Oticon's HearingFitness, a first-of-its-kind tool that empowers hearing aid wearers to take control of their hearing health, is available now for wearers of Oticon Opn™ Internet-connected hearing aids. Similar to an exercise tracker, HearingFitness monitors and analyzes hearing aid use, listening environments, and other behaviors to determine the impact of hearing on the wearer's overall health, and makes recommendations to help wearers optimize use of their hearing aids.
Hearing loss affects more than 48 million Americans, and an increasing body of evidence links hearing loss with a higher risk of cognitive decline. In fact, from midlife, untreated hearing loss is the biggest risk factor in later development of dementia¹.
Oticon developed HearingFitness with an understanding of the importance of hearing health in maintaining healthy bodies and minds. Working in conjunction with Oticon's proprietary ON App, HearingFitness provides hearing aid wearers encouragement and advice on ways to use their hearing aids more, hear better, and ultimately stay healthy.
Within HearingFitness, users can set daily hearing goals, such as how many hours to wear their hearing aids, and track their progress. The tool also takes note of the quality of listening environments and will send users reminders to continue wearing their hearing aids, particularly in difficult environments, like a loud restaurant.
"Hearing plays a huge role in people's long-term health and well-being, particularly when it comes to cognitive health," says Don Schum, PhD, Vice President of Audiology at Oticon. "Wearing hearing aids can help hearing loss sufferers stay engaged in conversation and in life, and better fight the cognitive decline that often comes with aging. HearingFitness gives people insight into their hearing health and hearing aid habits to help them make informed decisions regarding their hearing aid usage, particularly in challenging environments. It is truly the start of a new wave of data-driven, personalized hearing care."
For information on the Oticon's new HearingFitness tool, visit www.Oticon.com/HearingFitness.
About Oticon
Oticon is one of the most innovative hearing device manufacturers with more than 110 years of experience putting the needs of people with hearing loss first. Oticon has spearheaded a number of technological breakthroughs, which have made a significant difference for people with hearing loss. Oticon’s "brain first" audiological focus recognizes that speech understanding and comprehension are cognitive processes that happen in the brain. Oticon’s innovative BrainHearing™ technology is helping to provide better hearing with less effort by giving the brain the clearest, purest sound signals to decode. Oticon designs and manufactures hearing solutions for adults and specialized pediatric instruments. People First is Oticon’s strongest and most valued commitment to empower people to communicate freely, interact naturally and participate actively. For more information visit www.oticon.com.
¹Livingston, et al (2017). Dementia presentation, intervention, and care. The Lancet
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