BEIJING, May 14, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Lyratone, the pioneer of
the 4th Generation of Hearing Aids, introduces their progress in
Software-Defined Hearing (SDH).
1. The hearing aids market
According to the WHO 2024 report, over 5% of the world's
population - amounting to 430 million individuals - require
rehabilitation to address their disabling hearing loss, including
34 million children. It is estimated that by 2050, over 700 million
people - equating to 1 in every 10 individuals - will experience
disabling hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss escalates
with age; among those aged over 60 years, over 25% are affected by
disabling hearing loss. Consequently, the hearing aids market is
experiencing growth as society ages.
2. The generations of hearing aids
The history of commercial hearing aids begins in the mid-20th
century. The evolution of hearing aids across generations can be
traced through advancements in technology and design. Here's a
breakdown:
- Analog Hearing Aids (1st generation): Analog hearing
aids were the earliest type of hearing aids, developed in the late
19th and early 20th centuries.
- Digital Hearing Aids (2nd generation): The transition to
digital signal processing technology marked the second generation
of hearing aids, which began in the late 20th century and continued
into the early 21st century. Companies like Oticon, Phonak, and
Starkey played significant roles in developing and commercializing
DSP hearing aids.
- Wireless and Bluetooth Hearing Aids (3rd generation):
The integration of wireless connectivity features into hearing aids
marked the third generation. Companies such as Phonak, ReSound, and
Widex were pioneers in introducing Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids,
enabling users to connect wirelessly to smartphones. In this third
generation, the startup company Lyratone took a new approach of
research and development by Software-Defined Hearing. This
innovation facilitated the combination of hearing aids and
Bluetooth functionality into a single device.
- Smart Hearing Aids (4th generation): This generation of
hearing aids, often referred to as smart hearing aids, integrates
advanced AI algorithms, IoT devices, and cloud computing. These
hearing aids can adapt to the user's preferences and the listening
environment in real-time, providing a more personalized and
immersive hearing experience. During the development of the 4th
generation, two approaches emerged: (1) the traditional
ASIC architecture, which is predominantly followed by
major players such as Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, and Widex, and (2)
Software-Defined Hearing, pioneered by Lyratone.
3. Software-Defined Hearing: empowering 4th generation of
hearing aids
The cornerstone of hearing aids technology lies in hearing
algorithms and chipset development. Until the 3rd generation of
hearing aids, nearly all industry players utilized
ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)
technology. ASIC refers to the design and manufacture
of integrated circuits tailored to perform specific functions,
customized for particular applications such as smartphones,
networking equipment, etc. As to ASIC based hearing
aid, the hearing functions are engineered as part of integrated
circuit, or become part of hardware.
ASIC offers benefits such as performance
optimization and lower power consumption. However, it also presents
several drawbacks:
- High Initial Cost: Designing and manufacturing ASICs entails
significant upfront expenses, including development and
fabrication, which can be prohibitive for low-volume
applications.
- Long Development Time: The design and development process for
ASICs is time-consuming, often taking months or even years to
complete. Each iterations take years to go market.
- Lack of Flexibility: Once an ASIC is manufactured,
its functionality is fixed and cannot be easily modified or
updated, limiting its adaptability to changing requirements.
- Risk of Obsolescence: Rapid advancements in technology can
quickly render ASICs obsolete, especially if newer, more efficient
designs emerge shortly after production.
These limitations have significantly hindered product
improvement, particularly in the realm of smart hearing aids,
notably impacting the transition to the 4th generation.
In the 4th generation, hearing aids are evolving into AIoT
devices, with advanced machine learning algorithms and cutting-edge
applications playing pivotal roles. This transformation requires a
core hearing aids chipset that is more flexible in function, open
in integration, cost-effective, and robust in computational power.
Traditional ASIC technology falls short in meeting
these demands. To address the challenges of the 4th generation,
Lyratone has pioneered Software-Defined Hearing since 2018,
providing innovative solutions to these evolving requirements.
Traditional hearing aids rely on ASIC
(Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) technology, where hearing
functions are built as a part of the integrated circuit. In
contrast, Software-Defined Hearing abstracts these functions into a
software layer, consisting of embedded software, a smartphone
gateway application, and a cloud application. This software layer
facilitates hearing functions.
By leveraging software characteristics, the Software-Defined
Hearing architecture offers enhanced flexibility in performance
improvement, open integrations, cost efficiency, and crucially,
faster iterations of performance and function improvement compared
to its hardware-centric counterparts.
Software-Defined Hearing aids can be customized according to
individual needs, preferences, and hearing conditions by
softwareizing the core functions of hearing aid. This enables a
personalized listening experience. With the continuous advancement
of technology, software-defined hearing aids can be upgraded
through OTA, allowing hearing-impaired users to enjoy the
continuous listening experience improvement brought by the latest
hearing algorithms technology.
4. Lyratone's practices of Software-Defined Hearing
In 2018, Lyratone introduced the concept of Software-Defined
Hearing (SDH) methodology and architecture, aimed at
revolutionizing the 4th generation of hearing aids. These
pioneering devices are exceptionally customizable, offering
unparalleled flexibility and adaptability in integrating
cutting-edge technology. Through sophisticated software control and
updates, they dynamically adjust to varying levels of hearing loss
and changing environments, ensuring optimal performance for
users.
With Software-Defined Hearing, Lyratone maintains precise
control over the core functions of hearing aids sound processing
through software. These functions encompass WDRC, noise reduction,
feedback management, and fitting and tunning. The central premise
is to abstract the traditional hardware-dependent functions of
hearing aids into a software layer, thus transforming the
conventional paradigm of hearing aids technology.
During the engineering of SDH, Lyratone has effectively
harnessed the computing power of new chipsets, utilizing 14nm CMOS
technology, which is significantly faster than the traditional
hearing aids ASIC chipsets predominantly at 65nm. This
increased computational power enables the implementation of a
broader range of advanced hearing algorithms.
Furthermore, Lyratone has successfully addressed the limitations
of ASIC technology, including performance optimization
and power consumption. The latency of the hearing aids has been
optimized to 3ms, matching the performance level of
ASIC technology.
5. Summary
The impact of Software-Defined Hearing on the hearing aids
industry mirrors the transformative leaps witnessed in other
sectors, such as the transition from feature phones to smartphones
in mobile technology and the shift from gasoline to electric cars
in the automotive industry. These transformations are driven by
innovative technologies, products, and collaborative frameworks
centered around software-defined hardware and software-powered
hardware.
Lyratone, as a comprehensive hearing aids
solutions provider, offers full-stack solutions that include
both hearing algorithm software and a range of hearing aids
devices. Leveraging Software-Defined Hearing technology, the
company has successfully engineered various types of medical-grade
hearing aids, catering to diverse needs. These solutions cover
types of air-conduction and bone-conduction devices, with various
styles of RIC, behind-the-ear, True Wireless Stereo (TWS), and
open-fit, ensuring comprehensive options for enterprise customers
seeking effective hearing solutions.
Driven by the mission of "Better hearing for better life,"
Lyratone is committed to driving technological innovation in the
industry with its next-generation "software-defined hearing"
engine. This initiative aims to provide high-quality products and
services, empowering millions of individuals with hearing loss to
experience improved sound quality and re-engage with the world
around them.
CONTACT: service@lyratone.net
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SOURCE Lyratone Technologies, lnc.