01 HEARING 02 HEARING SYSTEMS 03 ACCESSORIES AND MORE

ABOUT THE SENSE

OF HEARING HEARING SYSTEMS
FROM AUDIO SERVICE
 A kind word, good advice, an upbeat conversation.
Human communication is diverse and colorful. It is the
link to our environment, it informs us and enriches our
life.
Our sense of hearing allows us to take an active part
in living with others hearing, understanding and
sharing are inextricably linked. However, if our hearing
CHAPTER
HEARING fades, then our quality of life diminishes too.
GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HEARING 04 13 For over 35 years Audio Service has been pursuing
From sound wave to sensation 06 07 the aim of helping people with hearing impairment
Listen to yourself 08 09
Pay attention to your hearing 10 11
to enjoy their environment again with all their
Take the hearing test 12 13 senses.
In the following pages we would like to explain in
CHAPTER greater detail the sense of hearing and its importance
HEARING SYSTEMS for speech comprehension and tell you more about
HEARING CONNECTS 14 27 what advanced hearing systems can do for you.
Fully enjoy hearing again 16 17
All-round performance 18 19 Your Audio Service team
Hearing system designs 20 25
Our expertise Your benefits 26
Experience maximum convenience 27

CHAPTER
ACCESSORIES AND MORE
THE KEY TO HEARING 28 35
Perfectly adjusted to your needs 30 31
The ultimate in ease of operation 32 33
Simply a must 34 35
GET A BETTER
Hearing system shown
in original size

UNDERSTANDING
OF HEARING
THE EAR SMALL BUT EFFECTIVE!

M easured against the size of our body, our ears are relatively
small. So its all the more surprising that, thanks to their perfect
shape and their complex inner structure, they open up a
virtually inexhaustible world of noises, tones and sounds for us.

On the following pages, we will explain to you how exactly

hearing and comprehension work, how hearing loss can be
detected early on and what can be done about it.
CHAPTER 01 HEARING 7

FROM
SOUND WAVE
TO SENSATION
UNDERSTANDING AND REACTING
IN RECORD TIME. T he world is full of sound. Sounds are waves which
are gathered by the concha and directed through
the auditory canal to the eardrum. This begins to
vibrate, which then sets the three ossicles in the
middle ear - hammer, anvil and stirrup - into motion.
Ossicles (hammer,
anvil, stirrup) Cochlea
A membrane transfers the vibrations to the cochlea
which is filled with fluid. There the sensory hair
Concha
cells are set into motion, as a result of which the
sound waves are converted into nerve impulses.
Different sensory hair cells move, depending on the
wavelength. The auditory nerve sends impulses to
the corresponding areas in the brain where they are
perceived as sounds.

Only if these complex processes work perfectly is

the original sound, such as speech, music, a ringing
phone or some other everyday noise, correctly
interpreted and triggers comprehension, reactions
Auditory nerve
and also emotions within a fraction of a second.
MI
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TER

Auditory canal Eardrum

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R
CHAPTER 01 HEARING 9

THERE ARE SEVERAL LEVELS

LISTEN TO
OF HEARING LOSS:

YOURSELF

SLIGHT HEARING MODERATE HEARING SEVERE HEARING PROFOUND HEARING

DETERIORATION DETERIORATION DETERIORATION DETERIORATION

Perception range Hearing deterioration

IDENTIFYING AND UNDERSTANDING

THE FIRST SIGNS.

