WIDEX UNIQUE 220 - £1095.00
The UNIQUE 220 is the standard, mid-range hearing aid manufactured by Widex. It is two technology levels down from the premium UNIQUE 440 hearing aid and one level down from the advanced UNIQUE 330 aid. Launched in October 2015, the UNIQUE 220 is the direct replacement for the previous Widex DREAM 220. Incorporating their newest processing chip (U-Platform), this new hearing aid from Widex pushes the performance barrier and takes digital processing to a whole new level. UNIQUE is documented to deliver a dynamic range from 5dB SPL up to 113dB SPL.
Packed with all new features, the Widex UNIQUE captures more sound by including 4 A/D converters for an incredibly wide input, a sound classifier for intelligent listening and a Wind Noise Attenuation system that dramatically reduces wind noise.
To learn more about what all these new features mean for the Widex UNIQUE, please watch the video below.
The Widex UNIQUE 220 is available in 6 different styles; 3 ‘behind-the-ear’ and 3 ‘in-the-ear’. Excluding the Unique 220 CIC-M (Widex’s equivalent of an IIC or ‘invisible-in-canal’ hearing aid) which has no wireless capability, all styles of hearing aid contain the same technological features; just wrapped up in different packages to suit your lifestyle, hearing loss and personal preference.
UNIQUE 220 ‘in-the-ear’ styles:
- WIDEX UNIQUE 220 CIC-M: non-wireless, ‘completely-in-canal’-‘micro’ (equivalent to an IIC ‘invisible-in-canal’), (size 10 battery)
- WIDEX UNIQUE 220 CIC: wireless ‘completely-in-canal’ with telecoil (size 10 battery)
- WIDEX UNIQUE 220 XP: wireless ‘in-the-ear’ with telecoil (size 312 battery)
UNIQUE 220 ‘behind-the-ear’ styles:
- WIDEX UNIQUE 220 PASSION: wireless, mini ‘receiver-in-canal’ (size 10 battery)
- WIDEX UNIQUE 220 FUSION: wireless, ‘receiver-in-canal’ with program button and telecoil (size 312 battery)
- WIDEX UNIQUE 220 FASHION: wireless, slim line, power ‘sound-tube BTE’ or ‘standard BTE’ with program/volume control and telecoil (size 312 battery)
The Widex UNIQUE 220 processes sound across 6 frequency channels, vs. 15 in the UNIQUE 440 aid and 10 in the UNIQUE 330 aid. More frequency channels results in more accurate processing, precise sound and better speech intelligibility. With 6 fine-tuning channels, it provides a reasonable amount of options for personalised sound adjustments for user preference and hearing needs.
The Widex UNIQUE 220 uses their latest algorithm for noise reduction (Noise Reduction), including a low-level background noise reduction system (Soft Level Noise Reduction) and adaptive directionality (HD Locator). The powerful ‘Soft Level Noise Reduction’ feature reduces the soft sounds users do not want to hear whilst retaining the audibility of soft speech. Hearing soft sounds is particularly important for hearing aid users but even more important than this is determining which sounds are useful and which are not. The UNIQUE hearing aid ensures important soft sounds are maintained and unwanted sounds are removed.
Using ‘Inter-Ear’ technology, the Widex UNIQUE 220 allows both hearing aids to act simultaneously as one system. Using this wireless exchange of information, the UNIQUE 220 hearing aids work as a pair to detect and adapt in 3 different listening situations for clarity, comfort and audibility. This feature is known as ‘Sound Class Technology’.
Click on the video below to learn more about the 'Sound Class Technology' feature in the WIDEX UNIQUE 220.
The ‘Inter-Ear’ feature also supports the synchronization of program and volume adjustments made on one hearing aid, automatically transferring the changes to the other hearing aid. The UNIQUE 220 also uses the ‘Inter-Ear’ feature for their latest feedback algorithm (Multi-Directional Active Feedback Cancelling). The wireless communication between the hearing aids allows them to accurately detect actual feedback and eliminate any annoying whistling sounds.
An additional feature in the Widex UNIQUE 220 includes the ‘Trusound Softener Plus’ which quickly reduces any sudden and spontaneous loud sounds that may be uncomfortable for the user (e.g. rattling plates and cutlery). The ‘Personal Audibility Extender’ allows the hearing aid user to hear and process high frequency sound more effectively. It does this by converting high frequency sounds in to a lower frequency range where the wearer’s hearing is less affected and damaged; a great feature for those individuals with a severe to profound high frequency hearing loss.
Furthermore, the Widex Unique 220 can be programmed to gradually increase in sound level over a pre-specified period of time. This feature is known as ‘Personal Acclimatisation’ and allows a new hearing aid user the opportunity to adapt to the hearing aid at their own pace. Through the ‘Sound Diary’ feature, the hearing aids can also keep track of manual volume changes, allowing the default level of sound to be adjusted to the user’s preferred level in up to 3 different sound environments.
The Widex UNIQUE 220 also incorporates a personal tinnitus management tool called ‘Zen’. For tinnitus sufferers, ‘Zen’ includes a library of Zen melodies for tinnitus management and relaxation. Zen attempts to reduce the effects of tinnitus by using soothing tones to mask the tinnitus. The Widex UNIQUE 220 also has ‘Zen+’ which allows the user to select their personal preference from a library of soothing tones and sounds as well as ‘Personal Zen’ that allows the sound to be frequency matched to the user’s individual tinnitus.
The Widex UNIQUE 220 allows for full connectivity and compatibility with the Widex DEX range of communication accessories: COM-DEX, TV-DEX, RC-DEX, PHONE-DEX, T-DEX, CALL-DEX, UNI-DEX and FM+DEX. These accessories provide full connectivity to mobile phones, remote controls, TVs and more.
Benefits of WIDEX UNIQUE 220 over WIDEX UNIQUE 110:
- 6 channels vs. 4 channels
- Sound Class Technology (3 different environments vs. 1 environment)
- HD Locator
- TruSound Softener
- InterEar features
