An on-board deep neural network lets wearers of a hearing aid from Danish company Oticon hear all relevant sounds.

The new Oticon More hearing aid gives users access to all the sounds they need to hear naturally while still delivering a comfortable listening experience.

Rather than simply focusing on speech, it helps the auditory centre in the brain interpret more of the sounds being listening to. It has been trained to help the brain, the main tool for hearing, make sense of sound using twelve million real-life sound scenes.

The deep neural network (DNN) supports the brain to work in the most natural and effective way. The brain plays the most essential part in the hearing process, so it is vital it is supported in the right way. Oticon More is trained specifically to make it easier to handle a full sound scene, even in really complex listening environments, such as a crowded party or a busy restaurant.

It can recognise sounds, their details and how they should ideally sound. The hearing aid company trains the on-board DNN with sounds recorded outside of the lab. It continuously and automatically provides the wearer with the optimal sound needed in any given situation, and it does all this while ensuring they are not overwhelmed by all the sounds around.

“We have long advocated the need to support the brain through hearing technology and, as a consequence, we have pioneered many technologies that are already helping our users to lead fuller lives,” said Ole Asboe Jørgensen, president of Oticon. We understand that it is essential to give your brain as much sound information as possible in order to hear properly, which our recent research into how the brain works to handle sound confirms, clearly demonstrating that the brain needs access to a full sound scene in order to focus well.”

By limiting what the wearer can hear to just a single person speaking for example, which most hearing aids do, the brain is forced to work harder in an unnatural way, and can be cut off from other conversations around.

“By helping the brain to process sound in the most natural way, we will better help reduce the health and life problems associated with untreated hearing loss, which almost all stem from the impact hearing loss has on the brain and the lack of social interaction as a result of it being too difficult to take part,” said Jørgensen. “We are so proud to be inventing hearing technology that will shape the hearing aids of tomorrow, and leading the way with the new, extraordinary Oticon More.”

Made for iPhone and compatible with modern Android devices, users can stream music, phone calls and more directly to the hearing aids from a smartphone. They take control of the hearing aid on the smartphone via the, Oticon On app.

Wearers can connect with their hearing care professional remotely via their phone for convenient online hearing aftercare, such as hearing aid adjustments, with Oticon RemoteCare.

Rechargeable batteries mean users can plug in their hearing aid in the evening and be fully charged for the next day. A 30-minute charge will provide a six-hour power boost.

Internet connectivity lets users access the IFTTT network to create recipes with smart devices, such as Alexa, doorbells, lighting and even a kettle. Accessories let users stream sound directly from a TV and other Bluetooth compatible devices.

Around 500 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss. The majority are over the age of 50 while eight per cent are under the age of 18.

Oticon develops and manufactures hearing aids for adults and children and supports every kind of hearing loss from mild to profound. Headquartered in Denmark, it is part of Demant with more than 15,000 employees and revenues of over DKK14bn.