Starkey is continuing to be committed to collaborating with global researchers and innovators. According to a recent peer-reviewed article (published in Otology & Neurotology) highlights the collaborative research between Starkey and Stanford to validate Starkey’s Balance Assessment feature available with Edge AI.
Falls are a leading cause of injury for older adults, and Starkey is addressing this issue with hearing technology that does more than just improve hearing. Starkey’s Balance Assessment feature uses advanced motion sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) to measure factors related to fall risk. The study, conducted by Stanford, evaluated how well this technology automatically scores results compared to scoring recorded by healthcare professionals.
The Balance Assessment feature is a tool designed to identify patients with a higher likelihood of falling and encourage them to seek additional balance testing, if applicable. And the assessment is done through the My Starkey app, which gives visual and audio instructions. With the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) protocol, the assessment goes through a questionnaire and three functional balance assessments. The sensors onboard the hearing aid are used for measuring the movements and work with the My Starkey app to score each test based on age-based norms.
This double-blind study evaluated the efficacy of Starkey’s Edge AI Balance Assessment feature by comparing scores from trained observers to data captured by the sensors in the hearing aids (IMU-HAs). And researchers found agreement between the trained observers and the IMU-HAs that is highly encouraging for the remote self-identification of patients at a greater risk of falling.
With hearing loss continuing to gain recognition as a significant risk factor for falls, hearing aid adoption provides an excellent avenue to educate and encourage patients to monitor their balance and seek further evaluation when necessary. And this is particularly impactful for patients in underserved areas with limited access to vestibular screenings.
Starkey was at the forefront of integrating health and wellness features into hearing aids. And the company was the first to include 3D sensors, step counting, and tools to track and encourage social engagement. Starkey is also the first and only hearing aid manufacturer to provide a fall detection and alert system. And with Edge AI, Starkey has developed the first self-guided balance assessment exercise built directly into hearing aids, allowing users to take control of their health and reduce their fall risk.
KEY QUOTES:
“Starkey is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what hearing aids can do by integrating advanced health and wellness technologies. This research collaboration with Stanford Medicine demonstrates the potential of leveraging artificial intelligence and motion sensor technology to address critical health challenges like fall risk. By validating our Balance Assessment feature, we are taking a significant step toward empowering patients to proactively monitor their health and improve their quality of life.”
– Achin Bhowmik, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering at Starkey
“This study is a game-changer in fall risk assessment. Our findings show that hearing aids with built-in motion sensors and AI can accurately evaluate balance, just like trained clinicians. This breakthrough makes fall prevention more accessible than ever, especially for those with limited access to specialized care. Empowering patients with real-time health insights through their hearing aids is an exciting step toward reducing fall-related injuries and improving quality of life.”
– Dr. Kristen K. Steenerson, departments of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and Neurology & Neurological Sciences at Stanford Medicine
