GN Hearing introduces ReSound ONE

rasmus_braun · August 18, 2020, 7:19am

ReSound ONE: an entirely new class of hearing aids that offers a truly individualized hearing experience and the best sound quality for every user

Just like a fingerprint, each person’s hearing is unique. Yet, the most commonly worn hearing aids use a standardized approach modeled on an ‘average ear’, which can often compromise sound quality. ReSound ONE is a long-awaited breakthrough that gives everyone a solution individualized precisely to their own hearing anatomy.

August 18, 2020 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

BALLERUP, Denmark–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GN Hearing, the global leader in hearing aid innovation, today unveils ReSound ONE™, a revolutionary new hearing aid* that solves one of the most enduring challenges for people with hearing loss. This unique solution places an additional microphone inside the ear canal, for the first time, allowing people relying on hearing aids to experience the world with their own ears while preserving the comfort of an open-fit device. Now every user can enjoy the benefits of superior sound quality and hear conversations better in noisy environments.

With its Organic Hearing philosophy, GN has always taken its design inspiration from how humans hear naturally and seeks to mimic this within its technology as closely as possible. Following this approach, ReSound ONE uniquely adapts to the needs and lifestyle of every individual rather than the other way around.

The outer ear (pinna) is designed by nature to work like an acoustic antenna. It helps the brain localize and tune in to a particular sound, for example when listening to a specific voice in a crowded café. However, the most popular styles of hearing aids (Receiver-In-Ear and Behind-The-Ear models) capture sound from microphones that sit behind the ear and then approximate the effect of the pinna. The result is an averaged and incomplete reproduction of sound, making it hard for the brain to achieve its natural localization and noise-cancelling function. In fact, of the 79 million people who wear hearing aids globally(1), 93% report having trouble hearing in noisy environments and 55% get confused about where sounds come from(2).

ReSound ONE is the world’s first full-featured* hearing aid with a Microphone & Receiver-In-Ear design (M&RIE) that uses the unique shape of every individual’s ear to collect sound. This remarkable innovation has been achieved with a radical new receiver system combined with all-new Digital Feedback Suppression (DFS Ultra III), enabled by GN’s new and most powerful sound-processing chipset ever. By picking up sound directly inside the ear, ReSound ONE gives the brain everything it needs to tune in to individual voices, as well as significantly reducing background noise. Clinical studies show that all hearing aid users benefit from listening to sounds collected with their own ears, with 90% of users preferring the sound quality of ReSound ONE with M&RIE instead of only the microphone behind the ear(3),(4).

GN Hearing CEO and President, Gitte Aabo explains, “I am very proud that, once again, GN is first in the industry with ground-breaking innovation that will make a genuine difference in how people experience conversations and sounds around them. Placing a microphone into the ear with an open-fit hearing aid is something the industry has battled for many years to achieve. This technology will allow people with hearing loss to feel that they are literally getting their own hearing back and hearing the way nature intended. ReSound ONE will boost the communication, relationships, and confidence of every individual.”

Additionally, ReSound ONE incorporates new All Access Directionality and the user-activated Ultra Focus settings. These enhanced operating modes significantly improve speech recognition while preserving spatial perception in complex sound and noise situations. ReSound ONE includes unmatched rechargeability and extensive connectivity options to both iOS and Android™ smartphones for streaming and hearing aid control.

ReSound ONE is available from August 27, 2020 in rechargeable and non-rechargeable models. This technology is also available in new Beltone Imagine hearing aids.

For further information, visit the ReSound Newsroom and read more about the Organic Hearing philosophy.

Learn more about GN’s 2020 and beyond strategy with focus on individualized customer experiences.

About ReSound

ReSound hearing aids, available from leading hearing care professionals, continue to set worldwide standards for quality and intuitive technology to help people with hearing loss communicate better than ever before. ReSound was the first hearing aid brand to be Made for iPhone, bringing direct streaming from hearing aids into the iPhone era. It also pioneered the development of 2.4 GHz wireless technology and made it possible to receive advanced at-home hearing care during COVID-19. The introduction of this new class of hearing technology with ReSound ONE demonstrates that ReSound is the undisputed innovation leader putting people with hearing loss at the center. Featuring award winning technology, ReSound has been trusted for decades by people with hearing loss and their caregivers around the world.

About GN Group

The GN Group enables people to Hear More, Do More and Be More through its intelligent hearing, audio and video collaboration solutions. Inspired by people and driven by our innovation leadership, we leverage technological synergies between our hearing and audio divisions to deliver unique and increasingly individualized user experiences in our products and solutions.

150 years ago, GN was founded with a truly innovative and global mindset. Today, we honor that legacy with world-leading expertise in the human ear, sound and video processing, wireless technology, miniaturization and collaborations with leading technology partners. GN’s solutions are marketed by the brands ReSound, Beltone, Interton, Jabra, BlueParrott and FalCom in 100 countries. Founded in 1869, the GN Group employs 6,500 people and is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen.

