The Widex Clear 330 and Clear 330 Fusion

The mid range Widex Clear 330 platform is a strong instrument range with the new Clear processor and Widexlink technology and the inclusion of some of the renowned Widex strategies. The 330 platform is a full family from custom to BTE including the Passion and the new Fusion form factor.

At present we have available all of the BTE instruments and we hope to have the custom instruments within a few months. I shall of course keep you informed of our progress with this.

The instruments are ten channel instruments as opposed to the 15 available on the Clear 440. They retain several of the inter ear features available on the 440, such as IE Feedback Cancellation, IE Zen, program synchronisation and volume control.

The instruments, were applicable, have multi channel adaptive directionality with the HD Locator and also the digital Pinna. Whilst it lacks the extra localisation cues given by the IE Compression system, the HD Locator combined with the Digital Pinna will give front to back localisation cues. The HD Locator system is already a fantastic directionality system, combined with the new processor in the Clear platform it will excel even further.

The instruments will also have the Free Focus feature if paired with an M Dex. The noise reduction system supplied is the Speech Enhancer, the noise reduction system that was utilised in the Widex Mind 440.

The Speech Enhancer is still the only noise reduction system ever shown to effect signal to noise ratio without any assistance from directional strategies. That is several years after its release in the Mind 440.

Applied in tandem with the faster and more powerful processor available in the Clear platform the Speech Enhancer should be even more effective in dealing with real world complex sound situations than it currently is in the Mind 440.

The Widex Clear 330 also has the two Widex Cornerstone audiological strategies the Audibility Extender and Zen. The early feedback on the latest generation of Audibility Extender is extremely positive with experienced users of the strategy reporting that it is the best one yet.

The instruments will have 4 programmes + Zen and will also be able to utilise compound programs as with the 440. The Zen as mentioned before will be the new Inter Ear version. The 330 will have connectivity to the full Dex Range.

On the programming side, the Widex Clear 330 and 220 platforms can only be programmed and fine tuned with Compass 5.4. When connecting to the instruments it is imperative that you give it certain information. Particularly the acoustic properties and receiver selection if applicable. This information is vital for the efficacy of the instrument and can be input in the selection screen

 

 

the Widex Clear 330 platform has access to the expanded sensogram, giving you the ability to undertake the sensogram across 14 frequencies. My opinion would be that if you can, you should undertake the sensogram across the 14 frequencies, it will make a difference to you and your Patient. Your Patient will have an instrument as closely fit to their hearing loss as is possible and the pay off for you is reduced follow up and fine tunes. A win win for everyone I think.

In the Fine tuning sphere you also have access to the channels for fine tuning purposes. Again this feature was first introduced with the Clear 440 and it has been included for the 330 platform. the occlusion control feature has been included to assist with those difficult fits.

I think this touches on the main run down of the instruments, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.      

Relaxation, concentration and Zen

Relaxation, concentration and Zen

Widex has developed the Zen™ program – a harmonic sound program based on fractal technology.

Music’s ability to help people concentrate has been the focus of widespread research.
Generally researchers agree that music can affect the ability to perform specific tasks by masking unwanted and disturbing noise.
The positive emotional and psychological effects of music are also well documented in the literature, with most researchers agreeing that music can reduce stress, make people feel more relaxed, comfortable and less anxious.

Widex Zen

Inspired by this, Widex has developed the Zen™ program – a harmonic sound program based on fractal technology and offering a choice of soothing tones and chimes.
In the Widex Zen™ program, the music is based on fractal technology, which ensures that the music is rather predictable without repeating itself. The user has a choice of “musical tones” called Zen styles, and it is possible to further individualise these by adjusting the tempo and pitch of the styles.

Listen to the Zen styles

The Zen styles can be adjusted by the hearing healthcare professional via Widex fitting software Compass.

There is a user flyer for Zen and Tinnitus here Zen, When suffering from Tinnitus

Widex has released a working tool providing advice on how to counsel people suffering from tinnitus. Here you may also find advice on programming and fine-tuning Zen.

You may download the document here 12 Steps to Tinnitus Management

Widex Makes Learning Modules available on Audiology Online

Widex USA has made a long list of learning modules available on Audiology Online. You can catch them at

Audiology Online Widex Courses

Enjoy learning something new and gaining your CPD points.

Tinnitus sufferers discussing the Mind 440 and Zen

The Simply Amazing Widex Mind 440

(03/06/10 10:40 PM)

If you have some degree of hearing loss, perhaps simple high frequency loss, and you have tinnitus, I would like to encourage you to visit your local audiologist and be fit with a set of these units, made in Denmark.

