Introducing The All New Widex Allure

Meet the Widex Allure, the latest in smart, discreet hearing devices. Powered by AI, it offers clear speech, natural sound, and up to 25 hours of battery life. With Bluetooth® streaming and simple app control, hearing has never been easier! The Widex Allure isn’t just any hearing aid. It's been designed to give you the most natural, effortless listening experience possible. Whether you're chatting with friends or watching TV, it’s built to handle it all.

AI-Powered Personalisation – Smarter Sound That Learns with You

The Widex Allure goes beyond just adapting to your surroundings as it learns from you. With built-in AI, you can personalise your hearing through the Widex app using quick A/B comparisons (just pick the one that sounds better). Over time, the Allure learns your preferences and adjusts automatically to match how you want to hear things. The Widex Allure has 11 unique listening environments, it fine-tunes sound in real-time without you needing to adjust anything manually. It's that simple, smart, and designed to fit into your lifestyle.

Speech Enhancer Pro – Hear Every Word Clearly

The 52-band Speech Enhancer Pro works by intelligently amplifying speech while reducing background noise. Whether you're in a noisy restaurant or at a family gathering, Allure works hard to keep voices clear, crisp, and easy to follow. No more missing important words in conversations!

Adaptive Feedback Control – No More Whistling

One of the standout features of the Widex Allure is its Adaptive Feedback Canceller. This technology actively detects and prevents unwanted whistling or feedback, without affecting sound quality. So, you can enjoy natural sound at any volume, without interruptions.

Smart Compatibility – Stream from Your Apple Watch and More

The Widex Allure makes it easy to stream calls, music, and more, straight from your phone, including iPhone, many Android devices, and even your Apple Watch. It also works perfectly with Widex’s full range of accessories like TV Play, remote controls, and the Widex app, giving you complete control over your hearing experience from the devices you use every day.

Rechargeable Battery – Power That Lasts All Day

The Widex Allure is fully rechargeable and gives you up to 25 hours of battery life on a single charge. With continuous streaming, you’ll get around 18–20 hours of use. When you're not using your Widex Allure device, just place your hearing aids in the compact charging case overnight, no more worrying about changing batteries. It’s all about reliable, all-day power that makes hearing effortless.

Pricing & Offers

• €4,500 after PRSI grant
• 4 year warranty
• Free servicing
• Free aftercare
• Free remote care worth €275
• Free TV Play or Sound Assist
• 45 Day money back guarantee
• Claim €859.60 In Tax Relief

Blackberry Hearing Partners with Uniphar Group

Blackberry Hearing is now available in over 60 Uniphar pharmacies across Ireland. This partnership means even more people can get expert hearing care right in their local pharmacy, making it easier than ever to take the first step on their hearing journey.

We’ve always believed hearing care should be easy to access, affordable, and led by experts. By teaming up with Uniphar Group, one of Ireland’s leading healthcare providers, we’re reaching into communities across the country.

Whether it’s a free hearing test, a friendly chat with one of our qualified audiologists, or ongoing aftercare, our approach stays the same. You’ll still be looked after by a qualified audiologist, have access to top quality hearing devices, and get the personal support that Blackberry Hearing is known for, now just in a location that might be five minutes from your home.

Pharmacies play such an important role in the healthcare journey, and we’re proud to be part of that experience, offering trusted, expert led hearing care in a place people already feel comfortable.

Hearing loss is incredibly common but still underdiagnosed. This partnership is a big step towards changing that by making hearing checks part of everyday healthcare.

For more details, you can read the full press release by clicking the PDF attached.

Blackberry Hearing Makes New Acquisition In Donegal

For over 30 years, Michael Forsythe and his team have been providing top-quality audiology care to the Moville community. Now, as Michael steps into retirement, we’re honoured to continue his legacy, ensuring that local patients receive the same expert care and personalised service they’ve come to expect.

With this new expansion, we’re making it even easier for people in Donegal to access affordable, high-quality hearing solutions. Our team of expert audiologists is ready to help, offering the latest hearing technology, transparent pricing, and exceptional customer support.

We’re excited to be part of the Moville community and look forward to meeting both new and familiar faces! If you or a loved one need a hearing check, get in touch.

For more details, you can read the full press release by clicking the PDF attached.

Blackberry Hearing Expands – Now in Five TESCO Locations!

It has been a busy few months and a fantastic start to the new year for Blackberry Hearing as we proudly open our fifth store located in TESCO Ireland!

