Hearing Technologies

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a common buzzword of late. AI used to be only of interest to bearded computer nerds (me) and fans of sci-fi movies (also me), but the term has now entered the common language and we see newspapers running stories about everyone losing their jobs to smart robots, driverless cars becoming popular and intelligent computers beating

Earlier this month, iHEAR Medical announced its plans to launch over-the-counter (OTC) hearing solutions in major drugstore chains and independent pharmacies across the United States. According to the announcement, iHear will launch TReO, its first “prescription quality” hearing amplifier for OTC market, and the iHearTest home hearing screener, in 500 pharmacies in June 2018. After the initial launch of the

Use of ear tubes – also known as tympanostomy tubes – has been a common solution to chronic ear problems in children for many years. In fact, myringotomy with tube insertion is the most commonly performed outpatient surgery on children in the US. More than 700,000 children undergo the procedure annually. The purpose of tympanostomy tubes is to aerate the

Danish hearing aid maker, Widex, recently announced the launch of the “world’s first machine learning hearing aid” technology: Evoke. According to the company, the new devices will give users the ability to employ real-time machine learning that allows the hearing aid to learn from the user’s input and preferences. Using what Widex calls SoundSense Technology, users tell their hearing aids

Hearing implant maker, MED-EL, announced today that it had received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its latest non-surgical bone conduction hearing technology: ADHEAR. According to the company, ADHEAR is an  option for people with conductive hearing loss, or single-sided deafness (SSD), that are either not candidates for, or who would not like to undergo, bone

Late last week, Signia announced the launch of its latest version of its instant-fit, Silk, completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids: Silk Nx. The new device is approximately twenty percent smaller than its predecessor, and includes new features from the Nx hearing aid technology platform. As an instant-fit solution, the Silk Nx devices use disposable soft-silicone Click Sleeves to offer a variety

This week, thousands of audiologists will descend upon Nashville, Tennessee, for the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) annual conference. This year marks the Academy’s 30th anniversary and, as in years past, a variety of new technology is expected to be on display at the conference. Among the more than 150 exhibitors at this year’s event include representation from all the

Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab have developed a computer interface device that can transcribe words that the user verbalizes internally but does not actually speak aloud. As Daniel Van Boom from CNET describes it, “When you think a sentence in your head, your brain sends signals to your mouth and jaw. MIT Media Lab’s headset reads

Technology has enabled us to be connected like never before. With smartphones, we can watch videos, listen to music, and chat with anyone around the world at any time and from anywhere. These developments have significantly transformed the way we live, work, and play. But can all of this connectivity be too much of a good thing? The use of

Developed by the HEARing Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), in partnership with Australian consumer advocacy group Choice, reviews of more than 20 high-fidelity earplugs have been compiled into an interactive website. What Plug? features noise-reduction properties of each earplug type, along with aspects like: comfort, sound quality, ease of use and price.   With research showing increased