Question
Tell me about HyperSound technology for people with hearing loss.
Answer
Rodney Schutt: We call the technology a directed audio solution. Directed audio solutions have been around for decades, but utilizing different technology. When you think about “audio” in its traditional nature, you think of a speaker vibrating and generating sound. Depending on the frequency, they all vibrate at a relatively high rate of speed and push sound throughout a space. The audio bounces off every object in its path before it ever reaches a human ear.
HyperSound uses a completely different methodology. We use an ultrasonic carrier frequency. In the Hearing Solutions product set, the ultrasonic carrier frequency is approximately 100 kHz, or 100,000 Hz. We modulate audio on top of that carrier frequency. The result is a sound that travels along a highly directional path with minimal dispersion. The effect is completely immersive, almost like wearing headphones. With one step, a listener can enter or exit a beam of fully intelligible, crystal clear sound.
By beaming sound with similar precision to a flashlight, sound is directed towards the intended listener. Because audio can be tightly directed to a specific area it provides individuals in that area the benefit of audio without disturbing others. HyperSound® speakers deliver sound precisely, and consequently less volume is necessary to deliver sound where it is needed.
HyperSound's initial hearing solutions product is focused on people with hearing loss and their families. Its intended use is with the home theater system and the TV, which allows the person with hearing loss to hear amplified, crystal clear sound, while the rest of the family enjoys listening to the TV at normal audio levels. And, the person with hearing loss can listen without headphones, neck loops or interface devices connected to the TV.
This Ask the Expert is an excerpt from a full interview on this topic. Read the interview here.
To learn more about HyperSound technology and HyperSound Clear, please visit the official website at https://hypersoundhearing.com or the HyperSound Expo Page on AudiologyOnline.
