US-based hearing aid company Starkey has announced its latest hearing aids, the Omega AI, and they have Auracast as standard.
Following the success of the Starkey Edge AI last year, the company unveiled the new hearing aids at a star-studded event. Among the guests were hearing health advocate and tech enthusiast Daymond John, and Kevin O’Leary, who both appear on Shark Tank, the US version of the BBC show Dragons’ Den. Also speaking was the actor Rob Lowe.
Introduced by the company’s president and CEO, Brandon Sawalich, the new Starkey Omega AI hearing aids are said to have been designed to “restore the normal sense of hearing closer than any technology of its kind” thanks to their built-in directionality system.
The company claims the aids can “intuitively detect speech, background noise, and motion around … and adjust accordingly with exceptional sound” even in challenging situations and without compromising on spatial awareness.
This means the start of speech can be heard more clearly, there is better clarity of speech in noisy situations, and wearers will be able to go between different environments with the confidence that the aids will adapt as they go along.
Mixed media artist Fawn says that the Omega AI hearing aids can help her take part in conversations when in restaurants – one of the most challenging places for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to hear in: “I feel like I’m part of the conversation”.
MORE AURAHEAR: Which hearing aids have Auracast built in?
The Edge Mode +, introduced with the Edge AI hearing aids, is part of the Omega AI hearing aids. Starkey says this technology provides instant clarity and lets users zero in on speech in any challenging environment on demand, with the tap of a button on the My Starkey phone app.
This device not only controls the hearing aids but also offers health and wellness features. An Apple Watch can control these.
The app also includes TeleHear AI, which can make instant adjustments by referring to its record of thousands of professional fittings. The user can trial it and either save it for future use or revert to the original settings.
The other setting is its Gen AI Smart Assistant, which allows users to ask questions about their hearing aids and receive conversational answers. It can also be used to change programmes and set reminders.
Other benefits include a long battery life – up to 51 hours, and an all-new waterproof coating which makes the aids 10 times more durable.
What about Auracast in the Starkey Omega AI?
Starkey is one of the first hearing aid companies to embrace Bluteooth LE Audio and Auracast, with the Edge AI released last year among the first hearing aids on the market to have the technology as standard. So, it should be no surprise that the Starkey Omega AI hearing aids also have Auracast built in (Phonak, take note!).
The company says that Auracast promises users easier pairing, faster connections, and more robust streaming of TV and music, as well as better sound quality in cinemas, airports, places of worship.
We are delighted that Starkey is continuing to champion Auracast, but we hope they will integrate an Auracast Assistant into their app as GN does. With Starkey promoting its Apple Watch features, some of its customer base will be connecting their hearing aids to their iPhone – and Apple is yet to support Auracast, so they will have Auracast-enabled hearing aids but no way to connect them to an Auracast.
Accessories for the Starkey Omega AI
Starkey has released a range of StarLink accessories to accompany both the Omega AI and the Edge Ai hearing aids.
The range can be seen here: https://www.starkey.com/hearing-aids/accessories/wireless-accessories
They include a remote microphone, a table microphone that is about the size of a coaster, a TV streamer and a remote control. The company sells different gadgets for different hearing aids but with similar names, so customers should double check the item they are buying is compatible with their aids.
For more details on the hearing aids, log on to: https://www.starkey.com/hearing-aids/omega-artificial-intelligence-hearing-aids
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