Summit meeting - The 6th International Developer Forum for Hearing Systems and Cochlear Implants brought together experts from all over the world in Oldenburg's Haus des Hörens

<Oldenburg, 18 June 2013> For the sixth time, the HörTech Center of Competence for Hearing Aid System Technology HörTech gGmbH invited the top international hearing aid developers to The Haus des Hörens in Oldenburg on 13 and 14 June. Engineers from renowned companies discussed current challenges and trends in the industry together with scientists and developed solutions that are to be further advanced in pre-competitive consortia. The conference focussed on plenary presentations on hearing aid function taking into account individual cognitive performance and the use of smartphones as hearing aids. The possibilities of binaural hearing aids were also discussed, which focus on transferring the advantages of binaural hearing to hearing system technology. The latter enables hearing-impaired people to hear better in acoustically "difficult" environments - for example in rooms with reverberation or when several people are talking to each other. In 2012, Federal President Joachim Gauck awarded the German Future Prize to Oldenburg hearing researchers Prof Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier and Prof Dr Volker Hohmann (University of Oldenburg) and Dr Torsten Niederdränk (Siemens AG, Munich) for this outstanding innovation. Under the moderation of high-calibre speakers, innovative approaches to combining hearing system technology with cochlear implants and consumer electronics were discussed as well as the effect of hearing loss and hearing aid technology on the music experience. "In the future, the combination of hearing technology and consumer electronics will make it possible for older people with incipient hearing loss in particular to learn to appreciate the benefits of hearing assistance much sooner and not forget how to hear," says the head of the developer forum, Prof. Dr Dr Kollmeier, emphasising the importance of this development. "This is why innovative concepts for hearing aids and hearing implants are being developed, as well as assistive technology for everyone - i.e. the "hearing aid" in every smartphone, television or car radio." The event format offers intensive discussions in small groups and the opportunity to talk to leading developers from the most important international hearing aid and hearing technology companies. "Over the years, the forum has established itself as the central communication platform for the hearing aid industry, not least thanks to the interdisciplinary and cross-company dialogue," explains Stephan Albani, Managing Director of HörTech gGmbH. "The mixture of 'hard' engineering technology, 'soft' psychological test results and 'theoretical' modelling is shaping the future of better hearing." Hearing for all - this goal is of great social importance, as 18 per cent of the German population - including more than 50 per cent of over 65-year-olds - has a hearing loss that requires treatment. By improving individual hearing diagnostics and providing personalised hearing aids, scientists and engineers can significantly improve communication for those affected - whether at work, on the road or at home.