Starkey launched its Genesis AI hearing aids in Australia earlier this year, 2024. Described as the
biggest leap forward in hearing technology, they work like the human brain and employ artificial
intelligence to improve the user experience.
South Australian audiometrist Mr Dean Laird has been fitting hearing aids for 34 years and rates the latest technology from manufacturer Starkey – the Genesis AI hearing aid – as one of the top devices he has fitted.
“It’s been a revelation in terms of client acceptance,” he says. “The AI component works well and feedback is very positive, from people who have previously had different hearing aid brands and Starkey products.
“They’re saying they’ve noticed a big improvement in overall clarity and hearing speech in noise as it’s easier to understand. Also streaming and connectivity work well so it’s seamless.”
Starkey spent five years developing the technology built around a powerful processor designed to “work like the human brain” by using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse and automatically optimise sound. The processor is reportedly the industry’s most advanced processor technology, operating up to four times faster than predecessors with six times more transistors to create better sound quality.
“The goal of Genesis AI is to mimic how a healthy auditory system works all the way up to the brain,” Starkey explains. “To achieve this, we developed a new approach called Neuro Sound Technology designed to mimic the cerebral cortex of the brain.”
This gives the hearing aid the ability to process sound the way a normal auditory system does, automatically filling in the “gaps” produced from years of hearing loss. The resulting true-to-life sound makes it easier for wearers to distinguish words and speech more intuitively and naturally, hear soft sounds without distracting noise, and reduce the effort it takes to listen and hear, Starkey says.
Sound is natural, not mechanical
Laird owns My Hearing Centre independent clinics operating from eight sites near Adelaide. He received Genesis AI hearing aids in January 2024 and has fitted a broad spectrum of patients. Many are first-time hearing aid users but also others who have upgraded from older technology due to trouble hearing speech in background noise.
He says it’s clear that Starkey has made a conscious effort around listener comfort. Feedback from clients indicates the sound quality is natural, not mechanical.
“The biggest benefits are hearing in noise and not having to readjust anything because the AI automatically makes more than 80 million adjustments an hour to suit the environment,” he says.
“They’re definitely worth their price,” he says. “Other benefits clients like include excellent length of charge – the longest in the industry to the best of my knowledge, lasting around 50 hours – and compact size including the RIC rechargeable which is one of the industry’s smallest for its battery life.”
Another industry-first feature that enhances speech clarity is Edge Mode+. This continuously scans, adapts and optimises hearing as the user changes environments or as each environment changes. The user can turn on Edge Mode+ if they decide they need to hear speech more clearly in certain situations, such as noisy gatherings, busy restaurants or driving in traffic.
“The Edge Mode+ analyses the environment in real time and prioritises speech over noise using AI to optimise sound quality on demand for clearer speech and to improve listening comfort in noise,” Laird explains.
He also likes the way the CROS system works as the CROS battery can get through the day without losing charge.
“They can get wet within reason as Starkey has designed them to be waterproof to a metre and sweatproof so they won’t stop working when exercising or playing sport,” he adds. “They suit people of all ages and lifestyles and there’s a choice of rechargeable behind the ear or receiver in ear hearing aids without losing any ability or technical specifications.”
Fall detection alert sensors
Another innovative feature is fall detection alert capability.
“This is important for patients and their families,” Laird says. “If you fall, there are sensors built into the hearing aids, like Apple has on its watches, that automatically notify your relative and tell them your location even if you’re unconscious which could potentially save lives.”
Clients set up the alert through the MyStarkey phone app and the hearing aids send a phone text to selected contacts such as immediate relatives should a fall be detected.
One of Laird’s patients, retired civil engineer Mr Deric Oehlers, was diagnosed with hearing loss about six years ago. “I was missing out on conversations in a crowd and had the TV on very loud which was uncomfortable for others so I decided to get hearing aids,” he says.
“They helped when watching TV or talking one-on-one but were not ideal for hearing in crowds such as at the bowls club when there were a lot of people talking. You just get to the stage you don’t bother trying to listen because it’s very difficult to hear.”
But a newsletter from My Hearing advertising that Genesis AI enhanced speech in noise prompted Oehlers to seek the hearing aids from Laird.
“I didn’t want any other hearing aid because I thought I’d be back to square one,” Oehlers says.”I probably wouldn’t have gone back if it wasn’t for Genesis AI but I thought they were worth trying.”
Oehlers trialled the hearing aids for a month and noticed they helped in noisy environments such as restaurants and sitting around the table with friends at the bowls club. Five months later and Oehlers says they were worth the investment. “The Edge Mode+ definitely works as it enhances speech,” he adds.
