Signia introduces the market’s first custom-fit, rechargeable in-the-canal hearing aid, available in both ITE and ITC versions.
The Signia Insio hearing aid models sit inside the ear canal — discreet hearing aids for those concerned about appearance, and now rechargeable. Signia Insio AX hearing aids use fast inductive charging, giving you a full charge in just four hours, enough for a full day’s use. It’s contact-free charging, so all you need to do is place them in the Insio charger.
Until now, one of the drawbacks of in-the-canal hearing aids compared to behind-the-ear models was the lack of any rechargeable option on the market. With the launch of the Signia Insio AX, you no longer have to give up this feature if you want in-the-canal hearing aids.
On top of introducing the rechargeable option, Signia has also moved from its Xperience platform to the Augmented Xperience, or AX, platform. This platform was already available on Signia’s RIC models.
AX works with two processors instead of one, resulting in better hearing quality. The goal is essentially for Insio AX users to pick out clear speech even in noisy environments, which is why Augmented Xperience focuses on both hearing quality and speech understanding.
What’s more, this in-the-canal model is suitable for all levels of hearing loss, from mild to profound — an added benefit for anyone wanting to try a custom-made hearing aid.
ADVANTAGES OF AN IN-THE-CANAL HEARING AID
Among the advantages of an in-the-canal hearing aid is that it’s fully custom-made, along with several other benefits listed here:
- Size, discretion and ease of use. These hearing aids are very discreet given their size and how they sit in the ear, which also makes them more comfortable and easier to live with day to day. Since they’re custom-made, they’re also easy to insert and remove, and don’t cause issues if you wear glasses.
- Custom fit, mould and sound. An impression of the ear is taken to make the mould, which is why it’s personalised — it’s not something that could work for anyone else, since it’s a replica of that person’s own ear. The same goes for the fit and each user’s needs, making it a fully individualised solution based on what each person needs and the hearing loss they have. Sound will also feel more natural, since the hearing aid sits right in the ear canal, and depending on the model, it fills more or less of the canal, with some models even becoming invisible to others.
- Wind noise reduction. The outer ear naturally acts as a windbreak, protecting us from wind noise. Since in-the-canal hearing aids are custom-made and sit inside the ear, they naturally protect us from that annoying noise.
- Connectivity. They connect via Bluetooth to Android and iOS devices.
INSIO C&G AX FEATURES
Let’s go over the main features of the Insio C&G AX:
SPEECH CLARITY
According to Signia, having both processors work together optimises speech and ambient sound at the same time, resulting in clearer speech and, in turn, better hearing quality for the user.
CUSTOM FIT
There are two different versions of the Insio Charge & Go AX: one that sits in the ear (ITE) and another, even more discreet, that sits inside the ear canal (ITC). As mentioned above, it also adapts to all levels of hearing loss.
RECHARGEABLE
This is the first rechargeable in-the-canal hearing aid currently on the market — a real first.
CONNECTIVITY
It can connect via Bluetooth to any Android or iOS device. This lets users take calls, listen to music, watch TV shows, and more.
AI ASSISTANT
Artificial intelligence via the Signia Assistant. A support app that lets users get in touch with their hearing care professional if they need to adjust their settings.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE INSIO AX
Here’s a summary of the main technical specifications:
| Features | Insio C&G AX |
| Hearing aid type | In-the-canal (available for ITE and ITC) |
| Dimensions | Approx. 15mm |
| Type of hearing loss | All (mild, moderate, severe and profound) |
| Rechargeable | Yes |
| Housing colours | Black, dark brown, brown, mocha, tan, beige |
| Connectivity | Android and iOS |
AUGMENTED XPERIENCE
On previous Signia platforms, hearing aids worked with a single processor, but Augmented Xperience features two processors, a way of optimising both parts to achieve clearer speech. This is done by shaping the sound of words and the surrounding environment separately, aiming to reduce background noise while bringing the key sounds as close as possible to the listener, as clearly as possible.
It also features motion sensors that can tell when the user is moving, automatically detecting what kind of listening situation they’re in.
In summary, Augmented Xperience offers the following features, some of which we’ve already seen in previous models:
- Improved speech understanding
- Android and smartphone connectivity
- Rechargeable
- Automatic situation detection
- AI digital assistant
- Own Voice Processing (OVP). This is the processing of the user’s own voice, handled separately from all other sounds or voices. This lets the hearing aids be adjusted so the user’s own voice sounds great, along with the surrounding acoustic environment.
OWN VOICE PROCESSING: SIGNIA OVP
Hearing our own voice matters a great deal, since it’s part of who we are and how we communicate. When someone with hearing loss wears hearing aids, they may find their own voice sounds different, and some people, rather than put up with hearing a voice that doesn’t sound like their own, choose to stop wearing their hearing aids altogether — which only makes their quality of life worse and adds even more difficulty to everyday life.
This has long been both a problem and a challenge when it comes to wearing hearing aids. Hearing care professionals used to try to reduce this effect by lowering amplification in various ways until the user could no longer hear their own voice. But this wasn’t really a solution, since it also got in the way of hearing other sounds in the environment.
Signia has put resources into new technology to tackle this challenge. The solution has been to process the user’s own voice in parallel with all other sounds — what we now know as Own Voice Processing (OVP).
This advanced technology lets the hearing aids communicate with each other, share data, and continuously detect the user’s own voice to identify it in every situation. This is known as dual processing, and it allows the user’s own voice to be separated from other sounds, voices or background noise, letting them hear their own voice naturally.
There’s a study carried out with hearing aid users who, before trying this type of voice processing, reported being dissatisfied, but after being fitted with hearing aids featuring OVP, 80% said they were satisfied.
ACCESSORIES FOR THE INSIO AX
To make everyday life easier and adapt to each user’s hearing needs, the Insio C&G AX can be paired with a range of accessories:
- StreamLine TV: streams stereo TV sound directly to the hearing aids.
- StreamLine Mic: works as a remote microphone, very handy for hands-free phone calls and stereo music.
- MiniPocket: like a keychain you can carry comfortably, yet powerful enough to control all the essential features. A convenient way to stay in control without needing to carry a smartphone.
- Insio AX Charger: you can charge them while you sleep or rest, since a full charge takes around four hours, giving you up to 20 hours of use on a single charge.
CONCLUSIONS ON THE INSIO AX
This is a technological innovation never before seen in the in-the-canal hearing aid segment. No brand had ever launched a rechargeable in-the-canal hearing aid before, and Signia has been the first to do so.
The move to the Augmented Xperience platform is also a considerable improvement over previous models, making the Insio AX a great option in the in-the-canal hearing aid segment.
That said, before rushing out to buy one, remember to listen to your hearing care professional’s advice, since in-the-canal hearing aids may not suit your particular hearing loss and do have a few small drawbacks — for example, they tend to get dirtier due to their position in the ear, need more upkeep, and require more thorough cleaning.
