Moisture-Resistance Tests Show Sonic Innovations' Hearing Aids Outlast Competition

Sonic Innovations, the U.S.-based hearing aid manufacturer, recently conducted moisture-resistance tests using two of its products and eight from major competitors. The results? Sonic outlasted its nearest competitor by 44 percent.

“A younger demographic and more active seniors led us to test our products to make sure they could withstand the lifestyle of our users,” says Sonic Innovations Vice President of Auditory Research Michael Nilsson, Ph.D. Nilsson noted that according to the National Academy on an Aging Society more than 5 million people age 18 through 64 and nearly 500,000 children have hearing loss.

Changing needs of hearing aids:

Nilsson said, “Moisture can be a hearing aid’s worst enemy, but most people don’t think about that when they are purchasing one. When subjected to moisture, devices can actually give out and require repair, either from blockage in the receiver, tubing or microphone, corrosion in the battery compartment or internal damage.”

“Today’s active hearing aid wearers are counting on products that can stand up to heat, humidity and sweat-prone environments,” says Nilsson. “In these tests, Sonic Innovations’ devices proved to lead the industry in moisture resistance.”

Product testing:

• Used industry standard protocol originally created to test automotive products which helps determine potential failure from metal corrosion due to moisture.
• Hearing devices were exposed to a 95-degree Fahrenheit environment with very dense fog.
• Majority of the competitors’ devices died within either the first, second or third days, while Sonic Touch and ion devices lasted 10 days.
• All products tested were receiver-in-the-canal or thin tube style devices.

Sonic Innovations’ moisture-resistant devices include:

• Touch
• ion

Sonic Innovations, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has international offices and manufacturing centers across the globe. In conjunction with its distributor partners, Sonic Innovations has provided hearing care services and solutions in more than 25 countries and the company’s partners have prescribed more than 1 million Sonic hearing instruments. Sonic Innovations is part of the Otix Global, Inc. family (NASDAQ: OTIX).