Tech Reviews
Gain conversational confidence with these apps
As an audiologist, I tend to prioritise a sensory approach to aural rehabilitation by improving auditory function through use of devices, such as hearing aids. However, some patients might require a more multi-faceted approach. To expand my patient resource toolkit,...
Hearing test apps: how reliable are they?
There are seemingly hundreds of hearing test apps available, designed to be a screening tool for those interested in learning more about their hearing while doing so in the comfort of their home and without needing to wait for an...
Luna tunes – the plug and play audiometer from Interacoustics
“The professional grade headset designed with screening in mind.” Interacoustics Luna – does it ‘eclipse’* the competition?* * (Although we are fans of moon-based puns, this is not to be confused with Interacoustics’ other stellar device, the Eclipse Evoked Potentials...
PuroPro headphones review
The PuroPro is the latest product from Puro Sound Labs, a family-run business focusing on high quality, sound limiting headphones. For this family business, it’s personal. The company founder’s son has a noise-induced hearing loss attributed to headphone use. With...
The development of the Paediatric Arabic Auditory Speech Test for iPad
Speech in noise testing provides real-life assessments of hearing that conventional pure tones cannot deliver. Rania Alkahtani describes the development of such a test for Arabic speaking children. It also has the additional benefit of being able to be delivered...
Coros: can a smart helmet make listening to audio content safer for cyclists?
The popularity of mobile phones has made listening to content while on the go – whether it be music, audiobooks, podcasts, or voice calls – a seemingly universal practice. Earbuds and other headphone styles adorn the ears of nearly every...
Misophonia
Decreased sound tolerance is a common audiologic complaint. Unlike the classic characteristics of hyperacusis whereby a patient is sensitive to the frequency or volume of a sound, misophonia is a strong emotional and psychological reaction to a sound with a...
Industry update: rechargeable hearing aid batteries
They may be similar in size to a watch battery, but there is a drastic difference between the frequency with which hearing aid batteries need to be changed compared to the simple watch battery. Unlike a watch battery, which may...
Connecting healthcare
In recent years, there has been a definite shift toward the acceptance and use of smartphone technology in the delivery of healthcare. Within the fields of ENT and audiology, there is considerable appeal in the portability, simplicity, affordability, and connectivity...
Tinnitus? There’s an app for that
Chronic tinnitus. It is difficult to treat and can have a debilitating impact on those who suffer from it. To date, there is no treatment that is guaranteed to make tinnitus go away, though there are several existing treatments that...
Braci PRO – Alerts for the Hearing Impaired
The honk of a car. An ambulance siren. A fire alarm. The ring of a doorbell. These alerting sounds are used to communicate information of varying levels of importance to us in our homes on a daily basis. Unfortunately this...
A ‘smarter’ way to examine the ear?
Otoscopes and endoscopes, essential tools for ENTs, audiologists, and general practitioners, are on the receiving end of a modern twist thanks to smartphone technology. Aimed at adapting smartphones for otoscopic and endoscopic imaging, these reimagined devices might just change the...