Presentations and Six Posters Featured

Minneapolis, Aug. 16, 2010 – Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, is proud to announce that company researchers presented a total of nine lectures and posters at the International Hearing Aid Research Conference 2010 (IHCON) held last week in Lake Tahoe, Calif. The conference, held every two years, draws the highest caliber hearing research presentations from around the world from institutions including Cambridge University, Vanderbilt University and National Acoustic Laboratories in Sydney, Australia.

“This is the biggest hearing research conference in the world,” said Brent Edwards, Ph.D., Vice President of Research for Starkey. “We are proud to be measured against the very best global talent. It’s a testament to the exciting work we are doing every day.”

Starkey was well represented, sharing three presentations and six posters over the course of the five-day event. Topics included sound localization, speech understanding in complex situations, hearing aid directionality, binaural perception, and speech and noise subject matter. Besides Dr. Edwards, presenters included a wide variety of researchers from both the Starkey Hearing Research Center in Berkeley and Starkey’s corporate headquarters in Minnesota, including Sridhar Kalluri, Bill Woods, Shilpi Banerjee, Nazanin Nooraei, Karrie Recker, Drew Dundas, Tao Zhang and Martin McKinney.

About Starkey®

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey currently employs more than 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in more than 100 markets worldwide.

For more information, visit http://www.starkey.com/

Three Presentations and Six Posters Featured

Minneapolis, Aug. 16, 2010 – Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, is proud to announce that company researchers presented a total of nine lectures and posters at the International Hearing Aid Research Conference 2010 (IHCON) held last week in Lake Tahoe, Calif. The conference, held every two years, draws the highest caliber hearing research presentations from around the world from institutions including Cambridge University, Vanderbilt University and National Acoustic Laboratories in Sydney, Australia.

“This is the biggest hearing research conference in the world,” said Brent Edwards, Ph.D., Vice President of Research for Starkey. “We are proud to be measured against the very best global talent. It’s a testament to the exciting work we are doing every day.”

Starkey was well represented, sharing three presentations and six posters over the course of the five-day event. Topics included sound localization, speech understanding in complex situations, hearing aid directionality, binaural perception, and speech and noise subject matter. Besides Dr. Edwards, presenters included a wide variety of researchers from both the Starkey Hearing Research Center in Berkeley and Starkey’s corporate headquarters in Minnesota, including Sridhar Kalluri, Bill Woods, Shilpi Banerjee, Nazanin Nooraei, Karrie Recker, Drew Dundas, Tao Zhang and Martin McKinney.

About Starkey®

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey currently employs more than 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in more than 100 markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.starkeypro.com 

August 18, 2010 – (Warrenville, Illinois) - The Phonak Hear the World Foundation is pleased to announce that Nicole Duncan, AuD student at the University of North Carolina as the 2010 recipient of its first annual Judith Gravel Fellowship in Pediatric Audiology. 

As an AuD student at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Nicole has demonstrated her passion for the field of pediatric audiology and amplification. After her initial interest was sparked as a YMCA volunteer working with at-risk children in Florida, she went on to pursue an AuD degree at UNC where she received specialized training in pediatric audiology through a US Department of Education Pediatric Audiology Training Grant and LEND Fellowship. During her studies, Nicole was also a research assistant in the Human Auditory Development Laboratory at UNC. 

”Nicole has demonstrated the abilities and commitment commensurate with the fellowship’s requirements, including compassionate clinical care, rigorous research and adherence to evidence-based practice, exemplified by the late Dr. Gravel,” said Professor Richard Seewald, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the National Centre for Audiology, University of Western Ontario and Hear the World Foundation Advisory Board member. 

About the Fellowship

In conjunction with the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the Hear the World Foundation awards The Gravel Fellowship annually to a fourth-year Doctor of Audiology (AuD) student whose externship will be completed at UNC Hospitals with a focus on audiologic management of infants and young children with hearing loss. The Gravel fellow also completes a clinical research project under the mentorship of UNC faculty in collaboration with Dr. Seewald. 

The Foundation named the fellowship in recognition for the late Judith Gravel, internationally renowned for her expertise in pediatric audiology and for her many contributions to clinical research and professional service. Dr. Gravel conducted groundbreaking research in the areas of early hearing loss detection and intervention and the management and treatment of otitis media. Her academic career included faculty appointments at Columbia University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, City University of New York, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Pennsylvania where she was Director of the Center for Childhood Communication at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and held the William P. Potsic Chair in Pediatric Otolaryngology and Childhood Communication. 

