We actually nearly missed this, it was announced on August 15th that Sivantos was expanding the Signia myHearing App to include a new video calling feature. This is the first commercial use of video remote hearing care for the fitting of hearing aids. Basically the professional can schedule a video appointment and then call the wearer on his or her smartphone or smart device at the arranged time. The video option is now being piloted in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States ahead of a wider roll-out in Fall 2017.
You can read more about Signias outstanding Telecare innovation here
We reported last year that they were introducing the app and we thought it had amazing potential. They obviously decided that the potential could be increased and they updated the app with the introduction of their Pure Made For iPhone hearing aid. They are now introducing video calling as a further update to the functionality.
This can only be a good thing for both users and professionals, it will increase ease of communication and ensure that follow ups don't have to involve office visits. I have said before that I see a huge market for this type of telehealth approach, it will mean that users can access hearing healthcare on their terms. Like the Patient Insights app from Unitron which we have discussed here, this will allow users to collaborate with their care professionals in a deeper manner. And that can only be a good thing.
Posted by Geoff
Geoffrey Cooling
Geoffrey (Geoff, anything else makes him nervous) Cooling has been involved with the hearing aid industry for over ten years. He has worked in private practice dispensing hearing aids and as a manufacturer's rep. He has written two books and they are both available on Amazon. He loves technology, passing on knowledge and is legendary for many other things, primarily the amount he curses, his dry and mischievous sense of humour and his complete intolerance of people who are full of themselves. Please feel free to connect with him
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