On the afternoon of March 3, 2024, iFLYTEK Medical Technology Co., Ltd. partnered with the China Foundation for Hearing Health Promotion to hold the "Hear for Good" campaign - a large-scale public welfare event aimed at caring for the hearing-impaired community, along with the donation ceremony of "iFLYTEK Smart Hearing Aids" in Beijing. Gong Shusheng, Chairman of the China Foundation for Hearing Health Promotion, Gong Zezhong, Executive Vice Chairman, Secretary-General, and Party Branch Secretary, along with Zhen Lixia, Executive Deputy Secretary-General, and Committee Member of the Auditory Testing Technology Committee; Li Zhengrong, General Manager of Government Public Welfare Operations at Weibo; Dong Bin, Deputy General Manager of the Brand Marketing Center of iFLYTEK Corporation; and Cui Rongtao, General Manager of Smart Hardware at iFLYTEK Medical Technology Co., Ltd., attended the ceremony.
At the event, iFLYTEK Medical donated 1000 iFLYTEK Smart Hearing Aids to the China Foundation for Hearing Health Promotion, aiming to improve the quality of life for the hearing-impaired through artificial intelligence technology, helping them better integrate into society and enjoy a more fulfilling and beautiful life.
Gong Shusheng delivered a speech at the donation ceremony, representing the foundation and the hearing-impaired community, expressing gratitude to iFLYTEK Medical for their support and assistance in the development of hearing-related initiatives. Gong Shusheng emphasized the accelerating aging process, highlighting the growing need for advanced technological solutions to help an increasing number of individuals with hearing impairments experience the beauty of sound and to raise awareness about protecting hearing health.
In his speech, Cui Rongtao shared the significance of technological hearing assistance today. He stated that iFlytek Medical has been actively exploring innovative applications of artificial intelligence. In the field of medical hearing aids, they aim to use technology with warmth to support and improve the lives and work of the hearing impaired. "By embedding social responsibility into our products and services through technology, we are exploring a path to achieve high-quality, sustainable development for enterprises, allowing the hearing impaired community to also feel the warmth of technology."
Recently, iFLYTEK Medical, in collaboration with the China Foundation for Hearing and Speech Rehabilitation and the movie "The 20th Article," initiated the #20thArticleHearingAidProject#, aiming to donate iFLYTEK smart hearing aids to 1000 hearing-impaired individuals. This campaign has garnered over 100 million impressions on Weibo, with nearly 100,000 netizens actively engaging in discussions, voicing support for the hearing-impaired community and applauding the initiative.
Li Zhengrong shared heartwarming stories documented by influential Weibo users dedicated to public welfare. She believes that the significance of Weibo in the realm of philanthropy lies in its ability to effectively disseminate information to the public and amplify the voices of charitable causes. "The collaboration between the movie 'The 20th Article,' iFLYTEK Medical, and Weibo introduces a novel model of 'film + philanthropy' cooperation, pioneering a new avenue for corporate philanthropy leveraging the influence of film and television dramas."
Three beneficiaries of the "Sound of Hope Initiative," Dou Ximing, Guo Yunhan, and Guo Xiaobin, expressed their gratitude towards iFLYTEK Medical for their generous donation and compassion. They shared their stories and experiences at the event, emphasizing how this support not only provided practical assistance to the hearing-impaired but also instilled in them the confidence to envision a brighter future. They hope that the "Sound of Hope Initiative - Sound Search Program," a large-scale public welfare activity, will continue beyond Beijing and today, extending its reach to more individuals in need.
The theme for this year's Ear Care Day is "Technology Assisted Hearing, Sharing a Better Life." In China, the elderly population constitutes the majority of those affected by hearing impairments and losses. According to the "2021 China Hearing Health Report" blue book, approximately one-third of elderly people in China suffer from hearing impairments, with the prevalence of hearing loss among those aged 60 and above reaching 11.4%. In current trends, the user base for hearing aids is gradually becoming younger and more diverse, necessitating ongoing attention and investment in exploring and innovating hearing assistance technologies.
The Xunfei Intelligent Hearing Aid adopts a stylish Bluetooth earphone design, addressing three major concerns: affordability, usability, and clarity of sound. Priced around one thousand CNY, its market positioning, along with the digitized fitting process through a dedicated app, enables elderly individuals to manage the device from the comfort of their homes. Innovative smart noise reduction technology significantly reduces instances of unclear sound and feedback.
Utilizing advanced artificial intelligence technology from iFlytek, the iFlytek Smart Hearing Aid app has launched the "Subtitle Hearing" feature, making conversation more intuitive and smooth. In January last year, the iFlytek Smart Hearing Aid Pro, with a gain of up to 45dB, was released, providing a "high-gain, clearer hearing" experience for people with moderate to severe hearing loss.
"We've seen many comments online, along with valuable suggestions and real demands from hearing-impaired friends. Our products will continue to iterate and update, accelerating the pace of research and development," revealed Cui Rongtao. iFlytek Medical will also launch a behind-the-ear hearing aid tailored for individuals with severe hearing loss this year, allowing technology to serve more people in need on a broader scale.
iFlytek Medical, the China Hearing Medical Development Foundation, and the movie "The Twentieth Rule" hope that through this "Ear-Care Action," more attention and participation can be drawn to create a more inclusive and friendly social environment for the hearing-impaired community. The goal is for this event to spread like ripples from the venue to every corner of the world.
iFlytek Medical will also continue to focus on corporate social responsibility, utilizing deep applications of artificial intelligence technology to enhance technical innovation continuously. This aims to advance smart hearing aid products towards better quality and experiences, improving the quality of life for those with hearing loss and warming every ear in need with the power of technology.