“Judy will always be remembered for her dedication to the advancement of educational opportunities for students and clinicians. This fellowship will honor her memory and maintain her mission.” said Dr. Seewald. 

For students interested in applying for the 2011 Gravel Fellowship, applications are being accepted now through October 15th, 2010. Please refer to the Hear the World website (www.hear-the-world.com) for complete application details. The recipient will be announced by December 1st 2010.

About Hear the World 

Hear the World is a global initiative by leading hearing system manufacturer Phonak created to raise awareness about the importance of hearing. The initiative calls attention to the social and emotional impact of hearing loss and addresses prevention of and solutions to a problem that affects more than 16% of the world’s population. Bryan Adams, Annie Lennox, Sting, Plácido Domingo and other renowned personalities support the Hear the World initiative as ambassadors. 

In the context of the Hear the World initiative, Phonak has established the non-profit Hear the World Foundation to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss through financial and technical assistance. The Foundation is committed to the prevention of hearing loss as well as the support of people with hearing loss and their families. 

To learn more about Hear the World, visit www.hear-the-world.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CanYouHearTheWorld and follow the Hear the World Twitter channel at www.Twitter.com/Hear_The_World.

For more information, please send inquiries to the following email address: Judith_Gravel_Award@hear-the-world.com.

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 4, 2010 – Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, is proud to announce that “Audiologic Management of the Older Patient,” an article written by Harvey Abrams, Ph.D., Director of Audiology Research, was selected to receive The ASHA Leader Outstanding Contribution Award for an article related to audiology.

“I am so pleased to receive this honor,” said Abrams. “My goal was to develop an article that was both interesting and clinically valuable, and comments from the judges suggested that I hit the mark.”

The ASHA Leader, published by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), developed the Outstanding Contribution Award to recognize feature articles and promote reader engagement. Nominees for the award were selected by the publication’s editorial team from articles published in 2009. Five judges with diverse professional backgrounds then rated the articles. 

About Starkey® 

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs more than 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in more than 100 markets worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.starkey.com.

Minneapolis, July 28, 2010 – Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, is proud to announce that it has earned a Distinguished Honoree Stevie® medal in the Best New Product or Service of the Year – Consumer Products category for Sweep™ Technology, which is featured on S Series™ iQ hearing aids. The International Business Awards(SM) are the only global, all-encompassing business awards program honoring great performances in business. 

“Sweep Technology makes hearing aids smarter and simpler,” said Jerry Ruzicka, President of Starkey. “We are proud to be recognized on an international level for our innovation.”

Honorees were selected from more than 1,700 entries received from organizations and individuals in more than 40 countries. Honorees were determined through two rounds of judging by professionals worldwide.

Sweep Technology is available on Starkey behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. A touch panel on the spine of the hearing aid allows wearers to adjust volume up or down and change the memory setting with the simple sweep or touch of a finger. 

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.

About Starkey®

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs more than 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in more than 100 markets worldwide. 

For more information, visit http://www.starkey.com/.

Minneapolis, July 20, 2010 – Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, is proud to announce that it has donated 100 hearing aids to the Special Olympics Healthy Hearing Program for the benefit of Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities. 

The Special Olympics North America Regional Games are being held this month in Lincoln, Neb. Starkey’s Dr. Elizabeth Galster is assisting the hearing aid team, which is under the direction of Dr. Ruth Bentler from the University of Iowa.

About Starkey®

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs more than 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in more than 100 markets worldwide. 

For more information, visit http://www.starkey.com/.

Salt Lake City - Sonic Innovations, Inc., a global provider of hearing care services and solutions, has added custom earmold manufacturing for all Sonic behind-the-ear (BTE) products, including thin tube and receiver-in-canal (RIC) devices, to the company’s product offerings. Sonic began making the custom earmolds July 1, 2010. 

“Sonic Innovations has always been known for quality products, and our great fitting earmolds are no exception. In addition, traditional earmold vendors often take up to two weeks to deliver product, but our turnaround time is only four days,” said Sonic Innovations President and COO Paul Wennerholm. “The addition of custom earmolds to our product offerings is just another example of how Sonic continues to deliver what our customers want and to make advances in becoming a one-stop shop for any need our customers may have.” 

Sonic Innovations is also now offering pre-fitting of the company’s BTE hearing aids. If the clinician provides the patient’s audiogram information when placing the BTE product order, Sonic uses that information to pre-configure the patient’s hearing aid, resulting in a very fast first-fit experience that saves time for both the clinician and patient. 

