How AI is ensuring your clients have uninterrupted care

For hearing care professionals (HCPs) like you, reliability in hearing aids isn’t just about technology. It’s about ensuring uninterrupted care for your clients.

Imagine spending less time troubleshooting devices and more time doing what you’re passionate about — supporting your clients’ hearing and quality of life. This future is closer than ever, thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time system monitoring.

Freeing up your time for what matters

As an HCP, you likely spend a significant portion of your time resolving service-related issues.  An internal survey revealed that these tasks can consume 20-40% of a clinical day. With millions of hours globally dedicated to service calls, there’s a clear need for a more efficient way forward.

AI technology is stepping up to help. For example, real-time system monitoring allows Phonak to identify reliability indicators early, reducing service interruptions. For you, this means fewer distractions and more time to focus on what truly matters: client care.

Anticipating problems before they impact clients

AI-driven insights are transforming how issues are identified and addressed. Consider device reboots as an example: an analysis of data from 400,000 Lumity hearing aids revealed a small subset of devices with frequent reboots (~1%), making them twice as likely to require service.

One percent is a relatively low number; some might say that it’s good enough. Nonetheless, Leo den Hartog, the VP of Reliability for Hearing Instruments at Sonova, has a mantra, “We don’t want to be just good enough.” When we strive to deliver ever better customer experiences, it’s to go beyond for as many clients as possible.

Through proactive monitoring, Phonak can intervene early—such as preparing for device replacements or deploying firmware updates—ensuring potential issues are addressed before they impact your clients.

Turning data into predictable outcomes

Data isn’t just about numbers—it’s about creating actionable insights. Phonak hearing aids now log system performance data in real time, from bootup behavior to irregularities in operation.

This information is analyzed with AI to spot patterns and forecast potential issues. By identifying trends like frequent reboots or battery warnings, Phonak can act quickly, improving reliability from day one.

Redefining battery monitoring in practice

Battery issues are among the most common service concerns, but they don’t have to be. Frequent low battery warnings are now being tracked in real time, giving Phonak an early heads-up on potential problems.

By addressing these issues quickly—often before they reach your practice—you can avoid unnecessary service calls and ensure smoother operations.

Below is a glimpse at what goes into the testing our products.

What real-time solutions mean for you and your clients

Imagine a future where you receive early notifications about potential device issues. This would allow you to schedule check-ins or even resolve issues remotely, reducing the need for troubleshooting appointments.

Over-the-air updates could fix problems before your clients even notice them. These advancements promise not only to streamline your work but also to enhance client satisfaction and trust.

This is more than a technological shift—it’s an opportunity to redefine how you deliver care, with reliable tools that let you focus on your clients. By addressing issues proactively and leveraging the power of AI, you can ensure your clients enjoy a seamless experience while you focus on making a meaningful impact.

To learn more, you can refer to the white paper, ‘Reliability redefined: Using artificial intelligence to let HCPs focus on what matters’ on the Phonak Evidence page. It outlines the strategies and data behind these advancements and offers insights into how they can enhance your work.

References:

Jagoda, L., Ignasiak, N., Seel, I., Schubert, F. & Thielen, A. (2024). Reliability redefined: Using artificial intelligence to let HCPs focus on what matters. Phonak Insight. Retrieved from phonak.com/evidence, accessed January 2025.