We are delighted to be growing across Ireland, bringing expert hearing care to our stores in Naas, Maynooth, Portlaoise, Gorey, and Ballincollig.

Our retail journey began in 2023 with the opening of our first store in TESCO Extra Naas, and now, with five stores and counting, we are making it easier than ever to access expert hearing care in a place you already know and trust at your local TESCO.

What to expect in our TESCO stores

At every Blackberry Hearing store, you’ll find:

• A warm welcome from our fully qualified Audiologists and team
• Walk-in appointments
• Free hearing tests
• Quick-tests for a fast hearing check
• Expert advice on hearing health
• The chance to view and try on our latest hearing aids
• Live product demonstrations with our Audiologists
• Side-by-side comparisons of different models
• Microsuction wax removal

Each of our stores are designed to offer a range of services and experiences to our customers.

When you visit our stores, you’re not just coming for a product but you are coming for an experience that’s all about improving your hearing health.

Visit us in store today!

We’re proud to bring professional hearing care to TESCO customers across Ireland. Whether you're looking for a quick check-up, expert advice, or the latest hearing technology, our team is here to help.

Find us in these TESCO Extra locations📍

Naas
Maynooth
Portlaoise
Gorey
Ballincollig

Before you visit, don’t forget to take advantage of our special offer! You can triple your Tesco Clubcard vouchers on hearing aids. Head over to our Tesco Rewards page for more details and to make the most of your vouchers!

We look forward to welcoming you to our Blackberry Hearing store.

Blackberry Hearing Partners with Abbey Finance

Blackberry Hearing Ltd a leading provider of hearing solutions in Ireland, has today announced investment from Abbey International Finance.

The investment will serve primarily as a Buy-Out of the Co-Founders Dave Gleeson & John Ryan who established the business in 2015, as well as accelerating the roll-out of retail hearing experience stores across Ireland and the UK, in partnership with TESCO. The Management team of Dr Luke Higgins & Matt Gleeson will lead the future growth of the business with the co-founders retaining a minority stake.

In a short space of time, Blackberry Hearing has emerged as a leading provider of hearing solutions in Ireland with its data-driven approach to customer acquisition combined with an outstanding reputation for delivering a 5-Star customer experience.

With over 50 clinics, a new retail arm, a passionate team of audiologists serving thousands of customers each year and fitting the best technology, Blackberry Hearing is set to continue its growth journey at pace and deliver its vision of becoming a large international retailer of hearing solutions.

“We are thrilled to be partnered with Abbey International Finance for our future growth plans. We believe there is something special here; a fabulous team, a great brand and business built by Dave & John upon which we want to expand, utilising our data-driven approach to customer acquisition. We have big plans to take on the high street for hearing solutions and believe with Abbey, our new investment partner, we can deliver” – Matt Gleeson, Managing Director, Blackberry Hearing Ltd.

"We are excited to partner with Luke, Matt, and the entire Blackberry team as they continue to build a market-leading audiology brand in the coming years. We look forward to supporting them in this exciting next stage of their journey." – Gerry Clifford, CEO Abbey International Finance.

Over the last 8 years, Blackberry Hearing has developed into the largest Irish-owned retailer of hearing solutions, employing more than 30 people across 50 clinics nationwide. Their focus on price transparency, commitment to customer service and audiological care has proved decisive with thousands of customers across Ireland.

Abbey International Finance, based in Dublin, is an independent finance firm specialising in minority investments in profitable, well-managed Irish SMEs. Through growth equity and management buyouts (MBOs), Abbey provides capital and strategic support to help companies navigate their next phase of growth.

Why I Became An Audiologist

Our Audiologists share insights into what they love most about their profession, from meeting new patients to the satisfaction of helping others with hearing loss. They provide insights into what they find is the most rewarding aspect of their work life.

Emer O'Reilly - MSc Audiology

Why did you choose to become an Audiologist?

With a background in psychology, I saw how hearing health is a fundamental human need for all individuals. I wanted to be in a career that helped people maintain their ability to communicate effectively. It’s a fulfilling career and I enjoy delivering successful patient outcomes.

What do you love about your job?

I enjoy being able to improve somebody’s quality of life and seeing them get back their confidence through the gift of hearing aids. Seeing the positive impact on my patient's face in the clinic when the hearing aid is fitted is incredibly rewarding.

Katie Lynam - MSc Audiology 

Why did you choose to become an Audiologist?

I always knew I wanted to have a career in health. My grandparents suffer from hearing loss and I have a parent who suffers from Meniere’s disease so I have seen the effect that hearing conditions can have first-hand on not only the individual but also their family, friends and other relationships.

