MED-EL Outlines Growth Plans and New Products for Indian Market

HYDERABAD, India, November 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Launches BonebridgeTM and RONDO® Single Unit Processor

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leading provider of hearing implant solutions, today announced the launch of the Bonebridge and RONDO in India. The announcement was made at the 9th Asia Pacific Symposium on Cochlear Implants and Related Sciences (APSCI 2013) being held in Hyderabad from 26-29 November.

Bonebridge is the world's first active bone conduction implant. It makes it possible for people with conductive and mixed hearing loss or single-sided deafness to hear the full range of sounds in a reliable manner.

RONDO is the world's first single-unit processor for cochlear implants. It combines the coil, control unit and battery into a single device. The discrete integrated design keeps the ear free and clears the way for new wearing comfort. It also reduces the cost of ownership with very low maintenance costs.

Dr Ingeborg Hochmair, Founder and CEO of MED-EL said: "MED-EL has had presence in India for over 20 years providing market leading solutions to people with hearing loss. We continue to innovate and develop the best technology and widest selection of hearing implant systems that can truly make a difference to people's lives."

It is estimated that as many as 63 million Indians suffer from significant hearing loss. Some reports suggest that the prevalence could be as high as 1 in 12 people. However, the awareness about the problem is significantly low in India and as a result most people do not seek medical advice in time.

Mr Tejinder Singh, Managing Director, MED-EL said: "To alleviate the impact of hearing impairment, it is important for the government and health insurance providers to put in place programs and policies tomake this technology accessible and affordable to peoplein India on a wider scale."

"It is important to understand that a Cochlear implant is a long term investment. It is a life changing device for people affected by hearing loss, especially children who are born deaf," said Dr Mohan Kameswaran, renowned ENT surgeon and President APSCI 2013.

About MED-EL

Austria-based MED-EL Medical Electronics is a leading provider of hearing implant systems with 29 subsidiaries worldwide. In 2006, MED-EL established a 100% owned direct subsidiary operation in India. The family-owned business is one of the pioneers in the industry. The two Austrian scientists Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair developed the world's first microelectronic-multichannel cochlear implant in 1977. The cochlear implant was and remains the first replacement of a human sense, the sense of hearing. In 1990, they laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company when they hired their first employees. To date, the company has grown to more than 1500 employees around the world.

Today, MED-EL offers the widest range of implantable solutions worldwide to treat various degrees of hearing loss: cochlear and middle ear implant systems, EAS (combined Electric Acoustic Stimulation) hearing implant system and auditory brainstem implants as well as the world's first active bone conduction implant. People in about 100 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a product from MED-EL.

Further information for the media, including images, videos and company information can be found here: http://www.medel.com/press/

Primary Media Contact: Gareth Beazant, [email protected], 43-0577-881045

Secondary Media Contact: Aseem Das, [email protected], 91-9311965186