Hearing Australia launches tailored NAL-NL3 fitting
Hearing Australia has begun using the NAL-NL3 hearing aid fitting system, developed by the National Acoustic Labouratories and now being adopted internationally.
NAL-NL3 is a new prescription for fitting hearing aids, designed to tailor settings more closely to an individual's hearing profile. As the research division of Hearing Australia, the National Acoustic Labouratories says the system gives audiologists a more precise way to personalise fittings.
The system has been licensed to manufacturers representing more than 90 per cent of the global hearing aid market. More than 22 million hearing aids are sold worldwide each year, according to figures cited by the organisation.
First fitting
Hearing Australia says its use of NAL-NL3 marks the first clinical deployment of the system. The first person fitted with the new prescription was David McMaster, a Hearing Australia Centre Manager who also has hearing loss.
"The sound was immediately comfortable," McMaster said.
"I'm noticing better awareness of people talking to me - I'm catching what's being said straight away. Speech is clear and crisp and at a really good volume. I'm looking forward to trying my hearing aids in a variety of situations."
The new system builds on NAL-NL2, which Hearing Australia describes as the most widely used hearing aid fitting prescription in the world. NAL-NL3 is the latest in a line of hearing aid prescriptions developed by NAL over the past 50 years.
Personalised fitting
According to the National Acoustic Labouratories, NAL-NL3 uses a modular design to support a more individual approach to hearing care. That structure allows clinicians to address different hearing needs and adapt fittings over time.
Dr Brent Edwards, Director of the National Acoustic Labouratories, said the change reflects a move away from standardised fitting.
"We're moving away from a one-size-fits-all prescription to a system that can continue to grow and adapt over time," Edwards said.
"The NAL-NL3 Fitting System allows clinicians to better tailor hearing solutions to individual listening needs and real-world situations."
One aim of the new prescription is to help people hear speech more clearly in noisy settings while maintaining listening comfort. Hearing Australia also cited its research showing that 82 per cent of Australians say large gatherings are more difficult for people with hearing loss.
Research base
NAL says the system was developed through research and clinical work carried out in Australia. Edwards said Hearing Australia's clinicians played an important role in the process.
"The close partnership with Hearing Australia's clinicians has been central to the development of NAL-NL3," Edwards said.
"The global launch reinforces NAL's reputation for producing high-quality, evidence-based solutions trusted by clinicians and hearing aid manufacturers around the world."
Hearing Australia managing Director Kim Terrell described the rollout as a significant step in clinical practice.
"This collaboration with NAL reflects our shared commitment to clinical excellence and delivering better outcomes for the people we support every day," Terrell said.
Hearing Australia provides hearing services through nearly 400 locations across Australia and employs more than 450 audiologists. It supports children, adults, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, pensioners and veterans.
Terrell also linked the new system to broader changes in hearing devices and care.
"Hearing aid technology is evolving constantly and NAL-NL3 is a game changer for people with hearing loss. I encourage anyone experiencing hearing difficulty to take the first step and book an appointment with Hearing Australia. My hearing device has been life changing for me," Terrell said.