About Sonic Innovations:

Sonic Innovations, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has international offices and manufacturing centers across the globe. In conjunction with their distributor partners, Sonic Innovations has provided hearing care services and solutions in more than 25 countries and the company’s partners have prescribed more than 1 million Sonic hearing instruments. Sonic Innovations is part of the Otix Global, Inc. family (NASDAQ: OTIX), which can be found online at www.otixglobal.com. 

Augusta, GA. – More electrodes and a thinner, more flexible wire inserted further into the inner ear could improve conventional cochlear implants, a team of Medical College of Georgia and Georgia Institute of Technology researchers say.

Candidates for cochlear implants—an estimated million in the United States alone—include children and adults with profound deafness in both ears. An implant does not restore normal hearing but simulates sounds in the environment, including speech. More electrodes pick up more external sound and the flexible wire allows those sounds to be transmitted over more of the auditory nerves.

Researchers will present their findings about the new device at the 11th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Auditory Implantable Technology in Stockholm, Sweden June 30 – July 3.

The snail-shaped cochlea is difficult to access, particularly considering the multiple components involved in a cochlear implant, said Dr. Brian McKinnon, assistant professor of neurotology/otology in the Department of Otolaryngology in the MCG School of Medicine. Those components include of an external microphone, speech processor and transmitter and an internal group of electrodes arranged on a thin wire that stimulate the auditory nerve.

“The wire in traditional implants is fragile and thin and may buckle,” he said. “We try to get it as far into the center of the cochlea, where the nerves are bundled, as possible – the idea being that the more electrodes on the nerves, the better the sound.”

Because they buckle, physicians typically can’t optimally insert the wire, and electrodes can, in some cases, injure the cochlea, he said.

The new device, called the thin film array, pairs 12 electrodes on a thinner, more flexible wire. The wire’s thinness has, so far, allowed surgeons to place more electrodes into the cochlea than they could with a conventional electrode. With more electrodes than standard models, the implant improves the quality of sound.

The array was developed in the Biosystems Interface Laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology by Assistant Professor Pamela Bhatti, a biomedical engineer, and Georgia Tech student Jessica Falcone. McKinnon and Dr. Kenneth Iverson, a third-year otolaryngology resident, tested it on cadaver models

“This device could mean could mean a several-fold improvement of the sound’s resolution,” Iverson said. “For the patient, it would be like the difference between hearing a Bach concerto played by a music box versus a quartet.”

McKinnon compared the improvement to adding more fingers and more notes to a piano performance.

There are other benefits too.

“Because the thinner wire means less trauma to the ear, it could also mean more preservation of residual hearing for patients,” Iverson said.

Taken from my.mcg.edu/portal.

Minneapolis, July 9, 2010 – Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, is excited to announce that its Zōn™ hearing aid, which was released in 2008, is being featured in the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City as part of the museum’s National Design Triennial series through January 9, 2011. The ergonomic and patient research conducted to develop Zōn has since been used to develop all of Starkey’s standard products worn behind the ear.

“It is an incredible honor to have one of our hearing instruments featured in the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and recognized for its results-oriented design,” said Jerry Ruzicka, President of Starkey. “We invest heavily in research and development to ensure our technologies and innovations are designed to meet the varied needs of our patients. It’s gratifying to be recognized for those efforts.”

Starkey products are developed using an evidence-based design approach, blending world-class technology with beautiful design, ultimately providing high levels of acceptance and satisfaction for patients. Starkey’s standard products are built out of moisture-resistant materials and designed to minimize the number of touch points on wearers’ skin. Even color options are carefully considered; Starkey worked with respected cosmetics researchers to develop a sophisticated hair and skin-tone color palette, designed to complement and match natural skin tones and hair. 

Starkey’s products look great on the outside, but also provide best-in-class performance through the cutting-edge technology inside. From virtually eliminating feedback to providing the best noise reduction and speech preservation system available, Starkey products provide excellent performance, comfort and personalization. 

Inaugurated in 2000, Cooper-Hewitt’s National Design Triennial series seeks out and presents the most innovative, forward-thinking designs at the center of contemporary culture from the previous three years. The exhibition showcases design solutions that promote environmental stewardship, social equity, accessibility and creative capital in more than 125 projects. 

This year’s exhibition title asks the question “Why Design Now?” to examine why design thinking is an essential tool for solving some of today’s most urgent problems; what draws creative thinkers, makers and problem solvers to this crucial field of discovery; and why business leaders, policy makers, consumers and citizens should embrace design values. Key developments across design disciplines will be presented through eight themes: energy, mobility, community, materials, prosperity, health, communication and simplicity. 

