Multi-Beamforming Technology: Real-World Outcomes from Signia’s Integrated Xperience (IX) Platform

Enhancing speech in noise—especially in dynamic, multi-talker situations—continues to be the brass ring for the world’s top hearing aid manufacturers. Signia’s new Integrated Xperience (IX) platform, introduced last year by WS Audiology (WSA), promises to move the needle forward by supporting real-time beamforming on multiple conversation partners, even when the listener doesn’t move their head to follow the flow. In February, the company launched Signia IX BCT, which offers universal connectivity combined with the IX platform’s speech-in-noise performance, providing greater choice and less compromise.

Signia has recently published a number of papers that objectively validate the IX's platform's performance in noise and showing the benefits of the company’s technology.^1-3 In light of this, HearingTracker thought it would be a good idea to talk with WSA Chief Clinical Officer Sheena Oliver, AuD, MBA, and Eric Branda, AuD, PhD, Director of Hearing Technology and Research. I have known and worked with both of these distinguished audiologists for over 15 years, and we discussed two recent studies that show how Signia IX technology performs in both controlled and real-world environments. We also talked about what this means for the broader hearing care community, including audiologists working within the VA system.

HearingTracker: Let’s start with the research. Eric, can you walk me through the main study that validated IX’s multi-talker technology?

Eric Branda: The most rigorous lab-based study was conducted at Hörzentrum Oldenburg in Germany.¹ Our researchers simulated a noisy restaurant with two target speakers—one in front and one at an angle—and layered in background cafeteria noise using eight surrounding speakers. To make it even tougher, we added two additional speech babble sources behind the listener.

The goal was to test how well participants could follow dynamic group conversations. This is important because conversations aren't always one-on-one; instead, they often involve a number of people talking in challenging listening environments, including people moving in and out of the group.

Using the Oldenburg Sentence Test, we found a 1.5 dB improvement in SRT-50 compared to a leading competitor that uses AI-based coprocessor technology. That equates to roughly a 24% improvement in speech intelligibility. And 86% of participants did better with IX. That represents a big benefit.

HearingTracker: So, not just better average performance, but a majority of wearers saw real benefit?

Branda: Exactly. And it’s not just about the lab numbers. In the second study—conducted by Susan Scollie’s team at the University of Western Ontario—participants wore the same devices in a noisy mall food court.² This was kind of an "A" versus "B" test, where the only difference was whether the RealTime Conversation Enhancement (RTCE) was turned on or off. People noticed the difference, and most participants clearly preferred the experience with RTCE engaged.

That’s the kind of real-world validation we aim for.

HearingTracker: What makes RTCE different from standard beamforming?

Branda: Most systems use a single beam and lock onto one speaker, relying on the user to turn their head to follow the conversation. Our system uses multiple beams simultaneously. That allows it to follow several talkers in a group, rather than making the user move their head to pick up a speaker. It even responds to the very first word a new talker says.

Sheena Oliver: And that’s key for first-time users, too. It really takes the guesswork out of conversations for patients. With other tech, you have to constantly turn your head to find and hone in on the talker. Signia IX does much of that for you. It’s tracking the talker in the background based on region and movement, and it’s automatic.

HearingTracker: That brings up a good point: A lot of the newer AI systems are relying on the user to press a button in the app to initiate a special speech-in-noise mode. But IX is automatic?

Branda: Yes. The system adapts in real-time based on the environment and the location of the talkers. There are manual options, but most people prefer the ease of letting the tech do the work.

Oliver: I think this has been attractive for all users, but especially for first-time users. They don’t want to fuss with buttons or apps—they just want it to work immediately. They want to get back to their lives without adjusting their behavior to fit the hearing aid.

HearingTracker: Sheena, you work closely with audiologists in government services. What are you hearing from VA audiologists about this technology?

Oliver: The feedback from VA audiologists has been incredible. Now—especially with the advent of Signia IX BCT—for the first time in a long time, they feel like they can put the audiology first. Bluetooth streaming of audio and phone calls has been a huge benefit for modern hearing aids, but Bluetooth compatibility has complicated the fitting and selection process.

