🔬 The Sonic Lab: Exploring the Future of Hearing Tech 🔬
Welcome to The SonicLab, your monthly deep dive into the latest innovations in wearable tech for the deaf and hard of hearing. From cochlear implant accessories to cutting-edge wearables, I test, review, and explore the technology shaping the future of accessibility. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a CI user, or simply curious about the latest advancements, The Sonic Lab documents the 12 devices I will test this year.
How Does a CI-User Experience the Virtual World? A Look at Facebook’s Meta Mask
As a cochlear implant user, I’m always curious about how new tech interacts with my existing wearable tech. So, when I got the chance to try Facebook’s Meta Mask, I had one big question: Could I truly immerse myself in a virtual world—and hear it seamlessly?
Spoiler: Yes, and it blew my mind.
I never expected to own a Meta Mask. But after a friend told me I could virtually travel to another country and order coffee, my brain lit up with equal parts skepticism and excitement. Could I really be somewhere else through a lens? And as a bilingual HOH (seriously, how many of us are there!?), I’d always wanted more ways to practice Spanish conversation in real time. The Meta Mask went on and off my birthday list—until curiosity won.
First Challenge: Wearing VR Over CIs
Fitting the headset over two cochlear implants was tricky at first. The adjustable straps required some trial and error, but once I got the size right, I found a sweet spot where the mask didn’t interfere with my processors.
Then, the biggest surprise: The Meta Mask’s built-in microphone sat right in front of my CI mics—an unexpected but perfect placement. I could hear incredibly well, catching every detail of the virtual environment.
The Moment It Clicked: Speaking Spanish in VR
Avatar created, headset secure—I stepped into a virtual classroom where I could practice Spanish. I had two options:
Talk to an AI classmate in Spanish.
Converse with another real Meta user learning the language.
I did both. And for the first time, I felt like I’d taken a massive leap in my hearing journey. I wasn’t just participating—I was thriving in audible, real-time dialogue.
Hearing in VR wasn’t just possible—it was seamless, immersive, and even better than I expected.
Would I recommend the Meta Mask for CI users? Absolutely. It’s a game-changer for language learning, social interaction, and redefining what’s possible for those of us in the hearing tech space.
🎧💬 Have you tried VR with hearing devices? Let’s talk about it!
12 Months of Technology #1 of 1
Can A Cochlear Implant User Hear…🤔Underwater…With Bone Conductive Earphones🎧?
The first tech item to review for 2025 is the JUST RELEASED VYGO headphones. My husband is an avid swimmer and had looked for years for the perfect underwater music to hype his laps. They were clunky and hard to use, and then he learned about the VYGO headphones. They work with bone conduction to hear, and I thought maybe I could try them out. When I had my implants in, we sat down at the table and tried it out. I could hear the music he played, but when I put them on without processors, I heard nothing. I felt a strong vibration, and that was it. I guess it does make sense since the hearing system connected to my eardrum and hearing nerve is “turned off” from the surgery, and instead, the sound is routed to my brain.
Nevertheless, I was curious how this would sound and feel, and it verifies what some call the drawback to a CI - you lose all residual hearing. So, to me, this means that if you have enough baseline hearing, the vibration would be not only a physical but a sonic sensation. With each experiment, I aim to answer three major questions:
This is an interesting angle to look at for several reasons. Like some tech startups out there, Zygo was crowdfunded and got off the ground with investors and gofundme. So the first iteration of this isn’t exactly cheap - $300 a pair but there is enough demand within this demographic for the product to hit the market. What happens with a minority subgroup like a CI User needs a device but doesn’t have the demand and numbers to see it launch? If the item were made for the masses, like glasses or hearing aids, you can get insurance to cover it, but I wonder what the tech market outlook is like for something as niche as what CI users require. So while the “affordable” aspect of this isn’t relevant, I ask this question because we deserve to be properly informed on accessing assistive listening devices.
🎧 Can the VYGO Headphones Revolutionize Underwater Sound for CI Users?
What if underwater music could be more than sound—could it be a sensation? We put the newly released VYGO Bone-Conduction Headphones to the test to see if they work for cochlear implant (CI) users. The results may surprise you.
🏊 Our Test Drive: My husband, an avid swimmer, had searched for years for the perfect underwater music solution. Clunky, unreliable devices were the norm—until we discovered VYGO. These headphones use bone conduction to transmit sound. Naturally, I was curious: could they work for me as a CI user?
At our kitchen table, with my processors on, I could hear the music. But without them? Silence. Only the steady vibration remained. It made sense—my hearing system is rerouted due to surgery, bypassing the traditional pathway. This experiment highlighted a key reality of cochlear implants: the loss of all residual hearing.
🔍 Review Breakdown:
Does It Enhance Hearing for CI Users?
❌ No. The vibrations don't translate into sound without processors.
Is It Practical?
✅ Yes—for hearing users. It outperforms older models by eliminating clunky designs, making it the best on the market for swimmers.
Is It Affordable?
❓ Depends. At $300, it's a premium buy. For hearing users, it fills a market gap. For CI users, its practicality is limited.
✨ Why This Matters: VYGO's journey—from crowdfunding to market—shows how demand drives innovation. But what about niche communities like CI users? When products aren't designed for us, we're left out of tech advancements. Assistive listening devices should be accessible, and understanding what's out there empowers us to demand better solutions.
👀 Your Turn: Would YOU invest in tech that bridges accessibility gaps? Should brands prioritize inclusive design? Drop your thoughts below or tag someone who should join this conversation! 👇
#CochlearTech #InclusiveInnovation #HearingAccessibility #AssistiveTech #VYGOReview