Starkey’s Zōn will be one of 15 innovations in the exhibit’s health category, along with a prosthetic limb controlled by the human mind, a low-cost neonatal incubator made from car parts, affordable corrective eyewear that is self-adjusted by injecting various amounts of fluid into the lenses of thick glasses and a system that uses UV light to make water potable.

About Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum is the only museum in the nation devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. Founded in 1897 by Amy, Eleanor, and Sarah Hewitt - granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper - as part of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, the museum has been a branch of the Smithsonian since 1967. The museum presents compelling perspectives on the impact of design on daily life through active educational programs, exhibitions and publications. For further information, please call (212) 849-8400 or visit cooperhewitt.org. 

About Starkey®

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs more than 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in more than 100 markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.starkeypro.com

Minneapolis, June 29, 2010 – Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, is proud to announce that it is the recipient of two awards for Sweep Technology, which is featured on S Series™ iQ hearing aids. Starkey was honored with a Stevie® Award in the Best New Innovation category during The 2010 American Business Awards(SM). In addition, Sweep Technology collected a Silver 2010 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA®) from the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).

“We are proud to be recognized for our innovative technology that makes hearing aids both smarter and simpler,” said Jerry Ruzicka, President of Starkey. “These awards are a testament to the hard work our research, design and development teams have done to make Sweep Technology a reality.”

Sweep Technology is available on Starkey behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. A touch panel on the spine of the hearing aid allows wearers to adjust volume up or down and change the memory setting with the simple sweep or touch of a finger. 

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards were presented in more than 40 categories, with more than 2,700 entries submitted for consideration. Starkey was in the company of other winners including Apple, Ford Motor Company and Mozilla. More than 200 executives across the country participated in the judging process to determine the finalists and Stevie Award winners.

Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.

About the IDEA Awards

The IDEA Awards celebrate the year’s most inventive and creative product and product concept designs. The competition received more than 1,800 entries from 29 countries, which were evaluated by world-renowned designers and design experts. Winners will be showcased in Fast Company and for the first time since the inception of the competition, will be housed permanently in The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Mich.

The IDSA is the world’s oldest, largest, member-driven society for product, industrial, interaction and universal design, human factors, ergonomics and related design fields. IDSA organizes the IDEA competition annually.

About Starkey®

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs more than 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in more than 100 markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.starkeypro.com.

- Move makes all company’s products compatible with every television on market - 

SAN DIEGO – June 22, 2010 – TV Ears, a manufacturer of doctor recommended TV listening solutions, announced today the launch of the upgraded version of its signature headset line. 

The Original Plus offering includes a Power Stacker Kit to work with LCDs and plasma television sets, making the company’s entire product line compatible with every TV on the market. 

“As the industry leader in alternative listening devices, it’s incumbent upon us to keep up with the latest technology and consumer demands,” said George Dennis, Founder and CEO of TV Ears. “This is just one example of how we’re doing it.” 

As before, the Original Plus headset features the company’s proprietary Voice Enhancement Technology that clarifies television dialog like no other wireless device. The Automatic Commercial Control also caps loud commercials so users won’t get blasted with an unexpected rise in transmission volume. Moreover, the patented self molding TV Ears Tips creates an acoustically sealed chamber with the ear that provides unparalleled comfort, cleanliness, and clarity for outstanding word discrimination so that television dialog is clear and understandable. 

The retail price of the TV Ears Original Plus device is $149.95, and is available online at www.tvears.com as well as local participating audiology and hearing aid stores. 

About TV Ears

TV Ears manufactures doctor recommended TV listening solutions that have helped more than 1 million people hear the television clearly and once again enjoy what they are watching bringing families back together and returning tranquility to the home. The company is acknowledged as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America and continues a pattern of consistent growth with innovative quality products and an increasingly loyal and expanding base of satisfied customers.For more information, visit www.TVEars.com.

Customised hearing systems created to tune out drone of vuvuzela.

2010-06-29, Stäfa, Switzerland - As part of its Hear the World initiative, the experts at leading hearing aid manufacturer Phonak helped start the debate about the risk of hearing damage from the vuvuzela when they conducted sound measurements, which found that it reached an ear splitting 127 decibels (dB) - louder than a lawnmower (90 dB) and a chainsaw (100 dB). And now they have taken things a step further.

Phonak have customised one of their state-of-the-art hearing protection systems - typically used by helicopter pilots, fire-fighters, industrial staff and security professionals - to filter out the endless drone of the vuvuzela. Several of these prototype systems have been sent to South Africa for testing purposes, with the aim of enabling journalists in the stadiums to focus on their work, stay connected to the overall atmosphere in the stadium and engage in regular verbal communication, while being protected from dangerously loud noise levels.

