Advanced device features, including those found in new AI-powered hearing aids, can influence overall well-being, not just audibility. By Maren Stropahl, PhD; Kevin Seitz-Paquette, AuD Maintaining good hearing is essential for healthy aging....
No immediate practice change is required, but the framework reinforces broadening patient counseling beyond audibility goals to include social, cognitive, and quality-of-life outcomes — consistent with existing person-centered care principles.
As AI-powered hearing aids become more capable, the field is being pushed to redefine clinical success beyond decibels heard, with potential implications for how audiologists counsel patients and measure outcomes.
- 01Authors propose a 'holistic hearing care' framework spanning audibility, speech intelligibility, cognitive well-being, and quality of life.
- 02AI-powered hearing aid features are framed as tools for healthy aging, not just hearing correction.
- 03Barriers to hearing aid uptake (stigma, lack of perceived benefit, access) are mapped against innovation opportunities.
- 04The Hearing CARE model integrates hearing aids, counseling, and service delivery into a single framework.
- 05Content is co-authored by researchers but published on a trade blog with visible Phonak branding, signaling industry influence.
AI-powered hearing aid features extend benefits beyond audibility to support overall well-being and healthy aging.
opinionpartially supportedHolistic hearing care addresses barriers to uptake including stigma, emotional barriers, and lack of perceived benefit.
opinionpartially supportedAdvanced hearing aid technology contributes to cognitive well-being and social well-being.
opinionunclear