Visit our homepage GN.com, get to know our innovation and leadership, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

(*) ReSound ONE introduces the world’s first full-featured hearing aid with M&RIE for a truly individualized, more complete sound experience. Full-featured means a microphone in the ear and two additional, standard directional microphones, directionality features and wireless audio streaming.

References

(1) World Health Organization (2020) Deafness and hearing loss. Factsheet. Deafness and hearing loss. Accessed: July, 2020

(2) MarkeTrak 2019

(3) Jespersen et al (2020): M&RIE receiver preferred for sound quality and localization. ReSound white paper

(4) Groth J. (2020). An innovative RIE with microphone in the ear lets users “hear with their own ears”. ReSound white paper

jim_lewis · August 18, 2020, 7:52am

I guess the “problem” with the microphone in the ear is that it’s probably facing outward! Now if they’d just include another microphone facing inward near the receiver opening, maybe you’d have a built-into the hearing aid system for doing REM!!! - mostly kidding here, as it’s probably ~impossible to know any microphone and all the other electronics measuring receiver output would be working - but if a microphone-in-the-ear was initially “calibrated” for receiver output and the output the microphone heard strayed with time, you’d know SOMETHING wasn’t working like it used to and that might be reason enough to visit an HCP with properly tested and calibrated equipment who could find out more certainly what’s not working right - but the more stuff you put into a hearing aid, the more things to break and the higher the cost.

So what’s the cost of ReSound ONE and no BT LE Audio?! Perhaps ReSound thinks with MFi and ASHA for Android it’s got all the bases it needs covered just right now?

Spindel · August 18, 2020, 8:25am

@jim_lewis How do you know that the microphone is facing outward? That’s sad, if that’s the case, because inward facing would be so much better. AirPods Pro have an inward-facing microphone and they use it kinda already for REM for noise cancellation. Really cool.

Edit: Found it, its outward-facing:

Compare it with AirPods Pro:

bigaltavista · August 18, 2020, 11:03am

I know manufacturers for years have been trying to place a microphone in the canal to cancel the occlusion effect, especially for ite device
This innovation doesn’t seem to be trying to achieve this rather it’s just another microphone signal that can support the external microphones (or used as an alternative).
Interesting but seems risky with regards to feedback and possible comb filtering if used in conjunction with external microphones.

JordanK · August 18, 2020, 12:21pm

Very interesting. The key challenge will be if the hearing aids can adequately deal with feedback with an open fitting and whether a single microphone will actually provide directionality. Relocating the microphones to the receiver also frees up space in the hearing aid for a bigger battery, better Bluetooth or even motion sensors. You also get a fully sealed and waterproof hearing aid with the rechargeable option.

Looking forward to reading the reviews.

Jordan

phobos512 · August 18, 2020, 1:10pm

@JordanK You missed the part where it actually uses three microphones, two in the aid body and one in the ear canal.

I’m disappointed that “discretion” makes it into their first ad copy. I’m disappointed they are once again another manufacturer that’s not putting fun colors. I’m sorry, “Warm Grey” is not a new and exciting color. I’m disappointed that all their advertising is showing older folks (their first ad video does show two younger people in the service industry, I’m guessing the implication is that they’re using the aids, but one is a woman with hair down and the other is a quick flash of a guy in a garden center so you have no idea if they’re really using them or not).

It’s interesting also that they’ve not updated their professionals website with any information on this series, so there’s no detailed technical information to be found yet. Wouldn’t you want potentially prescribing audiologists to know about these things before consumers?

spectrumplay · August 18, 2020, 1:12pm

Yes, interesting and hopefully a step in the right direction to improve overall hearing. I as a user of an older Widex Super aid have a receiver in my ear mold. Of course its a very large receiver due to my hearing loss. Adding a microphone (I assume) would only increase the possibilities of additional sound processing/sound collection.

My concern as others have mention is feedback, especially if this new hearing aid is just offered in dome style ear molds. Small cones molds have a tendency to move around and are not always totally secure. But maybe that isn’t an issue if properly inserted.

Question - Does anyone see this type of receiver/microphone being used in a hard shell or acrylic ear mold? Or a silicone mold? Or is GN hearing just offering in dome style? Also I’ll make the assumption since its being offered in dome style the receiver is going to be small, thus restricting aid used to someone with a mild hearing loss, possibly mid-range loss.

But if a microphone and receiver packaged together (in ear canal/mold) actually improves user hearing I then believe its only a matter of time before GN Resound offers such a set up in custom ear molds, most likely hard shell acrylic. Also have to wonder if GN Resound has a patient on this new technology or if other HA manufactures can offer receiver/ micorphone combo in there manufactured hearing aids.

Raudrive · August 18, 2020, 1:44pm

Having a microphone in the receiver opens the door for better fittings using in situ type fit. Getting much closer to REM.

I hope receiver reliability gets better.

