New Virtual Office Hearing Aid Programming Software Puts An Online Audiologist In Your Personal Computer

Main Category: Hearing / Deafness
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat;  IT / Internet / E-mail;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 29 Jul 2009 - 18:00 PDT

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Audiologists from America Hears, Inc. now make online house calls to hearing aid customers who install the latest version of the company's Virtual Office hearing aid programming software on their personal computers at home. The leading online supplier of premium digital hearing instruments introduced a new version of its Virtual Office software with remote-control capabilities enabling America Hears professionals to provide technical support and training over the Internet on customers' personal computers at home.

"Since 2001, America Hears has designed and developed hearing aids and fitting programs that place hearing aid users in control of their own hearing health," said Henry C. Smith, CEO and founder of America Hears. "Many of our customers are highly motivated by a 'do-it-yourself' ethic, and our new Virtual Office programming software lets them do as much fine-tuning to their America Hears hearing instruments as they want. At the same time, Virtual Office enables them to work collaboratively with our hearing-health professionals, who can make additional adjustments and deliver them directly into the hearing aids using the power of Virtual Office and the Internet. The result is the best possible hearing aid fitting with personal service in the comfort of your own home."

Virtual Office software from America Hears is the only product on the market enabling users to program their own digital hearing aids. The software features a user interface that is as easy to work with as the graphic equalizer on a home stereo system. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP and Vista operating systems and comes with an America Hears Programmer unit and cables that connect users' hearing aids to their personal computers. Once connected, the hearing instruments can be programmed by the owner or online by America Hears' audiologists and hearing instrument specialists.

"Getting the right programming adjustments is the biggest obstacle to hearing aid customer satisfaction, often requiring multiple time-consuming trips to the audiologist's office before they get the right fit," Smith said. "America Hears Virtual Office software lets our customers take control of their hearing aid adjustments in the comfort of their own homes while working directly with our hearing-health professionals to ensure they get exactly what they need."

The America Hears Virtual Office software, Freedom Programmer and cables are available for $299 and work with all America Hears hearing aids. America Hears is the only manufacturer to sell a full range of hearing aid models directly over the Internet-from traditional custom hearing aids to the latest open-ear or "open-fit" hearing aids that are small, light, and nearly invisible. All America Hears hearing instruments are available online at prices ranging from $799 to $1,299 each. Customers are required to furnish a recent hearing test, and their hearing aids are programmed at the factory, with further adjustments at home made possible by the Virtual Office software and programming kit.

Source
America Hears