The Mind440 m4m comes with the opportunity to use very high level digital hearing aids, but in addition, you can choose to have a Zen Music program, soft tinkling sounds that you can select and later the characteristics of, i.e., loudness, pitch, tempo, AND you can choose a Noise Option that sounds very much like white-noise.

This unit has been extremely friendly to the hearing impaired patient with tinnitus. I am strongly encouraging those here who have hearing loss, even mild, and tinnitus, to take a set for a test drive.

To see the forum posts folow the link below


http://tinnitussupport92262.yuku.com/topic/10851

Zen & Tinnitus, The Mind 440 and the Sweetow Study Results.

[slideshare id=6886068&doc=zenandtinnitusslideshare-110210161221-phpapp02]

Talking about Tinnitus

Widex Guidelines on Tinnitus

[slideshare id=6884678&doc=widexguidelinesontinnitus-110210143412-phpapp01]

New Presentation, Lets Talk About Tinnitus

[slideshare id=6869226&doc=lets-talk-tinnitus-1297296259-phpapp02]

Talking About Evidence, Zen & Tinnitus

Sweetow Commercial, Zen & Tinnitus

Using the Program manager in mind440 fittings

This bulletin describes how to use the Program manager in mind440 fittings using Compass V4.5. The descriptions refer to the Program manager in the Fine tuning window. You access the Program manager from the Toptool bar. Please refer to Compass in order to see the details of the screen. Remember that Compass offers several help functions to explain the different options in the program: Tooltips, Solution guide, Using this window panels and the help manual.

The mind440 hearing aid is, by default, a one program hearing aid, with a Master program designed to provide the best possible overall performance in all environments with all adaptive features working together to optimise audibility, intelligibility and comfort. However, some hearing aid users encounter environments in which they may wish the hearing aid to operate with a different focus. For this purpose, mind440 features a range of additional listening programs that can be selected initially during the fitting procedure, or later on during follow-up.In the Fine tuning window, the Program Manager is accessible from the Toptool bar. The Program manager allows you to select, copy and delete listening programs, as well as to change the order of the programs. The Program manager offers a selection of different program templates that may serve as inspiration in the hearing aid fitting process.

  The Program manager allows you to select, add, copy, delete and change the order of the programs in the hearing aid

Using the Program manager
To add a program, select the desired program name in the program list and select the add arrow button or double click on the selected program. Whenever you point to or select a program, an illustration or a short explanation of it is displayed on the screen. Click the button in the lower right hand corner to shift between illustration and explanation. The Program manager allows you to select more than one program of the same type either by selecting two identical programs from the program list or by using the copy button in the program item you want to copy. Selecting identical programs from the program list gives you programs with default
settings, while a copy will include any fine tuning performed in the original program. You can change the program order by pressing the arrow buttons in the program item in the Program manager.

Press the delete (trash can) button for a program item you want to delete. Note that the original Master program can never be deleted. Before you delete a program, it can often be useful to save your fitting in the NOAH database using the save button in the Toolbar. This will allow you to re-establish the deleted program including any fine tuning you may have performed. In binaural fittings you will typically have identical programs in the two hearing aids. It is possible to have a different number and different types of programs in the two hearing aids. Press the appropriate binaural adjustment icon, which allows you to select programs individually for the two hearing aids. Be aware, though, that such a choice requires extra careful counselling of the user. We strongly recommend that the number of listening programs in binaural fittings is identical to avoid any confusion. You should also be aware that two hearing aids cannot be operated with the same remote control unless the number of programs in the hearing aids is identical.

Program types
The Program manager offers a selection of listening programs. A maximum of five programs can be selected in the basic Program manager. Additionally the SmartToggle feature can be added. Note that the number and type of listening programs should always be selected based on an analysis of your client’s auditory needs as well as his/her ability to understand and manipulate the program button or remote control.
Depending on the Direct Audio Input system you use, the M-DAI and DAI programs may be placed at program location 1 and 2. You must use the DAI Manager to set up the DAI system correctly for the equipment you use.

Please be aware that telecoil programs are not available for CIC hearing aids, m models and for ITE instruments without a telecoil.

