AutoFocus360 Sound Quality Preference and Claims Study

This study aims to generate clinical evidence to substantiate performance claims for the AutoFocus 360 feature in Sonova hearing aid products. AutoFocus 360 is designed to enhance speech intelligibility by detecting the direction of incoming speech and dynamically steering the beamformer toward the talker, regardless of their position relative to the listener. Preliminary internal testing suggested potential benefits in reducing noise disturbance and improving speech clarity compared to traditional directional microphone modes, with outcomes depending on noise type, talker location, and microphone configuration. The present study will systematically evaluate sound quality and listening performance with AutoFocus 360 versus conventional fixed directional settings to support claims of improved speech understanding in noise.