EEG Selective Attention

Oticon Opn S:

the first hearing aids proven to help the brain organize sounds

Groundbreaking new EEG research method

Using a groundbreaking new EEG research method, independent hearing scientists¹ were able to measure a person’s selective attention inside the brain while wearing Oticon Opn S.

The results provided conclusive proof that Oticon Opn S makes speech stand out and significantly improves selective attention. This makes it easier to follow conversations.

Key findings²:
Sounds are better organized in the brain
Speaker in focus: strength of EEG signal increased by 10%
Secondary speaker: strength of EEG signal increased by 95%
Background babble reduced by 50%: speech signals stand out and listening is easier

Explore Oticon Opn S

EEG research method

New EEG test method objectively measures how the brain organizes sounds.

During the test, electrodes were placed on the subject’s head to measure the level of brain activity in response to speech and noise. The readings indicated how well sound signals were represented and organized in the brain while wearing Opn S with OpenSound Navigator switched both ON and OFF.

The test protocol was designed to mimic a real-life conversation in a noisy environment (+3 dB SNR): one primary speaker to focus on, a secondary speaker to ignore, and babble noise in the background that needed to be suppressed.

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Results: Oticon Opn S significantly
enhances selective attention

The research provided conclusive proof that OpenSound Navigator in Opn S significantly improves the ability to organize sounds and enhances selective attention:

OpenSound Navigator OFF
Without OpenSound Navigator, the speaker in focus (A) stands out, but is very hard to distinguish between the secondary speaker (B) and the background babble (C) because the strength of the EEG signals are very similar.

OpenSound Navigator ON
With OpenSound Navigator switched ON, the strength of the EEG signal shows:

A) Speaker in focus: the signal is increased by 10% making it easier to follow the person the user is listening to

B) Secondary speaker: the signal is increased by 95% making it much easier to distinguish that speaker from background babble

C) Background babble: is reduced by 50% allowing the two speech signals to stand out and making listening is easier

See how we did the research

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Selective attention

Our brain has a natural ability to organize and prioritize sounds. This is called ‘selective attention’.

This ability is vital for social interaction. As we focus on the person we are speaking with, selective attention enables us to monitor our surroundings, pick out other sounds, and switch our attention when needed.

Oticon Opn S is the world’s first hearing aid proven to support the brain’s natural way of organizing sounds and thus enhance selective attention.

Opn S vs. traditional hearing aids

Oticon Opn S supports the brain’s natural way of organizing sounds and creates optimal conditions for following conversations with multiple speakers.

Traditional hearing aids in noisy environments:

Apply directionality to focus on the person in front but suppress all other sounds
Provide inconsistent amplification due to gain reductions designed to prevent feedback
Use slow-reacting, imprecise noise reduction that compromises sound quality and speech understanding
Only help the wearer to understand the person they are facing
This makes it impossible for the brain to organize all sounds and switch attention when having a conversation with several people

Oticon Opn S with BrainHearing™ technology in noisy environments:

OpenSound Navigator™ gives access to 360⁰ of sound and relevant speech, even in noisy environments
Ensures optimal gain with no risk of feedback thanks to OpenSound Optimizer™
Applies fast, precise and effective noise reduction that allows speech to stand out, powered by Velox S™
Proven to outperform conventional technologies by improving speech understanding when several people are talking³

Oticon Opn S is the only hearing aid proven to support the brain's natural way of organizing sounds.

Breaking down the wall of sound

When you have a hearing loss, speech sounds blurry. Walking into a lively social gathering can feel like running into a wall of sound. Following conversations can be too exhausting and often causes many to withdraw from social activities.

To effectively overcome these challenges, Oticon Opn S is proven to provide⁴:

Increased speech understanding: equivalent to normal hearing in noisy environments
Reduced listening effort: making it easier to stay involved in the conversation
Improved opportunity to participate: the latest research shows that Opn S enables users to take part in even lively social events