This is one of the main reasons why I chose a career in audiology as I wanted a career which can improve the lives of people and their families. 

What do you love about your job?

I love building relationships with the clients. We don't just see them for their initial consultations and never see them again, we are with them throughout the whole process and see them for their follow-ups and service calls and you can get to know them and their families.

I also love seeing the immediate results that the clients can get from being fitted with hearing aids. It's lovely to see them get more confident and it's very rewarding. 

Clodagh Kelly - MSc Audiology

Why did you choose to become an Audiologist?

I was unsure what I wanted to do when leaving school. I went to college and studied science for 4 years as my favourite subjects were Biology and Chemistry. Science opened up a lot of doors for me and I could've chosen several different career paths but I decided I would like a job in healthcare.

I started doing some research and came across Audiology. I had never really heard of Audiology but after some research, I became very interested in Audiology, applied for a spot on the MSc Audiology course at UCC and thankfully I was accepted and studied for 2 years there.

What do you love about your job?

One of my favourite things about working as an Audiologist is improving people's quality of life - the difference hearing aids can make for the individual suffering from hearing loss as well as family and friends. People are so appreciative and thankful for helping them - I love to meet great characters and hear brilliant life stories. 

Rian Breathnach - BSc Audiology

Why did you choose to become an Audiologist?

Growing up I learnt to play the piano and the guitar, I wasn’t great at either but I did enjoy it. Between music and my interest in physics in secondary school, a career in Audiology looked like the ideal route for me.

What do you love about your job?

There are a few rewarding reasons such as improving a person’s quality of life through better hearing and I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. Hearing loss is an invisible barrier to communication, each day I see the effects it can have on people’s lives.

Widex SmartRIC – The Best Of Widex Technology

Widex has recently unveiled its most advanced hearing aid, featuring the best of Widex technology. The Widex SmartRIC has the exceptional performance that Widex is known for and introduces a sleek and innovative design, unlike any other model. The Widex SmartRIC features a completely redesigned L- shaped hearing aid making it stand out for both how well it performs and how good it looks among other hearing aids.

The Widex SmartRIC is packed with many features such as Smart Power feature, which enables an impressive 37 hours of usage on just one charge. Exceptional focus with a new microphone to help reduce wind and touch distractions to improve directionality and performance.

New Improved Microphone

This unique stylish and innovative L- shaped design is specifically created to optimize microphone directionality, microphones are at a more horizontal angle (20°) setting it apart from all their other hearing aid. The more horizontal angle improves signal-to-noise ratio which is linked to enhanced speech intelligibility and understanding.

Widex has repositioned the microphone, effectively minimizing wind and touch noise through both mechanical adjustments and signal processing giving you a 20 dB reduction in wind noise. This means that such noise can be reduced through the design of the microphone cover, and non-correlated noise in the microphone can be identified and filtered out, resulting in improved overall performance and user experience.

Widex MySound™ - AI- Assisted Personalisation

Widex MySound™ is a powerful and intuitive AI-assisted personalisation ( Artificial intelligence), meaning that AI will tailor the sound to your specific hearing. This feature will allow  the hearing aid wearer a choice of sound quality options they can choose from themselves, which can then be saved and used again anytime in the future.

Widex TruAcoustics™

TruAcoustics™ is a software that calculates how to program the hearing for the individual user such as the strength of the receiver wire, the shape of the dome, and other factors based on the individual's ear canal size and the fit of the dome, this unique setup is to suit the user's specific hearing needs.

Portable Charging

The Widex SmartRIC stands out not just for its sleek design, but also for its practical features. Alongside its stylish appearance, it comes with a portable charging case that adds convenience to its functionality. With its slim profile and enclosed battery, the device is easy to use and carry around.

 Its innovative galvanic charging technology ensures reliable power whenever you need it, making it an ideal choice for those seeking both style and practicality in te hearing aid.

Battery Life & Charging Times

The Widex SmartRIC has the longest battery life ever created for any Widex hearing aid with an impressive 37 hours of battery that gives you 7 days of full use before charging. In addition, the SmartRIC comes equipped with a fast charging case, ensuring that you can power up your device quickly even when you're on the go.

Accessories for the Widex SmartRIC

Widex offers a variety of accessories to pair with this model, including the WIDEX TV PLAY™, which is provided free with the Widex SmartRIC.

WIDEX TV PLAY™ lets you enjoy outstanding TV sound through your hearing aids, helping you hear the TV better.