Continuous exposure at just 85 dB puts us at a risk of permanent noise induced hearing loss, and when subjected every working day to 100 dB or more, hearing damage can occur in just 15 minutes. Recent measurements at big games have shown the combined noise of the crowd and their vuvuzelas to almost constantly exceed 130 dB - even at a South African Premier League soccer match that took place before the World Cup, measurements conducted by the University of Pretoria indicated peaks of 137 dB, and an average of 100 dB over the match, when there were only 30 000 fans in attendance.

The prototype was made by first analysing the precise sound emitted by the vuvuzela, and then deciding on the Serenity DP dynamic hearing protection system as the base for the prototype, as its digital signal processing capabilities provide a versatile platform for experimentation with a multitude of digital filters. It works by damping impulse sounds the moment they occur, and as long as the surrounding noise is within safe limits, the system is fully transparent - ie, it will not alter the ambient sound and communication capabilities of the user.

If this prototype proves successful, and vuvuzelas take off in stadiums around the world, mass production might be an option going forward.

Taken from http://www.hear-the-world.com

Sonic Innovations, Inc. rewards teens for innovative work in student competition. 

Salt Lake City - Two Chicago teens will receive free hearing aids from Sonic Innovations, Inc. (Sonic), a global provider of hearing care services and solutions, on Wednesday, June 30 at 10 a.m. The donation will take place during a fitting session with Dr. Linda Burba at Audiologic Services, located at 386 Pennsylvania Avenue in Glen Ellyn, IL. 

Sonic has partnered with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) program to reward Marcella Liggins and Christopher Turnbo, two 17-year-old students from the Chicago Vocational and Career Academy, for their innovative work in NFTE’s annual city-wide business plan competition. Each student will receive a pair of Endura hearing aids and sonicBLU devices, a wireless communication device that allows users of Sonic hearing aids to wirelessly connect to Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and devices.

“I feel great and am so happy to receive the hearing aids from Sonic Innovations,” said Liggins. “Once I get the hearing aids and connect them to my cell phone, I will feel special and my life will change. I can’t believe I will be wearing a product that is like my business plan idea. It is like a dream becoming a reality.” Turnbo said, “Life will be so much better because I won't hear a lot of noises in the background with these hearing aids when I am on my cell phone. I am proud to know I am the first among my friends to wear hearing aids that have a Bluetooth connection. Now I'm thinking of how to connect an MP3 player or iPod to the hearing aid.”

Liggins was born hearing impaired and Turnbo slowly began to lose his hearing at the age of 5. The students’ severe hearing loss requires them to wear hearing aid devices, and they decided that it would be nice to have Bluetooth capability embedded inside their hearing aid so they could hear clearer when talking on their cell phones. Liggins and Turnbo partnered together and developed a business plan for a hearing aid company that would develop state-of- the-art communications for people who are hearing impaired. The team entered its plan in the NFTE business competition where they won first place in the semi-finals and a consolation prize in the finals.

“Sonic received a call from one of our investors who is also on the NFTE board and was judging the student competition. He was touched by the students’ excitement and passion to help people, especially teens, who are hearing impaired,” said Sonic Innovations President and COO, Paul Wennerholm. “The investor knew that Sonic had already developed the technology the teens had imagined through our sonicBLU device, and he hoped we could help these students. We at Sonic knew these innovative teens could benefit from our product, and we decided it would be a great opportunity for us to help them with a donation of our Endura hearing aids and sonicBLU devices. We thank Dr. Burba for helping us make this donation possible for these two deserving teens.”

Wennerholm added, “Research shows that about two to three out of every 1,000 children in the U.S. are born deaf or hard-of-hearing. At Sonic we know how important it is for children to hear when learning vocabulary, grammar, and other aspects of verbal communication. We hope our devices will help our younger population enjoy a better quality of life.”

NFTE is a national teen entrepreneurship program now taught at 33 Chicago Public High Schools, reaching 2,000 students. NFTE trains Chicago Public School teachers to teach students real life business skills, such as how to build and run their own business. Young people in the program create a concept for a business, after which their teachers take them through the process of creating a business plan and then how to sell their products and services. “The secret to NFTE is using entrepreneurship education to engage young people in school by following a reality-based curriculum. We teach them about the market economy and give them an entrepreneurial mindset to be successful in life,” said Christine Poorman, Executive Director, NFTE Chicago.

About Sonic Innovations:

Sonic Innovations, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has international offices and manufacturing centers across the globe. In conjunction with their distributor partners, Sonic Innovations has provided hearing care services and solutions in more than 25 countries and the company’s partners have prescribed more than 1 million Sonic hearing instruments. Sonic Innovations is part of the Otix Global, Inc. family (NASDAQ: OTIX), which can be found online at www.otixglobal.com.

