In summary
- Hearing loss affects 2.5 billion people worldwide, but hearing aids are expensive, ranging from $1,000 to $8,000 per pair.
- Maryland-based startup Quantum Senses offers an affordable solution with its Earcoustic hearing aid, which sells for just $20.
- Justin Lee, founder and CEO of Quantum Senses, designed the Earcoustic for people with mild hearing loss, using sound support cups that amplify sound and minimize background noise.
Hearing loss affects 2.5 billion people worldwide, but hearing aids are expensive and can range from $1,000 to $8,000 per pair, making them inaccessible for many. Maryland-based startup Quantum Senses is trying to solve that problem with its Earcoustic hearing aid, which sells for just $20.
Justin Lee, the company’s founder and CEO, cautioned that the product is aimed at people with mild hearing loss where advanced electronics would be considered excessive. “Quantum Senses is not intended to replace medical-grade hearing aids, but rather to provide an affordable option for those with mild hearing loss who need some help,” Lee told Decrypt.
He added: “The more people learn about acoustic hearing aids, the more value they will see in affordable alternatives, especially for those with mild hearing loss.”
The Earcoustic hearing aid. Image: Quantum Senses
Lee, who previously worked as an aerospace engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense, designed the Earcoustic to direct sound waves into the user’s ears using its sound support cups. The cups amplify sound coming toward the wearer while minimizing background noise, making them ideal for watching TV or attending events.
After working on projects for the US Air Force and Navy, Lee, a graduate of Tuskegee University, founded Quantum Senses in 2021.
The idea for Earcoustic, he said, came about as a way to offer a solution for a friend who was suffering from mild symptoms of hearing loss. His friend was living on a fixed income and had no solution to improve his hearing.
Lee said he used a computer to design the acoustics of the device, which is not electronic or functional in any way. Since it is made entirely from recycled materials, it can be recycled again if the user no longer needs it. “If it breaks, you can just recycle it and turn it into something like a water bottle,” he said.
There are other budget headphone alternatives hitting the market, including a new feature added to Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 headphones for $249. But at $20, the Earcoustic is on a whole different level of affordability, making it accessible to people who would never think they could afford a hearing aid.
“You have to make time for the things that are important,” he said. “This is really becoming a passion for me and is something that will help create generational wealth for my family.”
Edited by Andrew Hayward
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