The Audiologist Informer

Auracast is a HUGE deal for headphones and hearing aids. Audiologist Matthew Allsop provides details about how this new technology enhances the listening experience, offering clearer sound and improved accessibility in various public environments.

This Q&A from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) looks at 12 research studies about hearing aid accessibility and reviews concerns raised by stakeholders like marketing claims, children's use of OTC devices, return policies, and gain limits. The FDA is required to report on the effects of the OTC Hearing Aid Rule in August 2024.

Administering gene therapy in both ears of five children with DFNB9 led to additional benefits compared to a previous trial, including improved sound source localization and hearing in noisy environments.

Neo XS is an instant-fit in-ear OTC hearing aid that offers improvements in MDHearing's product line in terms of rechargeable battery life, audio processing, and size. However, HearAdvisor lab testing found its performance underwhelming.

The partnership between Sony and WS Audiology has resulted in the Sony CRE-E10 and CRE-C10, which appear to among the best OTC hearing aids on the market.

The researchers show that in-situ audiometry continues to evolve and improve across manufacturers, demonstrating its potential for connected hearing care.

Simulations in this paper show that ANC Benefit increases as 1) the environmental sound level increases; 2) the ability of the hearing aid to improve SNR increases; 3) the strength of the ANC increases, and 4) the hearing loss severity decreases.