US-based Parametric Sound has obtained a marketing approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its HyperSound audio system as a hearing improvement device.
Parametric Sound’s HyperSound technology, which uses a thin film to generate an ultrasonic beam of sound, has been shown to improve the clarity of audio and speech comprehension in individuals with certain hearing impairments.
HyperSound, like a flashlight controls a ray of light, directs sound in a narrow beam limiting it to a specific location, creating a precise audio zone. When an individual enters the beam’s radius, they hear immersive 3D audio, similar to wearing a surround sound headset.
The characteristics of the HyperSound audio beam have been shown to enable individuals with certain hearing impairments to hear audio with more clarity.
Parametric Sound believes that the combination of exceptional control over the placement of audio and the immersive quality of the sound makes HyperSound a disruptive innovation that has the potential to change not only the hearing-loss market, but commercial and consumer markets as well.
Parametric Sound CEO Juergen Stark noted the company is pleased to have passed the important milestone of FDA clearance.
"We are hard at work on the next generation of HyperSound products and we are confident they will improve the quality of life for millions of people who suffer from hearing impairments," Stark added.