Starkey Introduces Sweeping Changes to hearing devices; Touch Screen Meets hearing device in New S Series BTE

Patients Overwhelmingly Prefer Sweep Technology to Traditional Controls

MINNEAPOLIS, October 15, 2009 — Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world's leading hearing technology companies, is excited to introduce Sweep™ Technology — providing a completely new way to adjust hearing devices. Sweep Technology, featured on the new S Series™ behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing instrument, replaces all of the traditional hearing device buttons and dials with an innovative touch surface that allows users to adjust volume and change settings with the simple sweep or touch of a finger. Even patients with limited dexterity can easily change their hearing device settings.

"This technology makes hearing devices both smarter and simpler," said Jerry Ruzicka, President of Starkey. "We have spent three years researching and developing a way to package this advanced touch surface technology into a hearing device — and it paid off. Patients in our clinical trails have overwhelmingly preferred Sweep Technology to traditional controls."

Traditional hearing device buttons, switches and dials are often difficult for patients to find and manipulate. With Sweep Technology, there is no mechanical movement required for activation, no push buttons that oxidize and fail with time, and no openings around the volume control wheel that allow moisture and dirt to enter the hearing device. The sweep surface is a single seamless control, giving patients full access to volume, memory and standby controls — smarter technology that makes patients' lives simpler.

Here's how it works:

• Sweeping a finger up increases the volume and sweeping down decreases the volume.
• Memory adjustments are made with a simple touch of the surface.

The new BTE with Sweep Technology is part of Starkey's S Series with Drive Architecture™ family of hearing devices, which offers a variety of styles and colors in four technology levels to meet a wide range of hearing needs. Drive Architecture uses multi-core processing, similar to technology in computers, to provide three times more power, delivering maximum performance, comfort and personalization. The instruments offer comfortable, high-resolution sound with smoother, seamless transitions between quiet and loud environments, automatically adjusting to situations and levels that are the most comfortable for the wearer. And, Starkey's unique PrescriptFit™ hearing and lifestyle assessment ensures hearing devices match the individual’s hearing loss, lifestyle needs and ear shape — a completely personalized experience.

About Starkey^®

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognised for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs over 3,500 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in over 100 markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.starkey.com.