Help for slight hearing loss
[projekktor src=’https://488b0f6bbd6e1f02d285-a9990803a5649dd3960d912508d8bce9.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/2013-1003-VitasoundEN6.mp4′ poster=”]
Hearing loss is one of the effects of aging. As more baby boomers reach retirement age, the number suffering from hearing loss is going up. Last year, the number of Canadians suffering from hearing loss reached 3 million, triple the number a decade ago. But what if you are experiencing just a *slight* loss, and you’re not ready for a full hearing aid yet? A Hamilton company might have the solution in a revolutionary device. Kelda Yuen has more.
It’s called the personal audio enhancer.
Matt Childs, Vitasound Marketing: “Essentially it’s a pre-hearing aid.”
And it was developed right here in Hamilton by the company Vitasound.
Gora Ganguli, Vitasound CEO: “We had acquired the rights to a really revolutionary technology that McMaster had done many many years of research on.”
Karl Wiklund, Vitasound R & D Manager: “It’s the first device on the market that uses neuroscience inspired technology.”
Ganguli: “Instead of just amplifying sound let’s look at what it takes to optimize sound to get the best possible electrical response from the brain.”>
The result is a device that is one of a kind.
Childs: “There’s no all in one solution that enables both face-to-face conversation mode and the TV, and this is what this device does.”
The device is small, it’s quite light, and there are four different modes to choose from: the ‘listen’ mode to be used when conversing in a noisy restaurant, the “talk” mode to be used on a mobile phone, the ‘watch’ mode to be used when watching television, and finally, there’s also a relaxation mode with various relaxing sounds.”
Childs: “You connect the charging station to the TV and and it would transmit a digital wireless connection to this device. Talk mode – now every time you wear this device the sound I picked up through the microphone and it suppresses all the background noise.”
Vitasound is working with McMaster to develop ways to enhance the device. and grow the company.
Ganguli: “It’s not just growing jobs, but growing exciting high level jobs. What’s even more encouraging is that we are actually way ahead of everybody else.”