AbramBaileyAuD · August 18, 2020, 2:35pm

Interesting point about inward and outward facing… Yes, based on this configuration it would seem the strategy is to pick up environmental sound rather than speaker-generated sound. In more closed fittings (occluding domes and custom molds), the microphone would have little access to sound being outputted in the canal. It seems that the primary goal of this design is to capture the acoustic effects that each unique pinna (outer ear) has on sound… this could potentially help with sound localization / speech in noise.

spectrumplay · August 18, 2020, 2:56pm

Are you speaking specifically about GN receivers or all receivers? From my experience a receiver in the hearing aid body usually last a long time with proper care. Four years plus. But when you transfer that receiver to a dome or custom fitting ear mold, the receiver life span shortens two to four years. I assume the reason why is moisture collection or possible receiver damage from contact handling.

At some point I’d really like to see hearing results of the ReSound One with and without the the internal ear microphone. And as Abram’s says does it help with speech comprehension or is designed more for capturing environmental sounds? In any case with microphones, the more the better if the aid can handle the new addition.

phobos512 · August 18, 2020, 3:49pm

Technical information will be here; it’s not yet, just a basic advertising portal now: https://pro.resound.com/en-us/products/hearing-aids/one

One interesting thing is while the press materials and YouTube ads are out, the website above says the product launches (virtually) on September 1st.

mystuart · August 18, 2020, 5:55pm

I couldn’t agree more about COLORS! When I was new to hearing aids, I was visiting in Denmark (home to 3 of the Big Six) and saw a beautiful “hear clinic” window display–a rainbow of Widex aids in every color of! Couldn’t wait to get home and get one. Bought red and continued with that for some 10 years. I hoped it would draw comments, but I scarcely got a one in all that time! Now, I’ve switched to the $-saving place, Costco, and to ReSounds. Sadly, they have no colors other than neutral available. . . . so far.

Blacky · August 18, 2020, 9:32pm

Wild guess is that they pushed theirs earlier because of phonak’s release on 20th?

But it definitely sounds interesting, if you notice proper info is up, please share.

3 mics sound better than just two. I wonder how they really work together.

Android is probably only ASHA right? I guess no one will go back in their development to support old phones…

Nevertheless, it is nice to see manufacturers releasing new stuff and pushing boundaries.

Um_bongo · August 18, 2020, 10:10pm

That diagram is mislabelled.

Um_bongo · August 18, 2020, 10:20pm

Potential Advantages: Pinna effects, less occlusion, Vertical acoustic orientation, Phone use. Improved forward directionality. Improved naturalness of sound. Improved second and Third order directionality. Better long term receiver monitoring.

Potential negatives: Wax issues, increased receiver/mic failures, another filter.
More expensive receiver changes.

Festour · August 19, 2020, 11:17am

Can i know up to what level of hearing loss those novel models are rated?

leerich2004 · August 19, 2020, 12:48pm

Looks good but how much likely better than quattros, I got mine just over 18 months ago when first came out so won’t be changing yet at, but feel technology is really advancing for HA’s, but to expensive to upgrade more than ever 5 years.

spectrumplay · August 20, 2020, 4:12am

I see Resound’s new ONE hearing aid possibly winning some major awards this year. Most likely in 2021 CES Innovation award group and 2021 Silver Edison award category. Placing a unique additional microphone inside the ear canal (for the first time}, to work in conjunction with other aid microphones could be a game changer. I could be wrong but I believe the ONE will now use three microphones, two in the aid body and one in the ear canal. And as we all know locating a microphone as close to the ear drum/middle ear as possible, should improve hearing levels. Still too early to know how things play out, but anytime you can add a additional microphone to a hearing aid, (especially in the ear canal}, there’s a very good chance users will see (or shall I say hear) good results.

The Phonak Paradise on the other hand seems to be a slightly upgraded Marvel with limited power due to small rechargeable battery and no custom molds allowed. Both are new hearing aids, but when the dust settles I think the ONE will be the aid standing tall.

jim_lewis · August 20, 2020, 4:50am

I think the best thing to do would be to wait until both new models are actually out and then trial each one and see what’s best for YOU. Hearing aids are a multi-dimensional problem. What counts most for one person may not count the same for someone else (hearing losses can differ tremendously as well as the demands of the environment(s) that you have to live in and deal with). Maybe you have an audi you’ve been going to your whole lifetime and that relationship means everything to you and that audi only does Widex, for example.

I’m sure there have been many times when specs on paper didn’t match real world performance and satisfaction - so to have a “dueling HA contest” before they’re even out seems an exercise in futility . I suggest folks wait for real world head-to-head (or ear-to-ear?) comparisons.

Spindel · August 20, 2020, 5:42am

I’m not sure if it really will use all three microphones, or if the microphone in the ear canal is just for an algorithm to calculate the effect of the pinna?

However, the most popular styles of hearing aids (Receiver-In-Ear and Behind-The-Ear models) capture sound from microphones that sit behind the ear and then approximate the effect of the pinna.

So instead of a “standard” ear for all users, each user will get a custom algorithm for their ear?

ReSound ONE is the world’s first full-featured* hearing aid with a Microphone & Receiver-In-Ear design (M&RIE) that uses the unique shape of every individual’s ear to collect sound.

I don’t know, but let say you just receive sound to the microphone in the ear, I’m not sure if you will hear anything or if you also need to get the same sound to the microphones behind the ear?