Sam Brusco, Associate Editor02.23.24
Oticon has rolled out its Intent hearing aid, which contains user-intent sensors that understand and adapt to what the wearer wants to hear.
The company’s BrainHearing insights demonstrated that monitoring head and body movements can offer useful information about a hearing aid user’s communication intent in many listening situations. Oticon’s Intent leverages these insights, merging inputs on head motion, environment, conversation activity, and acoustic environment to determine what the user prefers or needs to hear, the company said.
The idea, according to Oticon, is to mimic the brain’s natural sound processing ability.
"Oticon has always been driven by the understanding that while the ears hear, it’s the brain that makes sense of sounds. With Oticon Intent, we’ve enhanced our BrainHearing approach to give wearers greater access to the sounds and speech that will enable them to actively participate in everyday situations," said Virginia Ramachandran, AuD, Ph.D., head of audiology at Oticon.
Intent supports one-on-one chats by focusing on the speaker among surrounding noise. It’s also the company’s smallest rechargeable hearing aid to date, with eight hours of battery life from a half hour’s charge.
Intent uses next-gen Bluetooth LE audio that connects to iPhone and Android phones with OS 14 and newer updates, as well as tablets and PCs.
"Our new sensor technology allows the device to understand the wearer's listening intentions and adapt in real time, providing unparalleled support and clarity in every conversation,” said Dr. Ranachandran. “With Oticon Intent, we ensure you can more easily communicate in any situation."
The company’s BrainHearing insights demonstrated that monitoring head and body movements can offer useful information about a hearing aid user’s communication intent in many listening situations. Oticon’s Intent leverages these insights, merging inputs on head motion, environment, conversation activity, and acoustic environment to determine what the user prefers or needs to hear, the company said.
The idea, according to Oticon, is to mimic the brain’s natural sound processing ability.
"Oticon has always been driven by the understanding that while the ears hear, it’s the brain that makes sense of sounds. With Oticon Intent, we’ve enhanced our BrainHearing approach to give wearers greater access to the sounds and speech that will enable them to actively participate in everyday situations," said Virginia Ramachandran, AuD, Ph.D., head of audiology at Oticon.
Intent supports one-on-one chats by focusing on the speaker among surrounding noise. It’s also the company’s smallest rechargeable hearing aid to date, with eight hours of battery life from a half hour’s charge.
Intent uses next-gen Bluetooth LE audio that connects to iPhone and Android phones with OS 14 and newer updates, as well as tablets and PCs.
"Our new sensor technology allows the device to understand the wearer's listening intentions and adapt in real time, providing unparalleled support and clarity in every conversation,” said Dr. Ranachandran. “With Oticon Intent, we ensure you can more easily communicate in any situation."