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Artificial Intelligence AMA with Senior Phonak Experts

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Do you guys see shrinking the size of the hearing aid and/or getting the sphere stuff to run on a traditional battery to even be options right now? I guess I’m wondering whether that engineering problem is very difficult or just sort of difficult? Is it more likely that capability might increase at the current size over time and anything put into a smaller form factor would have to be a bit stripped down?

@Stefanlauner @christine.jones - Just FYI. On the surface, I and others have been slightly upset with the direction of Phonak products concerning the Naida but if the results are as astounding as being discussed here I think it’s important to underscore in your marketing on your website how they are helping severe to profound users also, and allowing for that overlap in form factors, reducing or even eliminating the need for the form factor. Because that’s a piece of information I was missing today until Stefan shared it in those terms.

I understand now why some of these actions are being taken and it sure sounds like this is a massive, massive breakthrough in hearing technology that has been sorely needed for the severe/profound hearing loss folks. Because on the surface, I don’t think most audiologists are aware of this level of improvement that everyone is experiencing as a result. Thank you for sharing Stefan, that information, once again!

In addition to my question above, is there any program from Sonova or Phonak in taking old hearing aids and swap them with new ones + a fee?

Thanks :blush:

In reply to @wtolkien

is a promising technology with great potential. Currently there are few places in the world that support it. The protocol, of which Auracast is a part, is beneficial for hearing aids that use the standard. Classic Bluetooth, available in infinio products, is still the most established standard with millions of compatible devices and will likely remain the dominant standard for years to come. It allows for connection to up to 8 devices and 2 devices simultaneously and provides excellent sound quality. We are monitoring the progress of Auracast and we will be ready when there is a strong consumer value readily available in the market.

I heard that you are studying new devices with xMems technology: is this news founded? With this technology will you be able to give a good improvement to those with a serious/profound loss? Furthermore, given the bandwidth and power especially on high frequencies, will it be possible to do without sound recover 2?

In reply to @Steve_Taddei

@hearingaidobserver1 said:

Why do some people seem to not get benefits from the speech in loud noise function while others do (Even if using closed domes).

It’s worth to get a hearing in noise test, like QuckSIN. If someone have poor , even that +10 improvement may be too little. There is also role of in quiet. If someone have that poor, e.g. 50%, there is little possibility that improves it.

In reply to @Neville

@Neville said:

Do you guys see shrinking the size of the hearing aid and/or getting the sphere stuff to run on a traditional battery to even be options right now? I guess I’m wondering whether that engineering problem is very difficult or just sort of difficult? Is it more likely that AI capability might increase at the current size over time and anything put into a smaller form factor would have to be a bit stripped down?

Reducing the power consumption of the various functions in a hearing aid is always an improvement we are driving forward. It is not an easy task but still technically feasible, a question of time and effort. When talking about conventional batteries, what do you mean, size or battery technology, rechargeable vs not? Different battery technologies have other technical constraints that limit technical functions. Average industry wear time is 8 -10 h, SPhere users use the devices 12 + h / day

In reply to @codergeek2015

@codergeek2015 said:

allowing for that overlap in form factors, reducing or even eliminating the need for the BTE form factor.

But it’s still often just not physically possible to get the sort of good acoustic coupling that you get with a and silicone earmold with a cShell. If the individual has a giant ear canal that will accept a great, deep cShell then you’re in luck. Maybe if phonak is interested in getting these users into a sphere they need to come out with some kind of different coated, full shell UP receiver mold.

Also, Could you share why Sonova Specifically Phonak left Costco after Brio 5 and KS 10?

And would they be back or it is a done divorce.

Thx

In reply to @Stefanlauner

I suppose mostly size. On average the sphere has been great, but there is still a minority of users who do experience discomfort behind the ear. I think most dedicated traditional battery users would move to rechargeable to get the functionality, but all-day discomfort is a hard line.

In reply to @Stefanlauner

By the way, just FYI, as a severe/profound hearing aid user who lost his hearing at age 3 (45 now), I wear my aids 24 hours a day except while sleeping, which is approximately 4-5 hours. I don’t sign, and I don’t have any other way to communicate. So mine need to be operational for that long. :wink:

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