Developed in partnership with hearing aid technology firm WS Audiology, the CRE-C10 and the CRE-E10 self-fitting OTC hearing aids adapt to the user's speech and surroundings
Sony Electronics' CRE-E10 self-fitting OTC hearing aids. (Credit: PRNewswire/Sony Electronics, Inc.)
Sony Electronics has launched its first self-fitting over-the-counter (OTC) CRE-C10 and the CRE-E10 self-fitting hearing aids in the US.
The hearing aids were developed in partnership with Denmark-based hearing aid technology firm WS Audiology.
According to Sony Electronics, CRE-C10 and CRE-E10 were created with the understanding that one size does not fit all.
Both the hearing aids use an app to automatically adjust to each user’s speech and environment, said the company.
Sony Electronics consumer business group president Tyler Ishida said: “Many people have ongoing challenges related to hearing loss and because of the negative feeling around it, they often don’t seek the help they may need.
“As a leader in the audio innovation space, we are thrilled at the opportunity to improve the hearing assistance landscape with cutting-edge yet quite accessible devices that will ensure new over-the-counter solutions for those living with hearing impairment and also help general consumers engage with their surroundings in a deeper, more connected way.”
Both devices feature an easy-to-navigate app interface with configurable choices for the wearer’s specific hearing requirements and preferences, the electronic firm said.
Sony Electronics said that each of the hearing aids can interact with the user’s smartphone through the user-friendly app, allowing them to customise settings like volume control quickly and to make sure the wearer hears what they want in a variety of scenarios.
The wearer may “self-fit” each device using the app. Each device self-adjusts to the most suitable of pre-defined hearing profiles throughout the in-app self-fitting procedure.
Sony Electronics claimed that the CRE-C10 is one of the smallest OTC hearing aids on the market and is practically invisible when worn, and has 70 hours of battery life.
The CRE-E10 is said to be an earbud-like device that comes with 26 hours of battery life. It is Bluetooth compatible to allow the user to connect to streaming audio or music, which is available only on iOS platform.
Both devices are said to offer noise reduction and directionality. They reduce noises from the back and sides based on the wearer’s changing environment, said Sony Electronics.