Description

The HEARING program, led by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), seeks to transform hearing loss treatment by developing the first minimally invasive, brain-driven hearing system that works in partnership with the auditory cortex. The goal is to create technology capable of real-time, user-intent–driven sound processing—adjusting sound based on what the listener wants to hear, reducing background noise, and reconstructing missing auditory information. The program targets the neurological basis of hearing loss, with a focus on improving outcomes for older adults, veterans, and individuals in high-noise environments. ARPA-H encourages multidisciplinary collaborations across neuroscience, engineering, otology, microelectronics, machine learning, and clinical audiology.