New technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) have brought incredible transformations to the healthcare industry. There have been plenty of innovations that have improved the care for millions of people and helped them live their best lives. One aspect of healthcare that has seen recent updates is the hearing aid.
In the U.S., researchers have estimated that 1 in 5 people has hearing loss in at least one ear. Many health companies are looking to improve the hearing aid market and reduce the stigma of wearing hearing aids for their customers. Even big tech is looking to add their expertise to this space – Apple has introduced a hearing aid feature in their newest AirPods. Continue reading to learn more about the newest options for hearing aid technology.
Starkey’s Edge AI Hearing Aid
Major hearing aid company Starkey began developing a new version of their hearing aid back in 2017. For seven years, they have been researching and developing ways to integrate AI into hearing devices, releasing several AI-powered hearing aids in the years prior. Edge AI has the ability to adapt to the sounds of the environment around it, which can help prioritize clearer speech. In addition, it can help detect if the user is at risk of falling thanks to medical-grade balance assessments programmed into the technology.
With AI, the Edge AI hearing aid can process sounds similarly to the human brain. Being programmed and trained on a large variety of sounds allows for the best experience for the user. However, with these great features comes a larger price point, which can be a factor that contributes to strong competition in the market.
Apple’s AirPods 2 Hearing Aid Feature
Apple has introduced a brand new feature in their AirPods 2, allowing them to act as a hearing aid. The tech giant developed this addition to amplify sounds for people with mild to moderate hearing difficulties, and it was authorized by the FDA in September. The headphones even use machine learning to make adjustments throughout the day.
Many individuals that have struggled with hearing on a daily basis have stated that the AirPods have been a great option, and a much lower-cost alternative to other hearing aids. Wearing the Apple product significantly reduces the stigma of wearing a hearing aid, making many consumers happy to use them and be able to have improved hearing.
The cost of the Apple AirPods 2 is what makes them such a strong competitor for Starkey. A price of a few hundred dollars compared to a few thousand is what has customers conflicted. Those that have bought from Apple and from Starkey state that the AirPods are simply a cost-effective alternative. They do a good job of improving hearing, but their short battery life and lack of more sophisticated features makes Starkey hearing aids stand out.
This competition with the tech giant might make some companies a little fearful, but Starkey CEO Brandon Sawalich has stated: “I like competition because that makes you better and the patient wins. You push for better technology.” This dedication to improving technology for the customer puts Starkey at a very solid position in their industry. Their use of AI has brought huge and innovative transformations to the realm of healthcare. Apple introducing new features that target the challenges of their consumers shows what kind of difference these companies can make as technology continues to evolve.
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