By Jennifer Groth, M.A.
Over the next few days, I will be posting frequently asked questions about nanocoating technology.
1) What features should hearing aid professionals practitioners look for in a nanocoating technology for hearing aids?
The “feature” that nanocoated hearing instruments should have is a vastly improved resistance to moisture, oil and debris. Because nanocoating is so thin as to be undetectable just by examining or touching a treated device, the hearing care professional should ask the manufacturer how the technology is applied to their products, and how they ensured that it provides optimum protection compared to untreated products. The ReSound iSolate technology treats completed devices, not just individual vulnerable components as others may do. The application process, which is done in a vacuum chamber, ensures global coating of all components inside and out. Qualification of this technology included water roll-off testing, contact angle measurement of water droplet formation, abrasion testing, accelerated lifecycle testing, listening tests, microphone sensitivity tests, and biocompatibility tests.