Is it a hearable?… a wireless earbud? …a Virto Black?

What do you offer those who want discreet technology? Phonak Virto Black is a unique custom-made hearing aid that looks like a hearable and delivers on sound quality and universal connectivity.

I was on the bus the other day and I noticed a young woman standing in front of me swaying side to side. She was holding her phone in her hand, so I assumed she was streaming music.

As she turned her head, it looked like she was wearing black earbuds. Now the Phonak audiologist in me tried to casually move closer to see if they were hearables or VirtoTM Black hearing aids. Short of me sticking my face in front of her ear, I couldn’t tell.

I sat back, amazed, thinking that if she was wearing Virto Black, how difficult it would be for me to know without flat out asking her. I compared this to the gentleman I saw the other day, getting off the bus wearing behind-the-ear hearing aids. Quick and easy, anyone could tell they were hearing aids.

Think of eyewear: Discreetness is not a new demand

Of course, I’m not suggesting hearing aids are things that need to be hidden. There shouldn’t be stigma tied to wearing a visible hearing aid. But that doesn’t change the fact that some people want a more discreet option. And perhaps for Millennials and Gen Zs who are used to wearing earbuds daily, it makes sense they are attracted to this style over the BTE.

Let’s compare hearing devices to eyewear. Some people want colorful frames to stand out, some people choose more neutral frames to blend in and some choose contact lenses to be discreet. Everyone is different.

Being custom built for each client’s ear, Virto ticks off the ‘discreet’ box by sitting perfectly inside the ear. The custom fit means the devices won’t fall out during exercise.

They are less visible than off-the-shelf earbuds which typically have a higher profile with most of the electronics sitting in the concha bowl.

It’s important for us to keep in mind that offering a custom-made option can be a game changer for some of your clients. If not offered, those who want discreet might decide to leave your office without technology. Meeting this consumer need ensures hearing loss does not go untreated for them.

Untreated hearing loss may be associated with several health issues, including:
• Less social interaction and increased lonelines1
• Less participation in activities with friends and events2
• Increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia3

A discrete earbud with ‘superpowers’ – Meet Virto Paradise Black

Aside from discreteness, let’s dive into 3 key features:

  • Unrivaled sound quality4*
    For music lovers, Virto Paradise Black can distinguish between streamed speech and music for more joy of listening. It delivers crisp natural sound5 and brilliant speech understanding.4,6
  • Multiple Bluetooth connections
    Your clients can stream audio content from numerous Bluetooth® enabled devices. And when their iOS, Android or other Bluetooth® enabled smartphone rings, they can enjoy hands-free calls. Answering or rejecting calls is with a simple push of the button, even if their phone is on the other side of the room.
  • Universal connectivity
    Virto directly streams from both iOS®, Android™, or virtually any other Bluetooth®-enabled audio device. It also streams directly from Roger™ technology which has been scientifically proven to help hearing aid users** understand almost 10 times better in noise and over distance than people with normal hearing.7

Differentiate your services with a custom-made earbud

Every person has a unique relationship with their hearing loss. For many, they want a unique and custom-made earbud that is tailored for their ear. All Virto hearing aids are custom-made using state-of-the-art 3D printing technology and then expertly assembled by hand. When you offer Virto, they will see that there is nothing ‘off the shelf’ about its look and feel.

* Compared to Phonak Audéo™ Marvel
** Based on studies with moderate to severe hearing loss

To learn more about Phonak Virto Paradise, we invite you to our product page.

Phonak Virto Paradise Black is currently available in the US. Please contact the local Phonak representative in your country for availability.


Phonak Faces of Audiology

Six-word story: Davina Omisore

When Davina sees someone wearing our hearing aids and laughing with their friends, she thinks: ‘Yep, I know the blood, sweat and tears that went into that, and I was part of it!’ Learn more about Davina and her scope of work.

References

  1. Kramer, S.E., Kapteyn, T.S., Kuik, D.J., & Deeg, D.J.H. (2002). The association of hearing impairment and chronic diseases with psychosocial health status in older age. Journal of Aging and Health, 14(1), 122–137.
  2. Vas, V., Akeroyd, M. A., & Hall, D. A. (2017). A data-driven synthesis of research evidence for domains of hearing loss, as reported by adults with hearing loss and their communication partners. Trends in Hearing, 21: 1-25.
  3. Loughrey, D.G., Kelly, M.E., Kelley, G.A., Brennan, S., & Lawlor, B. A. (2018). Association of Age-Related Hearing Loss With Cognitive Function, Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, 144(2), 115-126.
  4. Appleton, J. (2020) AutoSense OS 4.0 – significantly less listening effort and preferred for speech intelligibility. Phonak Field Study News. Retrieved from www.phonakpro.com/ evidence, accessed February 24, 2022.
  5. Taphuntsang, D. (2020). Market research ID 4387. Please contact marketinsight@phonak. com if you are interested in further information.
  6. Wright, A. (2020). Adaptive Phonak Digital 2.0: Next-level fitting formula with adaptive compression for reduced listening effort. Phonak Field Study News. Retrieved from www. phonakpro.com/evidence, accessed February 24, 2022.
  7. Thibodeau, L. (2014). Comparison of speech recognition with adaptive digital and FM wireless technology by listeners who use hearing aids. American Journal of Audiology, 23(2), 201-210

Do you like the article?

Comments

One thought on “Is it a hearable?… a wireless earbud? …a Virto Black?

  1. If only the Virto Black was waterproof! That is why I’m looking at the Audeo Life instead.

Comments are closed.

Author

Articles of interest

Translating clinical research to clinical reality

It takes years for research to evolve to the level of understanding required for clinical application. Dr. Jason Galster, Vice President of Clinical Research Strategy with Sonova, shares insights on the stages of translating research in audiology.