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April 17, 2023
“You can actually live a cool life with hearing loss”
April 24, 2023Phonak Introduces Slim Lumity Hearing Aid
Elegant, stylish, and comfortable are the words being used to describe Phonak’s latest hearing aid, the Phonak Slim Lumity.
The Phonak Slim “combines a modern, never-before-seen design with state-of-the-art hearing performance,” according to Phonak, but more noticeably – the design of the Slim is contoured to tuck snuggly behind your ear – even if you wear glasses.
How hearing aid trends led to the Phonak Slim
New products often prioritize technological advancements without fully considering the deeper needs that are essential to the daily experiences of people with hearing loss.
Phonak’s innovation strategy takes a different approach that involves evaluating and analyzing stories that customers share about their experiences with everyday products, brands, and services, according to the company, which sponsors HearingLikeMe.com. By identifying trends, patterns, and themes in these narratives, insights are identified that help them create innovative products that meet the needs and desires of their customers.
For example, one of these growing trends is the age of hearing aid users.
“At Phonak, we are always trying to identify unmet user needs and are curious to translate trends into our product portfolio,” says Strategic Product Manager, Jennifer Hoffmann. “Hearing aid users are getting younger, more tech-savvy, and more engaged with their environment than ever before. Slim is a great example of how we take up the needs and expectations of non-users or young hearing aid users and honor them.”
Read more: Newsflash: Hearing aids are cool!
Designing the Phonak Slim
The overall design of a hearing aids can really impact adaptability. For many years, over-the-ear hearing aids have been quite noticeable as they have used a larger shell casing to hold higher-power electronics.
Research published in the International Journal of Audiology, confirms the appearance of traditional hearing aids is one of the reasons for low hearing aid adoption.
In contrast, the Phonak Slim redefines those perceptions as it fits directly behind the ear, is less noticeable, and is easier to wear with glasses. It also comes with four different two-tone color choices to choose from with each hearing aid fitted specifically for the left and right ears.
Modern features from Phonak’s new hearing aids
Many people with hearing loss find it challenging to understand speech clearly when there is distracting background noise, distance issues or even listening to someone who is soft-spoken.
The Phonak Slim utilizes Lumity platform features including Phonak SmartSpeech™ Technology and AutoSense OS™ 5.0 that enables individuals with mild to severe hearing loss to fully participate in difficult listening settings.
- Thanks to the artificial intelligence technology within the hearing aid, it auto-adjusts for environmental conditions while accurately detecting the direction of dominant sounds.
- As streamed media becomes more prevalent in our day-to-day lives, the AutoSense operating system helps identify streamed music from streamed speech. This means the Phonak Slim can detect the presence of music versus speech (or other sounds in media signals) and automatically adjust settings to optimize the listening experience.
- The ability to personalize connectivity with the myPhonak app using iOS or Android smartphones remains constant, alongside the use of traditional Bluetooth wireless accessories, TVs, and Roger devices.
The Phonak Slim hearing aid is not complete without its customized compact charger. Extensive thought went into this design, with features such as magnets in the charge slots to securely hold the hearing aids in place while they charge, according to the company. In just three hours, a full day’s use is ready.
Collectively, the Phonak Slim is more than just a hearing aid; it’s a comprehensive system designed with a focus on both aesthetics and dependability. It aims to exceed the expectations of its users and provide them with an exceptional experience.
