New Hearing Health Innovation Poised to Transform Quality of Life for Australians Experiencing Hearing Loss

Today marks the official launch onto the Australian market of Genesis AI, a new hearing technology system from Starkey Australia. It intuitively provides optimal hearing for any listening situation, enabling wearers to hear soft sounds, distinguish words and speech more naturally, and significantly reduces their listening effort. The hearing technology has been completely redesigned from the inside out, with the Genesis AI featuring an all-new processor, sound, industrial design, fitting software and patient experience. 

For a long time, hearing aids had a single function, designed to take sound and amplify it. By tapping into advanced technology, sensors, machine learning and artificial intelligence, Starkey Australia has reinvented the hearing aid to provide the best hearing experience for hearing aid wearers.

Achin Bhowmik, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering at Starkey, explained, "By spending countless hours with hearing care professionals and patients, researching andanalysing every element of the hearing journey, we relentlessly pursued how to develop and bring the most advanced hearing technology to hearing healthcare professionals and patients in a simple and intuitive way. 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. Genesis AI's improved performance levels are unlike anything else in the industry, while doubling the battery life." 

The latest research[1] shows that ageing is a negative experience for 2 out of 3 Australians aged over 50 and even more so for those suffering hearing loss. Although it doesn't have to be. For most (74 per cent) the number one priority is adopting strategies, including technology to enable them to live independently for longer.

Feeling empowered to live independently as we age is the most important factor to those over 50. They plan to age slowly! Fifty-eight per cent saying they will take advantage of technology to help them do so.

Dr Judy Grobstein, Education and Training Audiologist, Starkey Australia adds, "At a time when we are advancing with incredible innovations in hearing technology, it is interesting to see that 3 out of 4 Australians over 50 are unaware of the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Encouragingly though of those aware of the link, 25 per cent are more likely to wear hearing aids. The latest hearing technology truly is a game changer for hearing health and ultimately improved health, wellness and a better quality of life."

Genesis AI hearing aids process sound the way a "normal" auditory system does and fills in the gaps produced from years of hearing loss. It has the industry's smallest and most powerful processor that operates up to four times faster than its predecessors with six times more transistors, to create better sound quality.  

The Genesis AI hearing technology system is also the most sophisticated multi-purpose device, no longer a single-purpose device like many other hearing aids on the market. Genesis AI incorporates health and wellness features, including being the first to integrate sensors; the first to track and encourage social engagement, and the first to enable counting steps. Starkey was also the first hearing aid manufacturer — and still the only —to make hearing aids that can detect falls and send alerts. This is made possible via the My Starkey App interface.

Starkey President and CEO Brandon Sawalich said, "Starkey is leading the hearing industry in redefining the future of hearing health, not just with incremental improvements, but with breakthrough benefits. The result is Genesis AI, a new, unprecedented experience for both patient and hearing aid wearers and hearing healthcare professionals. 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." 

Additional findings from the Genesis AI Hearing Health Research[2]:

Attitudes towards ageing and hearing loss

• Over 50's are very comfortable embracing glasses to support reduced eyesight (83 per cent), yet the majority reject hearing aids to support changes in hearing (23 per cent). Despite this, two out of three (69 per cent) of hearing aid rejectors were pro using technology to support ageing.
• Unsurprisingly, most respondents had noticed degradation in their physical functions. Changes in vision being the most noted (65%) and changes in hearing observed in 35% of respondents.

Generational attitudes

• More than 80% of respondents who noticed their eyesight declining with age are happy to wear glasses, and most will do this from their early fifties. Yet, less than 1 in 4 respondents who notice their hearing decline will wear hearing aids, and most of them will still delay this to their mid to late sixties.

Age related hearing loss and cognitive decline

• For more than half (58 per cent) of the respondents, cognitive decline was a one of their biggest concerns with ageing, significantly ahead of physical illness (30 per cent). But 3 out of 4 (77 per cent) were unaware of the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Interestingly, those aware of the link were 25 per cent more likely to wear hearing aids

Hearing loss and technology

• Feeling empowered to live independently as we age is the most important factor to those over 50. They don't plan to age gracefully; they plan to age slowly!. To achieve this, the majority (58 per cent) plan to take advantage of technology.
  • 61% of respondents are excited and optimistic about the role AI and other new technology can play in supporting them living a fulfilling life as they age.
  • Over 50's are twice as likely (64 per cent) to test their eyesight than their hearing (32 per cent): even amongst those who have noticed changes in hearing, less than half (42 per cent) have had this tested.

Genesis AI will be available January 2024 in Australia. For more information about Genesis AI hearing aids and to schedule an appointment with an independent hearing care professional, please visit https://www.starkey.com.au  

NOTES TO THE EDITOR:

About Starkey Australia

Starkey Australia is part of the Starkey Hearing Technologies global hearing company.

Starkey Hearing Technologies is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded by Bill Austin in 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President & CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey is the only American-owned and operated provider of hearing technologies. The company has more than 6,000 employees, operates 25+ facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.starkey.com.au

MEDIA CONTACT:

To arrange an interview with Starkey President and CEO Brandon Sawalich; Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering at Starkey, Achin Bhowmik, Audiologist Dr Judy Grobstein or a case study please contact: 

• Emma Norgrove, QUAY Communications, M: 0499 688 001       

E: emma@quaycommunications.com.au

[1] The Genesis AI Hearing Health Research was commissioned by Starkey Australia and conducted online by Antenna Strategic Insights between 13 and 28 November 2023. Sample comprised 1,030 Australians over the age of 50 years.

[2] The Genesis AI Hearing Health Research was commissioned by Starkey Australia and conducted online by Antenna Strategic Insights between 13 and 28 November 2023. Sample comprised 1,030 Australians over the age of 50 years.