You are here: Home Newsroom Features Boots Hearingcare partners with Audacious to deliver world-first technology for people with hearing loss

Boots Hearingcare partners with Audacious to deliver world-first technology for people with hearing loss

18 February 2020
Feature Brand
  • Boots Hearingcare partners with innovative new mobile network Audacious to collaborate on their shared mission of supporting people living with hearing loss
  • Developed in the UK in partnership with experts in audiology, Audacious uses world-first medically certified technology to tailor people’s calls based on their unique hearing profile
  • All Boots Hearingcare audiologists will receive training on the service to provide them with the knowledge to support people explore the service

Boots Hearingcare has partnered with innovative new mobile network Audacious to collaborate on their shared mission of supporting people living with hearing loss.

Created in partnership with University of Cambridge experts in audiology, Audacious is the first of its kind mobile phone network. It provides a solution for users with a range of hearing needs, using world-first technology to personalise calls to the user’s unique hearing profile.

The partnership represents Boots Hearingcare’s commitment to innovation and exploring the latest technology to help people hear better by finding the perfect hearing solution for them.

Audacious will now be featured among the range of products and services available to Boots Hearingcare customers.

The partnership will also see all Boots Hearingcare audiologists receive training on the Audacious service to provide them with the knowledge to support people exploring the service and if it can support their hearing needs. 

Research from Audacious reveals that nine in ten (90%) people with hearing loss feel frustrated due to struggling to hear on mobile calls and nearly seven in 10 (69%) reported the communication breakdown left them feeling stressed.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of people with hearing loss report avoiding answering the phone altogether due to concerns of not hearing the person on the other end. This has led to 22% experiencing feelings of isolation as a result.  Audacious provides users with anoptimised audio experience tailored to each individual's hearing; nine in 10 people with hearing loss experienced clearer calls during trials.

Audacious was founded by Matthew Turner, who has had severe hearing loss his whole life. Matthew set up the network in response to his own frustrations when trying to communicate over mobile calls.

Audacious CEO, Rob Shardlow said: We are proud to be the first mobile network to partner with Boots Hearingcare, to realise our shared mission to support people with hearing loss.  Audacious is training all Boots Hearingcare audiologists on this medically certified, world-first technology to ensure they are skilled to empower people across the UK on this innovative route to having clearer conversations and staying connected.”

Boots Hearingcare, Director of Professional Standards, Karen Shepherd said: “Holding conversation on the phone when you have a hearing loss and no visual cues to help piece together the conversation can take a lot of concentration and be physically draining, so people will often avoid taking calls. We are excited to be able to provide our customers with a solution to make that experience easier and more enjoyable.”

For more information visit: bootshearingcare.com/Audacious

News

What’s new at Boots? Find out the latest updates from the UK’s largest pharmacy-led health and beauty chain – from new products and services to important business developments.

xx

Experts

Read the views of our team members at Boots, who are experts in their field. Find out what they think about the most important issues of the day – from healthcare equality to sustainability.

xx

Media Resources

A you are a journalist looking for information and resources about Boot? Visit our media resources hub to access images, reports, spokespeople and videos.

xx

Boots is the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer with over 52,000 team members and 2,100 stores, ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores.*

Boots serves its customers and patients for life as the leading provider of healthcare on the high street and the UK’s number one beauty destination. It offers an unrivalled depth and breadth of products, which incorporates its extensive own brand range and innovative portfolio of brands, including No7, the UK’s No1 skincare brand, Soap & Glory, Liz Earle Beauty and Sleek MakeUP.

2024 marks Boots’ 175th anniversary year. Founder John Boot opened a herbalist store in Nottingham in 1849 to offer an affordable alternative to traditional medicines. His son Jesse expanded the business to become a modern retailer and the biggest chemist in Britain. Throughout its history, Boots has listened, learned and innovated, and it continues to challenge itself to improve its products and services every day.

Boots is part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail.  More company information is available on boots-uk.com.

*Figures accurate as of 30 November 2023