Samsung Reveals Galaxy Buds Pro Help Hearing Impaired People

Samsung Electronics announced the research findings published in the Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, an ENT-related research and development scientific journal. Samsung Medical Center, one of the top Asian medical innovation and healthcare service providers, conducted the research. As the study stated, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro and its Ambient Sound feature can significantly help people with hearing impairments.

Previously, Samsung Electronics has been carrying out mobile device impact research with Samsung Medical Center. Moreover, their research focused on mobile devices’ effect on users’ hearing, aiming to improve sound quality and experiences. The study result also demonstrates Samsung’s continuous dedication to creating innovative solutions that offer considerable benefits to people’s daily lives.

Galaxy Buds Pro’s Effectiveness as a Hearing Aid

Notably, Samsung’s new study is the first to include and assess wireless earbuds’ medical performance as a hearing aid device. The research suggests that Galaxy Buds Pro can improve people with mild to moderate hearing problems’ experiences. Furthermore, Galaxy Buds Pro’s Ambient Sound function amplifies surrounding sounds by up to 20 decibels, helping people hear better. Since the wireless earbuds provide four environment volume levels through intelligent algorithms, users can control and fine-tune nearby sound amplification.

“These findings reflect our ongoing commitment to creating innovations that enable everyone to better enjoy everyday experiences,” said Moon Gan-Gil, Head of Samsung’s Advanced Audio Lab, Mobile Communications Business. Moon also added that the company plans to widen its research and developments and involve more participants in future tests. Importantly, Samsung aims to help more people with its new technologies, products, and services, planning to overcome more technological obstacles..

Spoken word recognition level performance comparison. (Samsung Electronics0

Three Key Tests

Currently, over 1.5 billion people worldwide deal with hearing impairments. According to Samsung’s study, one in ten people may experience some form of hearing difficulty by 2050. In the study, both companies evaluated the Galaxy Buds Pro, a personal sound amplifying product, and a hearing aid’s effectiveness. The three efficacy tests include electroacoustic assessment, sound amplification evaluation, and clinical performance evaluation.

Initially, Samsung examined the devices’ electroacoustic capabilities and checked if they passed hearing aid performance criteria. Galaxy Buds Pro measured up to all criteria, which indicates that its performance is on par with traditional hearing aids. Next, Samsung evaluated the devices’ sound amplifying operations, and results say that all products met the standard sound amplification. Lastly, with the clinical performance evaluation, Samsung analyzed the participants’ hearing levels and word and sentence recognition abilities.

More than 57% of the participants revealed that Galaxy Buds Pro aided them in communication and hearing. While using Samsung’s wireless earbuds, the participating individuals understood spoken words better. According to Moon Il-Joon, an Associate Professor at Samsung Medical Center, the research data indicated favorable results, promoting alternative device usage among people in need, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro, to help them in their everyday routines. During the CES 2021, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds Pro, its wireless earphones with technology optimized for immersive sound experiences.