Australia’s inaugural WSA Innovation Expo will launch groundbreaking innovations focusing on
personalisation and a dual approach to transform clinical practice, says REBECCA GAY and PETER
MCKINNON. They detail how WSA is shaping the future of hearing care and why clinicians won’t want to miss this event.
Innovation and personalisation are the keys to delivering optimal patient care and outcomes in the hearing care world.
That’s the firm belief of Ms Rebecca Gay, managing director wholesale for WS Audiology Australia and New Zealand, and Mr Peter McKinnon, head of product, brand and marketing strategy.
The leading audiologists are speaking ahead of the upcoming WSA Innovation Expo which will showcase new ways of helping audiologists and audiometrists to improve practice and patient outcomes.
The expo, which is free for all audiologists and audiometrists in Australia, is taking place in Sydney on 10 June and Melbourne on 12 June 2026.
“This is the first event of its kind for WSA, and it’s designed specifically for clinicians,” Gay says.
“It’s a chance to experience our latest innovations firsthand, hear from industry experts and see how our dual platform approach can transform clinical practice. The expo will be immersive, practical, and directly relevant to everyday clinical work.”
McKinnon says WSA is focused on making hearing care even more personal and effortless, and the expo will give attendees a preview of what’s in store.
“That includes next generation AI fitting support, more advanced AI hearing aid sound processing, and data driven insights that help clinicians quickly match each patient to their ideal sound profile, whether they prefer natural sound or enhanced speech clarity,” he says.
“Many of these groundbreaking innovations will be launched at the Innovation Expo.”
WSA – whose motto is Wonderful Sound for All – is the global force behind two of the industry’s most trusted brands: Signia and Widex, Gay explains.
“Our mission, Wonderful Sound for All, goes beyond advanced technology – it’s about recognising individual sound preferences and providing tools that help clinicians deliver faster, more accurate, and more satisfying outcomes,” she says.
“That means providing advanced technology, training, and practical tools that support workflow efficiency, fitting accuracy, and wearer satisfaction. Ultimately, we want clinicians to feel confident that they can meet the needs of every patient who walks through their door.”
Unique offering, personalisation
WSA is unique in that it offers both Widex and Signia brands. This dual brand portfolio provides advantages for clinicians, McKinnon adds.
“One of the biggest shifts in hearing care is the move toward true personalisation: giving patients solutions that genuinely match how they want the world to sound,” he says. “WSA is the only company that can offer two scientifically distinct sound philosophies to support that.
“Widex is the only brand in the industry using ultra-fast time domain processing. It delivers a natural, authentic sound that appeals to wearers who value nuance, subtlety, and a beautifully balanced listening experience.”
McKinnon explains digital processing of hearing aids can be done in the time domain or the frequency domain, but Widex is the only brand that processes in the time domain: this is said to deliver faster and better sound quality.
Despite being a challenge, the company chose to do it this way because it is Widex’s vision. “We don’t want to compromise on natural, sound quality,” he adds.
Signia, on the other hand, is the only brand offering a true solution for challenging group conversations with its multi beam Real Time Conversation Enhancement or RTCE, he adds.
RTCE is a breakthrough technology unique to its latest Signia hearing aids. For the first time globally, the company says multi-stream architecture is enabling wearers to focus on and hear more than one person talking in a noisy situation.
“Real Time Conversation Enhancement is ideal for wearers who prioritise clarity, performance, and confidence in noisy, complex environments,” McKinnon says. “By offering both, clinicians can tailor fittings not just to audiological needs but to individual sound preferences.
“And most clinicians agree: no single brand suits 100% of clients. With WSA, they can satisfy more patients, more often.”
Two distinct approaches
Importantly, having access to both brands translates into better outcomes in the clinic, Gay adds.
“When clinicians have access to both Widex and Signia, they’re not limited to a single sound philosophy: they can offer two scientifically distinct approaches that cater to very different patient preferences,” she says.
“That’s incredibly powerful. Some patients respond instantly to the natural, authentic Widex sound, while others light up when they hear the clarity and performance of Signia in noise.
“Ultimately, having both brands at their fingertips means clinicians can meet the needs of more patients, more of the time.”
McKinnon says innovation should not be introduced just for innovation’s sake.
“Innovation only matters if it genuinely makes life easier for clinicians and delivers better outcomes for wearers,” he explains. “At WSA, we focus on practical, meaningful advancements that address the real challenges happening in clinics every day.”
Another reason innovation is more important than ever for clinicians is because they are under increasing pressure, Gay says.
“There’s shorter appointments, higher expectations, and a growing demand for personalised fittings,” she says.
“Innovation is what helps practitioners meet those demands without compromising care. WSA’s goal is to reduce friction in the clinic and enable better outcomes with less effort.”
More precise, easier fits
But how is WSA providing this innovation for clinicians and patients? One major way is by investing in smarter fitting systems designed to improve first-fit success and reduce the number of follow-up appointments, McKinnon says.
“A clear example is the recent release of Widex Compass Cloud – the world’s first cloud-based hearing aid fitting platform, which is always up to date,” he says.
“Compass Cloud is designed to make hearing aid fitting faster, more precise, and easier for clinicians, while helping deliver better first-fit outcomes and a smoother patient experience.”
Hearing care professionals usually fit hearing aids using software on a PC to program clients’ devices. But Widex’s Allure hearing aids use the cloud-based hearing aid fitting system which McKinnon says has many advantages.
“Normally when we add features, we send out new software and have to ensure the clinician installs it, but we’re constantly adding features and functionality, so being in the cloud means it’s always up to date,” he says. WSA has noticed that Allure’s focus on sound quality and the cloud software mean patients’ hearing aids need less fine tuning.
Beyond the clinic, WSA has introduced innovative AI-driven support tools, including Signia and Widex AI Assistants which are mobile apps. McKinnon says they’re like having “an audiologist in your pocket,” because they enable patients to make on the spot personalised adjustments using a smartphone app. They are powered by the AI of a Deep Neural Network (DNN).
“These technologies use artificial intelligence to help wearers efficiently personalise sound to their individual real-world preferences in real-time, improving their overall hearing aid experience and reducing the number of support appointments for the clinician,” McKinnon says.
Design and performance
Hearing aid wearers have told WSA that innovation needs to focus on two main things: design and performance, he says.
“In terms of design, WSA has pioneered more discreet and user-friendly hearing aid styles,” McKinnon says.
“Examples include the Slim-RIC (receiver- in-ear) form factor such as Signia’s Styletto IX hearing aids, and instant-fit ITE (in-the-ear) solutions such as Signia’s Silk Charge&Go IX hearing aids.
“These designs offer a combination of aesthetics, comfort, and convenience that many wearers have been asking for,” he says. “This consumer-centric approach to design not only encourages hearing aid adoption but also makes the overall hearing aid experience simpler and more convenient for wearers.”
In terms of performance, McKinnon says the company’s innovation is guided by what wearers consistently tell WSA they need most.
“That includes better hearing in noisy and complex listening environments, along with improved connectivity and AI-driven hearing support,” he says.
“These technologies allow wearers to communicate confidently, helping them stay connected to conversations, environments, and the people around them.”
McKinnon and Gay advise that spaces are limited at the WSA Innovation Expo,
“If clinicians want to stay ahead and deliver the best for their clients, this is absolutely an event they shouldn’t miss,” Gay says.
Read more about the expo and register at eu.eventscloud.com/wsaexpo26.
