VitalSound: Your Solution for Clear Listening

Understanding the Challenge: Why Traditional Hearing Aids Fall Short

Many seniors experiencing hearing loss face a fundamental challenge: their hearing difficulty primarily affects mid-to-high frequency sounds, particularly human voices, while their ability to perceive low-frequency sounds remains relatively intact. Unfortunately, many budget hearing aids amplify all frequencies indiscriminately, including background noise. This results in a poor user experience that can be more frustrating than helpful.

High-end hearing aids that offer superior noise filtering do exist, but they come with significant drawbacks. These premium devices require professional hearing tests, customization, and fine-tuning by specialists. Prices range from HK$8,000 to HK$30,000 in Hong Kong. The cost disparity becomes even more pronounced in international markets. Hearing aids in Canada are more expensive than in Hong Kong, and European prices exceed those in Canada. A pair of hearing aids selling for €1,500 (approximately HK$13,570) in Europe often provides functionality comparable only to budget devices priced around HK$3,000 in Hong Kong.

The VitalSound Advantage: Why an External Speaker Solution

The development of VitalSound began in 2021, driven by the vision to create a cost-effective alternative that would "free the ears" from the constraints of traditional hearing aids. The decision to design an external speaker rather than a traditional in-ear device was based on several strategic considerations.

First, traditional hearing aids face severe limitations due to size and weight constraints. Achieving high-quality sound and effective noise filtering within such a compact form factor requires sophisticated technology. This significantly drives up both cost and manufacturing complexity. In contrast, an external speaker design eliminates these restrictions. It makes it easier to incorporate larger chips and lithium batteries while managing heat dissipation and extending usage time—all at a lower cost.

Second, many seniors find wearing hearing aids for extended periods physically uncomfortable and mentally fatiguing. It's common for users to remove their hearing aids immediately upon returning home. VitalSound specifically targets this home environment, providing an ideal solution for entertainment activities like watching television and listening to music, where an external speaker is perfectly suited.

Third, the hearing aid speaker occupies a unique market position with virtually no direct competition. This allows VitalSound to carve out a distinctive niche in the assistive hearing device market.

AI-Powered Technology: Precision Without Personalization

VitalSound hearing aid speakers utilize artificial intelligence technology to optimize voice frequencies without requiring users to undergo hearing tests or personalized configuration. This "ready-to-use" approach significantly reduces barriers to adoption while maintaining effectiveness.

To develop this AI-driven solution, Mitchell & Co. Innotech Limited conducted hearing tests with over 500 seniors aged 60 to 85 in Chinese cities including Shenzhen and Huizhou. This extensive data collection enabled the team to understand typical patterns of mid-to-high frequency hearing loss among elderly users. Using this research, engineers trained an AI model capable of real-time audio processing. This model decomposes incoming sound into multiple frequency layers, distinguishing between non-speech sounds (which are suppressed) and human voice (which is enhanced).

The technology is far more sophisticated than simple volume amplification. VitalSound precisely targets the human voice spectrum between 250 Hz and 8,000 Hz, subdividing it into multiple small frequency bands. Each band receives different levels of amplification based on AI calculations, ensuring natural and clear sound reproduction. To prevent any noticeable delay between on-screen lip movements and audio output, the entire processing must be completed within 0.02 seconds—a target that VitalSound achieves in just 0.01 seconds.

Overcoming Development Challenges

The journey from concept to market took four years, marked by several significant challenges. In early 2022, the global chip shortage forced the development team to reassess their component sourcing strategy. Initially, the team considered using American AI chips, but the costs proved prohibitively high. Fortunately, they identified suitable AI chips from mainland China manufacturers that offered comparable performance at a more accessible price point. This enabled the project to maintain its cost-effectiveness goals.

The extensive development process involved more than 40 professionals, including software and hardware engineers, product designers, students from Tsinghua University in Beijing, and five audio engineers with over 30 years of experience. The Hong Kong contingent included four key contributors: co-founders and brothers, along with two local university professors. To date, the cumulative investment in the hearing aid speaker project has reached nearly HK$10 million.

Embrace Clear Listening Today

With the VitalSound hearing aid speaker, you can enjoy your favourite shows and music without the hassle of traditional hearing aids. Experience the freedom of clear sound. It's time to embrace a new era in hearing assistance.

Discover how the VitalSound speaker can transform your listening experience. Say goodbye to discomfort and frustration. Say hello to effortless enjoyment.

For more information, visit Mitchell & Co. Innotech.