Oticon Opn S:

the first hearing aids proven to help the brain organise sounds


Ng & Man 2019, Oticon Whitepaper - Opn S 1

Groundbreaking new EEG research method

Using a groundbreaking new EEG research method1, independent hearing scientists were able to measure a person’s selective attention inside the brain while wearing Oticon Opn S.

The results provided conclusive proof that OpenSound Navigator in Oticon Opn S makes speech stand out and significantly improves selective attention. This makes it easier to follow conversations.


Key findings2:
Sounds are better organised in the brain
Speaker in focus: strength of EEG signal increased by 10%
Secondary speaker: strength of EEG signal increased by 95%
Background babble reduced by 50%: speech signals stand out and listening is easier

*Compared to using Oticon Opn S 1 with OpenSound Navigator switched off.


Explore Oticon Opn S

EEG research method

New EEG test method objectively measures how the brain organises sounds.

During the test, electrodes were placed on the subject’s head to measure the level of brain activity in response to speech and noise. The readings indicated how well sound signals were represented and organised in the brain while wearing Opn S with OpenSound Navigator switched both ON and OFF.

The test protocol was designed to mimic a real-life conversation in a noisy environment (+3 dB SNR): one primary speaker to focus on, a secondary speaker to ignore, and babble noise in the background that needed to be suppressed.

Results: OpenSound Navigator in Oticon Opn S significantly
enhances selective attention

The research provided conclusive proof that OpenSound Navigator in Opn S significantly improves the ability to organise sounds and enhances selective attention:

OpenSound Navigator OFF
Without OpenSound Navigator, the speaker in focus (A) stands out, but is very hard to distinguish between the secondary speaker (B) and the background babble (C) because the strength of the EEG signals are very similar.

OpenSound Navigator ON
With OpenSound Navigator switched ON, the strength of the EEG signal shows:

A) Speaker in focus: the signal is increased by 10% making it easier to follow the person the user is listening to

B) Secondary speaker: the signal is increased by 95% making it much easier to distinguish that speaker from background babble

C) Background babble: is reduced by 50% allowing the two speech signals to stand out and making listening is easier

Selective attention

Our brain has a natural ability to organise and prioritise sounds. This is called ‘selective attention’.

This ability is vital for social interaction. As we focus on the person we are speaking with, selective attention enables us to monitor our surroundings, pick out other sounds, and switch our attention when needed.

Oticon Opn S is the world’s first hearing aid proven to support the brain’s natural way of organising sounds and thus enhance selective attention.

Opn S vs. traditional hearing aids

Oticon Opn S supports the brain’s natural way of organising sounds and creates optimal conditions for following conversations with multiple speakers.

Traditional hearing aids in noisy environments:

  • Apply directionality to focus on the person in front but suppress all other sounds
  • Provide inconsistent amplification due to gain reductions designed to prevent feedback
  • Use slow-reacting, imprecise noise reduction that compromises sound quality and speech understanding
  • Only help the wearer to understand the person they are facing
  • This makes it impossible for the brain to organise all sounds and switch attention when having a conversation with several people

Oticon Opn S with BrainHearing™ technology in noisy environments:

  • OpenSound Navigator™ gives access to 360⁰ of sound and relevant speech, even in noisy environments
  • Ensures optimal gain with no risk of feedback thanks to OpenSound Optimizer™
  • Applies fast, precise and effective noise reduction that allows speech to stand out, powered by Velox S™
  • Proven to outperform conventional technologies by improving speech understanding when several people are talking3

 

Oticon Opn S is the only hearing aid proven to support the brain's natural way of organising sounds.

Breaking down the wall of sound

When you have a hearing loss, speech sounds blurry. Walking into a lively social gathering can feel like running into a wall of sound. Following conversations can be too exhausting and often causes hearing aid users to socially withdraw.


To effectively overcome these challenges, the technology in Oticon Opn S is proven to provide4:

  • Increased speech understanding: equivalent to normal hearing in noisy environments
  • Reduced listening effort: making it easier to stay involved in the conversation
  • Improved* opportunity to participate: the latest research shows that Opn S enables users to take part in even lively social events

*Compared to using Oticon Opn S 1 with OpenSound Navigator switched off.

Oticon Opn S

 

References:

1. For more information read: ”A Tutorial on Auditory Attention Identification Methods” Frontiers in Neuroscience, March 2019
- Emina Alickovic, Thomas Lunner, Fredrik Gustafsson, Lennart Ljung

2. Ng & Man 2019, Oticon Whitepaper - Opn S 1

3. LeGoff & Beck 2017, Oticon Whitepaper - Opn 1

4. Juul Jensen 2018, Oticon Whitepaper - Opn 1 - Compared to using Oticon Opn 1 with OpenSound Navigator switched off