Siemens Hearing Instruments has launched two powerful wireless behind-the-ear (BTE) devices to amplify sounds for people with severe hearing loss.

Nitro 300 SP and Nitro 700 SP BTE offer direct wireless connection to a telephone, MP3 player or other sound equipment via Siemens' Tek system, which uses Bluetooth technology.

The new devices have intelligent and automatic voice and noise management features to amplify and clarify the spoken word. An adaptive T-coil reduces fluctuations in sound levels when listening through an induction loop or telephone receiver, helping to reduce background sounds.

Technologies such as feedback cancellation, directional microphones and binaural synchronisation also help the Nitro SP to provide a naturalistic listening experience.

"People with a severe hearing impairment often remain closed off from the acoustic world, able only to hear sounds within an extremely limited range, while speech becomes almost inaudible," said Liz Martin, Retail Product Manager at Siemens Hearing Instruments. "The challenge for manufacturers is to develop instruments that offer high amplification and very fine adjustment capacity, because users can very quickly find the sound volume too high or too low.

"Our BTE Nitro SP instruments utilise the most advanced technology to achieve this, converting a broad range of speech, music and sound into a narrow dynamic range to meet user requirements."

Nitro SP is available in 17 different colours, and in sleek BTE housings tailored to the natural shape of the ear.

Both devices utilise a ProPocket or an ePen remote control for volume adjustments and program changes.

Based in Crawley, Siemens Hearing Instruments Ltd provides a comprehensive range of digital hearing instruments and software, patient management systems and audiology equipment to the NHS, private healthcare and retail sectors.

Nitro SP BTE