Oticon Aims to Make Managing Pediatric Hearing Care Simpler, More Effective with Full-Range of Integrated Pediatric Solutions
Copenhagen, January 11 - Niels Jacobsen, President and CEO of William Demant Holding Group, today announced that Oticon will add personal FM systems to the company's comprehensive line of pediatric hearing solutions, beginning April 2006. The decision to transfer the personal FM product line from sister company Phonic Ear to Oticon Pediatrics reflects Oticon's increased commitment to the pediatric market which has grown significantly, a direct result of the success of infant screening initiatives and educational programs that mainstream hearing impaired youngsters.
"We recognize the benefit to hearing care professionals and consumers of providing a full-range of hearing care solutions under one brand. Increasingly, hearing care professionals are looking for integrated solutions for children with hearing loss," Jacobsen stated. "With the addition of the new product line, Oticon Pediatrics will become a single source for optimal solutions for hearing impaired youngsters - whether they are infants and toddlers in the home or young students in special education and mainstream classroom settings. "
By combining new advances in wireless technology with Oticon's advanced technology and patient care philosophy, Oticon Pediatrics aims to make managing pediatric hearing care simpler and more effective than ever before. Going forward, the company will brand all new wireless solutions with the Oticon name.
Oticon's established line of state-of-the-art advanced technology hearing instruments and pediatric service and support programs, including the award-winning OtiKids, are known and respected by pediatric audiologists in private, clinic and school settings. The addition of wireless solutions strengthens the company's ability to provide a full range of products, services and support to children with hearing loss, their parents and caregivers.
"We are working closely with our colleagues at Phonic Ear to insure a seamless transition of the personal FM line to Oticon Pediatrics. Our mutual goal is to continue to deliver the dedicated service and support that Phonic Ear clients expect," Oticon President Peer Lauritsen explained. "Key Phonic Ear pediatric managers will move to Oticon to enhance the customer support systems already in place in our pediatric division."
In 2005, Oticon doubled the size of its sales and training staff, adding a number of new pediatric specialists and audiology support staff. To accommodate the newly expanded pediatric line, the company will immediately expand the Oticon Pediatric staff by one-third.
With the transfer of its pediatric FM line, Phonic Ear will concentrate on growing the company's successful FrontRow Active Learning Division which provides listening systems to improve speech intelligibility in the classroom for normal hearing children and adolescents.
"The transfer of the personal FM systems enables Oticon to use its considerable strengths in pediatric hearing care to offer new technologies and services to hearing care providers," Jacobsen noted. "At the same time, Phonic Ear will invest 42-years of experience in school and institution environments to meet the growing demand for enhanced speech intelligibility in educational settings."
For more information about Oticon, visit www.oticonusa.com
