Phonak launches AI-based hearing aid device

Phonak, a brand of Switzerland-based multinational hearing solutions provider Sonova, has launched a new family of hearing aid devices based on its innovative Infinio platform in China, aiming to help more people with hearing loss in the country.

As understanding speech amid background noise remains the biggest challenge for people with hearing loss, the devices are the world's first hearing aids powered by a dedicated real time artificial intelligence chips with speech-from-noise separation, according to the company.

Development of the new products took about five years, as self-development of new chips for the devices was very challenging, said Andi Vonlanthen, senior vice-president of Hearing Instrument Research and Development, Sonova.