European Regulators Approve Standalone Hearing Aid Software

Jacoti is getting smart about hearing loss.

The company has released standalone hearing aid software that is operable through a smartphone. The CE Mark-approved Jacosti ListenApp runs on the iPod Touch or iPhone, and uses the standard Apple EarPods with the built-in microphone to hear and amplify outside sounds. The software applies a frequency dependent gain based on certain settings and the individual’s audiogram, and softer inputs are amplified more than louder ones. It also is equipped with noise reduction technology for more comfortable plane rides.The main screen allows users to control the volume and easily switch between music and microphone modes.

ListenApp has three settings when in microphone mode: Natural Sound, Clear Speech, and Comfort. The Natural Sound setting does not assume any specific listening situation and naturally amplifies sound, while Clear Speech has been optimized for speech, and the Comfort mode provides lower amplification levels to help reduce fatigue. Jacoti ListenApp is free, according to the company.

“Hearing loss and the related communication problems are a major obstruction for children in their schooling phase. In education, losing the ability to ‘listen’ can be a breaking point in the fragile communication chain. If not managed, it will be a burden throughout an individual’s life, with major social and economic impact. Low-cost and easily accessible solutions, as developed by Jacoti, will be a turning point for the availability of hearing technology in fast developing countries,” said Prof. Dr. Mohan Kameswaran, a leading ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist in India.

Jacoti ListenApp has a local and remote web-based fitting platform to allow the user or the hearing expert to adapt the audio settings to individual needs. A remote server enables doctors, healthcare providers and medical access to remotely access consumers and/or patients using the app.

Besides the ListenApp, Jacoti has developed Inthear, a proprietary software library that applies real-time hearing loss compensation to audio signals. It offers a cross platform Application Programming Interface, which is used by all Jacoti products that provide hearing loss compensation.

Jacoti bvba is a privately held hearing technology company with offices in Boechout, Belgium and in Barcelona, Spain.