America Hears Introduces Digital Hearing Aid Family With 32-Channel Multi-Program Performance.

New America Hears Independence[TM] Hearing Aids Feature Best Price/Performance in Hearing Aid Industry

BRISTOL, Pa. -- America Hears, Inc. (www.AmericaHears.com) introduced a new high-performance family of hearing aids offering the best price/performance in the hearing aid industry. The new America Hears Independence hearing aids utilize advanced digital signal processors with 32 channels that can be programmed to enhance hearing at all frequencies where patients need amplification. At prices ranging from $799 to $1,299 each, the America Hears Independence family extends the company's lead in designing, manufacturing and marketing the world's most affordable high-performance digital hearing aids meeting the hearing-health needs consumers.

"America Hears has always led the industry in helping the broad and growing market of people who need high-quality hearing aids at affordable prices," said Henry C. Smith, CEO and founder of America Hears. "America Hears Independence hearing aids meet the needs of anyone with hearing loss, from mild to severe hearing impairment. Because we manufacture and sell directly to the consumer, our low-cost hearing aids reach a broad market of customers who previously could not afford premium-quality digital hearing assistance."

Each member of the America Hears Independence Family features 32 channels and the ability to switch between as many as four programs tuned for different listening environments. They also include new software substantially improving the ability to understand speech in noisy environments. Models include behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids in both receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) and open-fit (OF) styles as well as a full range of custom, in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids:

* Independence Series 1 hearing aids are based on a size 10a battery and feature a very small form factor.

* Independence Series 2 hearing aids are slightly larger, utilize a longer-lasting size 312 battery, and include a dynamic directional microphone and other advanced features.

* Independence Series 3 hearing aids are for more severe hearing loss and utilize a powerful size 13 battery enabling increased output and gain across the entire frequency spectrum. They also include a telecoil to improve hearing on the telephone.

* Independence Series 4 products include a complete array of custom, in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids.

All hearing aids in the America Hears Independence family integrate advanced components at the cutting edge of hearing aid technology and design, including:

* A Sound Design Technologies Ltd VoyageurII Digital Signal Processor (DSP) designed for high-performance hearing aids.

* Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd's ADRO[R] (Advanced Dynamic Range Optimization) software, sophisticated hearing aid operating system software optimized for the high-performance DSPs used in all America Hears products.

* Enhanced Speech in Noise (ESIN) software, the latest ADRO[R] module improving the ability to hear and understand speech in noisy environments. Unique to America Hears, ESIN separates and amplifies the high frequency sounds that comprise 60% of speech, enhancing hearing in noisy environments such as crowded restaurants.

Another unique feature of the Independence hearing aid family is America Hears' Virtual Office software and Freedom Programmer kit enabling users to adjust their hearing aid programs on their personal computers at home. America Hears programs hearing aids at the factory precisely to the customer's audiogram, and America Hears' audiologists and professional fitters work collaboratively with customers to make additional adjustments over the internet using the Virtual Office software.

"Since 2001, America Hears has designed and developed hearing aids and fitting programs that place hearing aid users in control of their own hearing health," said Henry C. Smith, CEO and founder of America Hears. "The new America Hears Independence family of affordable premium hearing aids puts the world's best technology to work for the broadest possible market of consumers who need hearing assistance."

About America Hears

America Hears, Inc. (www.AmericaHears.com) is the world's only manufacturer of premium digital hearing aids to sell and support its products directly over the Internet. By making appropriately priced hearing-assistance products easily available to a broader market than ever before, America Hears is helping to expand the hearing-aid industry, which has experienced disappointingly slow growth in spite of the rapidly growing segment of the population suffering from age and job related hearing loss.