Earlens: How Sound is Meant to be Heard The world’s only hearing lens By Virginia Olson | Photos by Katelyn Clement
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udiologist Bob Froke talks to lots of patients at Midwest ENT & ALLERGY about why Earlens is more than an ordinary hearing aid. But it’s more than just his training and knowledge of the device that gives him confidence in the product. He wears one himself.
Developed in 2017, Earlens is an FDA-approved hearing device that is not an implant nor a conventional hearing aid but rather a hearing lens. This lens-based technology addresses the need for better sound. While most hearing aids amplify mid tones, they are less effective with the highs and lows resulting in flat, dull sound and making it hard to follow conversations in a crowd. Earlens uses a tiny custom lens that rests next to the eardrum and directly vibrates the eardrum, so no speaker is needed. Users experience 2.5X the sound range versus the conventional hearing aid. Unique to Earlens is that it is made up of three components: a processor; an ear tip; and a lens. The three work in conjunction with one another. Earlens is only available from an ENT practice, so patients who choose it have two-fold medical expertise as an audiologist and an ENT physician work together to properly customize the device from fitting to programming. “As an audiologist, I have been working with and observing Earlens patients for nearly a year, and they continue to sing praises for their new device and how well they are now hearing,” said Froke. 60
SiouxFallsWoman.net | October/November 2021