Master
Provides the best possible overall performance in all environments. All adaptive features work together to optimise audibility, intelligibility and comfort. The default settings in this template are:

Gain/compression characteristic optimised for audibility, intelligibility and comfort
Microphone mode is set to Hd Locator with Speech Tracer (Hd Locator omni for CIC)
Speech and noise mode is set to Speech Enhancer
Feedback cancelling mode is set to SuperGain

Audibility Extender
Provides audibility for high-frequency sounds by means of frequency transposition. This is a program template for users with little or no hearing in the high frequencies. The default settings in this template are:

Linear transposition of high frequency sounds. The start band frequency is defined by the Sensogram configuration.
Microphone mode is set to Hd Locator with Speech Tracer (Hd Locator omni for CIC)
Speech and noise mode is set to Widex classic noise reduction
Feedback cancelling mode is set to Off

Zen
A program playing soothing and relaxing tones by means of fractal technology. The tones are randomly generated, meaning that the tone sequences are never repeated. The Zen style to be played in the Zen program can be selected amongst five different Zen styles. In the default setting the Zen tones are played linked to the Master program. Therefore the acoustic settings are the same in both the Zen and Master programs. The default settings in this template are:

Gain/compression characteristic optimised for audibility, intelligibility and comfort
Microphone mode is set to Hd Locator with Speech Tracer (Hd Locator omni for CIC)
Speech and noise mode is set to Speech Enhancer
Feedback cancelling mode is set to SuperGain

Music
Focuses on optimum reproduction of music, whether it is performed live or played from stereo or surround systems. The program emphasises low frequencies. The default settings in this template are:

Gain/compression characteristic optimised for music (low frequency emphasis)
Microphone mode is set to Hd Locator omni
Speech and noise mode is set to Off
Feedback cancelling mode is set to SuperGain music

TV
Focuses on optimum reproduction of sound from television sets. TV and radio signals are very different from normal acoustic signals produced in the environment, as they have already been processed (compressed). The TV program takes this into account in its compression characteristic. The program attenuates low frequencies and emphasises high frequencies. The default settings in this template are:

Gain/compression characteristic optimised for TV sound
Microphone mode is set to Hd Locator with Speech Tracer (Hd Locator omni for CIC)
Speech and noise mode is set to Speech Enhancer
Feedback cancelling mode is set to SuperGain music

Comfort
Focuses on optimum comfort in noisy environments as well as in quiet environments. The default settings in this template are:

Gain/compression characteristic optimised for comfort (higher knee-point for soft input levels)
Microphone mode is set to Hd Locator with Speech Tracer (Hd Locator omni for CIC)
Speech and noise mode is set to Widex classic noise reduction comfort
Feedback cancelling mode is set to SuperGain

Acclimatisation
This template is designed for the first-time user who needs an alternative setting during the acclimatisation period. It is sometimes an advantage to reduce gain a little, so that the new sound picture does  not cause any discomfort. The gain can then be gradually increased over four acclimatisation stages. The default settings in this template are:

Gain/compression characteristic optimised for first-time users (reduced gain for all input levels (especially in the high frequencies) compared to the Master program)
Microphone mode is set to Hd Locator with Speech Tracer (Hd Locator omni for CIC)
Speech and noise mode is set to Speech Enhancer
Feedback cancelling mode is set to SuperGain

MT
An acoustic program combined with the input from the telecoil. Not available for the m model, CIC and ITE without telecoil. The default settings in this template are:

Gain/compression characteristic set as the Master program
Microphone mode is set to Hd Locator omni
Speech and noise mode is set to Speech Enhancer
Feedback cancelling mode is set to SuperGain

T
Focuses on the input from the telecoil. Not available for the m model, CIC aids and ITE aids without telecoil.

The default settings in this template are:
Gain/compression characteristic set as in the Master program
Speech and noise mode is set to Speech Enhancer

SmartToggle
This feature gives you access to the Zen+ program and is activated by means of a long press on the program up button on the remote control or on the hearing aid program button. A new long key press brings you back to the Master program

The Zen+ program.

The Zen+ program accessed via the SmartToggle feature can contain three different Zen styles. The Zen tones are by default played with the microphone active and linked to the Master program. In Settings, the microphone can be deactivated for each of the Zen styles individually to listen to Zen tones only. Once the SmartToggle feature has been activated, you can use short key presses to toggle between the three different Zen styles.
The Program manager with the SmartToggle feature (Zen+) activated

View program access
The view program access function allows you to view the number of programs available in the Program manager for the following conditions: Without remote control (RC), with RC4-1 and with RC4-2.

The View program access function lets you know the number of programs available in the Program manager

How to demonstrate the different listening programs
Note that the purpose of the Program manager is to select a program combination - not to demonstrate the programs. When the Program manager is open, the Master program will be active in the hearing aid. Once you have closed the Program manager, you can shift between the selected programs using the Program starter, which allows the user to listen to the differences in sound processing.

