Millions of hearing aid users experience frustration when trying to insert their devices, often giving up altogether. The Gruv Button™ Retrofit, a simple and affordable solution, addresses this issue by providing a no-slip groove that makes insertion easier.
Priced at an estimated $15 or less, this innovative accessory aims to reduce the struggle of properly inserting hearing aids, helping users achieve the correct fit for optimal performance. As the developer describes it, “It Fits the Fingertip!”
A Pervasive Problem Recognized by Industry Experts
A 2022 MarkeTrak survey, commissioned by the Hearing Industries Association, revealed that 40% of new hearing aid users find it difficult to insert their hearing aids. This difficulty often leads to frustration, causing some to abandon their hearing care programs altogether, which can contribute to social isolation, cognitive decline, and other health-related consequences. Proper hearing aid insertion is essential not only for user comfort but also for ensuring that the device delivers the prescribed amplification for effective sound therapy.
“This is a great example of why the hearing industry needs to ‘get back to basics,’” said Jeffrey Szmanda, inventor of the patented Gruv Button™ technology. “All of the impressive sound processing technology is ineffective if the hearing aid speaker is not sufficiently deep in the ear canal.”
Recognition for Innovation: 2024 Hearing Technology Innovator Award Winner
The Gruv Button™ Retrofit, developed by Each Ear LLC of Milwaukee, was recently awarded the prestigious 2024 Hearing Technology Innovator Award in the Hearing Device Accessories category.
The award highlights groundbreaking products that provide real-world solutions to common problems in hearing care.
“The Innovator Awards are designed to shine a spotlight on the visionaries and companies turning groundbreaking hearing technology into tangible solutions. Companies like Each Ear LLC are driving the industry forward with their commitment to advancing technology and improving lives.”
–Dr. Robert Traynor, Member of the 2024 Awards Judges Panel
Clinicians and users alike have responded positively to the Gruv Button™ technology, with one Wisconsin-based hearing care clinician stating, “We need this thing! Patients struggle with insertion on a daily basis.”
Testimonials from across the industry echo the sentiment that the Gruv Button™ Retrofit offers a practical and necessary solution to a widespread user experience problem.
An Opportunity for the Hearing Industry to Adopt and Scale the Retrofit
The Gruv Button™ was originally designed to be built directly into hearing aids during manufacturing, but the industry has not yet widely adopted the design. To make this technology more accessible, Szmanda developed the Gruv Button™ Retrofit as a plastic sleeve that can be added to existing hearing aids.
Testing has confirmed that the Retrofit is ready for production, and Szmanda believes hearing aid manufacturers are best positioned to produce the necessary variety and volume of sleeves to meet demand. He added, “This new assistive device, which is both ergonomically designed and universally applicable, can help millions, and it’s ready for roll-out. Hearing aid manufacturers can easily produce, monetize, and distribute it through their networks of hearing aid clinics.”
By addressing user frustrations with hearing aid insertion, Szmanda hopes the Gruv Button™ Retrofit will reduce the number of hearing aids returned by frustrated users—currently estimated at a 15% return rate in the commercial market. “If folks weren’t so frustrated, maybe they would still be using their hearing aids,” he noted.
*Learn more about the Gruv Button™ Retrofit here
Source: Each Ear LLC
