UK based audio software company AudioTelligence has begun crowdsourcing with a funding goal of £400,000 to produce the first batch of its tabletop and ear bud hearing device.

The Orsana hearing device helps patients who suffer from the so called “cocktail party problem”- a hearing issue that makes it hard for people to follow conversations in noisy environments. The device uses a built-in microphone on the tabletop device which then uses algorithms to separate voice from noise while muting the user’s voice. It offers a latency of 50 milliseconds thanks to its patented blind source separation and noise suppression technology and uses techniques such as beamforming and digital noise reduction.

Following the introduction of the Orsana prototype device AudioTelligence said it has received a lot of interest. "We have been inundated with enquiries from consumers and audiologists keen to know when our technology will be available," said Sue Handley Jones, CEO of AudioTelligence. She added: “We have decided to take matters into our own hands and manufacture Orsana ourselves – funding the production through this crowdfunding campaign.”

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates more than 1.5 billion people are living with hearing loss. While research from Harris Interactive shows evidence that close to 80% of people between the ages of 40 and 60 suffer from the hearing condition.

According to GlobalData, there are currently over 50 companies globally that are marketing more than 430 hearing aids, with most sales based in the US and Europe.

Currently AudioTelligence are crowd sourcing through Indiegogo and initial investors will receive one of the devices from the first 1000 batch. Following the first release the company said it will expand production.