Samsung Electronics revealed the findings of a new study published in Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, a scientific journal dedicated to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) research.
According to the study, Galaxy Buds Pro’s Ambient Sound feature is effective in helping those with mild to moderate hearing loss to better hear sounds in their surroundings.
The research was carried out in partnership with Samsung Medical Center.
According to the authors, no other study has yet included true wireless earbuds when evaluating the clinical performance of hearing devices. Samsung claims that this is the first study to demonstrate the potential of true wireless earbuds for individuals with mild to moderate hearing impairments.
“With rapidly ageing populations it’s expected that, by 2050, one in ten people will have hearing loss1. But while hearing aids are useful for managing hearing impairments, uptake remains relatively low, mainly due to the high price,” said Il Joon Moon, Associate Professor at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Samsung Medical Center. “The initial study findings are very promising and encourage people to discover alternative devices, such as Galaxy Buds Pro, that can support them in their day to day lives.”
As per the research report, Galaxy Buds Pro went under three key tests — electroacoustic assessment, sound amplification evaluation, and a clinical performance evaluation.
Electroacoustic Assessment test results revealed that Galaxy Buds Pro met all four criteria — output sound pressure level, frequency range, equivalent input noise, and total harmonic distortion which shows that the Buds Pro offers comparable performance compared to hearing aids.
Sound Amplification Evaluation: Galaxy Buds Pro was tested for sound amplification and showed an appropriate level of amplification.
Clinical Performance Evaluation: Reports suggest that Galaxy Buds Pro, in this test, sufficiently amplified sound at the three frequencies of speech pitches.
Finally, a clinical performance evaluation investigated changes in individuals’ hearing levels both with and without the devices, and their ability to recognize words and sentences. Participants had mild to moderate hearing loss, with a median age of 63 years. Statistical significance was observed at 1,000Hz, 2,000Hz and 6,000Hz, meaning Galaxy Buds Pro sufficiently amplified sound at the three frequencies of speech pitches. Furthermore, in total, over 57 per cent of the participants reported that Galaxy Buds Pro were able to help them communicate in a quiet environment.
Galaxy Buds Pro features Ambient Sound, which can amplify nearby sounds by up to 20 decibels and, with four levels to choose from, users are able to adjust and customize how they experience sound according to their needs.