New wearable tech assists and personalises hearing

A new smart listening system that pairs the latest hardware with a tuning and control app to allow users to control their listening experience and amplify specific frequencies in a range of settings, has been launched in Australia.

Soundhawk is aimed at those who want to hear better in specific situations but are not ready for a hearing aid.

It includes a scoop Bluetooth earpiece, wireless microphone and charging case, which are unified by a free iOS and Andriod app for mobile devices that can be used to personalise the earpiece to specific environments, such as indoors, outdoors or in the car.

The wearable device revolutionises how people experience sounds by cutting through noisy environments to amplify specific frequencies and help people hear soft sounds and understand speech, according to Australian Hearing, the national hearing specialist and provider of Government-funded hearing services.

Soundhawk will help the thousands of Australians who find it hard to hear, but aren’t ready for a hearing aid, said Gina Mavrias, director of operations and clinical services at Australian Hearing.

It typically takes seven years for people to take action regarding their hearing loss, she said.

“Many times this is because people are embarrassed or they consider hearing loss a sign of ageing. On the other hand, we’re becoming more and more comfortable with wearing devices on our wrists, attaching gadgets to our clothes or even on our glasses,” Ms Mavrias said.

“The new Soundhawk device brings together the very best in hearing science and wearable technology, and will go a long way in helping people hear and stay connected in every situation. Soundhawk is great alternative option for people who want to hear better in specific situations but aren’t ready for a hearing aid.”

Soundhawk features

• The app allows people to personalise the earpiece to their listening preferences and environment. The microphone can be placed on a table or worn by someone else to deliver sounds directly into the earpiece.
• The microphone can pick up sounds from up to 10 metres away.
• The earpiece is approximately three centimetres in length and can be used alone or with the wireless microphone, if the source of the sound is further away or drowned out by background noise.
• The earpiece and microphone can be charged in the case via a USB cable that plugs into an outlet or computer.

Soundhawk is available at Australian Hearing centres nationwide.

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