Swim, snorkel, and sweat with new hearing aid

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Water, sweat, and dust can be the ruin of hearing aids, which can rein in the fun for summer sports and intense physical activities. But the Aquaris, a new hearing aid announced April 5, claims to be the first truly waterproof hearing aid allowing users to swim, sail, jog, snorkel, and more without damaging the device.

The aid's housing is made of one solid piece, except for the battery compartment, which is fitted with a membrane designed to keep water out. Aquaris also features a nonslip, textured surface that holds the hearing aid behind the ear; a "sport clip" to further secure the device during intense activities; and a water-resistant Aquapac for added protection.

While there are water-resistant devices available from manufacturers such as Rion and Eurion, Aquaris takes it much further - it can be fully submerged in water up to 3 feet deep (about one meter) for 30 minutes. For active sports, other products currently available include Super Seals, a latex cover that when placed over a hearing aid works to protect it from humidity and sweat.

Aquaris's manufacturer Siemens has yet to release pricing but aims to launch the device in June 2011.

Other new hearing aid devices breaking new ground and just released this year include the Beltone True hearing aid, part of a new generation of "virtually invisible" Bluetooth hearing aids and among the first to wirelessly receive sound directly from TV, cell/home phone, stereo, PC and iPod via a 2.4 GHz signal. Also, the OtoLens invisible hearing aid from Starkey Laboratories is reportedly the first invisible, in-the-canal hearing aid, custom-built to each patient's ear.

Learn more about the Aquaris: http://www.siemens.com/press/en/pressrelease/?press=/en/pressrelease/2011/healthcare/h20110426.htm