Soundtec

Hearing loss is life-altering whether it's hereditary, physiological or due to a noise-related accident.

The loss of hearing leaves some feeling less independent and perhaps even leads to some individuals withdrawing from social interaction. With improved hearing, these individuals can regain independence and enjoyment of social activities.

Soundtec Inc. has developed an implantable hearing device that it says could replace how millions of individuals deal with hearing loss.

The Direct System consists of two components, a tiny rare-earth magnet and a sound processor. In the implant procedure, the tissue between the eardrum and the ear canal is slit open so that the eardrum becomes a "flap," giving access to the middle ear. The micro- magnet, which has been hermetically laser-sealed in a titanium canister, is then placed on a segment of the three tiny bones in the middle ear. The eardrum "flap" is then closed, completing the simple procedure.

The device works by its speech/sound processor accepting acoustic information and transmitting it to the tiny magnet as electromagnetic waves cause it to vibrate. These vibrations are passed on to the small bones of the middle ear, providing clear, natural, high- fidelity sound.

The Direct System overcomes traditional limitations of hearing aids at a similar cost, according to Soundtec. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes and can be performed in a doctor's office or outpatient clinic under local anesthetic.

Other implantable devices cost four to six times more and require invasive surgery, the Oklahoma City-based company said.

Conventional hearing aids have inherent limitations, often referred to as feedback, distortion and occlusion. Feedback is the squealing or whistling noise associated with most hearing aids. Many hearing aid wearers also experience distortion -- when words and sounds seem muffled and garbled. Tight-fitting hearing aid ear molds can cause occlusion, or the feeling that one is speaking from within a tunnel or barrel.

Anyone over age 18 who is not hearing all that they should or would like to is a candidate for Soundtec's Direct System, which has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

The Direct System was tested in a clinical trial with 103 patients at 10 U.S. locations intended to demonstrate that the device minimizes acoustic feedback, occlusion effect and distortion.

Because implantation is a surgical procedure -- though a minor one -- a patient's ear needs time to heal and to accustom itself to the tiny magnet. The patient can usually begin wearing the sound processor about eight to 10 weeks following the implantation procedure.

Soundtec was founded in 1997 by Jack Hough, an internationally respected otologist and founder of the Hough Ear Institute in Oklahoma City. The company's mission is to lead the world's development, manufacturing and marketing of affordable hearing restoration products for people with moderate to moderately severe hearing impairments. The Direct System is the result of Hough's 20- year collaboration with a team of medical, technological and engineering professionals including Ted Davis, Soundtec president, and Ken Dormer of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

The Direct System is available nationwide. Soundtec's proprietary technology is protected by three U.S. patents and nine foreign countries as well.

Copyright 2002
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