Phonak AG: World debut of the MicroLink communication system - Phonak redefines the benchmark in hearing instrument technology.   ,Press Release Phonak AG zu MicroLink

Press Release

Phonak AG

World debut of the MicroLink communication system - Phonak redefines the benchmark in hearing instrument technology.

Hamburg, June 16, 1998

High tech for sensual hearing - MicroLink opens totally new dimensions in hearing instrument technology

Phonak Holding Ltd. of Switzerland, one of the world s leading manufacturers of hearing instruments, and Phonak GmbH Germany have announced the world premiere of the MicroLink hearing system. The development of the world s tiniest FM receiver and the deployment of an innovative transmission technology allow Phonak to break the barriers of modern analog and digital hearing aids: MicroLink turns hearing instruments into high-performance wireless communication systems.

Phonak overcomes the limits of modern hearing aids

Hearing impairments are commonplace in our society. In the industrialized nations, the most frequent hearing disorders are age-induced (presbyacousis) and noise-induced hearing losses. Presbyacousis is caused mostly by detrimental factors such as noise, alcohol, frequent infections, nicotine, and certain drugs. Noise-induced losses are attributable chiefly to occupational noise and leisure noise (discos, rock concerts, loud music piped through earphones).

In Germany alone, some 14 million people, almost one out of six, have diagnosable hearing disorders but only about three million of the individuals affected have actually been fitted with hearing instruments. In Switzerland, 150,000 of the about one million people with hearing impairments wear hearing aids.

Because of the enormous progress made in microelectronics during the past years, the industry was able to develop ever-smaller and more powerful hearing instruments. This is why hearing aid users today expect high-tech devices to solve all of the hearing problems they encounter in their everyday lives. But these lofty expectations often remain unfulfilled "because despite advanced technologies, even latest-generation analog and digital hearing devices run up against natural limits," as Andreas E. Rihs of Phonak Holding AG sees it.

The distance between speaker and listener, annoying ambient noise and reverberation or reflected sound are the most frequent causes of poor intelligibility. That is why hearing aid users, even in everyday hearing situations, are often dissatisfied with the performance of their instruments. Their disappointment may ultimately result in their withdrawal from social life and lead to isolation.

With the introduction of the PiCS hearing instrument microchip and its proprietary AudioZoom technology, Phonak already made significant advances in solving problems of this kind.

Now, with the development of the MicroLink hearing system and the deployment of ultramodern FM technology, Phonak has achieved another breakthrough: combined with MicroLink, hearing instruments can be transformed into high-performance communication systems.

"In difficult hearing situations," says Peter David Schaade, managing director of Phonak GmbH Germany, "users of hearing instruments equipped with the MicroLink system even have a clear advantage over persons with normal hearing." The quality of life of hearing-impaired individuals is significantly enhanced with MicroLink, because the users can take an active involvement in their social surroundings.

MicroLink by Phonak - an innovation revolutionizes hearing instrument technology

Conventional transmitter/receiver-based hearing systems are quite unpopular among hearing aid users. This is because of the size of the receiver which is often worn on a belt, and because of the conspicuous cable connection between the receiver and the hearing aid. The devices also severely restrict the user s freedom of movement. This is where Phonak s wireless MicroLink system comes to the fore. It consists of the TX3 HandyMic FM microphone and the worldâs smallest FM receiver, the result of many years of intensive research and development. MicroLink turns hearing instruments into genuine communication systems.

The TX3 HandyMic is used to pick up voice signals directly at the source. This approach effectively suppresses background noise. Because Phonak has integrated its AudioZoom multi-microphone technology in the FM microphone, the user can conveniently switch between the wide-angle, zoom, and superzoom modes, selectively using the best setting for any given hearing situation and systematically squelching out any annoying noise. The audio input of the TX3 HandyMic can also be connected directly to sound sources such as TV sets, radios and telephones.

The transmitter of the TX3 HandyMic then sends the signals crisply and clearly to the MicroLink receiver. The tiny FM receiver which weighs only 2 grams is integrated in a Phonak audio shoe which snaps onto any Phonak Classic or programmable BTE hearing instrument. MicroLink automatically adjusts to the audiological settings of the hearing instrument. This makes the MicroLink system very easy to use and guarantees superb operating convenience. Even in difficult everyday hearing situations at home, on the job, at school and in leisure activities, the wireless MicroLink communication system assures outstanding speech intellibility. Hearing instrument users can now rediscover how literally sensual hearing is. They can once again actively communicate with people around them, for example at conferences, in discussions, in cars, while riding a bicycle, at lively parties and when making telephone calls. MicroLink makes a real difference.

Phonak turns visions into reality

For many years, Phonak has been a proactive pioneer in hearing instrument research and development. The objective is to solve the problems of people with serious hearing impairments with new and innovative approaches, not least with a view towards enhancing the acceptance of hearing instruments. Because the quality of life of severely hearing-impaired individuals can only be guaranteed and ostracism prevented if they can actively communicate with others.

Headquartered in Stäfa (Switzerland), the Phonak Group is the world s fourth-largest manufacturer of hearing instruments. The Group was founded in 1947 and has been listed on the Swiss stock exchange since 1994. Worldwide, it employs more than 1000 persons and in financial 1996/97 (ending March 1997), Phonak generated revenues of SFr. 171 million. Worldwide, Phonak has a presence in some 70 countries, of which 13 are served by Phonakâs own subsidiaries. Phonak
GmbH in Stuttgart is among the leading hearing instrument providers in Germany.

For further information, contact:

Phonak GmbH
Max Eyth-Strasse 20
D-70736 Fellbach-Oeffingen bei Stuttgart
Tel.: +49 711 / 51070-0
Fax.: +49 711 / 51070-70

Press liaison office:

F&H Public Relations GmbH
Nymphenburgerstrasse 136
D80636 München
Tel.: +49 89 / 12175-200
Fax.: +49 89 / 12175-197