Real-user insights from PARC’s real-world research

If you ever read through any of the many online message boards for hearing aid users, it won’t take long before you come across discussions questioning whether hearing aid manufacturers get input from “real people” before launching the product.

At Phonak, incorporating feedback from real users is essential to ensuring our innovations are both impactful and effective. Our latest hearing aid platform, Infinio, has benefited greatly from this approach.

The Phonak Audiology Research Center, or PARC, is one of four global centers dedicated to evaluating new hearing technologies like Infinio, conducting human-subject testing to ensure that it delivers the reliability and patient benefit expected of Phonak technology.

A clinician’s perspective on innovation

PARC researchers all share a background in clinical audiology—some members of the team began shortly after earning their AuD degrees, while others brought years of rich clinical experience. PARC also benefits from several team members who hold PhDs, whose scientific training helps them guide experimental design.  Regardless of their prior experience, all researchers apply the lens of a clinician when considering how to test a new product.

At the heart of every PARC project is a desire to make sure new technology is ready for clinical use and provides meaningful benefits to patients.

Community engagement and real-world testing

In addition to its team of researchers, PARC relies on participants from the local community in the western suburbs of Chicago. Participants hear about the lab from their friends, hearing care professionals, or community events where researchers are present.

They complete extensive testing of new innovations, both in the lab and in their daily lives, ensuring products are effective. Their feedback guides Phonak’s innovation pipeline and offers valuable insight that helps educate HCPs about what to expect with new products.

State-of-the-art research facilities

The lab spaces at PARC are uniquely suited to testing new technologies under a variety of conditions, from tightly controlled lab experiments to real-world evaluations. The facilities include three sound booths, two consultation rooms, and a “Listening Loft”—a flexible room that can be configured to mimic a home environment while maintaining control over the acoustics and hearing instrument operations.

A global commitment to excellence

PARC, alongside our global team, is dedicated to rigorous testing of new products before they reach our customers. While PARC leads research in Chicago, additional testing is conducted at sites in Shanghai, Toronto, and at our headquarters in Stäfa, Switzerland. This global collaboration helps us learn firsthand from participants and continuously refine our products to better meet patient needs.

Over the next few months, our researchers will share articles on the Audiology Blog highlighting three real-subject studies conducted at PARC for Infinio, offering a closer look at the platform’s impact and benefits. Stay tuned.

To learn more about the global clinical research organization, read our piece in The Hearing Review here.