- New 32-inch LCD TV includes built-in wireless transmitter, headset for better listening, easy-to-use remote control, automatic shut-off service - 

SAN DIEGO – January 4, 2010 – TV Ears, a manufacturer of doctor recommended TV listening solutions, will unveil the first ever “Senior-Friendly” LCD high definition television at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show this week. 

The 32-inch set includes a built-in wireless transmitter and headset for better listening, an easy-to-use, color-coded remote control device, and an automatic shut-off feature that engages after four hours of inactivity. 

“We wanted to provide a state-of-the-art TV for seniors who had neither the experience nor desire to fumble with all the buttons and settings required to watch a mainstream high definition television,” said George Dennis, Founder and CEO of TV Ears. “We also wanted the set to be trouble-free and energy efficient, so we included a feature that automatically turns the television off if the volume or channel has not been changed for four consecutive hours, figuring that the person watching has left the room or fallen asleep.” 

Dennis also added that “this system offers a good alternative while also helping those who have trouble hearing the dialogue on their favorite show. In doing so, we’ll bring back the family TV viewing experience for everyone in the home!” 

Additionally, the TV Ears TV provides extra large screen text for easier viewing, and comes with the company’s “White Glove” specialty service that includes delivery with complete hook-up, programming and one-on-one instruction service of the TV and associated TV Ears Headset by a knowledgeable and friendly technician. Customers can also call a toll-free telephone number for assistance after their purchase. 

TV Ears’ TV will be introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 7 to 10 at the company’s “Silver Summit“ booth number 2911. The set will be available for purchase in March 2010 on the TV Ears Web site, through select audiology dealers and at specialty retailers. The Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is $1199.00. More information is available at www.TVEars.com. 

About TV Ears

TV Ears manufactures doctor recommended TV listening solutions that have helped more than 1,000,000 people hear the television clearly and once again enjoy what they are watching bringing families back together and returning tranquility to the home. The company is acknowledged as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America and continues a pattern of consistent growth with innovative quality products and an increasingly loyal and expanding base of satisfied customers. For more information, visit www.TVEars.com

Stafa, Switzerland (June 14, 2010) - Phonak beat off strong competition at the recent international SABRE and HALO award ceremonies when Hear the World, the global initiative to raise awareness about the importance of hearing and hearing loss, won the International SABRE for best campaign in the 'Public Education' category and the Silver HALO award for 'Best Event.'

The prestigious SABRE Awards, which recognizes Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, received close to 2,000 entries for this year's ceremony, split over a range of categories. In the 'Public Education' group, Hear the World was selected as the winner ahead of other celebrated campaigns including the 'Brain Bank Appeal' by the Parkinson's Disease Society and 'Smoking in Pregnancy' from the Department of Health. The initiative also received a Certificate of Excellence for the annual Hear the World calendar in the 'Poster/Calendar/Photography' category.

The Cause Marketing Halo Awards recognizes how corporate and non-profit fusion can bring a seamless approach to positive, impactful social change. Phonak received the silver HALO award for 'Best Event' for the Hear the Worldexhibitions showcasing the world-famous Hear the World celebrity ambassador photographs during a six month tour to Macy's department stores in five major U.S. markets, including Dallas, San Francisco, Miami, New York and Philadelphia. Each image, taken by musician and photographer Bryan Adams, depicts a celebrity ambassador with one hand cupped behind their ear in an effort to convey conscious hearing. In addition to viewing the exhibit, consumers at each site were able to receive free screenings and consult with local hearing healthcare professionals.

Phonak, the world's leading manufacturer of innovative hearing instruments, launched Hear the World in 2006 to call attention to the social and emotional impact of hearing loss and address the prevention of and solutions to a problem that affects more than 16% of the world's population. Hear the World's goals are to educate people about hearing loss and provide support to those affected via the independent Hear the World Foundation, which was developed to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss through financial and technical assistance. 

About Hear the World

Hear the World is a global initiative by leading hearing system manufacturer Phonak created to raise awareness about the importance of hearing. The initiative calls attention to the social and emotional impact of hearing loss and addresses prevention of and solutions to a problem that affects more than 16% of the world's population. Bryan Adams, Annie Lennox, Sting, Placido Domingo and other renowned personalities support the Hear the World initiative as ambassadors. In the context of the Hear the World initiative, Phonak has established the non-profit Hear the WorldFoundation to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss through financial and technical assistance. The foundation is committed to the prevention of hearing loss as well as the support of people with hearing loss and their families.

