We examined the Spatial AI model running on the Fortell AI hearing aids to see whether it improves perceived ease of understanding in noisy, multitalker environments relative to hearing aids using more traditional processing.
Spatial AI on Fortell hearing aids showed listener preference over current top-tier devices in multitalker noise, but the study appears manufacturer-linked and results should be interpreted with caution pending independent replication.
AI-driven spatial processing represents a rapidly evolving frontier in hearing aid technology, and comparative preference data — even if industry-adjacent — signals a potentially meaningful leap in multitalker noise performance.
- 01Spatial AI model on Fortell AI hearing aids was evaluated against state-of-the-art hearing aids.
- 02Listeners consistently preferred Spatial AI for perceived ease of understanding in multitalker noise.
- 03Study published in International Journal of Audiology (2026).
- 04Outcome measure was subjective preference, not objective speech intelligibility scores.
- 05Commercial association with Fortell AI warrants cautious interpretation of results.
Spatial AI on Fortell hearing aids is consistently preferred over state-of-the-art hearing aids in multitalker noise.
studypartially supportedSpatial AI improves perceived ease of understanding in multitalker noise environments.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42113970
- DOI
- 10.1080/14992027.2026.2663345.
- Journal
- International Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Adults with hearing loss evaluated with hearing aids in multitalker noise conditions
- Intervention
- Spatial AI model on Fortell AI hearing aids
- Comparator
- State-of-the-art (comparator) hearing aids
Primary outcomes
Perceived ease of understanding in multitalker noise; Listener preference rating