A culture of innovation

At the forefront of hearing technology

For decades, Sonova has been at the forefront of technological advancements in hearing care. With every new technology — directional microphones, Bluetooth, rechargeable devices, AI for personalized fittings — we have delivered high quality and customer-focused options. Launching Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio in August 2024, using real-time AI for the first time, was another proud milestone for us at Sonova. 

Audéo Sphere Infinio uses real-time AI to address one of the most pressing needs of people with hearing loss: understanding speech in noisy situations. Background noise in restaurants, on the street, or during gatherings with family and friends can make it hard to hear what others are saying, which may limit involvement and enjoyment. Using extra effort to be part of the conversation is tiring too, all of which leads some people with hearing loss to avoid noisy environments altogether. 

Despite improvements in hearing technology, noisy environments have continued to be a challenge for people who wear hearing aids — until now. Running on an AI sound processing chip, DEEPSONIC™, Audéo Sphere Infinio provides unprecedented speech clarity from any direction³ . "Based on the feedback we get from our customers, this is a big step forward for anyone struggling in noisy environments. Innovating where it matters most, makes us proud and highlights Sonova’s dedication to providing the best possible sound quality and user experience," says CEO Arnd Kaldowski.

It begins with people

The philosophy that drives innovation at Sonova is so deeply held that it is written on the walls of our headquarters in Stäfa. “At Sonova we say ‘Ohni Lüüt gaht nüüt’ (‘Nothing works without people’) and this concept is really fundamental in this company,” says Andi Vonlanthen, who served as Senior Vice President for Hearing Instruments Research & Development at Sonova for more than 40 years. “Innovation is all about people. You need a vision of where you want to go and then you give people the responsibility and trust them to achieve it.”

Andi connects the open layout of the workplace at Sonova, which is designed to encourage interaction, to the company’s enduring success. “It’s about creating an environment where people can work together and innovate without hurdles or hierarchies,” he says.

Volker Kuehnel, who works in Sonova’s technology development and integration team, believes that people need time and space to “think, explore, try out”. This is an equally important aspect of the innovation culture at Sonova. This is often how incremental improvements to products are found, alongside big leaps forward like Audéo Sphere Infinio. The adjustment to the default software settings of a hearing aid in response to fitting data is also an example of our innovation. “We learn and we iterate,” explains Volker.

Listening to the customer 

Unmet needs, open minds, and belief there is a solution — this is always how innovation begins at Sonova. Product manager Shin-Shin Hobi is closely involved in the development of new hearing instruments. She observes: “We don’t build a product just because we can. We do it because we know there’s a need for it from listening to our consumers.”

Our determination to solve speech understanding in noisy environments led us to develop a specific deep neural network for this purpose, a type of real-time AI model inspired by the way the human brain works. This deep neural network achieved astonishing results in speech enhancement on a laptop. But could that performance be replicated in a hearing aid?

Everyone involved in the project recognised this was a high-risk venture. “We thought we had a good shot at making this into a product, but there were many unknowns because the hearing aid is such a complex device,” says Paul Mayer-Rachner, one of Sonova’s Technical Directors. 

Working at the very edge of possible

Andi Vonlanthen knows all about the persistence and resilience required when pushing into new territory. “I can tell you, innovation hurts. It’s a lot of work and it’s not something you can do overnight,” he says. Chip designers, software engineers, data scientists and audiological specialists were part of the team that worked relentlessly to fit real-time AI into a hearing aid and integrate it with the other functions. Delivering processing power without compromising battery life for the user was one of the many technical problems to overcome. “We were working at the edge of what is possible,” recalls Volker Kuehnel.

Developing any new product is a long and uncertain journey, so it is only natural to have moments of doubt along the way, especially when working with an emerging technology like real-time AI. “It took me some time to believe we can really do this,” says Sebastian Stenzel, an AI software architect on the project. Audiologist Stefan Raufer describes the first time he heard the denoising effect in a live environment, when the software was demonstrated in the busy cafeteria at Stäfa during the peak of the lunch service. “That was my ‘wow’ moment, when I realized we have invented a technology that can change the lives of so many people,” he says. “This was really exciting!”

Sonova’s investment in this technology helped cross the threshold from demo to prototype to viable commercial product. The project required dedicated hardware and software development resources, additional computing power to train the real-time AI, new testing equipment to get precise performance data, and extra clinical trials to back up marketing claims. Fethi Cherigui, from Hearing Instruments Research & Development, appreciates having a management team that understands what it takes to bring innovation to fruition. “Sonova’s willingness to invest in innovation is a real competitive advantage,” he says.

Hearing the difference

Hearing loss affects approximately 430 million people globally⁵. Addressing this issue is crucial, as untreated hearing loss can lead to reduced quality of life, as well as to reduced socio-emotional and cognitive well-being⁶. 

“Our product brings a true benefit for people in need - because it helps them to communicate and stay socially active, especially in challenging listening situations,” says Maren Stropahl, Director Holistic Hearing Care for R&D Audiology and Health Innovation. “Customers tell us they feel more at ease and confident in social settings, which highlights the real-world impact of our innovations.”

Hearing care professional Tiffany Wilson, a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist at AudioNova US, part of Sonova’s  Audiological Care business, confirms that being able to engage in conversation without the frustration of background noise makes a significant difference in the lives of her customers ⁷,⁸. “Being able to hear their grandchild in the back of the car, or their spouse in a busy restaurant, this is what really matters to people. Audéo Sphere Infinio gives our customers the ability to understand and keep up regardless of the type or level of noise in the environment,” says Tiffany. “It makes me proud to be able to support them in their time of need!” 

Reduced listening effort is another benefit for Audéo Sphere Infinio users⁹. For professional soccer player Rylee Foster, easier listening means she has more energy for training and performance. Rylee says: “I no longer have hearing burnout. After a long training day, I would be exhausted. I can now have conversations without feeling overwhelmed.”

Phonak ambassador Aaron Small has a busy schedule too as he trains for his next shot at Olympic glory. He welcomes feeling less fatigued thanks to the sound quality of Audéo Sphere Infinio¹⁰. “I’ve noticed my social battery has been given an upgrade,” says Aaron “Voices stand out more and I don’t struggle with picking them out from a loud room.”

Making our best even better

While the launch of a product is a something to celebrate, it is not an end but the beginning of a new innovation cycle. The second generation of Audéo Sphere Infinio is already in the pipeline, with improvements that show our commitment to making the best even better for our customers. And the lessons learned and investments made in bringing Audéo Sphere Infinio to market have opened up new possibilities for future innovation. CEO Arnd Kaldowski says: “We are just getting started with using real-time AI to improve hearing performance. This is a whole new innovation vector for Sonova, and I’m excited for what lies ahead.”

Watch this video to experience the future of hearing care with Phonak.