Hearing has never sounded so good in such small packages.
Some people think hearing aids just make things louder, but smart technology has changed these devices into something much closer to personalized, connected consumer tech products.
Two products, Oticon Zeal and Phonak Virto R Infinio, both offered by American Hearing + Audiology, use the latest in hearing aid technology, including speech processing and environmental adaptation capabilities, to make the overall listening experience easier for the user with less listening effort. Both devices also provide all-day rechargeability and Bluetooth connectivity and are easy to use and maintain.
Choosing which is best depends on your lifestyle and hearing profile.
Oticon’s BrainHearing vs. Phonak’s SmartSpeech
Oticon Zeal’s BrainHearing and Phonak Infinio’s SmartSpeech are designed to perform well in loud environments, but they approach noisy situations differently to accommodate different priorities.
Oticon Zeal’s BrainHearing does not try to block everything except the person in front of you. Instead, it gives the brain access to a full, balanced sound scene by continuously scanning and using AI support to adjust to easy or complex environments. BrainHearing balances abrupt loud sounds before they can distort or startle, and its Always-on AI requires no manual program switching. Zeal also supports Auracast, which lets it tune directly into audio broadcasts in airports, theaters and other public venues. The Virto R Infinio does not.
Phonak’s SmartSpeech on the other hand, scans the surroundings and automatically selects and blends the right settings from a library of listening programs. The technology detects and adapts to restaurants, music, phone calls, quiet rooms and outdoor environments. Other features include automatically recognizing music genres and applying genre-specific enhancements. The Virto R Infinio can also reduce end-of-day listening fatigue by 21% (versus its prior generation). This device can also pair up to eight devices, with two connected simultaneously.
“For the wearer, Zeal may sound a little more ‘live’ or spacious,” said Angie Eisenhauer, BS, H.I.S. of American Hearing + Audiology. “Voices aren’t necessarily isolated from the environment. You may still hear dishes, room ambiance, people moving around, that sort of thing, but those sounds are intended to remain relatively natural. Phonak specifically emphasizes speech understanding and listening comfort.”
“Based on the available technology and independent testing, I would give the Phonak a slight edge if your No. 1 priority is understanding speech in very loud, crowded places, while Zeal is an excellent choice if you want strong speech clarity without giving up as much of the surrounding sound environment.”
The Oticon Zeal offers a SmartCharger with onboard battery, whereas the Phonak Virto R Infinio comes with a standard charger.
Hearing loss range
The Zeal suits mild to moderately severe hearing loss with an instant-fit, very discreet in-the-ear device. Benefits include same-day fitting so you can leave wearing them. The Virto R Infinio, which covers a wider range of hearing loss, is custom made and supports a broader amplification range than an instant-fit device. Benefits include multiple color and faceplate options, and the security of a fully custom-molded shell, though it does involve a multi-appointment fitting process.
A full hearing evaluation is the first step to determine which fit is best.
For more information on the two hearing aids, both backed with strong clinical records, please visit americanhearing.us.
