In association with Sonova Israel (Steiner Hearing Aids)
Photo : PR,
For several months now, the hottest thing on the web has been artificial intelligence. GPT chat, which was initially launched in November 2022, has introduced artificial intelligence to almost every home in Israel and around the world. If until then the term sounded like it was taken from the future, today there is hardly an Israeli who has not experienced or been exposed to content created with the help of advanced technology – which now also sets the tone for the Funac and Unitron hearing aids of the Swiss hearing aid company Sonova.
Photo: Sonova,
Learning the environment
Artificial intelligence is also currently leaping forward Sonova's hearing aids, Funac and Unitron devices.
Sonova, through the Steiner network and authorized agents, offers its customers AI-based devices. And what is the advantage of these devices over the others, you ask? Well, today most hearing aids offered by other suppliers provide a very partial solution in vocal (acoustic) challenging environments. In conversation with a friend, around the Shabbat table, at musical performances, lectures, plays, films, etc. – it is relatively simple to improve your hearing.
But present non-Sonova hearing aids with a challenging environment, and you'll have to compromise or even give up.
For people with hearing impairment, the gap in hearing is dramatic and these concessions can accelerate cognitive decline and disconnect from the environment.
Using Sonova's groundbreaking artificial intelligence technology, hearing aids are being improved and more and more features are being added to them aimed at improving hearing ability in different and more challenging situations.
Sonova's advanced hearing aids are digital hearing aids in which an automatic AI-based environmental detection mechanism is integrated.
The most advanced devices from Funak and Unitron scan the acoustic environment 700 times per second and accurately identify what characterizes the hearing environment in terms of the ratio between speech sounds, noise, music, reverberation, wind and more.
The AI analyzes the environment and creates a plan tailored to what is happening around you, and the plan is updated immediately with any changes in the environment. For example, in noisier environments, the devices will increase the degree of noise filtering, and in environments where there is both speech and environmental noise that may make it difficult for the listener, the microphone system of the devices activates a directional mechanism in which speech coming from the front is amplified, while the noises coming from the sides and back are lowered.
If there is light music in the background and behind you an air conditioner, the intelligence knows how to take this into account as well.
In Sonova's most sophisticated devices (Funac 90 series and Unitron's 9), there is the possibility of increasing speech coming from other directions (back or side), and lowering the noise coming from other directions as well.
These devices also incorporate unique developments such as a motion sensor that improves speech perception while walking, and enables better understanding even in specific challenging situations such as walking in the beach alongside a partner or walking with a child in a stroller on the street.
Photo: Sonova,
Jumping into the water – yes, withthe devices!
Sonova hearing aids are fully charged in just 3 hours, lasting about 24 hours of hearing, receiving calls and streaming. In addition, the devices can connect via Bluetooth to smartphones and smart TVs, enabling phone calls streamed to both ears, stereo media and music playback, connection to various apps, and remote support via a dedicated support app (all apps at no extra charge of course!).
And if you were wondering, then you should and it is important that you know – Sonova's devices are suitable for all types of smartphones that the market has to offer, Android or iPhone.
And another important fact, the devices are sweat and water resistant. This way, even during strenuous sports, walking in the rain, swimming or showering – you can hear clearly with peace of mind without fear of potential damage*.
Cinematography : Sonova,
"Incredibly, but even in 2023 there are still a lot of people who don't hear well enough, don't understand, say over and over again: 'What? What?', but walking around without hearing aids, not rehabilitated. Swiss Sonova invests efforts and funds in order to continue to improve the quality of hearing, and enable everyone to live like every human being," says Arik Steiner, CEO of Sonova Israel.
"We recognized what our customers expect from their hearing aids: outstanding sound quality, versatility, and the ability to control and adapt their hearing aids to any situation."
"We believe that good hearing is more than simply 'hearing well.' Good hearing is the basis and condition for social-emotional, cognitive and physical health.
When we say that good hearing enables a good quality of life – we are referring to the bigger picture, and providing hearing therapy as the basis for the quality of life and overall health of our customers."
The special devices of the brands "Funak" and "Unitron" can be purchased at Steiner hearing institutes and authorized agents. The chain has about 100 branches and licensed institutes nationwide, from Majdal Shams in the north to Eilat in the south, as well as arrangements with the HMOs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defense.
* Prolonged stay in water up to half a meter deep.
In association with Sonova Israel (Steiner Hearing Aids)