GN Expands ReSound OMNIA Hearing Aid Family to All Styles Including MiniRIE Rechargeable

GN Hearing has announced the expansion of its flagship ReSound OMNIA family of hearing aids, including its smallest rechargeable hearing aid yet: the OMNIA miniRIE (Receiver-in-Ear). The product line extension also includes two new rechargeable Behind-the-Ear (BTE) models along with new OMNIA custom products, including Completely-in-Canal (CIC), In-the-Canal (ITC), and half-shell and full-shell In-the-Ear (ITE) models.

All except the CIC utilize ReSound’s Smart3D App and feature Bluetooth streaming of audio and phone calls, with hands-free calling for Apple iOS devices.* Each is available in three technology levels (9, 7, and 5).

Introduced in August 2022, OMNIA is designed to offer exceptional hearing-in-noise benefits with the company’s 360 All-Around Directionality technology (level 9), reportedly providing 150% improvement in speech understanding compared to legacy ReSound hearing aids. The product was initially released in three RIE models, with a selection between rechargeable or size 312 and size 13 disposable batteries. For a quick review, see HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop's summary of the key features of OMNIA.

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The large-scale MarkeTrak 2022 consumer survey indicated 86% of people who wear hearing aids still struggle with speech understanding in noise. According to ReSound, the new miniRIE, BTE, and custom models all come with OMNIA’s capabilities to “ensure even more people living with hearing loss will be able to access GN’s most advanced technology and with greater listening comfort.” OMNIA is the only hearing solution to simultaneously combine two benefits: narrow beamforming directionality for hearing in noise and omnidirectional listening for a natural listening experience without feeling cut off.¹

“All the new BTEs are four-microphone [in a binaural fitting] beamformers with the OMNIA technology inside them,” GN Chief Audiologist Laurel Christensen, PhD, told HearingTracker. “With two power levels, one of which can employ a thin-tube, these BTEs are small, rechargeable, and have a wide fitting range.” She adds that all OMNIA RIEs can use ReSound’s unique M&RIE technology, which adds a third microphone in the receiver in addition to the standard two microphones on the hearing aid.

“The miniRIE is particularly exciting for our company,” says Dr. Christensen. “Given the popularity of the current OMNIA RIE products and how much smaller the new miniRIE is, we think it’s quickly going to become the front runner in the market.”

ReSound has designed the miniRIE for wearing comfort, thanks to its size, shape, and soft curves. The device offers all-day battery life for worry-free use throughout the day and without the hassle of exchanging batteries on the go.

Turning to the new OMNIA in-ear products, Christensen says the outside of these devices resembles the Customs by ReSound, including the large button on the ITE and ITC for user control and the custom inserts in the recharging case to ensure reliable charging; however, the technology inside the shell is OMNIA. ReSound's Check My Fit feature in the Smart3D App—which gives users guidance to wear their hearing aids correctly via a quick “ear selfie”—has also been extended to the new styles.

“Nobody should feel limited by noisy environments,” said GN Hearing CEO and President Gitte Aabo in a press statement. “I’m delighted that more people can now benefit from these new best-in-class hearing aids, which will help improve hearing in noise without leaving anyone feeling cut off. People with hearing challenges can now strengthen their connections to people and the world around them and hear the sounds that matter.”

All solutions under the ReSound OMNIA family will provide enhanced connectivity—whether users are streaming phone calls or music to their ears. Users can answer calls with a tap on their hearing aid and enjoy conversations with outstanding sound quality, and in the case of Apple iOS devices, without having to take their smartphones out of their pocket (Android users can listen to conversation through their hearing aids, but need to speak into the receiver to be heard on the other end).*

The extended ReSound OMNIA portfolio is planned for Regulatory clearance and will be available globally starting with the US and Canada on February 23, 2023, along with the equivalent Beltone Achieve line-up.