Using the Zen program in Compass

This bulletin describes how to apply and fine tune the Zen program for mind440 using Compass V4.5. The descriptions refer to the Program selection panel in the Program manager and the Program starter panel in the Fine tuning window in Compass. Please refer to Compass in order to see details of the screen. Remember that Compass offers several help functions to explain the different options in the program: Tooltips, Solution guide, Using the window panels and the help manual.

Applying the Zen program in mind440

The Zen program is a new program in mind440 playing fractal tones. In Compass V4.5 and above the Zen program can be added using the Program manager or the SmartToggle function and subsequently fine tuned. If you are using a Zen program, please note that the Fine tuning window will look different than the Fine tuning window for other listening programs. Furthermore the content of the Fine tuning windows for the Zen programs differ slightly, depending on whether you have selected the Zen program as one of the basic programs in the Program manager or if you have selected it as a Smart-Toggle feature (Zen+ program).

Fine tuning a basic Zen program

Fine tuning of a basic Zen program

If you select the Zen program as a basic program that is set directly in the Program manager, the program
can play one Zen style, that is one style of fractal tone composition. There are five different Zen styles available. The Zen styles selection panel in the Fine tuning window allows you to select a Zen style for the Zen program. You can listen to the five different Zen styles using the Zen styles library in the Zen styles selection panel. The Zen styles are: Zen aqua, Zen coral, Zen lavender, Zen green, Zen sand. The default setting is Zen aqua. When you use the Zen styles library, the selected style can be played through the loudspeakers connected to the computer. In this way you can listen to different styles even if you do not have the hearing aids online. Be aware that listening to the Zen styles through the computer loudspeaker
cannot be perceptually compared to listening to them through binaurally fitted hearing aids. In the upper panel, Zen visualisation, you can see the visualisation representing the selected Zen style by colour and music. You can also change between the visualisation of the left and the right hearing aid in the Zen visualisation panel.

Once you have selected the preferred Zen style for the Zen program, you can press the Settings button
for the Zen style. The Zen style setting panel opens and allows you to change specific elements of the
chosen Zen style. Adjustments are, by default, made binaurally, but can also be made for the left and right hearing aid individually by clicking the binaural icon button.
The elements that can be changed are:
• Tone volume Use the slider to increase or decrease the volume of the Zen tones
• Tempo Use the slider to increase or decrease the speed of the Zen tones, so that the tones are
presented faster or more slowly
• Pitch Use the slider to increase or decrease the pitch of the Zen tones

The Zen styles settings panel allows you to adjust tone volume, tempo and pitch of the selected Zen style

You can listen to the changed settings through the hearing aids by using the play/stop button. Use this feature to ensure that the setting is optimal before you close the window. In the default setting, the Zen program is played together with the Master program with the microphone on. You can, however, choose to present tones only, when you select the Zen program. This is done by deactivating the microphone in the check box in the Zen style settings panel. If you select Zen tones only, you must be aware that the hearing aid user may have difficulties hearing surrounding sound when he activates the Zen program as the microphone is deactivated, meaning that there is no amplification of sound. Select OK to close the Zen style settings panel when you have finished changing the settings.

Fine tuning the Zen+ program

Fine tuning of the Zen+ program set as a SmartToggle feature

If you have selected the SmartToggle feature, the Zen+ program can be accessed. The Zen+ program can contain three different Zen styles. The way to select and change settings for the different Zen styles in the Zen+ program is the same as described above for the basic Zen program. Additionally for the Zen+ program, you can choose how the volume control should function in the Volume control settings panel. The default setting is that the volume control regulates the tone level only. Changing the setting enables the user to regulate microphone level and tone level simultaneously. This function is also available in the User controls panel in the HA configuration window under Finalise.

The Volume control settings panel in Zen+ allows you to choose how the volume control should be regulated

In the default setting, the Zen+ program contains three Zen styles: Zen aqua, Zen coral and Zen lavender. You can delete one or two of these by selecting None from the Zen styles drop down list. You can also change the settings for the styles individually. Select the settings button for the style you want to adjust.
SmartToggle is accessed from any basic program in the hearing aid by means of a long key press on the hearing aid program button or the program-up button on the RC4-2. Once the SmartToggle feature has been activated and the Zen styles have been selected, you can use short key presses to toggle between the three different Zen styles. Another long key press will bring you back to program 1 of the basic hearing aid programs.