A revolutionary AI-powered hearing aid

The smart device separates speech from background noise in real time

Spotted: For people with hearing loss, background noise can make it difficult to follow conversations. But now, Switzerland’s Sonova hopes to end this ‘speech-in-noise’ problem with a groundbreaking solution.

Under its Phonak brand, Sonova has developed the Audéo Sphere Infinio hearing aid and Audéo Infinio platform. According to the company, the new hearing aid is the first of its kind, using cutting-edge AI to separate speech from background noise in real time – a major leap forward in hearing aid technology.

The Audéo Sphere Infinio, which was created following years of development and substantial investment, is powered by dual-chip AI technology. The device relies on Sonova’s DEEPSONIC chip, which involves a Deep Neural Network (DNN) that uses advanced AI to mimic how the human brain processes information, offering processing power 53 times greater than existing technologies.

The DNN is crucial in this context because it helps the hearing aid learn and adapt to different sounds, making it more effective at separating speech from background noise, regardless of which direction the speech is coming from. In fact, a clinical study found that this AI chip more than doubled speech understanding in noisy environments.

Phonak’s broad Infinio platform is powered by the company’s ERA chip, which optimises the sound quality, power management, and Bluetooth connectivity of the final products. With these advancements, it makes it much easier for users to hear clearly.

Launched in August, the new Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio hearing aid is available for purchase through select hearing care providers.

Written By: Georgia King