Many people simply dont notice the first signs of slowly
deteriorating hearing or barely notice them over a long
period and therefore ignore them. Although the ability
to hear decreases slowly, this loss is not noticed at first
because the usual auditory impressions seem
unchanged. Initially, only the high frequencies are
affected wind noise or birdsong become steadily
quieter and finally disappear completely from the
usual auditory impression. Then speech comprehension
also begins to decline more and more, only occurring in
noisy situations at first. It then becomes impossible to
clearly detect high unvoiced consonants which leads to
frequent questions and misunderstandings.
In addition, the brain tries to com- reason, hearing experts recommend
plete what was not heard and quick- the timely use of hearing systems to
ly tires as a result. prevent communication difficulties
and limitations in quality of life from
So its especially important to happening in the first place.
interpret these signs correctly,
particularly in the initial stages of
hearing loss. Although our brain can
compensate changes in hearing and
hearing loss over a longer period,
in the long term it loses the ability
to recognize and decode sound
signals. The result: the brain must
first reacquire this ability. For this
CHAPTER 01 HEARING 11

PAY ATTENTION EXPERTS DISTINGUISH BETWEEN TWO TYPES

OF HEARING LOSS:

TO YOUR HEARING Conductive hearing loss is a functional

disturbance in the outer or middle ear that can
be treated surgically or medically or that, in
THE EAR IS A SENSITIVE SENSORY specific cases, can be counterbalanced using
ORGAN WHICH WOULD LIKE TO BE hearing systems.
HANDLED WITH CARE. Sensorineural hearing loss affects either the
inner ear, the auditory nerve or even both. The
sound waves may be directed perfectly into the
inner ear, but they cant be adequately
processed as the sensory hair cells are often
damaged. Here, the support of cutting-edge
hearing systems is recommended.

r
ea
ith our ear, we are continually connected to our

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surroundings. Like vision, hearing is an important

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sense for our social interaction. Yet, while we can

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close our eyes, our ear is in a state of permanent

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readiness. We are always perceiving sounds, even

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while sleeping. This has a long-term effect not only

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Bi
on hearing but also the autonomic nervous system.
In addition to hearing loss, other physical symptoms
can result as well.
dB 170 130 120 110 90-110 65-85 55-65 40-60 30-40 20-30
volume

For this reason protect your hearing. Avoid noisy

situations, use earplugs, set a noise limit for devices
you use with headphones and above all give your
hearing a break every now and then.
Noise damages hearing permanently. The exposure. Starting at 120 dB, sound is perceived
graphic shows the volume level of everyday as pain. Starting at 130 dB, health damage can
sounds. Starting at 85 dB, the auditory cells can occur; at 170 dB, there is a threat of complete
be weakened and damaged after long-term hearing loss.
CHAPTER 01 HEARING 13

TAKE THE
HEARING
TEST
REGULAR CHECKUPS WITH YOUR HEARING
SYSTEM SPECIALIST ARE THE BEST PRECAUTION.

pitch
low high

quiet

E
Normal
hearing

veryone's hearing is different. Your personal hearing

can only be checked with a hearing test. You
therefore need to speak to a hearing specialist to
arrange a personal appointment.
Speech
range

The current level of technology offers effective

hearing solutions that can meet your needs to a
high degree and preserve your lifestyle, personal
independence, and safety. Todays hearing systems
can reliably compensate for individual deficits. Worn
discreetly in both ears, cutting-edge hearing systems
work together with the remaining hearing ability
and offer natural ambient sound and better speech
comprehension.
volume
loud
The graphic shows the reduced degree to which
various sounds and the speech range are
perceived in the case of typical hearing loss:
everything within the light blue field is no
longer heard.
Limited
hearing
During a hearing test, hearing ability is checked
in the different pitches. The audiogram
resulting from this illustrates individual hearing
ability and is the basis for selecting and setting
hearing systems.
HEARING AND
Hearing system shown
in original size

COMPREHENSION
CONNECT
HEAR BETTER, LIVE BETTER.

