Wednesday, December 27, 2000

New disposable hearing aid now on market

Songbird Hearing Inc. has announced that it has successfully completed the lead market introduction of Songbird (TM), the world's first disposable hearing aid, in 15 select regions across the country. The company will now focus on Songbird's nationwide expansion.

This innovative hearing device is specifically designed to treat the millions of Americans, particularly baby boomers, who have mild-to-moderate hearing loss resulting from lifelong exposure to decibel-blasting music and other forms of noise pollution.

"The response to Songbird thus far has been very enthusiastic, and we are extremely excited about the nationwide launch," said Frederick J. Fritz, Songbird's President and CEO. "Developing a product that would appeal to this generation presented some unique challenges. Consequently, we reinvented the hearing aid from the ground up."

Fritz described the company's innovation as "driven by the knowledge that there are millions of people between the ages of 45 and 64 who experience mild-to-moderate hearing loss, but have been reluctant to seek treatment.

"We can now offer this population a hearing aid that satisfies their needs," he added. "Songbird is designed to be convenient, virtually invisible in the ear, extremely comfortable, and very affordable. But even more important, it offers sound quality comparable to the very best in the industry."

Fritz explained that each Songbird Disposable Hearing Aid will cost $39 (professional fees not included) and delivers a full 40 days of life when used 12 hours per day.

"To help ensure wearers can easily replace their disposable hearing aids, Songbird comes conveniently packaged in pairs for each format," said Fritz.

Because the device is discarded when the battery runs out, consumers no longer have to be concerned about battery replace ments or repairs. The elimination of a battery door provides room for a microphone that is seven times larger than typical hearing aid microphones, creating high-fidelity sound in a hearing aid sized to fit discreetly in the ear.

Unlike ordinary hearing aids, Songbird can be fit in just one visit to a hearing professional and is available in a variety of preset acoustical formats to fit the specific needs of each wearer. Songbird also features automatic volume control, allowing people to avoid the need to make frequent volume adjustments.

"Songbird Hearing Inc. is so confident in the performance of its product that each disposable hearing aid is unconditionally guaranteed," explained Fritz.

The new Songbird Disposable Hearing Aid is only available through licensed hearing professionals.

Research shows that hearing loss is one of the country's most common chronic health conditions. Of the millions of people with diagnosed hearing deficits, 70 percent are under age 65. An estimated 20 million Americans are living with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, and experts predict that number will continue to grow.