For more information visit www.hear-the-world.com, become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/CanYouHearTheWorld and follow the Hear the World Twitter channel atwww.Twitter.com/Hear_The_World. 

About Phonak

Headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak, a member of the Sonova Group, has developed, produced and globally distributed state-of-the-art hearing systems and wireless devices for more than 60 years. The combination of expertise in hearing technology, mastery in acoustics and strong cooperation with hearing care professionals allows Phonak to significantly improve people's hearing ability and speech understanding and therefore their quality of life. 

Phonak offers a complete range of digital hearing instruments, along with complementary wireless communication systems. With a worldwide presence, Phonak drives innovation and sets new industry benchmarks regarding miniaturization and performance. 

For more information, please visit www.phonakpro.com, www.phonak.com. 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., June 11, 2010 – Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, today announced that President Jerry Ruzicka is the recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Health Sciences Award in the Upper Midwest Region. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Ruzicka was selected from nearly 50 nominations by a panel of independent judges.

“I am honored to be the recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award,” said Ruzicka. “I am proud of Starkey’s innovation, growth and development in the hearing aid industry over my 33 years and feel humbled to be recognized.”

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 24th anniversary this year. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world.

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., on November 13, 2010. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America as national sponsors.

In the Upper Midwest Region, sponsors include Faegre & Benson LLP, Manpower, Twin Cities Business magazine and Padilla Speer Beardsley.

About Starkey®

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs more than 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in over 100 markets worldwide. For more information, visit StarkeyPro.com.

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program

Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited located in the U.S.

Gallaudet University, Purdue University and Arizona School of Health Sciences Take Top Honors

Minneapolis, May 26, 2010 - Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, is pleased to announce the winners of the Starkey University Trivia Challenge played at AudiologyNOW! in San Diego. First place winner was Gallaudet University, which will receive a $5,000 donation to its student scholarship program; second place went to Purdue University, which will receive a $2,500 donation; and third place went to Arizona School of Health Sciences, which will receive a $1,000 donation. The game was played thousands of times by students across the country. 

As part of its AudiologyNOW! booth, Starkey created a student lounge where the interactive Trivia Challenge could be played. Students, faculty and alumni were asked to answer ten questions on auditory science, audiology history and Starkey’s newest technologies, S Series™ iQ, OtoLens™, and Starkey Pediatrics. Approximately 60 university programs competed, and the schools with the highest average correct scores were awarded donations to enhance their graduate audiology education programs. 

The Trivia Challenge is part of Starkey’s continued commitment to audiology students. These efforts include an additional $60,000 in annual scholarships awarded to audiology doctoral students, a speaker’s bureau for university programs, student hearing aid modification and fitting classes, and courses in practice management.

About Starkey® 

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs over 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in over 100 markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.starkeypro.com.

Latest Unitron innovation provides turnkey solution for household safety and awareness




May 13, 2010 – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – Unitron today announced the introduction of Smart Alert™ System, the first fully integrated hearing and alerting system that enables household alerts to communicate directly with hearing instruments. The system, developed in partnership with Bellman & Symfon, a global leader in alerting technologies, brings together Unitron’s widely acclaimed remote control and advanced hearing instruments with proven home alerting detectors. 

Smart Alert System delivers peace of mind to end-users and their loved ones, providing assurance that people with hearing loss will always be aware of important signals throughout their homes - even at night. By seamlessly integrating hearing and alerting technologies into a single system, Smart Alert System provides hearing healthcare professionals with a turnkey solution and a new opportunity to expand the care they provide to their clients. 

How it works: Alerts are seen, felt and heard

Smart Alert System wirelessly connects household detectors with the Smart Alert remote - the same remote used for hearing instrument functionality. When doorbell, telephone or smoke detectors sound, Smart Alert System provides alerts through event-specific icons on the remote, the remote vibrates, and beep signals are sent directly to the hearing instruments. At night, when hearing instruments are not in use, the Smart Alert remote is placed in its nightstand charger, which connects to a bed shaker, so alerts are maintained around the clock. 

Simplicity and sophistication

Smart Alert System is designed with ease and reliability in mind for both end users and hearing healthcare professionals, who conduct a simple, in-clinic pairing procedure between the hearing instruments and the Smart Alert remote. At home, users install the detectors with a simple peel and stick procedure, followed by an easy activation. 