G ood hearing means having a high quality of life. Hearing

systems by Audio Service ensure both with natural sound, better
speech comprehension, and perfect spatial orientation.
CHAPTER 02 HEARING SYSTEMS
FULLY ENJOY
HEARING
AGAIN
INDIVIDUAL Cutting-edge hearing systems are customized to
HEARING personal hearing loss, generally by amplifying low-
pitched tones differently to high-pitched tones.
Loud and soft sounds are also often processed
differently. Only in this way does the sound meet
your individual needs and is pleasant and natural.
Disruptive noise in the background, speech in the HEARING
foreground: hearing systems reproduce the human AND
brains natural function of filtering out unimportant UNDERSTANDING
signals and emphasizing those that are important. SPEECH
Hearing systems suppress disruptive background
noise and emphasize speech.
17
SPATIAL Pioneering abilities: High sounds are needed
HEARING for directional hearing if they are no longer
heard, the source of the sound can no longer be
located. Modern hearing systems do not just
supplement the missing sounds but they also
detect which direction they are coming from.
In street traffic, this is of particular importance
and this also makes everyday life easier. To do
this, the modern hearing system technology
from Audio Service transfers the microphone
signals from the right to the left hearing system
and vice-versa. Processed together centrally,
they deliver a new generation of spatial hearing
(seep. 27).
CHAPTER 02 HEARING SYSTEMS 19

ALL-ROUND
PERFORMANCE CU STOM (ITE)
Custom or ITE / In -The-Ear hearing
THE WHOLE WORLD systems offer favorable acoustics by
OF HEARING SYSTEMS. virtue of their placement in the auditory

canal. They combine maximum
discretion with a perfect fit.

BTE
RIC / Receiver-In-Canal hearing systems
are worn behind the ear and the receiver
(speaker) is located in the auditory canal.
This ensures a natural sound experience.

RIC


BTE / Behind-The-Ear hearing systems
rest discreetly behind the concha, so
they are very comfortable to wear and
convenient to use.

People today are as colorful and comprehension and offers the right for everyone. Modern features such a smartphone using an app provide
complex as the world they live in and hearing system for every individual as connection with a variety of audio support.
access with their senses. Audio Service need. This ensures that the world is devices via remote control with
focuses on the sense of hearing and easy to understand and full of variety Bluetooth wireless technology or via
CHAPTER 02 HEARING SYSTEMS
Custom
THE DISCREET
TECHNICAL MARVEL IN
THE AUDITORY CANAL
Custom or in-the-ear hearing systems
are a cosmetically discreet solution for
anyone seeking a system that is as
inconspicuous as possible. They are
worn directly in the auditory canal.
State-of-the-art laser technology is
used for precise fitting of the
individually customized ear molds for
the in-the-ear hearing systems in the
auditory canal.
This allows us to achieve a perfect
fit, maximum discretion and
unimpeded speech comprehension.
The acoustic quality familiar to
everyone is significantly influenced by
the concha.
21
Icon
Small and
discreet
Sina
Comprehensive
features
It picks up sound coming from all
directions, amplifies and concentrates
it, and passes it on to the eardrum.
In-the-ear hearing systems retain this
natural directional effect of the concha
well, since they are located in the Vega
auditory canal and pick up the sound
and amplify it right next to the
Powerful with
eardrum. impressive reserves
Various performance characteristics
and features are available to meet
individual needs. Different types, from
the virtually invisible DIC Icon to the
Ida
Ida canal device, complete the range
supplied by Audio Service.
Innovative
multimicrophone technology
CHAPTER 02 HEARING SYSTEMS 23

Behind-the-ear hearing systems rest Audio Service BTE models can

discreetly behind the concha, so they compensate for many different

are very comfortable to wear. The
sound received is amplified by the
receiver and directed through the
sound tube into the auditory canal.
Depending on the individual hearing
impairment, the tube is held in place
either by a customized ear mold or a
standard ear mold.
XS
types of hearing loss.
This style of hearing systems offers a
large selection ranging from basic to
high-tech hearing systems. Depending Exceptional design
on the hearing deterioration, the
housing shape varies from the small XS
for slight to the HP for severe hearing
loss. Many elegant housing designs
and a large selection of colors allow
you to decide whether youd rather
wear a discreet hearing system or DUO
consciously emphasize it.
Modern and
comprehensive

