Audeara and Ear Science cut a new track in bone conduction tech
Pilot aims to help kids hear without losing the world around them
Bone conduction market surges toward multi-billion future
Audeara (ASX:AUA) has just tuned into a new frequency.
Last week, it locked in a $100,000-backed collaboration with Ear Science Institute Australia to explore bone conduction hearing solutions in high-need communities.
The project kicks off this month with testing, community input and gear on the ground, and with children front and centre.
"Supporting children to hear well in and outside the classroom has lifelong benefits, and we're proud to play a role in exploring how this technology can make a difference," said Audeara's CEO, Dr James Fielding.
The pilot lands at the right time.
Bone conduction is moving out of niche territory and into the mainstream.
Global sales of bone conduction hearing aids are expected to jump from US$376.65 million in 2025 to more than US$600 million by 2030.
Consumer bone conduction headphones are running even hotter, heading toward US$7 billion by 2033.
Why bone conduction matters
Bone conduction sends sound vibrations through the skull, bypassing the eardrum entirely.
It works because those vibrations travel directly through the bones, straight to your inner ear's cochlea, triggering the same hearing response as air-conducted sound.
For people with conductive or mixed hearing loss, like kids with chronic ear infections, it can be life changing.
And because it leaves the ear canal open, users stay aware of what's happening around them.
Adjunct Professor Rob Eikelboom who leads the project at Ear Science, says the work is about bridging the gap between the clinic and the living room.
'We're not developing medical devices; we're focused on assistive listening technology that fills a gap between clinical care and everyday support," he said.
'This pilot will help us shape what that looks like in the real world.'
The aim is to make the tech effective, affordable, and simple enough to fit into everyday routines.
Whether you're in a school hall, a living room, or halfway through a holiday road trip, it should feel effortless.
From classrooms to conversations
One of the advantages of bone conduction is that it works alongside natural hearing.
In a classroom, a child can hear the teacher without losing the chatter that makes them feel part of the group.
At home, they can follow a conversation and still catch the clink of cutlery from the kitchen.
'Unlike traditional over-ear or in-ear headphones, bone conduction leaves the ear canal open, which means users can still hear ambient sounds and engage naturally with their environment,' said Eikelboom.
It also improves what's known as the signal-to-noise ratio, letting important sounds cut through without silencing the rest of the world.
Handy in a classroom, yes, but equally valuable in a busy park, at a community event, or around a dinner table.
What success looks like
While the trial will include schools, the scope is much broader.
The aim is to make sure kids can connect with the people and environments that matter to them, wherever they are.
Missing out on those everyday sounds, says Eikelboom, puts kids at a disadvantage.
And he's got a pretty clear picture of what success looks like:
'Success, first and foremost, is about improving the experience for children, helping them feel more engaged, and more confident.
'It's also about giving teachers, parents, and support staff the tools they need to support those children more effectively.'
A successful pilot, Eikelboom adds, would give the team a solid base to refine the technology.
From there, it could roll out across schools, other group settings, and future research partnerships.
Why it could be worth investors' attention
For Audeara investors, this has all the right ingredients.
A market on the rise. A product that slots neatly into Audeara's existing network. And the credibility boost of partnering with Ear Science.
Bone conduction gives the company a fresh growth track without the headache of regulated medical device manufacturing.
Direct access to the right communities means the road from pilot to scale is shorter and well-lit.
If it lands, this tech could live anywhere Audeara does – in classrooms, homes, workplaces and even on store shelves.
At Stockhead we tell it like it is. While Audeara is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.
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