Before, providers had to ask, 'What kind of phone do you have?' The smartphone was a significant factor in determining which device they could fit. Signia IX BCT has changed that. Today, they can lead with audiology, choose what’s best clinically for the patient, and then worry about connectivity afterward.

We’re also seeing great response to practical improvements like the LED light indicator and visible serial number windows. I know these seem like small features, but they save a lot of time in high-volume clinics.

HearingTracker: Battery life has become an even bigger factor than ever with AI-powered hearing aids. What are you experiencing with real-life users of Signia IX?

Oliver: Users are getting all-day performance even with quite a lot of streaming. In lab tests, IX has been found to give 36 hours with 5+ hours of streaming—that’s a big deal for both patients and providers.

Not only does this mean Signia IX users can be assured their hearing aids will have power throughout a full day, but it also has important implications for device longevity. As anyone with a smartphone knows, the capacity of lithium-ion batteries degrades with time, so after about 5-6 years, you might have only about half as much use-time as when the devices were new. With an initial 36-hour-plus battery life, we’re building in reliability and longevity.

HearingTracker: Let’s talk about tinnitus relief—something that Signia is pretty well known for with its Notch Therapy for tonal tinnitus. What makes IX’s approach different, especially for veterans?

Branda: Unlike traditional tinnitus maskers that add background noise, Signia’s Notch Therapy takes a more targeted approach. If someone hears a steady ringing or whistling sound, the hearing aid reduces amplification right at that tone’s frequency. This type of therapy uses what’s called cortical lateral inhibition, a fancy term for reducing the activity in the over-stimulated regions of the brain that are thought to be responsible for many types of tinnitus—and Notch Therapy has been shown to be highly effective in clinical studies. Over time, it can help the brain stop fixating on the sound, almost like teaching it to tune out the tinnitus on its own.

Oliver: I explain it to patients this way: Tinnitus is like hearing a constant whistle. Our goal is to eliminate that one little sound without removing everything else. Notch Therapy does that—and it’s something that’s really resonating with audiologists working with veterans.

HearingTracker: “SCIF compliance” is a term I wasn’t familiar with, and I recently noticed that the VA has now categorized it under a separate hearing aid category. What’s SCIF?

Oliver: SCIF stands for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility. Some veterans work in secure government environments where wireless features must be disabled. Other manufacturers often require separate devices to be SCIF-compliant. But with Signia, any hearing aid can be made SCIF-compliant through the fitting software. No hardware changes are required.

Branda: That’s also important because roles change. Someone in the military may not need SCIF compliance today, but could need it tomorrow. The VA recently added a SCIF compliance category to their hearing aid contract—and we were ready for that.

HearingTracker: How do you position IX relative to Signia’s hearing aid offerings? Is it worth the upgrade for patients already using AX?

Oliver: AX introduced dual processing, but IX takes it a step further with dynamic beam steering and multiple active talker tracking. And Signia IX BCT adds Bluetooth versatility. Patients are telling us that not only are they hearing better in noise, but the streaming quality is better too. It’s a noticeable difference.

Is an upgrade from AX to IX absolutely necessary? From a connectivity perspective, maybe not. However, if we want to provide the best solution overall for addressing listening challenges in difficult situations with multiple speakers, then absolutely, as our studies have shown.

Branda: We’ve had internal staff refit their family members and report back amazed at the improvement in both everyday listening and streaming audio quality. AX is excellent technology, but there is a definite advantage with IX.

HearingTracker: In the broader market, how are you seeing adoption of IX both inside and outside the VA?

Oliver: Adoption is growing, but I think it’s faster in the VA because they can focus directly on outcomes. The private sector has more complexity—marketing, business incentives, etc. But when patients experience IX, especially those who’ve used other brands, they often switch. It’s that compelling.

At the end of the day, I think IX allows audiologists to focus on what they do best—solving hearing problems. It takes the burden off the patient and the provider. That’s a big win.

Branda: It’s gratifying to see something we developed in the lab actually make a real difference in people’s lives. That’s what drives us.