Digital Signal Processing for Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids

I wrote a whitepaper looking at the principles of digital signal processing, algorithms,and software that improve hearing for people with hearing loss. This article is intended as an introduction. The complete whitepaper is available for download. The inspiration for this whitepaper comes from the World Health Organization's recent World Report on Hearing (WHO), which shows that 1.5 billion people worldwide have some degree of hearing loss and 430 million people need rehabilitation services. Shockingly, less than 3% (on average worldwide) use hearing aids.

Unlike other products that feature active noise cancellation, the new Creative Sensemore Air true wireless earbuds are promoted for allowing users to hear more of their surroundings than ever before, without compromising on audio quality. The lightweight and sweatproof Sensemore Air earbuds debut Creative Technology's newest innovation, the built-in Sensemore technology which serves as a hearing amplifier.

A new Preferred Listening Response Curve that could define the next standard in high-resolution earphones, was the result from a new research by Knowles Corporation. The research is intended to guide product designers, and reflects the findings of an internal effort by the balanced armature manufacturer to determine the best and most satisfying music listening experience for consumers. In the research report, Knowles proposes an evolution of the Harman response curve specific to in-ears that takes into consideration frequencies above 10kHz

Making Audio Augmentation useful for everyone, or pursue the regulatory requirements of OTC hearing aids. This article offers a useful perspective regarding the guidance documents published by the US Food and Drug Administration regarding improved access to hearing aid technology. The agency proposes a rule to establish a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids - to be sold directly to consumers in stores or online without a medical exam or a fitting by an audiologist. But most audio manufacturers are better off by not pursuing this FDA-approved OTC market. Doing so will simply hinder critical experimentation and innovation.

Olive Union - the smart hearing company on a mission to make affordable hearing health a reality for everyone - is officially making its 2-in-1 true wireless earbuds and smart hearing aids available for purchase in the US for $299. According to the company based in Tokyo, Japan, the Olive Pro design combines FDA-Registered class II hearing aids with true wireless stereo and was intentionally made to look like conventional Bluetooth earbuds to combat the social and economic barriers of hearing loss.

Building on years of research and engineering in sound and hearing, GN extended its Jabra Enhance line of discreet hearing enhancement solutions with a new design that draws directly from the experience of standard true wireless earbuds. The new Jabra Enhance Plus combine hearing enhancement, music streaming and calls in state-of-the-art miniaturized earbuds with a signature design, to help millions of users meet the challenges of daily life.

Following the announcement of collaboration with Qualcomm, in October 2020, Jacoti BV, the Belgium-based medical technology company, now announced the immediate licensing availability of OTC Ready, Jacoti’s hearing software platform. OTC Ready enables headphone/earbud manufacturers using Qualcomm 51XX SoCs to address the likely requirements of the upcoming US over-the-counter hearing aid market.