Another great accessory to pair with the Widex SmartRIC is the Widex Sound Assist - ‘Swiss Army Knife’  It can be a table microphone, handle hands-free calls, stream from digital and analogue sources, and even be a remote control to adjust your hearing aid settings.

Pricing & Offers

• €4,500 after PRSI grant
• 4 year warranty
• Free servicing
• Free aftercare
• Free remote care worth €275
• Free TV Play or Sound Assist
• 45 Day money back guarantee
• Claim €859.60 In Tax Relief

Unboxing the Widex Moment 440 Sheer

The Widex Moment 440 Sheer is a rechargeable RIC ( Receiver In Canal) hearing aid. The battery life on this hearing aid should last up to a full day giving that you have charged it for at least four hours. The Widex Moment 440 Sheer is built for users with mild to profound hearing loss.

The Widex Moment 440 Sheer delivers a pure, natural sound with zero delay technology, which also eliminates the delay bate distortion, making most other hearing aids sound artificial, with AI personalisation and new Widex SoundRelax the Widex Moment 440 Sheer allows you to feel completely present in the moment.Widex PureSound

Widex PureSound was created to address one of the most common barriers for hearing aid users to adapt to new devices that sound artificial. Widex PureSound processes sound 8-20 times faster than other digital hearing aids which results in a much more natural sound.

Widex MySound™ - AI- Assisted Personalisation

Widex MySound™ is a powerful and intuitive AI-assisted personalisation ( Artificial intelligence), meaning that AI will tailor the sound to your specific hearing. This feature will allow  the hearing aid wearer a choice of sound quality options they can choose from themselves, which can then be saved and used again anytime in the future.

Our Audiologist Claire Bolger gives insight into her thoughts on this feature, Claire is a hearing aid user herself and has used the Widex MySound feature.

“ I have tried this out in a local restaurant I’d regularly be in. My first time being in with my new Moment 440 Sheer I turned on the MySound feature on my phone app, it gave me a choice whether I preferred sound option A or sound option B, I selected the one I felt I could hear my companions better with and the feature gave me some further options from which to choose.

After each of my selections the sound quality from my new aids improved. Finally if you’re  happy with the sound you’ve selected you can save this as a programme in your phone app which will be available to you the next time you go to this / or similar venue. It’s really allowing you to tailor the hearing aids sound quality to your own personal preferences, instead of a “one size fits all” solution you’ll get from other hearing aids.”

Widex SoundRelax

The Widex Moment 440 Sheer has built-in SoundRelax, which means softer tones and more natural sounds. SoundRelax helps anyone with Tinnitus. Widex SoundRelax is designed to relax the mind and aid concentration. Widex SoundRelax and PureSound can be combined to provide the best sound quality for all hearing losses.

Widex Sound Assist

Widex Sound Assist is a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ for your hearing aids that fits in the palm of your hand. It can be a table microphone, handle hands-free calls, stream from digital and analogue sources, and even be a remote control to adjust your hearing aid settings.

Features Of The Widex Sound Assist:

• Partner microphone mode – One-to-one conversations with friends and family sound clear wherever you are.
• Table microphone mode – Hear important meetings, lively dinners, and group conversations more easily.
• Hands-free phone calls – Great sounding calls on the go.
• Streaming from any Bluetooth device – Send music, film, or TV audio to your hearing aids.
• Remote control for Widex Moment Bluetooth hearing aids – Control your sound, easily.
• Telecoil mode – Telecoil functionality even if your hearing aids don’t have telecoil.

The Widex Sound Assist does not come with your hearing aids but can be purchased separately.

Widex Moment App

The Widex Moment app allows you to personalize your hearing experience from your smartphone. The Moment App allows you to fine-tune your hearing aids to specific environments with a simple adjustment.

The Widex Moment App has many features including:

• Personalise your sound with a sound mixer, personal programs, wellbeing and relaxation programs, zen programs and Tinnitus management.
• Remote control – with remote control you can adjust your volume suited to any setting you are in, mute/unmute your hearing aids, select different programs, & directional focus.
• Audio Streaming
• Monitor your hearing
• Help with your hearing aids
• Pairing and connection

Why Choose The Widex Moment 440 Sheer?

The Widex Moment 440 has been awarded the expert choice hearing aid winner for 2023 by HearAdvisor. Expert Choice Seal HearAdvisor is an independent sound performance lab. Out of 40 hearing aids tested, only 13 were recognized as the world's best-performing hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss.

