Cochlear hearing aid approved

Listening device maker Cochlear has received approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for sale of its ESPrit 3G in Australia, after gaining approval to sell in the US market last week.

Cochlear's president Jack O'Mahoney said the product was now available worldwide. Australia was the second-last country to gain approval, he said. The device has yet to be approved in Japan.

"It's a bit ironic - we're an Australian company, that we can comply in Australia to our standards, but yet it seems to be more difficult to get approval in Australia than anywhere else. It's ridiculous," O'Mahoney said.

Cochlear's ESPrit 3G is a smaller device than most hearing aids and through new technology allows the wearer to tune the device better for their individual purposes.

The manufacturers claim that the 3G behind the ear speech processor allows patients to connect sound systems in public venues such as movies and concerts so that background noise is minimised.

The implant is also the first hearing processor of its kind to run for up to 54 hours without changing batteries, the company said.

Cochlear had a profit of $17.2 million last month for the six months prior.