New Software ‘Hearing Dummies’ Pave the Way for Tailor-Made Hearing Aids

The University of Essex in England is currently making huge strides toward perfecting the hearing aid. The first step has been the development of a “hearing dummy” that can be calibrated to the exact hearing of a patient, therefore making it easier to pinpoint the exact cause of the hearing loss. Knowing the cause of the hearing loss is ultimately how the researchers at Essex plan to assist those with hearing loss—by creating a hearing aid that can address the specific needs of each individual patient. Currently, hearing aids merely amplify sounds, in an effort to alleviate the symptoms of hearing loss, rather than the actual cause. Once development and testing of the new hearing aid is complete, the research team hopes to see the device available for public use within the next four years.

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