AI powered hearing aids at Dubai’s AccessAbilities Expo

  United Arab Emirates - 11/07/2019 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Starkey the world’s largest hearing solutions provider launches ‘WeCare’ its national hearing health program to help governments and health ministries

People with hearing challenges in the UAE can experience the benefits of  artificial intelligence (AI) embedded hearing aids at the AccessAbilities Expo that runs until the 7th of this month. Starkey launched the world’s first AI-enabled hearing aids will address the needs of people with hearing issues in the UAE. AccessAbilities Expo held at the DWTC is the region's dedicated event, that aims to bring the world's latest assistive technology products with the goal of enhancing the lives of more than 50 million people with disabilities. As per the World Health Organisation, around 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss and 34 million of these are children.

At the stand this year, Starkey shared its ‘national hearing health program’ called Starkey ‘WeCare’. This program helps governments and ministries of health, implement hearing health services framework for their citizens, in a result proven and direct impact methodology.   

“We are delighted to be part of this important platform and share our global expertise with people in the UAE who have hearing issues. Close to 16 million people suffer from various degrees of hearing loss in the Middle East region and this number is on the rise. People take their ear health for granted and go for treatments only when there is a serious hearing challenge. This could have been avoided by simply visiting their ENT specialist or an audiologist at least once in a year,” said Giscard Bechara, Director of Starkey MEA FZCO. 

The company will share their wealth of knowledge around hearing health at the Expo, Starkey will also demonstrate the unique features of Livio AI, to enable such people to eventually follow a fulfilling lifestyle. ‘Livio AI’ showcased at this Expo is the world’s first Healthable™, a device that utilizes the power of ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘integrated sensors’. Hearing health is essential to overall health and wellness and it is estimated that by 2050 over 900 million people will have disabling hearing loss. 

“Noise-induced hearing loss is another challenge that we have today. The youth of today are used to their headphones and ear pods and they listen to loud music which in the long run can impact ear health.  There is a serious amount of education that needs to be done in this area. Hearing loss is a growing health issue and exposure to loud noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss. However, noise-induced hearing loss, unlike most other causes of hearing loss is preventable, if the right steps are taken at the right time,” added Giscard.

The R&D team at Livio has paid special attention to these devices to further enhance the lives of people with disabilities. With advanced environmental detection, geotagged settings, a natural user interface and now a rechargeable option, Livio AI is the ultimate in sound quality, in usability and a multi-functional, must-have device.  

“At the Expo, Starkey would be elaborating on the various ways by which people with disabilities can use this device. Livio AI can also analyze their physical activity and cognitive health by measuring hearing aid use in social situations. This device uses the power of artificial intelligence to track brain and body functions making it the world’s first multi-purpose hearing aid. It also features the first-ever fall detection and alert capabilities and translates 27 languages instantly including Arabic,” added Giscard.

“We are trying to educate people suffering from mild or partial hearing loss to visit an ENT specialist or an audiologist. It is important to diagnose hearing loss during earlier stages. Hearing loss significantly alters the quality of life and the earlier one starts to hear better, the sooner can they lead a fulfilling and enriching life,” concluded Giscard.