How it works:

Just like a conventional hearing aid, a custom shell is made to fit in the ear canal. However, unlike a conventional aid that would simply amplify the sound, TransEar has a miniature vibrator embedded in the shell. When sound is "received" on the side of the dead ear, it is converted to mechanical energy that drives the oscillator. Those signals are then transferred via the bones of the skull to the cochlea in the opposite ear.

All of this happens nearly instantaneously, but your brain knows the difference. It learns to distinguish between sounds coming in on the side of the good ear versus sounds coming in from the opposite side.

The ability to determine the specific source of a sound - left side / right side, front / back, and everything in between - is called sound localization, and many TransEar users report that they have regained this ability with TransEar.

Will TransEar work for me?

TransEar's effectiveness depends on a specific threshold of hearing in the "better" ear, so your hearing healthcare professional will evaluate your hearing in both ears. (See "Indications for Use") Each patient's physiology and medical conditions may also be factors in the fitting.

Important note: Because there may be an underlying condition requiring medical treatment, it's important to report the onset of SSD to a medical professional such as an ENT doctor or otologist for a thorough examination. Your doctor may in turn work with a hearing healthcare professional to determine if TransEar is appropriate for your type of hearing loss and medical considerations.

TransEar features a 4-channel digital processor with a high power output stage which drives the oscillator in the transfer unit.

Program 1 (P1) for normal listening and Program 2 (P2) for comfort in noise have each been engineered and factory-programmed to maximize the frequency response characteristics for bone conduction. Additional adjustments may be made by a hearing healthcare professional with TransEar's fitting software.

Program indicator tones and a low battery indicator tone are also standard features of TransEar.