Solar Ear Hearing Aid HD-USB-43

Solar Ear

The HD-USB-43 Hearing Aid is an affordable, USB charged solution to hearing loss.

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

The Solar Ear HD USB-43 is a behind the ear hearing aid designed to be affordable and sustainable. The battery is rechargeable and uses a USB connection.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Global

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Solar Ear

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

100 USD

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

iHear hearing aids, Audicus hearing aids

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Adults and children with hearing loss who otherwise would not have access to hearing aids

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Solar Ear manufactures all of their products in their factories in Brazil, Botswana, and China.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Open source. Solar Ear does not have patent protection.

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Solar Ear hearing aids are sold by distributors in 40 countries. Contacts for these distributors are listed here.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Peak OSLP 90 (dB SPL)

The most sound that the hearing aid will make with 90dB input

131

High frequency average (HFA) OSLP 90 (dB SPL)

Average level of just the high frequencies with 90 dB input

122

HFA full-on gain (dB)

Average full-on gain, which is defined as the gain control of the hearing aid set to its full-on position with an input SPL of 50 dB.Display order

Total harmonic distortion for 500Hz (%), 800Hz (%) and 1600Hz (%)

How well the aid is able to reproduce sound clearly

5, 4, 4

Equivalent input noise (dB)

Noise level output

Number of frequency channels

Number of channels available for programming

Battery type

Lithium polymer battery

Battery current (mA)

Provides information to user on how long it will take for battery to die

Unknown

Memory switch (Y/N)

Used to switch between multiple programs in order to optimize hearing aid for different environments

Yes

T-coil feature (Y/N)

An additional setting on some hearing aids

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

The Solar Ear USB-HD-43 is a behind the ear hearing aid designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The device is powered by a lithium polymer battery which requires two hours of charging to last 16-20 hours. The aid can be charged from any USB port. The USB-HD-43 can store two listening programs using the memory switch.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Technical support Technical support provided by

The first line of support for the USB-HD-43 is this user manual. The hearing programs must be set by a healthcare professional.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

While the product is under warranty it can be sent to Solar Ear for repair. Replacement batteries are also available.

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

The battery can be charged 500 times without degradation.

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Requires only 2 hours charging for 16 hours of use
Charging chip minimizes heat produced
2 channels
Noise reduction
Convenient to use and charge

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Solar Ear ran a clinical trial on their behind the ear aid with Bispebjerg Hospital which showed that participants had increased hearing in the desired frequency range.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Solar Ear, Department of Audiology: Bispebjerg Hospital, FDA

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Patients with a middle-ear infection are cautioned not to use this product until cured, unless instructed otherwise by a doctor.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

USB charging ports are needed to receive the device.

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Parving, A., Christensen, B., Nielsen, J., Konrádsson, K., 2005, Clinical Trial of a Low-Cost, High Power Compression Hearing Aid, Audiological Medicine, 3(2), pp.76–81.

Humphreys, G., 2013, Technology Transfer Aids Hearing, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 91(7), pp. 471–472.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

The Solar Ear USB-HD-43 bears the CE mark and is FDA approved.

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

The hearing aid was evaluated using the IOI-HA form. This form has 7 questions about product satisfaction and limitations in activity. The responses are graded on a scale of 1-5, where 5 is the maximum score. At the end of testing the subject marks a preference for the test-hearing aid or the previously fitted hearing aid.

Other information

None

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

The Solar Ear HD USB-43 is a behind the ear hearing aid designed to be affordable and sustainable. The battery is rechargeable and uses a USB connection.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Global

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Solar Ear

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

100 USD

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

iHear hearing aids, Audicus hearing aids

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Adults and children with hearing loss who otherwise would not have access to hearing aids

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Solar Ear manufactures all of their products in their factories in Brazil, Botswana, and China.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Open source. Solar Ear does not have patent protection.

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Solar Ear hearing aids are sold by distributors in 40 countries. Contacts for these distributors are listed here.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Peak OSLP 90 (dB SPL)

The most sound that the hearing aid will make with 90dB input

131

High frequency average (HFA) OSLP 90 (dB SPL)

Average level of just the high frequencies with 90 dB input

122

HFA full-on gain (dB)

Average full-on gain, which is defined as the gain control of the hearing aid set to its full-on position with an input SPL of 50 dB.Display order

Total harmonic distortion for 500Hz (%), 800Hz (%) and 1600Hz (%)

How well the aid is able to reproduce sound clearly

5, 4, 4

Equivalent input noise (dB)

Noise level output

Number of frequency channels

Number of channels available for programming

Battery type

Lithium polymer battery

Battery current (mA)

Provides information to user on how long it will take for battery to die

Unknown

Memory switch (Y/N)

Used to switch between multiple programs in order to optimize hearing aid for different environments

Yes

T-coil feature (Y/N)

An additional setting on some hearing aids

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Technical support Technical support provided by

The first line of support for the USB-HD-43 is this user manual. The hearing programs must be set by a healthcare professional.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

While the product is under warranty it can be sent to Solar Ear for repair. Replacement batteries are also available.

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

The battery can be charged 500 times without degradation.

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Requires only 2 hours charging for 16 hours of use
Charging chip minimizes heat produced
2 channels
Noise reduction
Convenient to use and charge

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Solar Ear ran a clinical trial on their behind the ear aid with Bispebjerg Hospital which showed that participants had increased hearing in the desired frequency range.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Solar Ear, Department of Audiology: Bispebjerg Hospital, FDA

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Patients with a middle-ear infection are cautioned not to use this product until cured, unless instructed otherwise by a doctor.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

USB charging ports are needed to receive the device.

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Parving, A., Christensen, B., Nielsen, J., Konrádsson, K., 2005, Clinical Trial of a Low-Cost, High Power Compression Hearing Aid, Audiological Medicine, 3(2), pp.76–81.

Humphreys, G., 2013, Technology Transfer Aids Hearing, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 91(7), pp. 471–472.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

The Solar Ear USB-HD-43 bears the CE mark and is FDA approved.

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Other information

None

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors