SOMERSET, N.J., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- 'Tis the season when HD televisions, smart phones and other electronic gifts fly off the shelves. Now, a new wireless connectivity system makes it possible for people who wear hearing instruments to enjoy the full potential of the holiday's most-wanted electronic devices. The new Oticon ConnectLine(TM) system, featuring the ConnectLine TV Adaptor and ConnectLine Phone Adaptor, takes the wireless connectivity of the popular Dual, Epoq and Vigo Connect hearing instruments beyond connection to cell phones, music players and PCs by streaming audio from televisions and landline phones directly to a wearer's hearing aids.

"When wireless connectivity was first introduced, people with hearing loss, for the first time, were able to stream sound from cell phones to their hearing devices -- opening a world of easy communication that had previously been off limits for them," states Oticon President Peer Lauritsen. "But there were limitations when it came to streaming sound from televisions and existing landline phones."

These limitations created a number of quality of life challenges for hearing impaired individuals and their families. "The need for many people with hearing loss to turn the volume of the television so loud that it drives others out of the room is a recurring source of frustration for many families," says Lauritsen.

To help maintain holiday cheer well into the New Year, the small and attractive ConnectLine TV Adaptor - it wraps up to a tidy 2.5"x 2.5" x 1" package -- connects to the audio output of any television. It has a range of up to 30 feet and runs on its own power supply. Users enjoy high quality audio streaming through their hearing instruments - listening at their own preferred volume and without the delay experienced with off-the-shelf transmitters. There is no need to recharge the ConnectLine TV Adaptor and there are no additional gadgets or loop installations required. After an initial pairing with the Streamer device, an accessory to the hearing instruments that resembles a MP3 music player, the ConnectLine connects automatically whenever the Streamer is activated.

The ConnectLine Phone Adaptor turns any landline phone into a cordless Bluetooth phone. The tiny Phone Adaptor (2.5" x 2.5" x 1") can be an especially welcome gift for seniors who want to continue using their current landline phone. Users simply press the phone button on the Streamer to pick-up or end the call. The ConnectLine Phone Adaptor does not interfere with the ability of other household members to use the landline phone as usual.

"ConnectLine Adaptors deliver excellent sound quality and are easy to use. There are no dropped connections and the connection only has to be established once between the devices," notes Lauritsen. "Because the adaptors work on their own power supply, there is no need to recharge."

The ConnectLine System and Oticon Dual, Epoq and Vigo Connect hearing instruments are only available from hearing care professionals. For more information about the new wireless options from Oticon, visit oticonusa.com.

SOURCE Oticon Inc.

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