P

Powerful for
advanced
hearing loss

BTE

THE ALL-ROUNDER HP
BEHIND THE EAR
For greater
amplification
CHAPTER 02 HEARING SYSTEMS 25

The design of RIC hearing systems allows for a

particularly small housing. In this case the receiver Rixx
(speaker) rests directly in front of the eardrum inside

RIC
the ear, while the hearing system is located behind the Discreetly small
concha. Both elements are connected by fine cables
that run through a discreet tube. The hearing system
microphone reproduces the ambient auditory
impression of the concha and carries the sounds
HEARING SYSTEMS
directly to the receiver in front of the eardrum.
TAKEN TO A
Working together with the remaining
hearing ability, the best possible
NEW LEVEL
Mood

reproduction of sound, sense of
space, and speech For the most
comprehension is created. demanding requirements

Individually crafted ear molds hold

the receiver in the auditory canal and
guarantee optimum wearing comfort.
Depending on the degree of hearing

Sun
loss and personal requirements, RIC
hearing systems are available in a range
of different sizes and amplification versions.

Powerful and energy-efficient

quiX THE ALTERNATIVE TO

quiX
THE RIC HEARING SYSTEM

quiX is worn directly in the auditory canal
which makes it virtually invisible. The standard
housing with an exchangeable standard ear
The alternative to the
mold offers an instant hearing experience.
RIC hearing system
CHAPTER 02 HEARING SYSTEMS 27

OUR EXPERIENCE
EXPERTISE MAXIMUM
YOUR BENEFITS CONVENIENCE
THE FEATURES OF OUR HEARING SYSTEMS HIGH-END HEARING SYSTEMS
PROVIDE YOU WITH SIGNIFICANT HEARING OFFER A RANGE OF
AND COMPREHENSION BENEFITS. CONVENIENT FUNCTIONS.

A
AUTOMATIC AUTOMATED RELIABLE SPEECH REDUCTION OF Connectivity due to a Bluetooth remote control Thanks to intelligent energy management
VOLUME FUNCTIONS RECOGNITION BACKGROUND NOISE permits connection to various audio devices. all functions are used efficiently. Even at top
CONTROL The audio signals are transmitted to the performance the hearing systems use only

hearing systems. Optional use of apps little power.

Soft sounds Flexible automatic Speech is The system increases ease of operation.
Wireless synchronization of both hearing
become audible functions offer recognized even automatically Binaural signal processing enables both systems produces a natural, balanced and
and loud noises significant ease of against loud identifies and hearing systems to be coordinated to each agreeable sound.
comfortable. operation. background noise. reduces background other and thus reconstruction of natural
noise to a minimum. Automatic functions (artificial intelligence)
hearing with both ears. This is genuine spatial
automatically identify the situation youre in
hearing which you can even control.
and optimize the technical settings.

Hearing systems with the latest technology, with their sophisticated signal processing, offer even
more efficient features for even more hearing comfort.
THE
Hearing system shown
in original size

KEY TO
HEARING
HEARING COMFORT TAILORED TO YOU.

F or your optimal hearing experience, we also have a wide range

of accessories and feature options available to enhance your
perfect hearing experience. Your hearing system specialist will
be happy to advise you on making the right choice.
CHAPTER 03 ACCESSORIES AND MORE 31

FUNCTIONS OF THE

PERFECTLY
BLUETOOTH REMOTE CONTROL:

