Announcements

MED-EL, an Austrian-based hearing implant manufacturer, announced TICI UNICO, which the company describes as the first and only commercially available invisible cochlear implant. The device, announced September 29, is designed for people with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss and is supposed to provide continuous hearing while remaining entirely beneath the skin, with no externally…

CymaSpace, a Deaf-led nonprofit arts and cultural organization based in Portland, Oregon, has received a $90,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support a year-long research project called Universal Music Design. The project explores how a Deaf-centered approach to STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) can improve engagement, learning, and…

Legato, a hearing technology startup, announced on October 1 that its AI hearing glasses "Legato Frames" are now available for purchase, starting at $999. The glasses are designed for adults with up to moderate hearing loss and build hearing-assistance technology into the arms of the eyewear rather than using a separate earpiece. According to the company, the glasses utilizes an AI system that…

Hearing Health & Technology Matters has announced the winners of its seventh annual Hearing Technology Innovator Awards, which recognize products and technologies in hearing care. Oticon received the program’s top distinction, Innovator of the Year, for its Oticon Zeal hearing aid, an in-the-ear model released in the United States earlier in 2026. The awards program evaluates entries across…

A research team is recruiting adults age 18 and older who have hearing loss and use voice calls with captions to take part in a study on captioned telephone services. The research is funded by the Federal Communications Commission and conducted by MITRE, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Gallaudet University. Participants will complete four brief captioned phone conversations with a research…

The Speech Accessibility Project is recruiting adults with any degree of hearing loss to participate in a research study aimed at improving voice recognition technology for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The project is supported by Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. Participants will record speech samples and answer questions online at their own pace, using a personal computer or…

A research team at UMass Amherst is recruiting adults to share their opinions on over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. Participants will receive $100 for one 1-hour session over Zoom. Who can participate: Adults ages 40 and older who fall into any of these categories: Currently use hearing aids (prescription or OTC) or other assistive listening devices Are interested in trying hearing aids for the…

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking public comment on proposals to modernize the nation's emergency alerting systems, including several changes aimed at improving access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The proposals are part of a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking the FCC adopted on June 25, covering both the Emergency Alert System, which interrupts television and…

Anker, the consumer electronics company known for charging accessories, has announced plans to enter the over-the-counter hearing aid market. The company shared the plan on September 3rd during the IFA 2026 technology show in Berlin. According to Anker, the hearing aids will build on technologies developed for its consumer audio products, including noise reduction, long battery life, and fast…

A multicenter study led by researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago found that children with hearing loss may benefit from cochlear implants at a younger age than previously recognized. The study, led by Dr. Nancy M. Young, evaluated outcomes in two groups not previously covered under FDA criteria: infants aged 7 to 11 months with profound sensorineural hearing loss, and…