Oticon Zeal Hearing Aids

We're excited to announce that we're now offering Oticon Zeal at our practice. After 40 years of fitting hearing aids, I've heard countless patients tell me they'd wear hearing aids if only they were more invisible. Zeal is the first device I've seen that truly delivers on that promise without asking patients to sacrifice the features that actually make hearing aids effective.

Why This Device Has Us Excited

Here's what typically happened with traditional completely-in-canal hearing aids: we could make them nearly invisible, but the batteries died quickly, there was no Bluetooth capability, and the sound processing just wasn't powerful enough for challenging environments. Patients would choose them for cosmetic reasons, then get frustrated when they didn't work well at restaurants or family gatherings.

Zeal changes that equation entirely. It runs on the same Sirius platform that powers Oticon's flagship Intent hearing aid - that's premium-level processing in a device that sits almost completely hidden in your ear canal. And because we can fit it with instant-fit domes, you can walk out of our office wearing them the same day. No waiting two weeks for custom molds, though we can certainly make custom micro-earmolds if that's what you prefer.

The Technology That Makes It Work

The AI processing in Zeal is genuinely impressive. The Deep Neural Network runs continuously, analyzing your sound environment and separating speech from background noise. I've been fitting hearing aids since 1984, and the leap in speech clarity we're seeing with this generation of AI processing is remarkable.

What really matters is how this translates to your daily life. When you're at a noisy restaurant, Zeal isn't just turning everything up louder - it's working to preserve speech while managing the background noise. Your brain gets clearer signals to work with, which means less mental fatigue at the end of a long day.

One feature that addresses a common problem: Oticon developed an encapsulation process where the electronics are sealed in protective resin. In-canal hearing aids have historically had shorter lifespans because they sit in a hostile environment - moisture, earwax, and debris take their toll. This design significantly improves durability, which means fewer repairs and longer device life.

Practical Considerations

The rechargeable battery typically gives you a full day of use - around 20 hours depending on how much you're streaming. The SmartCharger is genuinely convenient for travel since it holds three full charges. And if you forget to charge overnight, 15 minutes in the charger gives you about 4 hours of use.

For connectivity, Zeal works with both iPhone and Android using Bluetooth LE Audio. You can stream phone calls, music, and podcasts directly to both ears. The device is also Auracast-ready, which means it'll work with emerging broadcast technology in airports, theaters, and other public venues.

The Companion app gives you control over volume and programs, but you can also use double-tap controls - right ear for volume up, left for volume down. Simple and intuitive once you get used to it.

Who Benefits Most from Zeal

This style works well for patients with mild to moderately severe hearing loss. With custom earmolds, we can sometimes fit people in the lower range of severe loss, though that depends on your specific audiogram and ear canal anatomy.

I typically recommend Zeal for patients who prioritize discretion but don't want to compromise on performance. It's particularly popular with first-time hearing aid users who aren't comfortable with a behind-the-ear style, and with current wearers who want to downsize without losing functionality.

One thing to consider: because Zeal sits in your ear canal, it requires a bit more dexterity for insertion and removal. If you have arthritis or limited hand mobility, we'll spend extra time during your fitting to make sure you're comfortable handling them. For some patients, a behind-the-ear style might be more practical.

Our Fitting Approach

We don't rush through fittings here. Your first appointment includes a comprehensive hearing evaluation - not just checking thresholds, but understanding where you struggle and what situations matter most to you. I'll review your audiogram with you and explain what it means for your hearing aid options.

If we decide Zeal is a good fit, we use Real Ear Measurement during programming. This is a verification step where we place a tiny probe microphone in your ear canal to measure the actual sound output from your hearing aid. It accounts for your unique ear anatomy rather than relying on generic manufacturer settings. In my experience, patients who receive properly verified fittings have significantly better outcomes.

We include a trial period so you can wear Zeal in your real life - at work, at home, in the situations where you need help hearing.

Auditory Training Included with Every Hearing Aid Purchase

Your brain needs time to adjust to amplified sound, especially if you've been living with hearing loss for years. That's why we now include LACE AI Pro auditory training with all hearing aid purchases at no additional cost. This interactive program takes just 15 minutes a day and trains your brain to better process speech in challenging environments. Research shows it can improve speech understanding in noise by up to 60%. Think of it as physical therapy for your hearing - the technology gets sound to your ears, but LACE helps your brain make the most of what it's receiving.

Learn more about LACE Auditory Training here.

Schedule Your Consultation

I'm genuinely enthusiastic about adding Zeal to our practice. It fills a gap we've had for patients who want discretion without compromise. Contact us today or stop by our Port Jefferson Station office. We'll do a complete evaluation and help you figure out if Zeal is the right solution for your hearing needs - or if another style might serve you better.

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