ADJUSTED TO
YOUR NEEDS Smart Connect

WIRELESSLY CONNECTED
WITH WEARABLES.
2 1

W earables are small technical devices that are

worn directly on the body or under clothing and
enable connection to other smart devices. Hearing
systems also belong to the wearables category.
With an optional wireless remote control or using
a smartphone with the app, you can be connected
to other audio devices and mobile terminals. Audio
data with excellent speech and sound quality are
transmitted directly to your hearing systems, and
you can experience music and speech in top stereo
quality. In this way, hearing systems become wireless
headphones. They provide you with the ultimate
convenience and comfort.
3 4
1 Wireless remote control
This multifunctional remote control system
is a control unit, transmitter, receiver and
microphone rolled into one.
2 Transmitter
This functions as a Bluetooth adapter
between the selected audio source and the
remote control.
3 Television
News, entertainment programs or feature
films in stereo quality high-speed data
transmission ensures perfect synchrony
between images and sound (lip-sync).
5 5 6
4 Phone calls
Interference-free and with excellent speech
quality. The hearing system becomes a
convenient headset.
5 Listening to music
In outstanding stereo quality. Without
background noise and without disturbing
others. Hearing comfort like with a wireless
headset.
6 Computer
Audio data from the computer watching
videos or playing games becomes a pleasure.

Smart Connect Additional functions:

A telephone coil for using induction loops, for example, in churches and theaters. An audio input
for using FM systems.
CHAPTER 03 ACCESSORIES AND MORE 33

THE ULTIMATE IN
EASE OF OPERATION
THE SMARTPHONE
AS A REMOTE CONTROL.

The Smart Connect app is available as a supplement to the Smart

Connect remote control with Bluetooth wireless technology. The
combination of remote control and app allows intuitive and simple

A
hearing system operation.

pps give you the option of both conveniently and Along with program selection, volume
discreetly controlling the hearing systems using a and tone settings, the directional
smartphone. Two different Audio Service apps are characteristics of the hearing systems ACCESSORIES & APPS

available for this. can also be specified, depending on

the technical features. This is a major
advantage in challenging hearing
situations, such as in the theater or
opera. Using the smartphone as a
remote control is especially practical if
you do not have Smart Connect with
The Smart Remote app works without any other
you.
accessories. The hearing systems are operated with the
smartphone using high-frequency sounds. This way,
hearing programs and volume can be personalized and
adjusted without anybody even noticing. The latest
technology also allows you to specify the direction and
width of the focused area which you wish to listen to.

Download the free Smart

Remote app or Smart Connect
s NOW AT app now
a ta ACCESSORIES & APPS
CHAPTER 03 ACCESSORIES AND MORE 35

SIMPLY
A MUST
NOTHING TOPS
OUR
HEARING SYSTEMS.

Filter systems IP67 certification

Specially developed filters, singly or
in combination, protect the delicate
microphones and speakers and keep
the sensitive technology inside the
hearing systems clean. They are also
used for distinguishing between left
and right.
Surface finishes
All Audio Service hearing systems
have the ComforClean surface finish.
Dirt and moisture simply roll off the
surface, making it easy to care for your
hearing system. Positive secondary
effect: it extends the service life of
your hearing system. But that's not
Virtually all Audio
Service BTE and RIC
hearing systems are
IP67-certified which USEFUL ACCESSORIES
means that they are MAKE LIFE EASIER.
water-resistant and
dustproof.
Rechargeable or disposable batteries
Selected hearing systems can be operated with
either a disposable or a rechargeable battery. For
rechargeable batteries, an attractive charging station
all. On request, in-the-ear hearing is available as an option.
systems can be given the ComforMed
antibacterial and anti-germ finish Remote controls
we have developed in-house which Optional for most RIC, BTE and in-the-ear hearing
ensures that the natural balance in the systems. A remote control provides a convenient way
ear is maintained. to switch to another hearing program and change
the volume.
Fitting of your Audio Service hearing systems is only

Art. No. 105 363 60 / 10.2016 / Subject to technical modifications and errors. Colors may vary depending on the printing process.
possible with the professionally qualified assistance of:

The Bluetooth word mark and the logo are registered trademarks of Bluetooth SIG Inc. Any use of
this brand name by AS AUDIO-SERVICE GmbH is under license. Other trademarks and trade names
remain the property of the respective holder.

AS AUDIO-SERVICE GmbH Alter Postweg 190 32584 Lhne Germany

info@audioservice.com www.audioservice.com