By Amy Pajula**
May is Hearing Health Awareness Month.
Apple’s release of its clinical-grade hearing aid and hearing test feature in the AirPods® Pro 2* in 2024 cast a spotlight on hearing health. However, for roughly 15% of American adults, or approximately 37.5 million people, affected by hearing loss, hearing health is more than a headline[1]. For many senior citizens, hearing loss, unfortunately, is dismissed as a natural part of aging instead of a progressive condition that can have long-term consequences if left unaddressed. Most treatment options lack adequate insurance coverage, which limits innovation and research.
The True Impact of Hearing Loss and Aging
With a rapidly growing aging population, and with one in three seniors over the age of 60 and[2] nearly half of those over 75 experience hearing loss it’s important to understand the consequences of not treating it. The National Institute for Aging warns that hearing loss has social, emotional, and cognitive effects, indicating that those experiencing hearing loss may become more socially isolated, have a higher risk of developing dementia, and show more rapid cognitive decline[3]. Some older adults suffering from hearing loss become depressed and withdrawn when conversing becomes increasingly difficult. Current treatments for hearing impairment such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, require externally worn components that don’t allow full-time night and day hearing. Hearing aids don’t work for everyone, leaving many untreated. As we age, our abilities change and issues such as limited dexterity, low vision, mobility issues, or cognitive decline can make managing an external device impossible. The inability to hear at night can affect safety, independence, and quality of life. Many caregivers fall into age groups with higher rates of hearing loss impacting their ability to provide support.
A New Era of Hearing Health Innovation
Despite the rapid advancements in medical technology over the past few decades, innovation in hearing health has lagged. Recognizing the need for a fresh approach to hearing loss treatments, Envoy Medical is poised to make a difference.
Envoy Medical is a medical device company focused on providing innovative technologies across the hearing loss spectrum. The company has two key products: the Esteem® Fully Implanted* Active Middle Ear Implant (FI-AMEI) and the investigational Fully Implanted Acclaim® Cochlear Implant. The Esteem implant is the only FDA-approved, fully implanted hearing device for adults diagnosed with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss allowing for 24/7 hearing capability using the ear’s natural anatomy. It is implanted, invisible, and requires no externally worn components in the ear canal or elsewhere to function. Envoy’s piezoelectric sensor technology is designed to utilize the ear’s natural anatomy to capture sound instead of relying on a conventional external microphone.
A Step in the Right Direction
Apple’s decision to tackle a widespread and often neglected health issue, combined with its dedication to inclusivity and innovation, sets a high standard for the industry and is a prime example of how technology can be leveraged to improve the lives of people with hearing loss.
By integrating hearing aid functionality into a popular consumer product, Apple is not only making hearing aids more accessible but also reducing the stigma associated with wearing them. With nearly half of the U.S. population owning Apple AirPods, according to a recent Bloomberg survey, this update could democratize access to hearing health solutions. People with hearing loss using Envoy Medical’s Esteem implant are able to take advantage of mainstream technology like Apple’s because nothing is needed in the ear canal.
Envoy Medical is dedicated to pushing hearing technology beyond the status quo to improve access, usability, compliance, and quality of life. We are excited about innovation, and welcome competition. We believe technology like ours can lead the way towards innovative and improved treatment options that might motivate more people to treat their hearing loss while helping seniors maintain their independence leading to safer, healthier, and more connected lives.
*AirPods is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions.
**Acclaim, Envoy, Envoy Medical, and Esteem are registered trademarks of Envoy Medical Corporation. Amy Pajula is an employee of Envoy Medical, Inc. and received her device through participation in a clinical trial. The materials and resources presented are intended to be an educational resource for general purposes only. They are not intended to constitute medical or business advice or in any way replace the independent medical judgment of a trained and licensed physician with respect to any patient needs or circumstances. The information presented or discussed may not be representative of all patient outcomes. Each person’s situation is unique and risks, outcomes, experiences and results may vary. Please see complete product instructions for use, including all product indications, contraindications, precautions, and warnings.
***Once activated, the external Esteem Personal Programmer is not required for daily use.
CAUTION The fully implanted Acclaim Cochlear Implant is an investigational device. Limited by federal (or United States) law to investigational use.
[1]National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (n.d.). Quick statistics about hearing. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
[2] American Academy of Audiology. (n.d.). Hearing loss in older adults. Retrieved from https://www.audiology.org/
[3]National Institute on Aging. Hearing Loss and Older Adults. NIH Publication No. 24-AG-8223 | July 2024
