If you are eager to learn about the latest and greatest in Consumer Technology, then look no further than the CES Conference. It is an annual conference organized by the Consumer Technology Association. Typically it is held in Las Vegas in January and hosts presentations on new products and technologies in the consumer electronics industry. The topics are as varied as the name would suggest; ranging from accessibility to smart homes/cities to health, fitness, and gaming. Hosts include manufacturers, developers, and suppliers of consumer technology. It is also a place where the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers address the industry’s most pressing issues.
You can imagine that the opportunity to present your product or idea on such a platform could change a business quickly. Not only do people attend in person, but you can follow along online through multiple media sources in real-time as well as through podcasts. So if you missed this year, you can attend in the future and learn what was present this year.
Also, as you can imagine, a supplier or an inventor may go to the conference with the idea of pitching their product to a certain clientele, then realize their idea may have additional applications. Since you are reading this on a blog dedicated to hearing and hearing health, I bet you can guess what types of products I will talk about in this blog.
Some are household names (like Sony), or known to people in the industry, (like NuHeara), while still others are perhaps less well known (like Orka). Other hearing health care technology companies were presenting new hearables (like the OrCam Hear) or accessories for hearing aids (like the Redux professional drying system for hearing aids).
Most people think new technology is good, but for some it can be confusing; others find the new sounds to be too much. That is why we want you to understand all of your options before you purchase. In hearing aids, including OTC hearing aids, one size does not fit all. We are here to guide you through the process with care and transparency. All costs, fees and services are available at any time.
Please contact us if you have any question about this blog or the conference. We are ready to answer any and all of your questions. Happy Hearing!
The BEAN by Etymonic, a cute name, is a type of Personal Sound Amplification Product (PSAP) and has a built-in sensor that adjusts to the ambient sound level so is ideal for someone who wants some amplification and not full time like a hearing aid should be worn. Some people, for example, just need hearing help in one or two environments such as hearing the TV, or when a speaker is further away (in a play, a lecture, or a worship service), and may or may not have a hearing loss and is “not ready” to wear a device full-time. If you get the right sound amplifier you will be happy when you need it and it won’t hurt your hearing more. At Hears to U, we recommend the sound amplifier by Etymonic because we know it sounds great and it is safe and won’t cause hearing loss. It is a nice sound amplifier that just amplifies sound across the frequency range.
The sound amplifier by Etymonic comes in two models: The BEAN and the T-coil BEAN. The T-coil BEAN Amplifier has a switch with two positions, Normal (N) and T-coil (T). in the T-position, the microphone is turned off so that it can connect directly to the telephone and/or in hearing loops. (If you don’t know what a hearing loop is, check click here.) The BEAN also has a two-switch position of Normal (N) and High (H) for more sound. The sound amplifier also comes in two different colors by Etymonic. One color is silver and is often preferred by many. We personally think the brushed gold Bean hearing amplifier looks very neat in the ear. We recently saw the inauguration of Biden and noticed that both J. Lo and Lady Gaga had gold and silver, inner ear monitors. These are much different but the look was high fashion and helpful for what they needed. You need to get what you need while being comfortable, fashionable, and hearing well.
what is the difference between a PSAP and a hearing aid? There are some similarities. Both amplify sound and both deliver that sound through a sound tube at the end of the receiver. A hearing aid is meant to correct hearing loss, is adjusted to compensate for impaired hearing in certain frequency ranges, and is regulated by the FDA. None of those are true for a PSAP. A PSAP is just meant to amplify sound. Sound amplifiers are also much less costly. They are 3/4 the cost if not less and are sold over the counter so you can grab a good pair right here at Hears to U, Hearing & Hearables.
The BEAN amplifier has 7 ear tips of different sizes and materials, a package of batteries, a filter tool with extra filters, and a carrying case. Not everyone has the same size ears and so it is helpful to have many different sizes of tips. The batteries typically last 9-10 days. The amplifier has filters so you can keep your hearing amplifier clean. To turn off the BEAN amplifier, open the battery doors when not in use, the batteries may last 2 weeks. It comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty by Etymonic if purchased from an authorized Etymotic reseller, which is Hears to U, Hearing & Hearables!