Reinventing the hearing aid
Starkey’s chief technology officer and executive vice president of engineering, Mr Achin Bhowmik, explains: “By tapping into advanced technology, sensors, machine learning and artificial intelligence, Starkey has reinvented the hearing aid to provide the best hearing experience for hearing aid wearers.
“Our all-new, powerful processor was designed to work like the human brain, leveraging the neuroscience of the ear-brain connection and information processing to create better sound quality, pushing energy-efficient artificial intelligence to its limits, analysing and automatically optimising sound over 80 million times an hour.”
Wearers don’t need to adjust the hearing aid as the inbuilt AI automatically makes adjustments, according to the wearer’s environment.
“Genesis AI is completely reimagined from the inside out; it’s the only hearing technology system to feature an all-new processor, all-new sound, all-new industrial design, all-new fitting software and all-new patient experience,” Starkey says.
Bhowmik says the improved performance is unmatched in the industry and battery life is doubled.
Its sensor technology promotes a safer, healthier life by recognising if the user is moving or sitting and providing better situational awareness, Starkey adds. Once the hearing aids sense the wearer is moving, they instantly adjust microphones to ensure the person receives the best sound from every direction. This provides greater hearing, no matter the situation or action, and greater awareness and safety in surroundings.
Starkey says it designed Genesis AI with ‘friendly AI’ – artificial intelligence that has a beneficial effect – to enhance hearing, quality of life and help hearing aid wearers perceive and understand the world around them more easily in a way that feels natural and seamless.
Wearers can connect the hearing aids to the MyStarkey app to remind them to put their devices on as the hearing aids can sense if they are being worn or not. A self-check feature also ensures they’re in working order and providing maximum benefits.
The multi-purpose device also incorporates health and wellness features including the first to integrate sensors, track and encourage social engagement and count steps. Like a personal fitness tracker, its health monitoring and fitness features can sense when the user is doing physical activities. Pairing the hearing aids with the MyStarkey app also enables wearers to track progress and set goals.
Dr Judy Grobstein, regional director of education and audiology for Starkey APAC, says the Genesis AI is “a game changer for hearing health and ultimately improves health, wellness and quality of life”.
Starkey president and CEO Mr Brandon Sawalich says the company is leading the hearing industry not just with incremental improvements but breakthrough benefits.
“Our significant breakthroughs in hearing health innovation offer infinite benefits to patients and hearing care professionals alike but most importantly empower all those experiencing hearing loss,” he adds.
Great feedback from patient survey
Independent audiology practice A Better Ear near Brisbane conducted its own survey of patients trialling AI hearing aids and was impressed with results, calling them “a vanguard in AI-powered hearing rehabilitation”.
“In early June, we launched a pilot study where experienced hearing aid wearers test drove premium-level AI-assisted hearing aids and shared their observations,” the clinic’s business manager Mr Damien Woods said.
“Participants wore one of two pairs of AI-assisted hearing devices for at least eight hours per day and reported on their listening experiences in categories such as speech clarity, background noise suppression, wind noise reduction, ease of use, and comfort in their chosen target situations.
“People who regularly wore their hearing aids reported better performance over the 14-day test period, particularly as they adapted to the new devices. But people who wore their hearing aids infrequently, or for short periods each day, didn’t report better results.
Positive feedback included patients making comments such as “not so many arguments,” “very impressive battery life,” “not as shrill, sharp, or annoying,” and “better separation of sounds; could tell the difference between trucks and buses near home, feeling more confident and safer.”
One participant, Jacqui, said that after just 14 days, the results exceeded all expectations. “The clarity of sounds is extraordinary,” she said. “Even in noisy environments, I can hear conversations clearly, and background noises no longer compete with speech.”
She noted a remarkable difference compared to her previous hearing aids. “My partner has noticed a big difference in what I am hearing as well. It would be very difficult for me to go back to my original hearing aids after wearing these,” she shared.
Jacqui also highlighted the benefits of switching from traditional batteries to a rechargeable model. “I’m more comfortable with the safety and convenience of rechargeable aids, especially with my little grandchildren around,” she said.
“The change has been quite extraordinary for me. I have always felt burdened by wearing my hearing aids but knew I needed to for my health, social and safety needs. But I am happy to wear these all day; they have made a huge difference to my quality of life.”
The pilot program is ongoing.
Laird says the Genesis AI is easy to fit and software is straightforward and user friendly.
Hearing aids have improved dramatically since the chunky beige devices he adjusted with screwdrivers in the early days.
“There were a lot of behind the ear devices and I even fitted some of the old body aids with a cord and transistor radio-like transmitter,” he recalls.
“It’s incredible how far we’ve come now.
“As Starkey is at the forefront of AI with the Edge Mode+ I would agree that Starkey is revolutionising hearing technology.”
For more information about Genesis AI hearing aids and the technology behind them, see starkeypro.com.au
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