Hearing aid manufacturer Signia announced its new product, Signia Active Pro Integrated Xperience (IX) earbuds, which also qualify as prescription-grade hearing aids.

Integrated Xperience is a hearing aid platform that includes multi-stream architecture with the ability to identify multiple moving conversation partners in real-time.

Additionally, it can process up to four focus streams using Signia's RealTime Conversation Enhancement tool that "analyzes, augments and adapts" to the dynamic flow of multiparty conversation environments.

For example, with RealTime Conversation Enhancement, hearing aids can magnify and follow multiple conversation partners simultaneously, even as they move or an individual turns their head.

According to the company, Signia’s beamforming technology forms the core of Augmented Focus. The sound input to the hearing aid is split into two signal streams. One stream contains sounds coming from the front of the wearer, while the other stream contains sounds arriving from the back. 

Both streams are then processed independently, meaning for each stream a dedicated processor is used to analyze the characteristics of sound from every direction.

"Signia Active Pro IX offers a modern, low-profile solution for people who need to boost their hearing but might not otherwise accept hearing aids right now," Jens Møller, global head of Signia brand said in a statement. 

"In addition to a contemporary earbud design, Signia Active Pro IX delivers the full power of Integrated Xperience technology, empowering wearers to reconnect with conversations and engage fully regardless of their environment."

Signia Active Pro IX and Signia Active IX will hit the market in the U.S. in December 2024.

In addition to hearing aids, Signia also provides tools and apps designed to broaden customer interaction and engagement.

The company plans on rolling out other products including its Active IX earbuds, which have the same earbud design with Augmented Focus technology that includes automatic directionality and streaming audio connectivity. 

Signia will also debut its Signia IX Essentials line of hearing aids, which expands the Integrated Xperience portfolio with protracted performance levels 2IX and 1IX across select product lines including: Signia Pure Charge&Go IX, Styletto IX, Silk Charge&Go IX and Insio IX hearing aids. 

THE LARGER TREND

In May, Signia provided Styletto IX and Insio IX hearing aids to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs audiologists treating military veterans, as well as audiologists within the U.S. Department of Defense for active military members, and the Indian Health Service for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

In March, Signia expanded its platform offerings to include Styletto IX, and Insio IX, Signia’s smallest and most discreet CIC and IIC hearing aids. 

In 2023, Soundwave Hearing received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Sontro Self-Fitting OTC Hearing Aids, which blend mobile technology and artificial intelligence calibration capabilities to self-fit and amplify sound for individuals aged 18 and older with mild to moderate perceived hearing impairment.

In 2022, the FDA established a regulatory category for over-the-counter hearing aids and made related amendments to update the regulatory framework for hearing aids.