The results of the lab test showed that the Widex Moment 440 performed above average in silent listening situations, as well as in moderate and loud noise, and the quality of music streaming was also better than average. Read more about the Widex Moment 440 below.

Pricing & Offers

You could save up to €1,000 with the PRSI hearing aid grant. Check your Eligibility.

• €3,798 after PRSI grant
• 4 Year Warranty
• Free aftercare
• Free TV Play worth €275
• Free remote care worth €275
• 45 Day money back guarantee
• Claim €769 in tax relief

An Audiologist’s Guide to Protecting Your Hearing

We often don’t think about our hearing and how our surroundings could damage our hearing. Sometimes, hearing protection can be overlooked, leading to irreparable damage resulting in noise-induced hearing loss. 

Why do we need hearing protection?

We must protect our ears and hearing in environments exposed to loud noises. If you work in an environment with a high decibel level, the delicate hair cells that enable us to hear can be damaged. Once damaged, we can experience hearing loss over time.

Examples of high-decibel environments or professions:

• Construction  - Heavy machinery, drills, and power tools can exceed the recommended decibel level. 
• Manufacturing and factory workers - Factory floors and assembly lines can produce high decibel levels.
• Airline staff - Airline maintenance workers, baggage handlers, or ground staff may be exposed to prolonged decibel noises.
• Agriculture – Agriculture workers and farmers can be exposed to excessive noise due to loud machinery such as tractors, combine harvesters, and milking parlours. 
• Motorcycle mechanics and couriers  - Constant exposure to loud engine noises. 
• Musician – Musicians can sometimes be exposed to decibel levels above 110 dB.
• Military/Armed forces – Exposure to firearms can exceed 120 dB; ear protection should always be used.
• Landscape Gardeners – Consistent exposure to lawnmowers, chainsaws, strimmer’s, and power tools can affect your hearing in the long term.

Protecting your hearing at home:

• Small changes to your everyday routines can help protect your hearing by lowering the volume on your headphones.
• If you use an iPhone and have headphones connected, your iPhone will notify you and warn you about your current volume.
• Furthermore, opening the Health App lets you view your audio levels over time. This can give you an indication of the volume of your headphones over time.
  (Screenshot below)

Choosing ear protection:

Ear Muffs – Manufacturers, including 3M, Portwest, Festool, and Hellberg, specialize in providing ear protection. Ear Muffs offer high protection levels, easily fitting and enclosing the ear. Several protection levels vary depending on price.

Ear Plugs – are designed to fit directly into the ear and offer a very high level of protection, depending on your environment or occupation. They are very popular on factory floors as they are disposable, easy to store, and light to wear.  Depending on their occupation or task, we always advise people to take necessary measures to protect their hearing.

Key takeaways:

• Ensure your hearing protection offers enough protection for the task at hand.
• Ensure you use ear protection in noisy environments or for a noisy task.
• Consider garments that might hamper your ear protection – (woolly hats, hard hats, dust masks, or eye protection).

How to choose the correct hearing aid batteries

1: When to change your hearing aid batteries

You should replace your battery on your hearing aids if you have no sound or if sounds are unclear. Typically, your hearing aid batteries should last you a full week depending on a few factors, such as the battery type and how often the hearing aid is used. It is always a good idea to carry a spare pack of batteries with you in case your power begins to run low.

2: How to choose the correct batteries

Each hearing aid battery package is colour-coded for different types of hearing aids and their sizes.

Size 10 batteries - yellow

Size 312 batteries - brown

Size 13 batteries – orange

3: What size do I need?

When you are fitted with your new hearing aids your Audiologist will show you what batteries are needed for your hearing aid and will show you how to replace the battery.

We will always keep a record of what type of battery you have, so if you are running low, you can call our team, and we will send you batteries by post.

In-ear or invisible hearing aids normally take a P10 battery, while behind-the-hear models normally use a 312. The table below shows our own models & battery types.

4: How to change your hearing aid batteries

To Change your hearing aid battery start off by removing the old battery from the battery compartment.

1. Open the door to the battery compartment.
2. Turn the hearing aid upside down, allowing the old battery to fall out. If the battery does not fall out, gently remove it by poking the battery with a cleaning stick.
3. Pick up a new battery with the stick provided, the stick is magnetised so it will make picking it up easy.
4. Place the new battery in the battery holder. If the battery compartment does not close, you have inserted the battery incorrectly.
5. Once the battery is in the compartment, simply remove the sticker & close the door.

Your hearing aid should now power on as usual.