The Healing Power of Conversations: Signia IX and the Journey to Inclusivity
In our fast-paced, digitally driven world, in-person conversations often take a backseat to text messages and emails. Are we overlooking the benefits of face-to-face chats?
Research consistently shows that meaningful conversations are crucial to maintaining mental and emotional well-being. However, engaging in conversations can pose unique challenges for individuals with hearing loss, potentially leading to feelings of isolation and exclusion. Signia is challenging this narrative with the recent launch of two new hearing aid models supported by the Integrated Xperience (IX) platform that empowers wearers to participate fully in the conversations that enrich their lives. Here’s how it works:
Breaking stigma with a sleek and discrete design
Research suggests that self-consciousness about hearing aids can negatively impact professional and social interactions. Workers with hearing loss report high levels of psychological stress associated with fears of appearing (or being) incompetent, feelings of self-consciousness, overcompensation, and lowered self-esteem .
With this in mind, the sleek and discreet design of Styletto IX and Insio IX allows wearers to engage in conversations confidently. The hearing aids seamlessly integrate into the wearers’ daily lives, removing communication barriers and helping them feel confident, more at ease and connected to those around them.
Going beyond loudness
One common complaint among hearing aid users is that even though their hearing aids make everything louder, they fail to help them differentiate between essential sounds and background noise. Physicians have long been perplexed by patients who describe difficulties understanding speech despite having normal hearing thresholds recorded with an audiogram.
Another common concern is that hearing aids cannot switch directionality fast enough to capture the voice of multiple speakers in a room. Signia’s IX platform is the world’s first with a multi-stream architecture capable of pinpointing multiple conversation partners in real time. It increases the number of focus streams from two to five and features Signia’s RealTime Conversation Enhancement solution that analyzes, augments and adapts to the dynamic flow of multi-person conversation environments.
In a study focused on speech performance in a group conversation scenario, Signia IX significantly improved speech understanding, with 95% of participants experiencing greater hearing clarity with Signia IX than without .
Empowering an active lifestyle
Research shows that regular social interactions reduce feelings of loneliness, lower stress levels, and improve cognitive function , . By prioritizing style and comfort, Signia empowers individuals with hearing loss to participate fully in a more active lifestyle. It is not just about forgetting you’re wearing a hearing aid. It’s about living life to its fullest thanks to the independence and confidence hearing aids can provide.
As we celebrate the launch of IX, we recognize the broader significance of conversations in our lives. Whether sharing stories with loved ones, seeking support from friends, or connecting with colleagues, conversations play a vital role in shaping our relationships and sense of belonging. By embracing the power of conversations, we strengthen our social connections and nurture our mental and emotional well-being.
For more information about the Integrated Xperience platform and its features, click here.
1 Impact of Hearing Loss on Daily Life and the Workplace - Hearing Loss - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
2 Loud but Not Clear | Harvard Medical School
3 Jensen et al. (2023). Power the conversation with Signia Integrated Xperience and RealTime Conversation Enhancement. Signia White Paper
4 Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review - PubMed (nih.gov)
5 Social Relationships and Health: The Toxic Effects of Perceived Social Isolation - PMC (nih.gov)