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What’s Next in Hearing Tech

  • Writer: NHhears
    NHhears
  • May 16
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jun 4

The future of hearing is exciting, fast-moving, and full of potential.

Would you like to try the next generation of hearing technology? Help make New Hampshire a hearing-friendly state? Let’s look at what’s coming — and how you can be part of it.

Auracast


Clearer sound for everyone, in public places.

Auracast is a new Bluetooth technology (part of Bluetooth LE Audio) that broadcasts audio to multiple devices at once — including compatible hearing aids. That means:

  • You’ll connect to audio just like you would to Wi-Fi

  • Venues like airports, theaters, and museums can stream sound directly to your ears

  • You’ll hear announcements, instructions, or commentary without background noise

It’s a major upgrade from traditional induction loops — no special wiring, no interference, and no limit to how many people can tune in. Auracast will be everywhere by the late 2020s.



🧠 Artificial Intelligence

Smarter hearing help — fast.

AI is advancing rapidly, and companies are racing to design better tools for people with hearing loss. While a full “cure” may be years away, we’ll see an explosion of helpful features — from real-time speech enhancement to personalized sound adjustments — powered by AI.



🔬 Precision Diagnosis

A better look inside the ear.

Most of the hearing system is tiny — and hard to see with standard tools like ultrasound. New tech, like the cochleascope, uses light instead of sound to create inner ear images.

That means:

  • More accurate diagnoses

  • Customized hearing aid programming based on your anatomy, not just your audiogram

  • A move away from one-size-fits-all hearing solutions

This could be a major step toward treating hearing loss — not just coping with it.



💊 Drug Therapies

Hearing loss research is finally getting serious.

For a long time, drug companies didn’t invest in hearing loss. That’s changing. One promising area is hair cell regeneration — using small-molecule drugs to trigger regrowth of the cells that detect sound.

While early trials (like the REGAIN study in Europe) haven’t yet proven a breakthrough, they show real potential. Many participants saw small improvements, and the interest in these studies points to a huge unmet need.



⌚ Vibrotactile Feedback

Feel the sounds you can’t hear.

A new multi-motor wristband uses subtle vibrations to help you “feel” high-frequency sounds that often get lost with presbycusis (age-related hearing loss).

Here’s how it works:

  • The band listens for speech sounds your ears might miss

  • It transforms those sounds into patterns of vibration

  • Your brain learns to integrate what you hear and what you feel

This tech is still developing, but it may soon help people understand speech in noisy places — sometimes even better than hearing aids alone.



🌱 Stem Cell Research

Healing the ear from the inside out.

Scientists at places like the Harvard Stem Cell Institute are working to grow new inner ear cells using stem cells. Their goal? Treatments that restore hearing — not just manage it — by replacing what’s been damaged or lost.



🔬 Targeted Research

A focused mission to cure hearing loss.

The Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss (SICHL) is combining genetic research, protective therapies, and hair cell regeneration to develop real cures. They’re aiming high — and moving fast.



👓 Smart Glasses with Live Captions

See the words people say.

AR glasses like XRAI Glass display real-time captions of conversations right in front of your eyes using speech-to-text. They’re a great tool for situations where listening is tough, like crowded rooms or group discussions.



👂 Hearing Aid Glasses

Hear and see — stylishly.

Some new glasses (like those from Nuance Audio) include built-in hearing aids. These smart frames are customizable for vision and hearing, with microphones discreetly placed on the front to pick up sound where you’re facing. An app lets you adjust settings based on your environment.



🎨 Creative Hearing Aid Design

What if hearing aids were a fashion choice?

Today’s hearing aids are functional — but they’re not always fun. That could change. Designers are exploring:

  • Bold colors and custom styles

  • New positions on the ear, like the helix or earlobe

  • Accessories or even piercings to secure and style devices

Imagine hearing aids that work great and look great — just like your favorite pair of glasses.



Be Part of What’s Next

The future of hearing is yours to help shape.

Whether you’re excited about new tech, better design, or more hearing-friendly spaces in your town, your voice matters.

NHhears is here to keep you informed — and to help make New Hampshire a leader in hearing accessibility.

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