Innovation for real life

Explained Unitron President and Chief Executive Officer, Cameron Hay, “Smart Alert System is our response to a distinct need we heard from our hearing healthcare professional customers – one that no one else has answered. Until now, there has been a component-by-component approach to clients’ household alerting needs, because there was simply no solution that integrated the alerting devices with the hearing instruments. In addition, our customers were concerned about follow-up servicing and installation issues. Unitron’s collaboration with Bellman & Symfon has yielded a reliable, purpose-driven solution that’s ready to go, right out of the box, allowing people to enjoy their homes safely and independently.” 

Smart Alert System is targeted at those with severe to profound hearing losses and an aging population who wish to enjoy their homes safely and independently. The system is designed to work with Unitron’s Passport™, Latitude™ and 360™+ product lines. It will be available in June 2010. Please contact your local representative for availability in your market. 

About Unitron

Unitron is a global innovator of technologically advanced hearing instruments. We care deeply about people with hearing loss and work closely with hearing healthcare professionals to make advanced, purpose-driven solutions available to everyone. Headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Unitron, a member of the Sonova Group, meets the needs of our customers through 16 international offices and through distributors in a further 53 countries. For more information, please visit us on the web at unitron.com.

TV Listening solutions manufacturer unveils solutions to retailers, distributors 

SAN DIEGO – May 5, 2010 – TV Ears, a manufacturer of TV listening solutions, announced today it will debut its products at RetailVision Europe, the premier conference for retailers and distributors, next week. 

Solely serving the continent’s audiology industry until now, the company will offer its highly engineered wireless headsets, speaker and link systems to the broader market. 

“We’re anxious to open our doors to retailers and distributors throughout Europe,” said George Dennis, CEO of TV Ears. “RetailVision is a well-established event and especially attractive because the continent’s population is aging in similar fashion to the U.S. More folks are struggling with hearing issues, and we feel the adoption rate for products like ours will be high.” 

RetailVision remains the only event that brings together the European retail community and leading manufacturers of innovative consumer electronics and IT products. 

“This is our first overseas trade show and while our participation is monumental in increasing visibility, we’re also looking forward to partnering with retailers and distributors and contributing to their growth,” said Dennis. “We’ve already experienced tremendous success in major retail chains in the U.S., including Costco, Radio Shack, QVC and CVS, and we’re excited to expand and provide our solutions in the UK.” 

About TV Ears

TV Ears manufactures doctor recommended TV listening solutions that have helped more than one million people hear the television clearly and once again enjoy what they are watching bringing families back together and returning tranquility to the home. The company is acknowledged as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America and continues a pattern of consistent growth with innovative quality products and an increasingly loyal and expanding base of satisfied customers. For more information, visit www.TVEars.com.

YouTube Videos Encourage Kids to Protect Their Hearing

Rockville, MD – May 10, 2010 - Clark Teeple, a sophomore at Grand Haven High School in Grand Haven, Michigan, has been named the winner of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) annual Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) Song and Video Contest.

This marks the second year that ASHA has hosted a YouTube video contest to engage the public in innovative ways to observe and celebrate the BHSM observance that takes place every May. With the theme, "Protect Your Hearing …You Need It For A Lifetime!”, this year’s nationwide contest was based on the healthy listening principles of ASHA’s Listen To Your Buds campaign (www.listentoyourbuds.org), which teaches children how to use personal audio devices safely.

Protect Your Hearing is the title of Teeple’s winning video. According to Teeple, he created the video to “make a difference in children’s lives. I volunteer at a local elementary school, and I love to make movies. This contest was a perfect opportunity to combine my efforts to ensure all kids hear my message to protect their hearing.”

Contest entries were judged on their originality, message, creativity, artistic merit, and expression of the theme. Second place was awarded to Sivan Schondorf, a speech-language pathologist in Los Angeles, California, and third place went to Grant Teeple, Clark Teeple’s younger brother who is a 6th grader at White Pines Middle School in Grand Haven. The students in the Asperger Inclusion Program at Skyline High School Oakland, California, received an honorable mention.

“I am pleased to congratulate our impressive winners of this year’s BHSM contest," says ASHA President Tommie L. Robinson Jr, PhD, CCC-SLP. “I am also pleased that the song and video contest is proving to be an innovative and engaging way of creating awareness of serious communication issues on the occasion of Better Hearing and Speech Month."

The winning videos can be found at www.asha.org/bhsm/2010-video-contest-winners2/ and will be featured on the Association’s website.

About ASHA

ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 140,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.

About Better Hearing and Speech Month

Since 1927, the month of May has been recognized as Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM). BHSM is dedicated to raising awareness of communication disorders and the professions and services that can help address them. To learn more about the contest or the BHSM campaign, visit www.asha.org/bhsm.