Following a conversation in a crowded restaurant or busy gathering can be especially challenging for people with hearing loss. At a launch event in Dallas, WS Audiology introduced Signia Max, a new AI-powered hearing aid designed to help users better understand speech while remaining connected to the sounds around them.
We Are Austin got a look at the technology during an immersive launch event at Cosm Dallas, where hearing care professionals and WS Audiology partners gathered to learn more about Signia Max.
Watch the full video above for a closer look at Signia Max and how AI is being used in hearing technology.Using AI to navigate noisy environments
According to WS Audiology, Signia Max uses a new chip with four deep neural networks, or DNNs, working simultaneously to process the user’s listening environment.
“We’ve really come to the point with AI in hearing now where we can really understand the environment and the sounds,” one WS Audiology representative said.
The goal isn’t simply to eliminate every sound except the person speaking. The technology is designed to help users understand conversation while maintaining awareness of other useful sounds around them.
“If they have the tools that’s going to help them be aware, but also highlight and hear the things that are in front of them, that’s just the perfect-case scenario,” one hearing care professional said.
Helping people stay connected
Hearing care professionals at the event emphasized that difficulty hearing can affect more than individual conversations.
“One of the things that we hear from our patients is that they’re trying to reconnect,” one provider said. “They’ve found something in their journey communicating with others that’s making them feel disconnected.”
WS Audiology says its testing found 97% of participants preferred Signia Max over the competitor hearing aids included in its study. That figure reflects company-reported testing and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of individual results.
For people experiencing hearing difficulties, a licensed hearing care professional can help evaluate hearing and discuss whether hearing aids or other options may be appropriate.
Visit Signia’s website to learn more about Signia Max and hearing care options.