New GN Hearing At-Home Technology Gives Hearing Care Professionals the Ability to Conduct In-Ear Tests Using Hearing Aids
Ballerup, Denmark, April 23, 2020 – GN Hearing, the global leader in hearing aid technology, today announces new in-ear tests (also called in-situ tests) available as an extension to ReSound Assist Live at-home services. The technology allows hearing care professionals to offer complete hearing care remotely, including hearing assessment and hearing aid fitting. It allows people with hearing loss to get their hearing tested from the comfort and safety of home. This cutting-edge technology comes at a time when many elderly people who could benefit from hearing care are urged to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and when hearing care professionals are discovering new ways to serve these people now and in the future.
At-home in-ear testing is made possible through ReSound Assist Live, a real-time, video-enabled remote hearing care service launched earlier this month. It gives hearing care professionals the ability to offer the broadest range of services to those unable to visit their clinic. Now, hearing care professionals can send a trial set of hearing aids directly to a person’s home. With remote support, a hearing assessment can then be conducted, and new hearing aids can be immediately fitted and fine-tuned, ensuring the best possible individualized sound. When possible, people should follow up with an in-clinic consultation with their hearing care professional.
COVID-19 should not stop people from seeking advice or care from a hearing care professional. We recognize that the current circumstances accelerate the need for hearing care professionals to complement their in-clinic services with agile, innovative remote care. ReSound Assist Live with in-ear tests will make it easier for people who could benefit from hearing aids, but cannot physically seek out hearing care, to get help in new ways. We will continue to support hearing care professionals with tools like this that deliver individualized customer experiences and help them shape their practices today and into the future.
Gitte Aabo, CEO and President of GN Hearing
COVID-19 has, in a matter of days, demanded that healthcare goes virtual and offers remote access. Now, telemedicine makes it possible for people to remain inside their homes whilst seeking the best possible care. Results from a recent survey show that 94% of hearing care professionals who have tried ReSound Assist recognize that it allows them to deliver a better hearing experience and 89% said they would recommend this service to others.
ReSound Assist Live with in-ear tests is available to people with hearing loss, whether they are a current or first-time hearing aid user. It is available on April 23 in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Kingdom, and globally from May 1.
This is the second at-home test option introduced by GN Hearing this month. In early April, the company announced a U.S. collaboration with hearX, a digital health care company focused on mobile hearing screening, testing and video otoscopy.
Editor’s Note
We have updated our page on Remote Care and our Remote Care Brand Comparison Google Sheet to reflect this update.
Are audiologists aware of this home assessment enhancement, would the home assessment stand up to ACC requirements ? .
My planned appointments have been put off several times since March 2020 and the arrival of the Corona virus and the Covid 19 steps that have been and are currently in place because of that' I understand and endorse the reasons for this.
I now have an appointment end of may 2020 with my audiologist for an assessment with the intention of obtaining new hearing aids . (I currently have resound wireless hearing aids which are over 6 years old). I have found these aids excellent and have a remote control TV streamer and microphone which I have paired with my aids and use whenever.
I had ACC assistance with obtaining these aids ( my hearing is effected by my past employment . I have gotten oider but dont expect the work related part of my deafness to have changed and am hopefull ACC will assist with my application for new aids
Everything is of course subject to Covid 19 steps, which is why I was so interested in reading about home assessments.
I guess the ACC have criteria for these occasions which may not allow the type of assessment you have in your article .
I used to work in NZ, but I don't know the answer. I will ask some of my old colleagues.
For ACC, you’ll need an ACC hearing assessment, which has to take place in a sound-accredited location. The at-home testing through the hearing aids are good, but not yet accurate enough for a complete diagnostic assessment.
Thanks Craig!