Current Product Lineup
The current iteration of Oticon’s technology is called BrainHearing, which was first introduced in the Opn product line in 2016.[/citation] The current version of this line, which is also the one my friend's father-in-law has, is the Opn S.
FYI: Oticon offers several different styles and models of hearing aids. In this review, I’ll just cover some of the company’s most popular devices.
The idea of BrainHearing and the Opn concept is that the brain is the best filter of sound based on the content, rather than the specific direction or combination of pitch and loudness. The approach has been shown to reduce listening effort. I find it works very well with folks who have mild to moderate hearing loss with good to excellent speech discrimination. For my patients with more severe hearing loss, I often provide a manual program with a more traditional directional microphone setting for challenging listening.
The Opn S comes in a mini receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) model, which other manufacturers call RIC, in rechargeable and standard zinc-air battery models. The standard models include a telecoil, so users can pair their hearing aids with smartphones and other devices. For more severe losses, the Opn S behind-the-ear (BTE) model provides a slight modification of the Opn algorithm and much more power. This model has a telecoil and uses a zinc-air battery.
On the custom, or in-the-ear (ITE) side, Oticon offers the previous generation Opn in invisible-in-canal (IIC) through full shell models.
Oticon also offers an “essential” line of hearing aids called Ruby (BTE and MiniRITE devices) and Siya (ITEs). These are very high-quality products that are essentially “pre-Opn” level technology. These legacy products are sometimes described as compromises for people who can't afford the latest and greatest, but in reality, these were the latest and greatest just a few years ago. One of the things I like about Oticon as a company is that they offer a very wide range of price points, making their technologies available to more people. From the outside, the Ruby and Siya devices look exactly the same as Opn S and Opn, and they support all the accessories and apps described below.
Pro Tip:Oticon’s prices aren’t listed on their website. You’ll need to visit a local provider to learn more about costs.
Opn and Ruby products are “Made for iPhone,” which allows direct streaming to iPhones and iPads. This is a nice feature not only for phone calls and, in the days of COVID-19, it also provides better fidelity from binging streaming media or connecting with family remotely using FaceTime or Zoom.