The new Bernafon Music Experience

Do you regularly make extra programs for specific listening environments that are important to your clients? With current popular hearing aid technology, the hearing aids can often function independently of the end user and adjust the features automatically based on the listening situation. This is certainly true of the latest Bernafon Alpha hearing aids. Dynamic hearing aids that automatically regulate the amplification and feature settings are optimal since we know that people don’t want to be hampered by changing programs and adjusting the volume of their hearing aids. Rather, they want to carry on talking seamlessly with their companion without considering their surroundings when transitioning, for example, from the inside of a shop to walking outside along the street to get to their favorite café on the corner.

But there are times when the benefit of a special setting is worth the effort of manually changing the program. One of these instances is when listening to music. Most of us, with the exception of music lovers, maybe don’t notice the prevalence of music in our daily lives, but it’s often there at least in the background. Just having some music playing while we’re cleaning, working out, or driving turns a mundane task into something more enjoyable. Music has been proven to enhance the lives of older persons as it offers cognitive, social, and physical benefits (Cohen et al., 2002; Lehmberg & Fung, 2010; Leek et al., 2008). Music’s power to affect the wellbeing of listeners is not limited to the older population. Indeed, music has been shown to boost one’s mood, reduce stress, and stimulate the memory (Schaefer, 2017; Collingwood, 2018; Diaz et al., 2019). Therefore, music deserves to be heard at its best.

Music has been shown to boost one’s mood, reduce stress, and stimulate the memory
Unfortunately hearing aids have traditionally fallen short of achieving a great deal of satisfaction from end users in association with music. In fact, the settings used for amplification can instead adversely affect music (Madsen et al., 2015; Looi et al., 2019). Amplification and signal processing are normally focused on speech, which of course makes sense as hearing aids should first and foremost improve speech intelligibility. However, music and its listeners shouldn’t have to suffer from a lack of specialized amplification techniques. Bernafon has recognized this fact for over a decade and has continuously strived to develop new and improved methods of music amplification. The new Music Experience program is Bernafon’s latest and most dramatic step in the progress of music amplification.

The new Music Experience program is Bernafon’s latest and most dramatic step in the progress of music amplification.
Previously music programs were modified versions of the general program 1. Furthermore, one rationale was typically applied across a hearing aid fitting. But Bernafon has developed an algorithm specifically for amplifying music. Speech rationales limit music with too much compression and a reduced input dynamic range which can distort the varying peaks of music signals (Chasin and Russo, 2004). And too much compression, while comfortable for speech, leaves music sounding dull or distorted. To address some of these issues, Bernafon previously offered a separate music program for live music and one for listening to recorded sound such as radio or TV with adaptions to compensate the differing input signals (live vs recorded music).

However, the new Music Experience program replaces both legacy programs to simplify the process both for you and the clients. You have less to program and explain while the clients are now only one program change away from a richer, fuller music experience whether they’re at a concert, learning the waltz, or rocking out while cleaning the house. It’s safe to say that almost every client would benefit from the Music Experience program even if they don’t describe themselves as a music lover, per se. Although it might not be an everyday occurrence, there are those times when we do go to the theatre or when we want to distract ourselves during a mundane task that music is important for that specific moment. So why not experience it to the fullest rather than settle for dullness and distortion. For more details on the technical improvements of the Music Experience program.