Press

Rather than using a hearing aid and potentially be subjected to some social stigma, those with some moderate hearing loss could rely upon the hearing amplification features of AirPods according to a study.

“Traditional hearing aids use algorithms to amplify speech signals, but do not provide a noise cancellation mode,” explains Nancy M. Williams, president of Auditory Insight.

Auditory Insight president Nancy M. Williams was the lead author of a study that looked at how hearing tests can best engage users. “You want to interact with a test that will explain your hearing loss in real-world conditions, in real-world terms,” she said.

Auditory Insight has released new research showing that despite booming consumer interest in online hearing testing, none of the leading tests consistently use best practices to encourage patients to pursue treatment with hearing aids.

In an article published on the MedCity News website, Nancy Williams, president of Auditory Insight, discusses how the new rules for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids will affect the largest hearing aid companies.

Olive Devices plans to debut the FreeBell for between $300 and $500, a pittance for a Swiss Army Knife device in an expensive and constricted market. This, Williams says, could easily disrupt the stagnant hearing aid market.

“Traditional hearing aids use algorithms to amplify speech signals, but do not provide a noise cancellation mode,” explains Nancy M. Williams, president of Auditory Insight. “However, we believe that as consumers become more engaged in their hearing health, they will view on-demand protection to be as important as amplification.”

“Online hearing tests are the gateway to care,” says Nancy M. Williams, lead study author and Auditory Insight president. “They have tremendous potential to shorten the lifecycle for treatment and increase patient satisfaction.”