ReSound Vivia 9, offered exclusively by Resonate Health, puts you in control of when AI is used. Unlike other brands of hearing aids where the AI feature is always turned on, the Vivia allows you to turn it on when it’s needed the most.
Understanding Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of computer systems to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This includes things like learning, problem-solving, decision-making, understanding language, and recognising patterns.
Some examples of AI that you might already interact with include:
- Virtual Assistants: Like Siri on your iPhone or Google Assistant, which can understand your voice commands and answer questions.
- Recommendation Systems: Such as those used by streaming services to suggest movies or music you might like based on your viewing/listening history.
- Navigation Apps: Like Google Maps, which use algorithms to find the best routes and predict traffic.
At its core, AI involves creating algorithms – sets of rules or instructions – that enable computers to process information and make intelligent decisions without explicit human programming for every single scenario. These algorithms often involve machine learning, a subset of AI where systems learn from data to improve their performance over time.
In the context of hearing aids, AI algorithms are trained on vast amounts of sound data to learn how to differentiate between speech and noise, identify different acoustic environments, and personalise sound processing based on individual needs. This is what makes AI hearing aids like the ReSound ViviaTM 9 so powerful and adaptable. They are not just amplifying sound; they are intelligently interpreting and refining it for a better listening experience.
What are AI Hearing Aids?
Like traditional hearing aids, AI hearing aids help to amplify sound to help you hear better. However AI hearing aids take this step further by incorporating the power of artificial intelligence to process sound in a way that mimics the brains natural hearing processes.
As an example, instead of simply making all sounds louder, AI hearing aids can intelligently identify different types of sounds, such as speech and background noise. This allows them to enhance the sounds you want to hear, like conversations, while reducing distracting noises.
Key Benefits of AI in Hearing Aids
Integrating artificial intelligence in hearing aids offers several significant advantages:
- Improved Speech Clarity: AI algorithms can differentiate speech from noise, making conversations clearer and easier to follow, even in challenging listening situations like crowded restaurants.
- Enhanced Noise Reduction: Unwated background noises such as traffic, wind, or the hum of appliances are identifed and suppressed, allowing you to focus on what's important.
- Personalised Listening Experience: Many AI hearing aids learn your listening preferences and adapt their settings over time to provide a more tailored sound experience.
- Potential for Future Innovations: As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated features and benefits to be integrated into hearing aids.
How Do AI Hearing Aids Work?
At the core of AI hearing aids are powerful microprocessors and sophisticated software. To simplify things a little, here's how they typically work:
- Sound Capture: Microphones on the hearing aids pick up sounds from your environment.
- Digital Processing: These sounds are converted into digital signals and analysied by the AI algorithms.
- Sound Identification and Classification: The AI identifies different types of sounds (speech, noise, music, etc.) and their characteristics.
- Real-time Adjustments: Based on the analysis, the AI makes real-time adjustments to amplify certain sounds, reduce others, and optimise the overall sound quality. For instance, the ReSound Vivia 9 employs advanced sound processing strategies driven by AI to deliver a more natural and balanced sound.
- Output to the Ear: The processed sound is then delivered to your ear, allowing you to hear more clearly and comfortably.
Should I be worried about AI hearing aids?
It's understandable that some people might feel a little uneasy about the term "artificial intelligence" and it might even be a bit intimidating. You might also think that these hearing aids are difficult to use or if they require a lot of technical know-how. Don't worry, the goal of AI in hearing aids is to make your listening experience eaiser and more natural, not more complicated.
Think of the AI as a helpful assistant working behind the scenes. It's designed to automate adjustments and personalise your hearing without requiring you to constantly fiddle with settings. Just like modern smartphones have become user-friendly despite their advanced technology, AI hearing aids are created with simplicity in mind.
For example, with the ReSound ViviaTM 9's offered by Resonate Health, the AI works to adapt to your surroundings. You don't need to be a tech expert to benefit from its intelligent features. In many cases, you'll simply put them on and experience improved clarity and comfort without needing to actively manage the AI. And to keep your mind at ease, if you don't want to have the AI function activated, you can simply turn it off with the press of a button.
Simplicity and Control: Using AI Hearing Aids
While AI operates in the background to optimise your hearing, you still have control over your experience. Many AI hearing aids come with intuitive controls, and often, companion smartphone apps that are designed to be easy to navigate. These apps can allow you to make adjustments to volume, sound balance, and sometimes even personalise specific listening programs if you desire.
For instance, the app compatible with the ReSoundTM Vivia 9 from Resonate Health offers a user-friendly interface where you can fine-tune your hearing experience according to your preferences. However, using the app is often optional as the AI function can be turned on and off by pressing the button on your hearing aid. The AI in the hearing aids is designed to work effectively on its own, adapting to most situations automatically.
The key takeaway is that AI is there to enhance your life, not to add complexity. Our Studio teams are there to ensure you are comfortable and confident in using your new AI hearing aids. They can walk you through the features and help you personalise the settings to your liking.
Real-Life Scenarios: How AI Hearing Aids Can Help
Here are a few examples of how AI hearing aids can help in everyday senarious:
- Attending Social Gatherings: By reducing background noise and focusing on speech, AI can make it more enjoyable and less tiring to participate in conversations.
- Dining in a Restaurant: AI can help filter out the clatter of dishes and surrounding conversations, making it easier to focus on and understand your dining companions.
- Watching Television: AI can enhance the clarity of dialogue while minimising distracting background sounds from the TV itself or the room.
- Talking on the Phone: Some AI hearing aids can optimise sound for phone conversations, making it easier to hear and understand the person on the other end.
- Enjoying Outdoor Activities: AI can help manage wind noise and other environmental sounds, allowing you to better hear the sounds you want to focus on, like birdsong or a companion's voice.
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