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New Phone Technology Helps Millions with Hearing Loss Hear More Clearly Than Ever Before

Clarity Launches First Digital Signal Processing Technology for Amplified Telephones

Clarity is leading the way for millions of individuals worldwide who experience some degree of hearing loss with technology that offers the solution for better communication.

The Chattanooga-based company, a division of Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) and the nation's leading supplier of products for the Hard of Hearing community, has unveiled Digital Clarity Power (DCP), a superior technology that virtually eliminates the frustration many with hearing loss feel when trying to talk on the telephone.

In fact, Digital Clarity Power is likely to be life-changing for the burgeoning hard of hearing population, allowing them to communicate more clearly and effectively during phone conversations for both work and pleasure.

Up until this point, all standard and amplified telephones have been analog-based which means they simply transmit whatever sounds are broadcast into a receiver. In contrast, DCP telephones are able to recognize human conversation, amplify that sound for the listener, and discard all other background noise.

"Hearing loss has reached epidemic proportions. In fact, a recent survey revealed that half of Baby Boomers - over 38 million people in this age group alone - have difficulty hearing," said Dr. Michael Glasscock, founder of The EAR Foundation, an organization devoted to hearing loss education, prevention and treatment.

"For these individuals, telephone conversations have been difficult if not impossible," continued Glasscock. "This DCP technology is a communications breakthrough, particularly for those with a moderate to severe hearing loss."

A revealing study conducted by Clarity and The EAR Foundation in 2004 not only determined that hearing loss was becoming increasingly common among Baby Boomers, it also found that most of these Boomers knew someone - a friend, parent or co-worker - who also reported having difficulty hearing.

This equates to millions of individuals, many of them still in the workforce, who are struggling to understand one another in critical situations. Their livelihoods, their social lives and their self-esteem are suffering as a result, the Baby Boomer Hearing Loss Study found.

But DCP is reopening one important avenue of communication for the hard of hearing - the telephone. It uses multiband compression to accept incoming analog sounds and processes them into a series of 1s and 0s. A computer chip inside the phone then runs various algorithms to improve listening conditions. For instance, one algorithm eliminates constant noise, such as air conditioning or static, creating a clear sound that is more accomodating to conversation.

"DCP makes soft sounds audible and loud sounds bearable," said Carsten Trads, President of Clarity. "Conversations will no longer be a chore for people with a hearing loss. Instead of hesitating to answer the phone, they can now go back to enjoying conversations with their friends and family."

Digital signal processing technology was first used in hearing aids in 1987 but did not gain mainstream acceptance in the hearing aid industry until nearly a decade later. Clarity is the first telephone supplier to incorporate the technology into its products.

"It is time for the next generation of telephones," said Trads. "As a leader in the industry, it is important for Clarity to make this leap and push audio processing technology to its limits. This is more than just a new phone. It is a technological advancement that will improve quality of life for millions of people worldwide."

Clarity currently has two phones on the market featuring the patent pending DCP technology. The corded C2210 and the cordless C4205 telephones can be purchased from Authorized Clarity Distributors or on Clarity's website at www.clarityproducts.com. Clarity plans to release additional DCP powered products within the next 18 months.

Clarity and The EAR Foundation also urge anyone who may think they have a hearing loss to have their hearing tested by a qualified audiologist, and then explore the many products and services available to improve hearing health.

"What we learned as a result of our extensive Baby Boomer research study is that many people do not seek the help they need, even though they strongly suspect they have a hearing loss," said Trads. "We're trying to spread the word that solutions for minimizing the impact of hearing loss, such as DCP, are out there, and they work."

For more information on DCP or about Clarity and its products, please call 1-800-552-3368 or visit www.clarityproducts.com.